Admin

OH, DID YOU KNOW...

 

Did you know that if you click on a User's Location in the user box on the left of a post, Google Maps opens up with that location displayed...that's if the user has entered a location, specific or general in their settings...however just putting something like South Coast in their will not work but entering something general like Melbourne Australia or Watsonia Melbourne will work...just a little "did you know"...try it now, click the location shown in the box on the left

 

 

By now you should have seen some cosmetic changes that have been made to the site:

 

1. The User Menu - your User Menu Username (settings), Inbox, Alerts and Log Out functions have been moved to the top right corner of the header to make room on the main menu for some new sections that are coming soon

 

2. Hover Links - a very subtle change to the colour of text to red when you hover on an internal link

 

3. Main Menu Hover Links - the background colour when hovering on a main menu link now looks better

 

4. User Post Details - the box on the left of a post that contains the user details has been modernised to look better with also making your avatar stand out more and to clearly see who are the site's First Class Members

 

5. Post Quote Blocks - the blocks of quoted posts have been changed to a cleaner look

 

These changes along with the other recent improvements of the Thread Prefixes, Go To Top etc, I feel the site is looking much better...hope you agree...if there is anything you think could look or work better then please let me know

 

 

Images have been changed to thumbnails to make it easier for users top return to the thread after a new post is added and to reduce impact on users bandwidth capacity

 

 

Position Vacant – Member Database Administrator – Maternity Leave Contract

 

Recreational Aviation Australia Inc. is seeking to appoint a full time (9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday) Membership Database Administrator on a five month maternity leave contract. We are a national not-for-profit Association, hoping to immediately appoint someone with enthusiasm, administrative experience and initiative.

 

Your main responsibilities will include answering Members telephone and email enquiries, reception duties, processing applications, payments and renewals, administering our classified advertising service, and other general administrative duties including filing.

 

The ideal candidate will have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Word, Excel and Outlook), good communication and customer service skills and the ability to prioritise. Prior Membership database and website (WordPress) administration experience would be advantageous.

 

Also desirable (but not essential) is an interest in aviation – espessially the recreational or sporting side. If you’re a “self-starter” with the ability and willingness to learn new skills and concepts quickly we’d love to hear from you. Above award wages apply, together with free parking.

 

A full list of duties can be downloaded here. Member database administrator duties

 

Interested? Then come join our friendly team by forwarding your resume along with a covering letter to :

 

Administration Manager

 

Recreational Aviation Australia Inc.

 

Po Box 1265

 

Fyshwick ACT 2609

 

Applications close .00pm Friday, 26th April 2013

 

 

Tech Manager’s Update 19/4/13

 

Great news! We have received approval from the Board today to employ the extra staff we believe are needed to not just hold our heads above water with aircraft registrations, but to get over the hump and get back to being able to efficiently sustain the process.

 

Dean Tompkins, with Darren Barnfield backing him up, did an amazing job getting the aircraft files checked that they did. But they’ve both gone home to their wives in South Australia and Victoria respectively. While they continue to support us as Technical consultants, they’re not doing the checks on the registration files anymore. And there’s still more than half our fleet that need to be checked and updated, with many files also requiring additional information.

 

To achieve this, we’re implementing a dedicated “Tech Team”, independent of the normal office administration. The Tech Team will initially have four clerical people who I will be training to understand and handle the registration complexities required by the CAOs and our Tech Manual, for the various aircraft. Initially, as I train the team and they get their competency up, we may backslide a bit with the regos. But then with four of them working together as a team, and only on registrations, we’ll power out of the hole we’re in and we’ll get our fleet back in the air. The Board have given approval for this arrangement to remain in place at least until the end of this year, by which time we will have completed the full annual re-registration cycle. It should be business as usual there after, with the worst of it behind us.

 

However, we are still waiting for many owners to supply us with previously requested information. Until we receive all this information, we can’t register your aircraft. To help our efficiency, please send all of the information we’ve requested in one mailing. Having to go and get the file half a dozen times because the information is being sent in dribs and drabs, really slows us down.

 

Regards

 

Wayne

 

RA-Aus Technical Manager

 

 

Whoa... I want one of these:

 

See on one web site price is $260,000...I'll have two of them, one for each wrist

 

 

Not long to go...so let's see some creative Avatars

 

 

you're a long way from home...I think Phil Perry on this site, currently in the UK, also did some flying from Casey...it's all houses now

With what I hear, all the clamp downs, ramp checks etc could possibly be because we have a divide in at CASA. On one hand we have McCormick who doesn't support self regulating bodies like RAAus, yet on the other hand we have ranks in CASA who do strongly support self regulating bodies. Whether this is just a psychological game by McCormick to make us lift our game or whether the ranks, in their support of self regulating bodies, are trying to prove that it is a worthy thing...if we behave ourselves. If we do behave ourselves, then there is no reason by the likes of McCormick etc to doubt that self regulation can and does work

 

 

What is it with MGs and old men? -Linda

I'm a Morgan man myself or a 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom which which starred in the movie "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

 

which during the movie changed into a "2010 Mercedes McLaren"

 

 

 

I also have a Longines Pocket Watch that about 20 years ago with the help of Longines I was able to track its life. It was made in 1873 and Longines sent me a copy of the manufacture record. It was sent to a watchmaker in London where my Great Great Great Grandfather purchased it. From there it was passed down eventually to me when my Grandmother passed away. I have had the lid engraved with its ownership life and one day will be passed on to Lachlan. It was incredible how Longines helped me to track it with their records dating back so far

 

 

Ian, regarding your watch which tells us which jocks to wear, could you list the colours and styles you have in your shop?? .Alan.

I am getting a list of them all and will put them into the shop...and even though Airsick says that particular one doesn't have secs, he is incorrect as it does.

 

If you're wondering about the glass I'd take it to a watchmaker/jewellery store and see if you can have the glass reground. Cost a lot less and probably a common job.- boingk

Thanks boingk, will do, I never take my Seiko to the Mr Minute type of battery replacement shop, always go to a Jeweller as they also test that it is still water proof after they replace the battery, costs a little more though...nothing worse with a good expensive watch to save $1 on the battery replacement and suddenly find it is ruined after you left it on and went swimming or something.

 

It is funny, Corrine got the watch from Seiko so I know it is a genuine Seiko however Google Images doesn't show my exact watch, a couple similar, and I have never seen one like it. Bubbleboy on the site here is a Watchmaker by trade...if he is going to AusFly this year I might see if he can bring his tools, if he still has them, and see what he can do with it because I won't part with it.

 

 

I use to buy the $10 watches from petrol stations and wear them till the battery ran out as the hassle and cost of having a good watch and the cost of battery replacement if the watch is waterproof and scratches on the glass etc just didn't seem right. For years I used the $10 watches and threw them away when the battery ran out but then Corrine gave me a unique Seiko watch for a present, I think it cost around $800 and many people comment on it's design. However the glass is now scratched and have gone through about 4 batteries...hate to think what the glass replacement is going to cost me

 

 

oh OOOhhh - there's three Bobs.

Fixed

 

 

Here is an aviators watch that just about tells you what jocks to wear:

 

 

OBSERVER ST WRISTOP COMPUTER

 

OBSERVER...Barometer, Altimeter, Compass, Chronograph

 

Suunto Observer measures your vertical ascents and descents, as well as the total number of runs skied and shows all that easily with one press of a button. It provides you with reliable information on barometric pressure and temperature and functions as a digital compass. Additionally, it has a calendar, clock, dual time display, and a stopwatch. Its timeless design makes it wearable in any casual situation; it includes an easy-to-read display with an extra-ordinarily wide viewing angle, electroluminescent backlight and a user-replaceable battery. Because of its moderate size and stylish design it is perfectly suitable for both men, as well as women. For extra toughness and reduced weight, Suunto Observer is also available in titanium.

 

Product Features

 

• Altimeter: Altitude, vertical speed, logbook function with quick-access button, memory capacity 99 logs, history memory, alti/baro lock, temperature compensation
   
   
  
• Barometer: Sea level pressure, absolute pressure, weather trend indicator, temperature, automatic 4-day barometric memory, alti/baro lock
   
   
  
• Compass: Bearing, cardinal bearing, bearing tracking, North-South arrow, declination setting
   
   
  
• Chronograph: Calendar, 3 alarms, dual time, stopwatch with 99 split/lap times
   
   
  
• Material options: Suunto Observer Sr - stainless steel housing with elastic strap (80 g),
   
   
  
• Suunto Observer St - stainless steel housing with stainless steel elastomer strap (100 g),
   
   
  
• Suunto Observer Tt - top-of the-line model - titanium housing with titanium elastomer strap (75 g)
   
   
  
• Water resistant to 30 m (100 ft)
   
   
  

 

 

 

 

What is the button for?On an iPad, you only have to tap the top border to scroll to the top of a page.

On my PC I use a mouse gesture or .

For simplicity to those that are unaware of these things as it "displays" a solution to you

 

 

Ok this is more of a silly one... but what's a nice watch to buy, maybe with an altimeter? I've been looking for a watch for some time now but since I'm also starting to fly, I wonder if there's a good watch to buy to compliment... SUPERFICIAL but keen.

Hi John, just send you a private message on the range of pilot watches the shop we have here on this site has

 

 

I like the design, font and font colour, but I would like to see the new block on every post as it was previously. The new design is easier to read, but it doesn't help if you want to go to the top of the page and you are near the middle of the posts on a page.OME

OME, it should appear (fade in) as you move away from the top of the page and then disappear once the site header is back in view

 

 

Works OK for me on the IPad IanBob

Thanks Biggles...I found it a little spasmodic...I am using iPad 1 though and not sure whether that may have anything to do with it...probably not as it has the latest software.

So it looks like it is a winner then.

 

I am releasing these little enhancements into the site now to not only reduce the impact of the coming update but also for anything that I am unsure about to get feedback so thanks everyone

 

 

I will see what I can find...you will need to use your watch, or a timer of some kind, when you are doing your cross country endorsement

 

 

I have just added another enhancement that is in the upcoming site update and this is the new "Go To Top" of page function.

 

Previously there was a link in every post that when clicked/tapped, you went to the top of the page. Now, as you scroll down on any page whether it is in the main forums list, the list of threads in a forum or the posts listed in a thread, a dark blue button appears in the bottom right corner of your screen for you to click/tap to return you to the top of the page.

 

I am 50/50 about it myself when I tested it on an iPad but I will leave it up to you to decide by way of your comments on whether to keep it or revert back to the old link style.

 

 

Is it economically viable to do these for other countries, e.g NZ?

MapTrax did make charts for NZ but I don't have copies of them...there is a way, so I believe, but ianboag (user here) would know

 

 

Bump.. considering purchasing a 7" but as above what is the situation with map updates?

Unfortunately the M ap producer no longer does them however the units come with a full set of WAC charts that you can edit by using the full OziExplorer PC version to update them. You can also create your own charts by using the PC version by first downloading them from the GeoSciences web site.

I looked into doing the charts myself but I simply don't have the time so if anyone wants to create a little side line business producing them then I can pass you on the contact details of Neil from MapTrax who previously advised he would help me to produce them if I had the time

 

 

Ok, I think I can put this to rest now...the new server is performing magnificently and is extremely fast. I found one table on the Aircraft Pilots site that got corrupted with the move but was able to fix that very easily.

 

So what we have ended up with is a new server spec'd with:

 

Processor: Intel Xeon E5-1650 (12 cores hyperthreading)

 

Memory: 16 DDR3-1600 ECC RAM

 

Hard Drives: 2x300GB Intel 320 SSD in RAID1, 1x1TB SATA II Backup disk

 

Bandwidth: 1TB Premium Transfer

 

IP Addresses: /29 (5 useable IPs)

 

Port Speed: 100mbps

 

Location: LA, USA

 

We are now using Percona as the database which is better suited to innoDB tables, which we use, compared to mySQL

 

Advanced site searching using ElasticSearch tuned to the site

 

We are also using a better cacheing system called memcache (we use to use APC)

 

At the time of writing this we have Load Averages of only 0.02 0.03 0.00...This means the server isn't even idling so it is ready for some great things

 

DNS should be propagated around the internet now so when users type in www.recreationalflying.com they should come straight to the new server

 

The only thing left to do is the video/audio/text Chat Room...this will take a while as I am getting this enhanced so the one Chat Room can be used across ALL sites like Rec Flying, Aircraft Pilots, Clear Prop etc plus I would like to incorporate Instant 1 to 1 Chat with it.

 

Time now to focus on the site itself and its update...sorry to everyone for the inconvenience that this server migration has caused...fly safe!

 

 

Ok not sure, but how do you clear your internet cache please?David

http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser%27s-Cache

and from the contents select which browser you are using...best to do when not on this site but what you usually use as your home page