skippydiesel

The thoughtless, stupid or bravado operation of drones is a concern to all of us, particularly pilots whoes aircraft could be brought down by one.😈

My apologies to Shawn & BernieM - Must of got a sort of tunnel vision going 😈

No offense Shawn but the complication is an entirely artificial construct ie has no practical foundation - its a rule, for the sake of a rule, that may have had a shred of legitimacy when RAA aircraft were all rag & tube & few of its pilots had duel RAA Cert / PPL, as many do now. RAA's existence as a separate entity (to CASA) is tenuous at best. If you have aircraft & pilots operating in the same airspace, to the same rules/standards, the existence of a separate (to CASA) body administering to a relativly small group, whose licensing conditions & benefits, are no longer so diffrent to GA, what is the point? For all practical argument, the line between RAA & CASA pilots/aircraft, is now blurred to the point of only being in existence due to Part 61 (an illusion) and the tenacity of RAA (delusion?). If RAA is to continue, it needs to offer clear benefits (over GA) to its members AND must be seen to vigorously advocate on our behalf. To date RAA seems mostly concerned with such questionable grandiose schemes as the Group G initiative (pretty much nullified by changes to GA medical requirements), while ignoring every day irritations like those I articulated above. 😈

Welcome Shawn, I applaud your initiative in connecting with this Forum - Could be a first. For myself - I want to see RAA assertively advocate on the members behalf, for such simple things as; RAA represented on or at least to, the Australian Airports Association (AAA), To make the case for, preferably no Landing Fees for RAA class aircraft. If nil not possible, at least minimal, in recognition of our light weight (almost no impact on infrastructure). Standardisation of Landing Fees ie the same fee for the same aircraft, no matter the airfield. All regional airfields, Landing Fees posted in ERSA. Overturning that part of CASA Part 61 that does not recognise RAA registered aircraft, as aircraft, such that a (CASA) GA Instructor cannot conduct a Flight Review (BFR) for a CASA Licensed Pilot (PPL) in an RAA registered aircraft - bureaucratic nonsense. The removal of the requirement for Australian private pilots (RAA & others) to hold an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) for access to most small Regional Security Controlled airports - nil security benefit, just an added pilots cost for no demonstrable gain (essentially a charge nor no service). RAA post regular updates on their advocacy - The topic, how it's going (progressing or not) how the membership may be able to help expedite the process. You will find most of the arguments on the above in this Forum. Should you prefer, I am more than happy to discuss these matter directly with you. All are way overdue (by many many years) for resolution. Note: I have made writen representation of the above topics, where appropriate to RAA, CASA, NAIPS, The Minister & AA 😈

Rotax Fly-In Caloundra - 21 November 2026 https://www.flyrotax.com/dis/bef/e/rotax-fly-in-australia-2026 Where Caloundra aerodrome, Australia https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/experience-sunshine-coast/airports/caloundra-aerodrome 😈

Just to let you all know, I am trying to have ALL Landing Fees (Schedule) listed in ERSA. To date, I have writen to CASA, NAIPS, The Minister, RAA and Australian Airports Asssosiaton (AAA) Neutral response from; CASA, NAIPS ie acknowledged correspondence with the suggestion not their call. No response at this time; Ministers Office, AAA Very full res ponce; RAA, however got the distinct feeling the topic likly on the back burner (if at all) I wrote to two airfields, that I recently landed at, who do not have their fees listed in ERSA. One responded promptly, by phone, appeared to understood my concern and sounded like they may take up my suggestion to list im ERSA. The second took many weeks to respond, by eMail and was quit combative - The writer stated that what I was asking for was not industry practise & no other airfield does it. I wrote back giving a short list of airfields that do "best practise" list their fees in ERSA- no response. Also had an intestine phone conversation with an AOPA executive - very much on side. I intend to forward my correspondence (to date) to AOPA. In short; Progress "glacial" - need more letters from intersted/concerned parties, to get this simple matter resolved LIST LANDING FESS IN ERSA 😈

Might be fun to meet up. Just did a quick & very dirty flight plan - would take me about 6 .5 flight hrs to get to Williams Creek. Added to this would be ground time , fetching fuel, etc. Say 8 -9 hrs all up. Rather than do this in one day, I would probably stay overnight somewhere along the Track. Allowing for one night there & back plus two nights at YWMC = 4 nights accomodation (or tent). ULP available close to most airfields, along the way, but at a pinch would use AvGas. 😈

Not sure (ponderous) airliners are the right sort of aircraft to be performing stunts like this 😈

Hi Mewp, Informative "....federal government dropped the ball." They didn't just drop the ball (sounds like an oops/mistake), they massively disadvantaged the flying community/industry, while shifting the responsibility for airfields to (mainly) Councils. The Councils were/are ill equipped to take on this novel asset - their previous exposure being limited to maintenance under Federal direction/funding. With hindsight it's clear that Councils view on this ranged from - Millstone (to be sold of) - to potential financial windfall (charge the rich pilots for access). Just a few see the airfield as an asset that can serve the community well. Like or not the control/management of regional airfields, around the nation, is now predominantly at the discretion of Councils - they must wear the blame and the okalades, where appropriate, for their management. 😈

Not about to "live stream" any time soon 😈

Got any reasoned recomedations?😈

IE bureaucratic duplication/inefficiency - its no wonder Australia struggles to be competitive in the wider World.😈

The reality is, the syllabus for training a pilot in Australia, is functionally the same no matter RAA or GA. It has to be - we all fly in the same airspace so the same system / understanding, applies to all pilots. 😈

😈

BIG PROBLEM - Who will train the RAA pilots for a Controlled Airspace Endorsement ?? - Of the possible instructors at my airfield, not one, so far, has shown any interest in going down this path. Then we have the ridiculous artificial seperation of GA / RAA instructors, so no chance of getting a GA instructor to do the endorsement. The whole system is one big crock of excrement! Mañana ! As stated the system is broken - something significant will have to change to get matters back on track. 😈

Last aircraft, I had two iPad overheats, within a year or so. Installed a third, dedicated, mini eyeball vent (T off one of the two main vent lines) directed onto back of iPad - worked a treat, never had an inflight overheat again. Sonex has a panel integrated iPad holder, by Guardian Avionics, with its own fan. The idea is great. Guardians electrics are crap. I have replaced the Guardian transformer that drives both fan & iPad, with an off the shelf automotive one. System now works very well, no overheats, no loss of power to iPad. "There's no way I'm going to trust my navigation to an iPad' You should not trust your navigation to one single system. I have no less than three GPS systems and a "Whiskey" compass. Once established in Cruise & On Track, I note the aircraft heading, if diffrent from planned heading. I also note any variation in ground speed. The first gives me confidence , should my EFB fail, I can still follow the the planed Track. The second informs me of higher/lower fuel burn, than planned, for that Leg. 😈

Hi JWW, On two occasions, in roughly the same area (Silverdale) on the edge of The Sydney Basin, within a two week period, I had all my OzRunways Blue traffic balloons disappear for perhaps 5 minutes. This had never happened before or since. I contacted OzRunways for an explanation - a telephone problem was their best guess??? 😈

Rumour has it, that RAA may be distracted by greater problems than MOSAIC😈

MoneyBox "I went armed with a little aluminium trim tab that I intended to add to the aileron so that I don't have to constantly hold the stick to one side. " IF?? your flaps can be individually adjusted, you can "fix" the need to maintained/hold aileron correction, by adjust a flap. Flap up (wing down)is usually aerodynamically more efficient than flap down to lift a wing. Remember that an adjustment on one flight control surface will almost always affect another. Rudder trim will correct most small out of wings level trim. The aim should always be to trim so that your Balance Ball is centred in level flight 😈

Agreed - nothing new. "So the rate seems to be $1200 from chasing this up and thats if you have someone reasonably local to do it" As with all commercial services, its up to you the customer to shop aground for the best deal. My Sonex cost (from faulty member) about $700.00, 3 years ago. Try - Aircraft Weighing Australia Pty Ltd https://aircraftweighingaustralia.com.au/ 😈

Well I had a great chat with a very enthusiastic board member - we were/are very much on the same page visa v Landing Fees to be published in ERSA, Private pilots to no longer need to hold an ASIC, for access to most regional airfields and some degree of Standardisation in Landing Fees. AOPA can not be worse than RAA when it comes to advocating on behalf of Private Pilots - I am happy to give them a go. Contributors to this Forum need to realise that numbers count ie give weight to any person advocating on our behalf. If the prevailing apathy continues, we deserve what ever we get . 😈

I will probably use the existing hose, that terminates in the Banjo fitting. It is likly a bit too long but better that, than short. I intend to safety wire as much as possible. Can't afford to have the new arrangement come loose in the air. 😈

Well all the necessary bits are now on hand - Dies anyone have a word of caution/encouragement 😈

I have signed up with AOPA - hope the have a bit more get up and go than RAA (wouldn't be hard)😈

Check your ERSA entry for Balina - AvGas available Viva Fuel, carnet & credit cards. 😈