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Some fantastic Scholarships their Girls...great opportunity to get more girls (or if you prefer women) into the fun times of flying

Here is an example of just one of the many things that are coming...already completed and ready to add to the live site:

The new Aircraft Section:

Now why is this good...Aircraft Manufactures can "Claim" the listings of their Aircraft and start interacting with the site users. The Aircraft itself is it's own thread where the Aircraft Manufacturer can make new announcements about their Aircraft and much more...PLUS...it indicates if any of the Manufacturer's Agents from around the world is actually on-line at the moment and via the One To One Instant Chat Feature you can have a conversation with them then and there.

What makes this important is that throughout a 24hr period you may find any one of the many world wide manufacturer's agents on-line at some time or another...Have a Foxbat and going to change the oil in the morning but have a simple little question that you want an answer to that will help you...it is 11pm Sat night, the Aussie agent has gone to bed but the UK Foxbat Agent may be online at the moment and you will see that...you just click the One To One Instant Chat, ask your question, get an answer and you are right to go the next morning.

This is just one, I mean just "one" of the many new features that are coming to the site but imagine if the appeal to a world wide audience isn't there...the above just won't happen to provide the benefits for all site users.

There's gotta be some way to provide everything that everyone wants...from Bubbleboy through to raising questions about the RAAus board.

(note, the above example used is just that, an example but there are many different opportunities that the new systems coming to the site will help users)

Not sure I follow...but isn't that what I was going to do (note in red):

Ian,Is it possible to have one site resource "Aircraft Pilots" onto which can you log from two different domain names; "Aircraft Pilots and Recreational Flying" one domain name "Aircraft Pilots" sends to you to a different section to the other domain name "Recreational Flying" and vice-a-versa, but once you are in the main resource you can also choose which areas you want to participate in. "no single login...you have to log in to each or either only"

Again I think the point is getting lost...sure, I want to have Gov Bodies, I want to allow freedom of speech and all at the same time that a person doesn't get ganged up on for having a different opinion AND that there doesn't end up any legal issues...but the point that is getting lost is that, that is RAAus discussion and Australian only discussion, and who the hell is RAAus to a person in NZ or any where else for that matter, what about flying a Belite over the Rockies and the great scenery etc, that is the segregation issue. RAAus discussion does NOT pay the bills of the site nor does it put any food on my table for my family but RAAus discussion is what some want regardless of the new, different and exciting aspects of aviation from all around the world, which would also pay the bills and makes the site appealing to a guest user to join in and have fun...the question is "How on earth can we have both?"

The software doesn't automatically send out reminders but once the time is up it automatically removes the first class membership from their user account

Thanks Sue...just throwing an idea out to all...how about the Country Specific forums be done in this way, using the following Australia example as a template:

1. In the forum list displayed on the main forums page there is one titled "Australia and NZ"

2. Click that and a list of forums are displayed like:

Aust/NZ Announcements

General Discussion

Classifieds

Governing Bodies etc

3. It will look like the way the "Media" section is done now...click Media on the Main menu and the two Media forums are displayed

4. Clicking "What's New" when on the main forums page only displays new posts for all the forums in the main list

5. Clicking "What's New" when in the Australian section displays new posts that are just in the Australian specific forums

The above is the same for US/Canada, UK/Europe, Sth Africa/Asia and Other

Search would still be site wide though

The only negative if you could call it one would be that the country specific forums are not displayed on the main forums home page

Ok, we will move back to Recreational Flying (.com)...users don't need to worry as it is simply flicking a switch with the new server...would only take about 10mins

Thanks TP, that's what I thought I was trying to do although probably a bit muddier then what you are saying

Personally I think there are two elements to this...one that it may have been a miscommunication that the email was sent out but 2, a decision was actually made that the Junior Members would get a refund and free mag subscription till they are 14 years and 6 months of age...that would seem to me that a decision of some kind was made by someone irrespective of any miscommunication of whether to send an email out or not, so who made that decision, I am told by 4 board members that they knew nothing of it...just my opinion.

Also I would call Aircraft Geeks, Aircraft Enthusiasts.If you would like to start that site up.

I sell all the Belite Instruments...have them all here currently in stock

Thanks TP, great constructive comment!

What I would like to see discussions on are things like this:

It's a Belite Aircraft and I am sure there isn't many Australian recreational aviators know or have heard about these yet they are just so cheap to buy and that in itself would be helpful

Or one of the largest selling recreational aircraft in the US:

Or has anyone ever seen or heard of this aircraft that sells around 25 to 30 a year in the US:

We never get to hear about these with our closed Aussie blinkers on nor are we able to entice owners of these type of aircraft here to talk about them when nearly everything here has an Aussie element. Although I also want users to be able to discuss things RAAus. Then there is the site costs and having the large world wide manufacturers supporting the site would not only see the site costs covered but maybe provide some food on my table as well whilst at the same time bringing such a broad range of aviation information to everyone...that is the dilemma...Financial, Interest and Users, every time I throw these 3 into the pot I end up with mud

30 December 2011 JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP

The e-mail concerning the cancellation of the Junior Membership sent to all junior members on 23 Dec 11 is hereby rescinded. It was sent out due to a miscommunication between the board and staff of RA-Aus. However, all members are to be aware that this category of membership is under review and will be discussed and decided upon at the February Board meeting. Once a decision has been made all Junior Members will be informed of the outcome.

The logistics of all this are proving to be far too difficult. After thinking that it would work well, another issue with it pops up. For example PMs. After sleeping on it I am still finding that this just may be far too difficult and whilst a single login can be achieved with the old software it can't be, without a lot of cost, with the current software and then there is the issue of smooth upgrades and the problems associated with be-spoke development. The potential benefits are there though

I am open to any suggestions if any one has one...how can we provide a system where Australian users can speak up, chat openly and discuss issues relating specifically to Australia and RAAus whilst maintaining and without biasing a professional world wide resource that is enticing to everyone no matter where they may be???

When are the changes going to kick off Ian ?

If it is posted by the manufacturer as a means of a commercial post and without any prior request to promote their products on the site then yes...but I do know what you mean mate...I don't have all the answers at the moment as I am, as I said, still going through the logistics of it. The interaction on this is good as it serves as the checks and balances of the concept but all I know is that whilst some of you think the site is working, there are many that don't.

For example I could have a poll here on what users don't like which won't be much because the users voting in the poll are here because they like it...can you see my point?

Perhaps I am grasping at straws but I don't see any comments on any other solution being made.

In answer to your question, the only manufacturers that would even consider posting here anyway would only be Australian ones and that is just a few...if the site was more International then you would have hundreds of manufacturers, even ones whose aircraft are not in Australia of which there are hundreds, wanting to announce their new aircraft etc here...how good would that be for ALL the users...incredible...however, any aviator coming here will be saturated with Australian posts. By what I am proposing will hopefully end up helping users as well by making Aircraft Pilots have more worldly information whilst at the same time providing them with an avenue to speak up on issues like RAAus cancelling Junior Membership etc...if they want to.

Are the potential benefits all around worth the "nutting out" together of a good working solution?

OK, a Guernsey factory built kit crashed on takeoff when it failed to clear the fence as a result of the grade of the runway.

Here we go Ian......Suggested new hypothetical post:-Guernsey Aviation in Adelaide test flies new Recreational Aircraft will be available as Factory built or Kit build, see attached photos.

Which site would it be on.

 

Alan.

So do I have this correct Ian, if I start a post refering to a Recreational Aircraft it will be transferred to Aircraft Pilots and no longer appear under Recreational Flying ?Alan.

Announcements and Site News (* but Aust only announcements)

Just Landed*

Events

Aircraft Incidents and Accidents*

General Discussion (* Aust only)

Governing Bodies

Classifieds (* Aust only or for those wanting International coverage AP as well)

First Class Lounge*

Recreational Flying Pilot Supplies Shop

You can see by the above that they are the "Chat" types of forums and this leaves Aircraft Pilots to develop itself into a world wide resource. Remember, this site as it stands now will never ever be of any use to anyone outside of Australia due to its Australian saturation. This has been proven so many times over the last 18 months which then means that due to the low availability of income producing means of the site, the costs have to be borne by myself for ever. By developing a world class pilot resource I have an opportunity to at least derive some small return from a bigger market that will continually cover the site's costs, and my full time work. It also enables Aircraft Pilots to be free of any bickering, fighting and heavy moderation, which will be a lot more relaxed on Recreational Flying, by taking the individual forums that are conducive to strong debate out of the Aircraft Pilots resource...I am sure everyone will be happier by having the choice of what they want to be subjected to by coming here. I am very reluctant at the moment to introduce all the great new features, that cost money, when the freedoms that have been given here prevent me from at least recouping that cost...does all that make sense?

This way, I believe, Aircraft Pilots can become a fantastic world wide resource for all pilots, and it is something that I can manage to realise that vision...at the same time, I am providing an avenue under the management of Ahlocks and Isaacs for those that want what Aircraft Pilots, as a "resource" will not support.

Please also remember that I also need to get something out of what I am doing and have done for 8 years, even if it is just being able to enjoy reading your friendly posts...what is being proposed here is as I said, not going to be easy however I think after a short while it will work itself out and those that have felt that this site no longer serves them will realise that it is now doing so and with even more then before.

Yes and No Tyler...there is a need for things like you have brought up, a very important need that I would like to support, but on the other hand I had a vision of a resource for pilots to use to help each other and these are in conflict with each other especially with Aircraft Pilots being more broad. This enables a "Forum", with a different agenda to be available for those that want to use it and leaves Aircraft Pilots to be developed as a professional resource for pilots as well yet there is only a single click between the two giving users a far greater choice in what suits their needs.

Aircraft Pilots will always remain as the premier resource site containing all the threads, posts and discussions that are helpful in being a pilot whilst Recreational Flying is the RAAus chat and discussions on anything purely to do with Australian RAAus recreational flying. Any threads that are started in Recreational Flying to do with such things as Aircraft etc, will be moved to Aircraft Pilots...this will be a strict policy ensuring the differentiation between the two sites. However by the same token you won't find any posts in Aircraft Pilots like "How are you going, let's meet up on Sat etc" but you will find posts about Jabiru spark plugs etc.

Initially it will be hard to draw the line but I feel we are going to be able to have our cake and eat it too, users will have the choice and not be bothered with what they don't want but at the same token, a single click, just like going between the forums here, will take you to either site...user registration will however be independent of each other so if you want to contribute to both sites then you will need to be registered on both.

Recreational Flying (.com.au) is like having a "Budget" streamlined Airline and designed to keep the RAAus honest and working correctly for all RAAus members by member input and Aircraft Pilots will have all the thrills and be the professional aviation resource where you come to get help and discuss aircraft, flying and aviation in general. Then again, if you are into the heavies and love the smell of jet fuel in the morning, then you can click to jump over to Aircraft Geeks.

ALL your aviation web site needs, friendships, sources of information, help, support and interests will be covered...no matter what they are

Hope this helps to explain things a bit further

Nev, it's sort of like what Jetstar and Qantas use to be like or was first set up as

Hi All

Years ago I had a vision for this site...a resource that will help all aviators by the exchange of each other's experiences in the hope that we could all together save lives, learn from each other and create new friendships between all us like minded aviators. Unfortunately that vision is now simply too hard to realise.

I strongly believe that there is still a "need" for that vision, i.e. a powerful and centralised resource for all aviators, but then I have also come to realise there is a "want" by users for a forum where they can chat. It has over the years become increasingly difficult to provide both a resource and chat within the same space, each one diluting the other. This has resulted in some users no longer getting what they once did from this site...they either came here for helpful exchange of information in their flying endeavours, or they came here to chat about aviation, governing bodies etc...then again there are some that come here for both. All this makes it hard to deliver to the needs of as many of you as possible.

And this site is all about trying to deliver to your needs in aviation as much as possible.

So a radical step is currently underway and some could say it is simply a natural progression of the site when you have a product that is conflicting with its initial vision.

Recreational Flying (.com.au) will be re-established, under the management of Ahlocks and David Isaacs to provide a "Forum" for Australian RAAus Members. Aircraft Pilots (.com) will remain as the "Resource" and continued to be developed in line with its vision as a helpful resource for all aviators.

Whilst there will be a split of the site, they will be interlinked so a user can click between the two. For those that are interested in RAAus politics and the recreational aviation scene in Australia can use Recreational Flying (.com.au) as their "Forum" to chat, discuss things etc, for those more interested in Aircraft, Training, Flying, Aviation Industry in general etc, an aviation resource, can use Aircraft Pilots (.com)...and those interested in both can simply click between the two as and when they like to.

Recreational Flying will use the current forum etc software that is more community orientated and Aircraft Pilots will switch over to the old software that provides greater opportunity in using many different extra features. Aircraft Geeks, the Enthusiasts site is also using the old software and again will be interlinked with Recreational Flying and Aircraft Pilots.

I will be managing Aircraft Pilots and Aircraft Geeks, Ahlocks and David Isaacs will be managing Recreational Flying although I will continue the development of Recreational Flying.

I would have liked to have been able to contain everything in just one simple site however it is, and has been for some time, simply impossible to be able to achieve my vision of trying to help as many aviators as possible with this site whilst catering to the needs of every single person.

All of this is simply the product of growth which has been achieved through years of hard work, lots of money and you people, the users, in coming here...your Home of Pilots, Aircraft and Aviation Enthusiasts.

So, you will now have 3 unique sites at your disposal to use that will hopefully suit all your needs:

Recreational Flying (.com.au) - a "Forum" site dedicated to Australian RAAus members for their chat and community (managed by Ahlocks and David Isaacs)

Aircraft Pilots (.com) - a comprehensive forum and resource dedicated to helping all pilots with many different features (managed by myself)

Aircraft Geeks (.com) - a comprehensive forum and resource dedicated to all the aviation enthusiasts (currently seeking any one who would like to form a group to manage this site)

I am just working through the logistics of all this and should have it all up and running in the next few days

In the Aircraft Pilots Media Section:

http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/checkride-ends-in-accident.32779/

The new sister site dedicated to Aviation Enthusiasts called Aircraft Geeks is coming along nicely. It is designed to have different features then this site and for content that is specific to Enthusiasts that are into Aircraft Spotting, Photography (it will include a great big Photo Gallery), Aviation Videos (including a You Tube Browser), information on all the different Airlines, their Liveries, routes, tracking, airport web cams and much much more.

Aircraft Geeks is using the same colour scheme as Aircraft Pilots and you will be able to click between the two sites by a forum link in each one...if your interest also extends past being a pilot of an aircraft and are into the heavies etc that are flying around:

So we will have Aircraft Pilots and Aircraft Geeks that hopefully will help satisfy the needs of many of you

Communications when in difficulties

When a non-instrument rated recreational pilot realises that he/she is likely to be in difficulties (very low on fuel, lost or in failing light, encountering low cloud and rising terrain) or is already in difficulty (the engine or a control circuit has failed), the top priorities are: (a) fly the aircraft, (b) continue flying the aircraft whilst running through the pre-planned emergency drills and © decide the best landing area. During this period an assessment must be made of the probable outcome in terms of possible injury and/or survival following the landing.

• If the aircraft is normally controllable, visibility is okay and the area is clear terrain with a normal rural population density and road infrastructure, then the landing will not be life-threatening. If unable to remedy the fault on the ground, the pilot won't have to walk far to find assistance. In this circumstance many recreational aircraft pilots, particularly those in single-seat taildraggers, would not consider communicating any form of alert except, perhaps, to advise an accompanying aircraft. This brings to mind the RA-Aus pilot who underwent three forced landings on one journey to NATFLY before he finally made it.
   
   
   
   
  
• On the other hand if the pilot is experiencing control difficulty, or the terrain is rough and/or heavily treed, or in a more remote area, or the type of aircraft is such that it is likely that the landing cannot be carried out without risk of injury then the pilot would be well advised to initiate a distress broadcast — a MAYDAY call — even if there is little time available.
   
  Distress is defined as a situation where — in the opinion of the pilot in command — an aircraft (or vessel, vehicle or person) is in grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance. The word 'Mayday', an anglicised version of the French m'aidez (help me), was adopted in 1927 as the standard radiotelephony distress call.
   
   
  

In between these two extremes there are circumstances that make some form of alert or urgency communication advisable, even if the pilot doesn't want to ask for help or feels a bit embarrassed about it. (But — in my book — better red than dead.)

The VHF frequency chosen, at the pilot's discretion, depends on circumstances and should be that which is most likely to provide a quick response or rapid assistance at the scene. The first choice response station will usually be Flightwatch on the flight information area frequency. If the frequency already tuned is a CTAF and other aircraft or a Unicom operator are known to be listening out then use that frequency (but bear in mind CTAFs are not monitored by Air Traffic Services). Another option is the international VHF voice distress frequency of 121.5 MHz, which, though also not monitored by Air Traffic Services, is continually monitored by RPT aircraft and others with a good citizen attitude and the communications equipment capability to monitor more than one frequency; see Boyd Munro's comments.

But the pilot's primary task is to fly the aircraft while selecting the best landing site and minimising risk to all persons; it is not productive to stall the aircraft while attempting to communicate.

The pilot who is encountering difficulties might decide to request assistance from flight information services — Flightwatch if contactable — advising the difficulty, the aircraft's approximate location and the pilot's intentions: without the pilot initiating an emergency status. The Flightwatch operator may arrange to directly assist or may decide to treat the situation as an emergency and declare the appropriate emergency phase — uncertainty, alert or distress. See AIP GEN 3.6.

The call format might be:

• BRISBANE CENTRE FLIGHTWATCH
   
   
  
• THRUSTER ZERO TWO EIGHT SIX
   
   
  
• EXPERIENCING NAVIGATION DIFFICULTIES IN DETERIORATING VISIBILITY
   
   
  
• REQUEST NAVIGATION ADVISORY
   
   
  

If the pilot considers there is some uncertainty and/or urgency in the situation, and that assistance may be needed, then he/she may decide to advise of an urgency condition and initiate a PAN-PAN broadcast — stating the nature of the alert, pilot's intentions and assistance desired.

Declaring an emergency in an appropriate situation displays good airmanship — and people do like to help. Read the article 'Salvation from above' in the January–February 2001 issue of the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority's Flight Safety Australia magazine. A categorised index of articles of interest to recreational pilots contained in Flight Safety Australia since 1998 is available on this site.

Urgency and distress calls

PAN-PAN and MAYDAY calls are internationally recognised emergency transmissions that initiate ICAO prescribed procedures and offer decided advantages to the pilot in difficulties.

• Distress calls have absolute priority over all other communications on that frequency, and the word MAYDAY commands immediate radio silence. Radio silence should continue until it is determined that communication has been properly established between the station in distress and a responsible authority, and that assistance is being provided.
   
   
   
   
  
• Similarly PAN-PAN urgency communications have priority over all other communications except distress calls.
   
   
   
   
  
• Flightwatch will immediately acknowledge any distress or urgency message received, coordinate communications and alert the Australian Search and Rescue organisation [AusSAR] on receipt of a distress call.
   
   
   
   
  
• If any station monitoring a distress or urgency message becomes aware that Flightwatch either has not received the message or, having received it, cannot establish contact with the originator, that station has a responsibility to contact Flightwatch and/or the aircraft, and offer assistance — possibly as a relay station — which may entail remaining in the area.
   
   
   
   
  
• There is an understanding that "In an emergency requiring immediate action, the pilot in command may deviate from any rule ... to the extent required to meet the emergency." However, you would need to ensure that any such departure doesn't cause risk to someone else. Nothing in the CASRs acts to protect the pilot against civil liability in the case of damage to persons or property. Also declaration of an emergency while entering an active restricted area does not guarantee safe passage.
   
   
   
   
  
• For transponder-equipped aircraft also see transponder emergency procedure.
   
   
  

MAYDAY call format

To remove any uncertainty whether a monitored call is an emergency call, it is most advisable to precede the call with the recognised priorities PAN-PAN or MAYDAY, then transmit as much of the following detail as circumstances allow — bearing in mind the pilot's number one priority is to fly the aircraft. If experiencing controllability problems or an engine failure when close to the surface, there won't be much time to bother about formal communication formats.

If time is available, distress calls have the preferred format:

1. Priority = MAYDAY (repeated three times)
    
    
   
2. Calling station ID (repeated three times, if time permits) and aircraft type
    
    
   
3. Nature of distress
    
    
   
4. Calling station position, heading and altitude
    
    
   
5. Intentions
    
    
   
6. Other useful information
    
    
   

For example, with an engine failure over rough, hilly terrain:

• MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
   
   
  
• THRUSTER ZERO TWO EIGHT SIX / ZERO TWO EIGHT SIX / ZERO TWO EIGHT SIX
   
   
  
• ENGINE FAILURE
   
   
  
• ESTIMATED POSITION THREE ZERO MILES SOUTH EAST ALBURY / HEADING EAST / NOW DESCENDING THROUGH THREE THOUSAND
   
   
  
• INTEND FORCED LANDING IN MITTA VALLEY
   
   
  
• TWO POB / THRUSTER ZERO TWO EIGHT SIX / MAYDAY
   
   
  

Note the last line includes the information that there are two persons on board [POB] and repeats the call sign and the MAYDAY priority. It might help a Flightwatch operator, managing several frequencies, if the frequency in use was also transmitted.

PAN-PAN call format

Urgency calls have the preferred format:

1. Priority = PAN-PAN (three times)
    
    
   
2. Called station ID
    
    
   
3. Calling station ID and aircraft type
    
    
   
4. Nature of emergency
    
    
   
5. Calling station estimated position, altitude and heading
    
    
   
6. Request or intentions
    
    
   

Utilising GPS

If the pilot in distress is able to communicate, or has established contact, a functioning GPS is a great advantage to everyone concerned, because the pilot is then able to provide a latitude and longitude position probably accurate to 100 metres. Consequently any search only entails a direct flight to that position by one aircraft. Some distress beacons also include Global Positioning System input capability.

Other communication means

UHF citizen's band [CB]. In rural and outback areas, particularly in the vicinity of the arterial roads, there is widespread usage of UHF CB radios by truck drivers, four-wheel drive vehicles, road crews, mustering crews and fencers. There are 40 CB channels located between 476.425 and 477.400 MHz in 0.025 MHz steps. The road vehicles listen out on channel 40, and channels 5 and 35 are emergency frequencies. Some VHF handheld transceivers might include UHF CB capability and there is quite a good UHF repeater system (channels 1–8/31–38) established in Australia.

A cellular mobile telephone may also be useful in advising your situation to others; the mobile emergency call service number for digital instruments is 112. In Australia the cellular mobile telephone service [CMTS] operates on frequencies in the 850, 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands. Be aware that the ACMA cellular mobile class licence 'does not authorise the operation of a station (i.e. a mobile 'phone) that is in an airborne aircraft.' An activated telephone may cause channel interference across cells, because of the altitude of the device. However recreational aircraft operate at low altitudes and comparatively low speeds; in an emergency safety has priority so recreational pilots might contact the ATC centres by mobile phone. The telephone numbers of the ATC centres and the SAR hotline are given in ERSA GEN-FIS — store that number in your 'phone.

Note that in July 2010 ACMA amended the cellular mobile class licence to allow operation of a mobile 'phone in an airborne aircraft above a specified altitude, but only to communicate with a licensed public mobile telecommunications service station onboard the aircraft. The amendment only allows passengers to use mobile 'phones in airliners that are equipped with a control unit, a 'picocell' base-station unit (such as those used in large buildings) and a telecommunications satellite connection. Under these conditions the mobile 'phones in the aircraft operate at very low power.

Source: http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/comms/safety.html#difficulties