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Reynard

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  1. Reynard
    https://www.businessnewsaustralia.com/articles/viva-energy-restarts-key-geelong-refinery-unit-after-fire-but-alkylation-plant-to-stay-offline-through-2027.html
  2. Reynard
    I don’t have an update on the repairs at Viva, but the same unit could produce AvPULP.
  3. Reynard
    Thanks for that Rodgerc - in a distant previous life, I supplied ethylene diamine (and other neutralising and filming amines) to oil refineries and many other industrial processes. I’m very aware of the circumstances at Mobil Altona and what led to the amine ending up in Avgas back in the ‘90s. Fortunately for me, it was a competitors product, but ultimately there was no fault by the supplier. The root cause was the operation of the alkylation plant being unstable leading to acid carryover into downstream processes. The neutralising amine is routinely dosed to these downstream processes to neutralise the acid and thereby limit corrosion. The suppliers responsibility is to monitor the pH and adjust the amine dose accordingly. The more acid carryover, the lower the pH in the downstream processes- keep cranking up the amine dose. The suppliers performance was measured by the corrosion rate. This led to a massive overdose of amine. Of course, Mobil may have a different opinion - it’s usually the supplier that cops it. Anyhow, getting a bit off track. Of course we are largely relying on overseas refineries these days, with the exception of Avgas which predominantly is produced at Viva in Geelong-that is until they had a fire in their alkylation unit.
  4. Reynard
    Anybody have any info of on airfield AvPULP 98 prices ? Most recent OzRunways user price for AvPULP at Camden on 2 July, was $2.00…….which sounds fairly reasonable.
  5. Reynard
    I would suggest the critical difference between AvPULP 98 and Servo 98 is convenience. ”If you have the right stuff at the right place at the right time, you can set your own price” on IOR’s website, they suggest that AvPULP is not adulterated with any of those nasty additives that bulk fuel suppliers use……… “Unlike MOGAS which may contain dangerous, uncontrolled, and incompatible oxygenated and other fuel components harmful to users and the environment, the safety of AvPULP is enhanced with an assured higher-octane quality and energy content.”
  6. Reynard
    IOR has AvPULP (aviation grade 98 mogas) bowsers at Bendigo, Latrobe Valley and Camden. That’s it, so far.
  7. Reynard
    If you fly a Rotax and have an understandably strong bias toward Mogas, it is almost logistically impossible to fly long distances in Australia without having to resort to using Avgas at some locations. (Don’t ask me how I know)
  8. Reynard
    The global availability of Tetra Ethyl Lead (TEL) may influence the supply of 100LL Avgas sooner rather than later. Is Australia’s GA and Recreational fleet ready for this……and will airfields around Australia have an alternative available in time ?? “U.K.-based Innospec, which is the sole remaining manufacturer of TEL in the Western world, plans to permanently discontinue production in the 2028–2029 timeframe. The highly corrosive nature of manufacturing TEL makes maintaining the aging equipment too expensive to justify continued operations” (AVweb)
  9. Reynard
    Cheaper than a C172 !
  10. Reynard
    Cirrus had a crack at an LSA some years ago, but it never took off (pun intended) https://planeandpilotmag.com/fk-lightplanes-new-model-offsetting-cirrus-stall/
  11. Reynard
    Hummingbird
  12. Reynard
    Yes, it should be in ERSA, but maybe Skippy could contact AvPlan /OzRunways and suggest they add current airport fees to their embedded airport data.
  13. Reynard
    I currently use 50% blockout static cling on my ‘roof’ - so far, so good. I would expect a static cling tint shade on the upper part of the windshield would be satisfactory.
  14. Reynard
    My interpretation of the RA-AUS note was that it was ackowledging the global shortage of specialty oils due to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Trying to actually find a local supply of AeroShell Sportplus 4 oil has been the issue over the past few months and it may be tempting to use something else other than Rotax approved fluids. The Rotax approved fluids are clearly listed in the attachment on the RAAus note - AeroShell Sportplus 4 being one of the approved fluids……as well as Rotax branded products. i couldn’t detect a specific bias by RAaus other than to state the manufacturers requirements.
  15. Reynard
    Extract from Wentworth council website T&C’s : “ For the purposes of establishing liability for charges, a flight by an aircraft may be identified by and not limited to documentation, which includes information supplied by Air Services Australia, ADS-B transponder data, recordings of messages broadcast to or from the aircraft and visual observations of aircraft activity.” How often is ADS-B data used by Avdata or others to impose fees ?
  16. Reynard
    Just be up to date with the VFRG. That should be enough if you already have a PPL.
  17. Reynard
    Tomorrow is the anniversary, and theoretically a ‘final’ investigation report should be forthcoming. There is skepticism that the final report will provide anything conclusive, or indeed that a report will be issued at all in the expected timeframe.
  18. Reynard
    It was suggested to me that over-voltage protection should be separated from the regulator rather than integrated internally within it. Any comments, anyone ?
  19. Reynard
    Thanks. I believe I have a Schicke, not a Ducati VR. Since 2025, Schicke VRs are made by ILec GmbH who are not represented in Australia.
  20. Reynard
    Anyone have any experience with the Shicke regulator ? From its appearance I believe that’s what I have, but there are no markings on it at all……and yes, I think I have a regulator problem.
  21. Reynard
    The training module for CTA access has now been issued to RA AUS instructors. The revised ops manual still needs to be approved however.
  22. Reynard
    Made me realise a (small) advantage of a high wing ! A pitot cover with about a half metre of red tape is hard to miss from the pilots seat…..although I admit I’ve still managed to sit in the pilot seat before I’ve realised it was still in place. Distractions during the walkaround are a real no no. The other thing I’ve learnt is not to assume your pax has locked the cargo door properly. Fortunately I heard something slapping around during the runup checks, and figured out what it was - a lucky save.
  23. Reynard
    Here are last year’s fees for visiting Horn Island for 1 night. (Torres’s Strait.) Yes, it’s remote and stuff is expensive. Extract from council websites fees & charges page : Passenger Charge - Other Operators. Charge per passenger calculated assuming that number of passengers is 70% of aircraft carrying capacity. One arrival and one departure charge will be invoiced in association with each landing record. $18.00 A landing charge per tonne pro-rata of an aircraft's maximum take-off weight, with minimum charge equivalent to MTOW of 1 tonne. Applies to landing, touch and go, stop and go. (MAXIMUM OF ONE LANDING CHARGE PER AIRCRAFT PER HOUR) $34.05 Parking. A charge per Tonne MTOW per night $8.00 TOTAL for a 2 seat aircraft (pilot only, no pax) = $114.05 I’ve been led to believe the actual billing amount may differ, dependant upon who does the calculation on the day of your visit. it’s not completely clear to me how the total amount is determined from the above council website info.
  24. Reynard
    Both are commendable and solo PIC. The big lap is a serious undertaking by any measure.
  25. Reynard
    Thanks Garfly, Watching/waiting with interest for access to the greater Sydney basin, Williamtown coastal, Coffs Harbour, Ballina, etc, etc. Once RA Aus receives approval from CASA, they will then need to roll out the training package to instructors, and then for the instructors to deliver and sign off the endos to prospective pilots. I suspect all of that could take some time. is it a safe assumption that all current RAAus instructors already have CTA (current) experience and can sign off an endo ? Just like a PPL will an endo require an entry to Class D and C airspace ? That’ll be more fun for the tower lads and ladies at Canberra et al, even more than the current stream of student PPLs making their first pilgrimage from Bankstown! Lots of questions…….patience is a virtue !
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