skippydiesel

Jesus! Whats happening with this web site ? - just lost a second posting.😈

Me thinks there is a design lesson to be learned. "Subside" (forward openening) doors are (almost) a car feature of the distant past, for very similar reasons.😈

Why does the Jab's exhaust system require so much repair/welding??😈

Had the door on a C172 open in flight - no big deal - did a standard circuit - landed - relatched door - took off again - all good!😈

Hi Baz, I just tried to get into the RAA web site to see if they list RAA training establishments in the Canberra area - unfortunately there seem to be a problem with the web site, it wouldn't accept my log in. RAA flight training is likly to be your most cost effective . The training follows the same content as GA (with the exception of entry to controlled airspace - soon to be included) I doubt Canberra airport will have an RAA flight school (but you never know) - someone, on the forum, in the Canberra area would know for sure. 😈

So? 😈

Hi BrendAn, Are the exhaust springs standard Jab - they look quite light weight? The location/angle of some of the exhaust springs, does not look to be optimal? What is function of the hose clamp on one muffler flange? 😈

I agree - A call to the ARO is highly desirable, if there is any doubt about airfield condition, however landing fees should already be known ie published in ERSA😈

May just be the photo but those exhaust springs dont look heavy duty enough or at the best angle/position, to keep the pipe in the muffler. Whats the hose clamp for? 😈

Yes however the exorbitant fees quoted, are not what my concern (at this time), its the failure to publish the fess in ERSA (staying on track)😈

My point is simple - In Day VFR conditions , (prevalent in the whole video) lights of any description, do almost nothing to enhance conspicuousity. They have but three functions; To place an additional load on the aircraft's electrical generation/storage system Place an additional financial cost (acquisition of frivolous/luxury item)on the aircraft owner Bragging rights for the deluded pilot/owner Note: I support the right of all humans to engage in delusion, as long as it has no negative impacts on others (this would be an example).😈

I wonder why the featured Jab had his Nav lights on all the time - just an added load on his electrical system for no galn.😈

When I started flight training @ 40, 60 minutes +/- , once or twice, a week (as my instructor and his farm activities allowed) was about my limit. Any more and it was wasted teaching, that had to be repeated. I found it exhausting & exhilarating. I have no idea how you were able to do 2 x 90 minutes / day and the training stick. 30++ years later, I can now fly for 6 hrs in day (longest trip to date) but its still a challenge in a small, twitchy aircraft. 😈

On building & the unexpected time / $ it may take; About 15 years ago, I purchased an old ATEC Zephyr - Great aircraft! She was flyable but looked a little care worn. As my knowledge of the aircraft increased, it turned out that various bits were well past the factory recommended "time" in service. I decided to do a complete in/out make over/refurbish, on the bird. I estimated 1-2 months & about $10,000 AU. About this time, I retired, so was able to devote up to 7 days /week and anything from 6 - 12 hrs + /day. I guess I averaged at least 5 + day's/week and likly 8 +hrs /day It took all of 12 months and probably $15,000 AU. Some of the unexpected factors were: Cost of importing the Stewart paint & fabric system from the US. Australian importing add-ons can be a bit of a shocker All the little essential hard to budget for bits & pieces eg special temperature controlled iron for shrinking the fabric, quantity of sandpaper, etc The shear length of time / hard graft, to remove fabric & paint. The learning curve required to replace the fabric. Purchase of a high volume, Honda powered, compressor, to suit the Stewart application system. Built a temporary spray booth with forced, filtered, heated, through air, ventilation and wall / ceiling strip lighting PPE for toxic dust & paint spray I already had the 4 kva generator to power tools, lights, fan & heating Etc, etc. The reward ; The project got me through the potential for post retirement blues . The satisfaction in the remade/new aircraft, that was now safe (particularly the fabric) and flying better than before. If I had moved straight to another (similar) project, within the next 1-2 years, I could probably do it in 1/2 the time (skilled up) and now that I have invested in various tools, a few $K less. The take home message; Get some advice on exactly how long it will take to build or refurbish. Ask & cost (if you don't have them) what tools will be required. Budget for the project PLUS a significant factor for additional consumable etc Think carefully about the estimated time, against your other commitments. 😈

Thanks gents - I think you have made my position abundantly clear - In Australia we expect fees & charges to be divulged up front. Not hidden in some difficult navigate web site, third party or other provider. ERSA is the proper place for the fee schedule, no matter how "eye watering" 😈

Should my Quixotic tilting yield a positive result, for all private pilots, I hope you will have the time to benefit.😈

I apologise if my frustration is showing, however I don't actually know to which response you are referring - please quote or specify.😈

You may like to reflect on the time & effort you have expended on the above, slight arrogant, response, when you could have spent a similar amount of time/effort in positively supporting my (& apparently your) position and still gone about your " more important" activities. I will lead, if I must, however a leader requires followers/supporters, otherwise he is but a Don Quixote, a joke to be ignored. How about suggesting a person/position to contact, even a petition, etc?😈

Ye Gads! - All I am asking for is, that airfield owners put their fees in ERSA. How hard can it be to performer this simple task, once per annum???? Almost all of your response is about the poor bureaucrat, that might be held to account for his/her Councils decisions - Mate that is their job! "...when someone demands a service that is either just solely benefiting the enquirer, or a very small number of affected people," If its a reasonable enquiry/request, that benefits just one tax/ratepayer, it should be done! - no procrastination, no delay - end of story. What I am asking for is likly to reduce the enquiries ie benefit the owner/user. Even you might benefit ,from seeing the cost of using an airfield , in a single easily accessible location - ERSA! 😈

As above - More apathy. I am not about leadership - I am about a popular movement to improve the private piloting environment. When will Australians start to understand, that our government(s)/bureaucracy are staffed by public servants ie WE EMPLOY THEM. They hold their jobs at our pleasure. By not questing, you empower & embolden bureaucracy to impose whatever they wish on us, knowing we will "kowtow" to every ruling. When there is a government over reach (ASIC) you just accept it as part of life. When there is a failure of fair trading (informe the pilot of airfield charges) you shrug your shoulders and going looking for the information elsewhere. Apathy Rules! 😈

All true , hardly a good reason for not attempting to improve the situaton - in short apathetic.😈

"Please explain" When someone (me) identifies a lack (no airfield fee schedule) in a vital document (ERSA) and starts to try & do something about it, the overwhelming response is indifference, followed by negativity and the occasional look warm supporter. Why is there not 100% support of having as much relevant flight planning information as possible, in the one document (ERSA)???? Would you not preferer to (A) know what your costs will be up front (B) have the option/choice to land elsewhere to minimise/avoid the cost? But noooooo you would rather search through generic documents, contact various parties, who may or may not have the information. How many of you, don't bother to find out what the fee schedule is, just accept that there will be a bill (could be a shocker) and pay up without so much as a whimper? Am I missing something here, what is the problem with trying to get airfield owner/operators to post their fees in ERSA ??

Hi Ian, Not that it matters, I have no recollection of a flyable Cherokee based at The Oaks - Only an occasional C180 & resident C 172 RG (which doesn't seem to get out all that often). If have no issue with any person wishing to fly the aircraft of their choice, alone or with Pax. The topic of this thread "drifted " somewhat to this statemnt by BernieM - "I am hoping for the increase to 3 passengers to actually happen." I asked why, with an observation, to the effect, that most pilots fly alone - extra seats are not so very much more attractive, than the standard RAA two seat arrangement ie even one Pax is a rare event. Inherent in this observation is the addition purchase & operating cost of (usually) empty seats. You make a good point with "Its nice not having to worry about each kilogram when deciding what to take on a trip !" - I am always very careful with W & B in my tiny 2 seat aircraft. It would indeed be nice to just throw the weekend camping gear in the bird & take off with full fuel, knowing you are nowhere near the W & B limits. You may be a wealth individual that has little concern for the running cost of your Cherokee - if so great. However most of us are not so blest, so we fly relativly low operating cost aircraft (usually small 2 seaters) I have just returned from an afternoons flight around the "patch" 1.7 hrs in beautifully smooth (cold) air, at something less than 15L ULP/hr (varying true airspeeds >130 knot Cruise). The total fuel cost in the region of $48 - unfortunately no Pax to share the awful cost. Should I ever need something approaching your Cherokees carrying capacity - I could just hire a suitable aircarft (I have a PPL). Since transitioning to RAA (15 years ago?) the need has never eventuated - I almost always fly alone.😈

Very true! FYI; I have contacted; Fair Trading NSW - They agree that the fees should be readily available to the customer/pilot ie it not reasonable just to say there will be a charge , the customer must (in most cases) know what the charge will be ahead of commiting to the purchase of the good/service. Unfortunatly they were a tad bewilder by the whole thing & suggested contacting Airservices. Airservices /NAIPS - They think its a CASA issue as its CASA that overseas what goes into ERSA (airfield oversight) and Air Services do the publishing. Recomened I put my (our?) concerns in writing. CASA - Sympathetic but similar to sort of response to Air Services - request to put in writing. I will write to both Federal organisations (Airservices insist they are not actually a Federal Government body - QUANGO?). I have a life, so the letter writing may take a few days - week. At the very least there will be an answer of some sort. 😈

I take heart from your rather "low key" acknowledgment that it would be "desirable" for airfield fees to be published in ERSA. I would very much doubt that the the intent of the Law, covering posting fees for goods & services, has been met by what is usually a difficult to navigate Council web site that also includes all that Councils fees (ie not specific to their airport(s), would constitute open & easily accessible. Fair Trading departments are (to the best of my knowledge) State based. I will call the NSW department & have chat about this however to get meaningful ie comprehensive response to this issue, will likly be in the hands of the Federal Gov.😈