FlyingVizsla

Here's an idea - have the spouse join RAAus as a student pilot, get enough lessons(with a school) to feel some competence and then quit. Cancel RAAus membership (and Club membership) and return to the ranks of non-flyers, but a little wiser. Advantage - spouse now has the option of rejoining and finishing the Certificate and has had proper training, done within the law. RAAus can handle this as there are a few people who start but never finish every year. Could be worth a phone call to RAAus or local school. My position was a little different. I was already a GA pilot of many years, but was an office bearer with an Ultralight flying club, so I started my conversion but never finished it. I had a student licence about 12 years ago, but 11yrs ago I changed to a Non-Flying membership to get the magazine and keep up with issues. As an aside - I might be a NON-flying member, but they always ask for a photocopy of my CASA medical when it is due.(??)

Sue

GA aircraft (incl experimental) owners are requested this info every year. I think it is for statistical reasons. I guess RAAus pass this info on.Cheers

http://www.bitre.gov.au/publications/ongoing/files/General_Aviation_Activity2010.pdf

Sue

Wow! You got an email! We tried paying our rego 6th Nov and had various excuses and dates - they checked our email was still current, but we are still waiting for the email. Our plane was with a flying school, but the CFI recently decided to "retire". Regardless, it is still a very poor showing.

Sue

From the CASA website:

Classification Aviation Safety Regulator Level 1

Division Office of the Director of Aviation Safety

Branch Self Administering Sport Aviation Organisations Section

Location Brisbane, Canberra or Melbourne

Position No 2062

Salary $90,954 - $117,861 pa + superannuation

Contact Lee Ungermann

Duration Permanent

Closing Date 16 December 2012

How to apply: Please provide a current CV and a response to the selection criteria to recruitment by the closing date. In the subject line of your email, please quote the position number, job title and your name. Applications will only be accepted from candidates who address the selection criteria.

Welcome back! Love those Mooneys - flew 3 of them and worked for a LAME who was a real fan, but unfortunately killed himself in one. Sorry to hear about starting over. In many ways it can be a real blessing - I hope it turns out that way for you. I'm not into social chat either (the younger rellies are all on it and can't understand how we live without it), but this site has so much scope to give and receive advice that I keep coming back too.

Sue

I think this workshop might have been what Cazza was referring to here

http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/raaus-fails-casa-audit-again.50744/page-34#post-255019

Which looks like it was Board members only.

Sue

When nominations were open for North Qld, a member of this forum was thinking about putting himself forward, and a good candidate he would have been too, but when it was indicated who he would be standing against, he stepped back and the incumbent was elected was unopposed.

It is a big ask, to stand against a sitting member, especially one with many years on the Board as the voters who "just want to fly" will favour the status quo ("I'm still flying - why rock the boat" mentality). I know a number of RAA members (and I'm a member myself) and the assessment of candidates is more along the lines of "has he flown my type of aircraft?" There needs to be a total mind shift to now consider we need management, financial, technical, legal expertise combined with knowledge of sport aviation in all its facets.

I would support an honorarium for elected members, but for that I would expect that they took a pro-active role in the running of the organisation and not leave it to the CEO. My local Council became dysfunctional when only the Mayor could speak to the CEO and the CEO would interpret Council policy. Some Councillors collected their $65K and didn't bother attending any Council - Community meetings. Decisions were made by the staff "within policy" that horrified voters and Councillors. Because a Council is local the issues were obvious and only one hard working Councillor was returned, unfortunately no one was game to stand against the Mayor so he was elected unopposed (again). I would like to see the RAA elected Board being able to work alongside the Tech/Ops Officers, admin/finance/management - to ensure the best outcome. We have a wealth of knowledge amongst our members and some of them would have the capacity to help out in varying roles.

Sue

Position advertised 30 Nov 2012. Job description here

http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/lib100175/2062.pdf

Looking for someone with experience/knowledge as

- Instructor

- Maintenance, operations, safety

- Legislation

- Self Regulating bodies

Here is the job description - location is flexible

http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/lib100175/2062.pdf

EDIT - have put this job in a new thread to attract some applicants

We get this every year. There's 2 volumes. World Directory of Leisure Aviation (WDLA) and World Directory of Free-Flight (WDFF). Published in English, French, German and Chinese. See www.widola.com

WDLA has a database of available aircraft - 5 per page - photo, description, specs, contacts, price, category etc. LSA, ULs, kits, gliders, gyros, trikes, instruments, engines. An improvement this year is the index to aircraft. It keeps the boss entertained for hours, comparing and fancying various innovations. Highly recommended reading. We asked our newsagent to get it in - it was near impossible 4 years ago but has been turning up for the last 3 easy as. Used to be $21, now only $14.50 for 290 pages.

Sue

I would not support his retention to research "complex issues" - this was my assessment of one of his attempts. This thread started when the previous CEO departed.

http://www.recreationalflying.com/threads/new-ceo.10370/#post-103095

Our registration is still outstanding (now well overdue). The office took all our details including payment, checked they had the correct email address, but nothing since, so assume it is still outstanding. Will post something when it does finally come through.

Sue

We tried to renew our (now overdue) registration today. Office staff were very courteous and helpful, but all they could do was take our details and promise that it may be resolved by Friday. Plane cannot be flown until things are resolved. Little inconvenience on our part, but imagine if it was with a flying school or we had planned our flying holiday.

If what I hear is happening then this is a very poor state of affairs. I cannot imagine outstanding candidates considering a position with this employer. I am concerned for the front office staff who give such sterling service who have been asked to provide explanations to customers that they know are not right ("its a computer / CASA problem"). If this was my office I would ask that these customers be transferred to a more senior officer and dealt with in an honest manner.

Sue

Unfortunately we have no imagination. We call them by the maker's name - the Rans, Lightwing, Karasport; and he calls mine "your poor plane" with a sad lilt reserved for old Cessnas sitting in the weather with the paint oxidising away. We are about to embark on a refurbish and repaint so I am sure there will be "other" names as the work progresses. I get to design a new paint scheme for the C152. Any ideas?

Sue

I read her book - My Stroke of Insight - got it from the local library. It's a habit of mine to pick a non fiction book at random and read a topic totally unrelated to my current work, study etc. Highly recommend that people read it. I have it on my re-read list as I have not fully assimilated the information. Your brain is great while everything is working in harmony, but a stroke or other disturbance can alter your perceptions of yourself, ability with numbers and other things we take for granted. Haven't watched the video yet (we have a slow connection and 22 mins will take some time to download). I remember during her recovery directly after the stroke that she lost the perception of her body and her identity was not confined by a body - much akin to what we imagine the soul to be - and may go some way to explaining out of body and near death experiences (but not all). I had some close to me have a disturbance, unable to speak properly, another could not lay down new memories and kept asking the same question over and over, came out of it 6 hours later with no memory of those hours. Another I recognised had had tiny episodes and we managed to convince her to see the doctor, it wasn't just 'old age'. Her experiences certainly helped me understand their predicament. Just as an aside - our Australian system of health care is marvellous compared with the USA - she's having a stroke, but somehow has to make sure she is taken to the right hospital because her insurance only covers certain ones. Another level of complication you don't want.

This book is gold for anyone trying to understand how they think, learn, function - not just for stroke survivors. Read it!

Sue

Hi Craig,

Going for a Cessna 150 / 152 might be a "cheaper" option. They are old, but usually well maintained (from a safety perspective), cheap for 90-105kts, 2 seat with more luggage space and weight, parts are easy to get, most aircraft works can service, can use Avgas or petrol (if certified for Mogas), 5 hour range with long range tanks, rego is free and there are plenty around. Down side is getting a licence (PPL or RPL) that costs a bit more than an RAA certificate, 100 hourly (or annual) service costs, engine rebuild / replacement is expensive. But if it saves you $30k on purchase then it might be a while before those other costs catch up to going with a newer ultralight RAA plane. For us - It is 2.5 hours to the grand kids (airstrips within 1km at each end) Vs. 7.5 hours by car. We are fortunate in that we have everything we need at both destinations so we don't have to take much more than the wallet and some trinkets for the kids. Once you start planning to take a week's worth of clothes, swag, tools, food etc, then you really should go by car.

Sue

We have been caught up in it - better half rang (Tue/Wed?) to renew our Lightwing and was told there was a problem taking his payment but would be resolved in 48 hours, rang back Friday - will be resolved by Monday. He got the impression it was a computer problem. Our renewal is due on Monday. If I hadn't read it on this forum I would still be thinking it was an EFTPOS issue.

Also wondering about the Jab that was damaged at Wungong Dam, WA on Friday. Report says he bought it that morning and was insured. Given he could not have transferred it through RAA, I wonder what the insurers would do about that. By my reckoning there would be 40 - 50 aircraft a week affected. Perhaps they are hoping that drying up the funds will push the problem up to a resolution. I am still in the dark about what the fuss is all about but it is getting serious.

Sue

Hi Tomo,

The better half says it is most likely the connection on the back of the gauge - check it is firmly in place. He uses switch grease (silicon) on the connections. We had a similar problem.

Sue

The World Directory of Aviation 2012/13 is out now. Our local newsagent got us a copy of 2011/12 last year (after they said they couldn't) and have decided to get it in for us each year. Over 1,000 aircraft - everything for the lighter end of the market - described, photographed and categorised. If you are considering the next plane it will give you lots to look at.

If only I could get it off my husband .....

Sue

Welcome aboard RFD. My old instructor used to like teaching the Doctors and Anaesthetists to fly as they seemed to cotton on to concepts and manage time very well. Mostly they were with the RFDS or Flying Surgeon, so they got to revise while in the "office". Loved that country around SA. I took a couple of people from Western Qld down to the inaugural meeting of the Maitland Aero Club and it was an eye opener for them to see airstrips everywhere and property buildings the size of their town, a plane in every second shed and pilots everywhere. They take their flying seriously down there - as Basshafers pointed out there are more pilots per head of population in SA than in any other state.

So its great to have you on board!

Sue

The final report has been released http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-160.aspx

In flight break-up due to turbulence in a thunderstorm.

Sue

Talking about Lightwing Mysteries, I was wondering where 25-0327 got to. After I married nearly 5 years ago, I discovered my husband had first flown this Lightwing in March 1990 when it belonged to the Gympie Aero Club, then I first flew it in Jan 2000 when it belonged to the Barcaldine Club. It was sold about 2004/05 and the Club folded. It went off to towards Rockhampton. I often wonder what came of it. Still training? Flying? I am still discovering places where our paths crossed (new hubby & me) even though we didn't know each other, lived 500 - 1,400km apart, he remembers seeing me at one Natfly, we have shared aircraft (albeit some years and distance apart), know the same people etc. Small world. The picture features Barcaldine's oldest student pilot at 69yrs. He went on to get his licence but died 2 years ago after a long illness.

Sue

We nearly went for a joy flight at Monto, finally enquired when it was being tied down, spoke with the guy looking after the steps, and hubby decided we would do it "next time" never realising there never would be a "next time". I followed the saga on several sites over the last days with growing sadness. I didn't personally know these people, but they are part of our aviation family and faces we see from time to time. The aircraft was a grand old lady, so beautifully restored and so lovingly shown around, and of all the planes we photographed, this was the one we have most of - all with smiling faces. My thoughts are with families, friends, searchers, and those waiting for answers. God bless

Sue

Yes - The trailer in the photos was Mr & Mrs Flying Viz. We saw Tomo surrounded by a crowd of admirers, so we didn't butt in; caught up with the Isis Flying Club members; did lots of walking and drooling, caught up with Major Millard (he's taller than me) and Hongie. Met many others, builders, dreamers, pilots and partners. Went to the fabric & timber workshops, was running late for the Meet the CEO - was empty when we got there - anyone know how that went? Hardly took any pictures, kept forgetting, bought lots of raffle tickets to support the people who supported the Fly-in, and vowed next time to bring a plane or two (seem to remember doing that 2 years ago). Stalls were running out of things, which is a good indication that it was a success. Callide Valley Club had delicious strawberries and ice cream concoction and, when the weather turned cool, hot pumpkin soup. Pity about the weather - Planning already for 2014.

Sue

A bit more of the story and a photo

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story/2012/09/25/crash-witness-rushes-to-aid-of-injured-pilot-passe/