FlyingVizsla

Just thinking out loud.Maybe a current long term staff member would be suited to the GM role. They would all ready know the ins & outs of running the adminstration side of the RAA.What do you guys think?. I guess they would have to want to do it for a start.

Sue

Still Grounded

Tech Manager ($85-90k + super) & General Manager ($100-110k + super) positions have been advertised on Seek - http://www.seek.com.au/JobSearch?DateRange=31&SearchFrom=quick&Keywords=recreational+aviation&state=3100&locationtext=Canberra

Closing date 18 Jan 2013 - a bit short, but at least it is better coverage than an advert in Sport Pilot.

According to the job descriptions, RAA employs 10-13 staff. I am guessing - GM, 2 x Tech, 2 x Ops, Office Manager, ASIC admin (was advertised in Dec), 2 or 3 Admin. Here's hoping we get some good applicants.

I feel for the Admin staff, probably on an ordinary wage and having to shoulder the brunt of angry members and pressure to push through mountains of work, letters, emails, files etc. and cope with staff shortages, consultants, volunteers off the street. If it was me, I would be looking for a less chaotic job. Hats off to the office staff - always courteous & helpful whenever we have had reason to ring.

Sue

Still Grounded

Ballpoint

At first it was the computer problem excuse, then unable to process renewals due to audit failure "you will have to wait in line"

Finally told a few days before christmas i needed to send photo's of warning placards and numbers under the L/H wing.

 

Photo's were sent last friday as raa was closed for christmas. I was advised i have been added to the processing line. So from the time

 

I rang the office with my renewal details before my rego expired until now it has been 2 months.

At present we know more grounded aircraft than those flying. People seem to think it is "only me" or "someone will fix it". Factory built Savanah, another aircraft for sale (now can't be demonstrated or transferred), home builds, etc. This is seriously inconvenient; which might be quite an understatement considering the effect on schools and livelihoods, getting to work, travel and just being able to enjoy the aircraft you own.

Sue

I think you've nailed it cherk except for two oversights. I'm not sure that any of the board members are disqualified under s67 of the Act (although I'm not sure they're not either!). And they did hold an AGM within 5 months as per s69, they just didn't do it in accordance with other provisions of the law.

Proves two things: 1. they do investigate, 2. RAA is not alone in breaching and/or being ignorant of The Act.

Sue

Still Grounded

It certainly does matter if a fraud has been committed Sue; if there is a package deal tied to member numbers (risk%), then member numbers need to match.

Sue

Do the numbers matter? Well, this site can now boast a BIGGER representation of RAA members, now we know there are not that many of them. So 7,000 on here - 9,500 RAA members ... are 50%+ RAA members tuned into RecFlying?

Sue

Jim, please add my vote to the need for all Board Members to have all information. My Council manages it for 9 Councillors and staff every fortnight, by scanning etc to produce a .pdf type document, which is also available on the website to constituents so they can understand the issues to be considered at the upcoming meeting and have an opportunity to give their member an informed opinion. To do anything less than full disclosure to Board Members, is to deny OUR right to representation.

Sue

RAA membership was 9,200 as at December 2009 (assuming they were counting all classes) - as per the RAA website http://www.raa.asn.au/join/ Then at the end of 2010 there were 9674 members (including Juniors) - again on the RAA website http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/regulations/benchmarks.html#growth_slackens

So on the figures released today - 9447 (end of June); we have gone backwards.

Personally I would not be counting magazine subscriptions as "members" as these are most likely to be libraries, universities, govt depts, etc. From an accounting perspective they would be sales.

I estimate the revenue (without GST) to be $1,542,139 - I am away so I can't check what the financials attributed to Membership Income.

I'll do some more detailed analysis when I get back mid next week.

Sue

If we can get a copy we can mull over the issues privately and then present a certified copy at the meeting. So if "someone" has them PM me and I'll give you my mailing address. Alternatively I can put my hand in the pocket to fund them. Rather than have 100 members paying for 100 copies. I have been Treasurer of nearly everything in Springsure, so I know you can hide anything anywhere. What we report to our Qld Office of Fair Trading is only a summary, not detailed or with explanation. For example I have a register of every member and their status, but only report "membership" as a lump sum. If that changes drastically from year to year, it doesn't get comment from the auditor - mind you I usually give the auditors a thorough briefing.

Sue

Here's an article from an Australian builders group http://www.saaa20.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ht_060_oct06.pdf

There are some YouTube videos, but mainly completed, flying aircraft.

There are some builders in Australia - but they tend to beaver away on their own. Best you will get are photos.

Others in the USA.

Sue

Airstrips are to the north-west on the Blackall Road. Nothing much at Adavale. The shop is shut until mid January so I would be surprised if there is anyone in town.

It's one of those places that was surveyed for a township and then the railway never arrived. I had friends who worked on a nearby property. Early 1990's, when I worked for the Lands Dept, I got a call from Quilpie Shire Council looking for the owners of several blocks in Adavale. Most were bought in the late 1800's and for some reason were never transferred on death and so it had been decades since they had received any rates. I moved on so I don't know if they ever did sell them for arrears of rates. At one stage there were blocks being offered for $1 in the hope that someone would take them over and pay the rates.

Good outback experience - good fishing.

Sue

Sherwood Ranger

The better half had a look at the Sherwood Ranger bi-plane and he is hooked. I think we have looked at every site and picture on the internet and now he wants to buy the plans to get better acquainted and make sure it can be RAA registered.

Now I know what we will be doing for the next 5 years ......

Sue

These are specs that came with the plans for the Whisky IV - with a 80HP VW engine (my conversions from lb and mph).:-

Empty weight = 282kg

MTOW = 480kg

Max horizontal speed 140knots, Cruising at 75% 113kts

Stall 37kts,

Wing loading 42.9kg/m2

This means it will not fit into the Australian CAO 95-10 (no limit on number or type of engines; 300kg MTOW, 55kts, stall 45kts, wing loading 30kg/m2) registration 10-, without modification.

It will fit into the 19- category CAO 95-55 (Max 1 engine, 1 propeller, 2 seat; 544kg MTOW, 45kt stall, wing loading 65kg/m2 - taken from CAO 101.28 non certified engine, 6% flap area)

As to the question of retracts - the earlier literature that I read seemed to indicate that retractable undercarriage was only available to seaplanes. But I note that in the RAA "Pre-flight Final Inspection" form does mention retractable landing gear and there is an endorsement for it. I can't find the article I read.

On this site is an explanation of the RAA aircraft registration categories. Under Resources - Tutorials - Sport Aviation Legislative Framework. Or click here: http://www.recreationalflying.com/tutorials/regulations/regulations.html. I would love a simple table of what is in/out for each category. The 544kg or 600kg seems confusing with the Tech Manual, CAOs and articles all reading different.

I hope someone can complete a Whisky IV and show us what we are missing.

Sue

Hi Beckd

I got the Whiskey IV plans out again. The canopy is 3mm plexiglass with a full sized template for the front curve (you have to work out the back and sides yourself). It is embedded in the fuse construction plans so you can't lay it out to cut. There are no suppliers listed so I guess if you can't do it yourself you do the measurements and take it to someone who can. There are 24 sheets in the Plans - eleven are 1:1 scale, the rest are 1:5, 1:10 or NS. Few dimensions; so you have to scale it for yourself or measure & calculate.

One of the sheets is "Construction Instructions" with a few drawings on good, difficult & passable ply joins & glue joints, a wing jig & table dimensions (5800 x 800mm) and the following text:

Construct a table to measurements indicated

Build the two fuselage sides and frames 1-2-3

Build the wing main spar caps shown full size on the assembly drawing

Build the ribs of the wing, vertical and horizontal tail

Build the ribs of rear spar - flaps and aileron spars and the tail spars

Assemble the fuselage

Assemble the tail surfaces

Assemble the wing

That's about as much instruction as you get, apart from notes on the plans eg "use only AN or MS hardware" "TIG weld only"

There are builders working from these plans, so if you decide to go ahead there are people who have gone before you and may have the answers.

Sue

Are you looking at the road to the helipad at -35.1143 138.4842 ? About 800m long and 3m wide with the odd tree/shrub within 2m of centreline? Port Stanvac Oil Refinery. Could have been an airstrip in times past.

Hi David,

Town is dead as a dodo. The boss is at work. Haven't got a plane to fly.

I am keeping an eye on a bridge abutment that collapsed in Nov and has lost some more embankment and may compromise the road, and scouring on our incomplete roadworks. Santa didn't bring me anything but I am enjoying the time off to clean, sew, plan, garden, and catch up with all my community groups - strategic plans, grant applications, re-writing tourist literature, clean the museum, do the books etc. Finally found a tipple I like - low alcohol and sweet - Brown Bros Moscato - local pub has never heard of it - so I shall be staying sober for the rest of the year.

Busy but bored.

Sue

I own a GA aircraft which I have operated as a business since 1995. I am set up as a sole trader with ABN, registered for GST. I don't have a separate account or anything for this venture, but I keep meticulous records. I have slowed down considerably in the past 4 years (hire to single user), so I am not up with the intricacies. The ATO will benchmark you against similar industries so don't expect to be recognised as a legitimate business if you use it predominantly for private use. One way around "private use" is if you hire it back when you need it paying the usual rates to the School.

People used to run these "businesses" for personal use and make a loss every year to offset against tax. Some years ago that changed and your losses are now quarantined against profits in future years - ie you don't get a tax benefit till the ATO get some tax.

You can make claims for legitimate expenditure:

- cost of your BFR, ASIC, some currency flying - only if you are required to 1. Vet new pilots (eg for insurance), 2. ferry your aircraft

- cost of memberships, subscriptions; maps, ERSA, magazines - but only if you can show a direct link eg hire aircraft with current maps, need to research industry.

- insurance

- maintenance, landing fees, fuel

- depreciation

- cost of borrowing (I didn't borrow - I couldn't have broken even if I did)

- costs of running the business - internet, accounting software, advertising, bank fees, home office etc - but it should be apportioned with other uses.

The other option is creating or incorporating a reason for flying within your existing business (if you have one) - eg flying vet. Commuting to your employment is not deductible just like driving your car to work. You must prove it is part of the employment and it is best to get a formalised agreement. For example - when I worked at Winton and had to attend Birdsville (part of my jurisdiction) I got written permission to use my aircraft rather than the company car due to the time saving. And for a while, my plane was hired by my employer and flown by myself to get engineering expertise into flood isolated areas. Probably too risk averse now for a company to do this.

Traps for young players? I was approached by an Aero Club but declined as their contract required all maintenance to be decided by the Club - their LAME was also a Club member and had a reputation for finding enough work on hired aircraft to fund his holiday home and early retirement. Also bad debts are a fact of life, so are disputes. It helps to know your market so you don't end up the 5th aircraft hirer to not get paid by Joe Blow.

The simple message is

- do your sums - be realistic - things can and do go wrong

- see a Tax Accountant

- the ATO are not naive

Sue

Solar lighting

My Council got a Federal Govt grant to extend the Rolleston Qld airstrip and decided investigate lighting so the RFDS could land at night (town has no doctor, ambulance or medical facility). To put in PAL was very expensive as the strip didn't have a power line, and PAL needs underground power all around the strip, a backup generator, radio gear etc. Looked at reflective cones - CASA approved but you still needed some powered lights. These solar powered lights are approved and have the added advantage of being on whenever the light levels are low. The local coal mine offered up $20,000 which bought the lights.

They stand about hand high, tent pegged to the ground on a rubber mat, fully encased, with solar panels angled on top, both sides, and a ring of LEDs below. The maintenance is an annual wash, battery check (well if they are still on pre-dawn the battery is OK), replace batteries every 5 years (but can last to 10-12yrs). They don't survive being run over by the slasher, and the odd one gets nicked, but on the whole they are a success story. (pictures pinched from the Company website).

Other emergency lighting alternatives are

- 9v battery powered lanterns (always replacing the batteries)

- rags or toilet rolls soaked in kero and set alight

I hope more airstrips go for solar as I remember from some years back, that the biggest problem with PAL was pilots getting the frequency or the transmit rhythm wrong, rather than the PAL failing. When I learnt (early 1990's) I was taught to turn on the PAL lights to confirm where the airstrip was and to check downwind that the light over the windsock was steady - if it was flashing it meant the lights were about to turn off. A good friend of mine was used to "turning on the lights to find the strip" but got confused because another aircraft had already done that. He died in the crash so we won't know for sure, but it appears he mistook the highway lighting for the strip and impacted rising ground a few kms from the town.

Sue

We got the email followed by a letter asking us for photos of the placards which we posted yesterday - so nothing will happen for us until after 7th Jan. The only time I could get off was from now to 7th Jan. This plane is about 7 hours away from our home and we're travelling there. Fortunately we have others we can fly, but my sympathies to those who have nothing.

We have moved out of the "Grounded - haven't heard" to the "Grounded - know what to do" (but still GROUNDED). Our others are coming up for renewal soon. Roll on Feb - to let them know how dissatisfied we are.

Sue

A whole airfield with buildings etc 14 Polo Flat Rd Cooma NSW - if only it was in Central Qld ... I could get "someone" interested too ....

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-other-nsw-cooma-106613137

Sue

Dreaming of the strip, house, hangar retirement I came across some gems.

On www.realestate.com.au - search a location eg QLD; then in the side panel type a keyword like "airstrip" and Update. Helps to limit the search to Rural / Acreage or you may end up with townhouses near an airstrip. Also searched "hangar" (and hanger for those real estate agents who can't spell), "Pilot", "Aviation", "Ultralight" etc. I sorted by cheapest to dearest to move the grazing properties & millionaire's estates to the end.

Found (just a few of) -

A hangar with modern 2 bed house at Watt's Bridge (Toogoolawah) $179k

Ex-skydive centre (Skydiver Rd Woodstock)

Someone's dream - a huge hangar & strip near Bundaberg (Avondale)

House with 3 grass strips (Bungadoo)

House, engineering workshop & strip (SE Qld)

Remove the Rural/Acreage - you get airpark properties - a few around.

Looks like there are plenty of opportunities out there - at least in Qld.

Sue

I did a search for the Technical Manger and General Manager positions on the usual job pages (Seek, Trovit etc) and came up a blank. So I guess the only job advert was in our magazine. However I did come across the Admin Assist (ASIC) which closed 12 Dec with the Office Administrator - surely an added burden she does not need at this time - interviewing etc. Money well spent to throw this to an agency so staff can concentrate on registrations with the phone and email running hot.

Sue

I had a look at Face2Face - they don't have any jobs at the moment (but it is a quiet time of year) so they should be able to give us their full attention. They have looked after the Not-for-Profit sector before (testimonials from Lifeline etc). Their strength is in being a boutique local agency with the dedication and flexibility of a small business. Depending on what services were engaged, they may visit the office to gauge for themselves the kind of employee who would best suit the position, do PDs, advertising and do all the settling-in and review.

Unfortunately it would have been better to engage them at the beginning of the process. If RAA builds a relationship with them it will make recruitment easier and more transparent, and possibly slow the staff turn-over. My best experiences have been with these smaller agencies.

Well done for getting this one up Jim.

Sue

Still no renewal and no email or contact from raa.

Still waiting - and they have our email - just in case ......

Sue