skippydiesel

First really nice day, in about 10 , so took the opportunity to go on a nice little jaunt, The Oaks- Cowra, this afternoon. Some initial lumpiness, but once on the western side of the Divide, smooooooth. Approaching Cowra had this unusual haze/mistiness, a little further to the West- nothing major. Landed Right Circuit on 15 (a year or so back, I did a standard Left, even though I had highlighted Right - go figure?). Except for one Sunday visit, every time I have arrived at Cowra, it has been jumping with activity - not today. I was only there long enough to make use of the "facilities"s (can almost park outside). Aside from rows of parked aircraft, only a Piper ? Cessna 172 and a turbine Ag plane were actually moving. Return leg, even smooooother. Climbed to 5500 ft over scattered cloud, which eventually gave way, to almost no cloud - spectacular views. Sydney Basin also not very aviation active - must be a half day Friday or something Landed on 18 Left (the Eastern strip is my favorit, smoother, but a bit shorter than the West) with a very slight tail wind. Let the Sonex run on, with just a little added power, to my turn off to the parking area - great flight, 60 minute's each way. "Wouldn't be dead for quids" 😈

My SE2 RAM Suction Mount was evil. No matter how hard I tried the B--- thing would drop of just as I rotated for take-off, or at some other inconvenient time. Its no fun, in a small aircraft, fishing around blindly for a hiding SE2 - people thing your practising for an aerobatic display. My home made SE2 mount is semi perniment. When I gnat to take it home to charge, its just a 90 degree twist & I leave the mount in place.😈

Last time I checked out Tumut ERSA it said; "REMARKS ACFT PRKG fees apply. See council fees and charges schedule" I looked & I looked but nary a fee was to be found. I called the aero Club - non the wiser. I must have wasted 30 + minutes without a result A good example of why I want Fees posted on ERSA (a simple standardized approach) "My understanding is if you do touch and goes for up to 30 minutes this counts as 1 landing at most airfields." Maaate! In your dreams - Your following observation covers this fantasy - "Special fees and inconsistencies across different airfields cause confusion and animosity between airfield owners and the GA community. " I am fairly sure there is an aircraft service business operating out of Tumut - lf correct should be contributing significantly to airfield costs.

Same problem with my SE2 (& its not that old). My solution - Made up an aluminium L bracket , that the SE2 supplied mounting can screw to, that Velcros to my anti glair shield carpet. Added a few extra strips over the L for added security. Sits just off center, little impact on visibility, has near 300 degree horizontal & 180 vertical acquisition field. 😈

Fair comment. Is your example actual or speculative. If actual please provide location. I guess the owners (Council) will have to weight the benefits & opinions of their ratepayers, against the cost. Having access to an emergency response airstrip, may be viewed by the community as essential - bit like a sports ground. $75,000 per annum /15 aircraft = $ 5,000/aircraft - Check out the join & annual fees for Wedderburn NSW & Mittagong NSW - pretty much in the same ball park. The question is what if any fee should be charged to visiting private aircraft ? What, no agricultural activities?

BrendAn "I am flying off a farm now anyway so it doesn't concern me any more. " You may or may not aspire to go on a flying trip - think of all those airfields, that are jumping on the money (not) truck, that you may want/have to land at , that are going to impact your budget significantly . In short support the greater good, even when you may not benefit yourself. "....my shire never slugged us with landing fees until last year" How are they collecting? Direct bill ? Third party contractor? Donation? Other ? 😈

Follow Up; Test Flight Today 1 hr Hobbs . All good - New thermocouple delivered its finding/sensings to the cockpit display (Dynon) - no nasty warning blaring in my headset Departed early arvo. Airfield to myself. Headed south to area around Moss Vale, some lumpy air on the way Seemed to be chopper day, at lest 4 around Mittagong - not all on CTAF. Air very smooth & clear, on way back north, to The Oaks - more choppers (or the same ones?) very few fixed wings. Great to be a pilot!! .😈

Its a disturbing phenomena: - Asset's (airfields) formally owned by the Federal Government (the people of Australia) have been divested (did we have a say, did we care?) The airfields with the most economic potential, sold or possibly leased for generations to come, to big business/developers (these would be most of the State Capital and some of their satellit fields) with the bulk of the remainder being gifted to Rural Councils. Those that remain with the Councils, are still the public assets of the ratepayers of that Council area. For the most part these airfields are an actual asset/benefit to the community they serve, allowing for emergency response aircraft, RPT, pilot training, aircraft servicing, agricultural aircraft, ait shows, fuel, accomodation, tourism, etc Despite, these benefits, many (not all) Councils have seen fit to charge private pilots (Landing & other Fees), to access their field. Fees range from say $10/landing to a rumoured several hundred dollar. The lower end may seem inconsequential, until multiple landings are made on a long trip. Then they certainly become a significant factor in the flight plan budget/expenditure). I agree that these airfields should be maintained and that cost money. The rate payers of that Council area are already paying & benefiting. Commercial aviation should be paying a sum commensurate with their financial gain, in using an airfield. This (I hope) is likly to be already happening, through individual contract. We private pilots, as tax & rate payers, are already contributing our bit, why should we be asked for more? For the most part our small aircraft contribute next to nothing in wear & tare (similar to motorcycle on a public road). I guess if we access secure overnight parking, a fee may be fair (like car parking). All levels of our government, have been infected with the concept of User Pays as the only economic model. Reasonable at first glance, plays into the hands of the greedy, who do not see that some system benefit others, such that the viability of both are enhanced ie Synergy (an airfield bringing security, wealth, employment, etc to an area, without it, all would be poorer). Some Councils have stooped so low , they sell off the publicly owned airfield (Goulburn NSW) or sections of it to developers. In some instances the developed, sections compromise aircraft safety (Bankstown NSW) AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS LET THEM DO IT. To the best of my knowledge, Councils who charge, for access to a publicly owned airfields, have done so unilaterally, without good grounds and consolation with our representative bodies (democracy in action ?) AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS LET THEM DO IT. Cant just blame the Government - we the Australian proletariat, have in our complacency/apathy, shrugged our collective shoulders and uttered those immortal words "she'll be right mate" 😈

Just greedy 😈

I debated where and if I should list this very important enquiry. Suckers! You know what I mean, don't pretend you don't. Those concave rubberish disk thingies (technical term), that hold your phone, GPs, whatever, bracket, to the window. My question is:- When the sucker bit starts to perish & won't stay "stuck" for as long as when new - what do you do? Is there: A repair/renewal technique? Some secret web stores, that will supply a new replacement? Must I dig deep and spend the kids inheritance on a whole new bracket with sucker? Please do not suggest drilling holes or using adhesive pads. Thanks 😈

Hi Coljones, Your point (look in OzRunways or similar) has been made several times before. As I said then and now repeat; The landing fee information should be readily available to all, with or without an EFB, computre, telephone. The logical & reasonable place to post/find the information is in ERSA. I believe it's the Law, that service /good providers, must post fees/charges information, in such a way that the consumer (pilot) will see it, without the need for further action / investigation - post in ERSA. There are a small number of airfield owners, who do post their fees in ERSA - its not hard to do. I find it quite extraordinary that I need to ask for this basic service/courtesy - post your fees in ERSA. (Did you try and find Canberra's Landing Fees, just using ERSA?) 😈

All good Danny, If any one of your hanger mates is willing to sit with you, while you work through a flight plan, you may find that his lay explanation of various parts of the process, may meet /suit your leaning needs. Of course there is a danger that bad habits or faulty explanations, may be transfeds but this is a small risk to get you back into your comfort zone/confidence.😈

Hi Danny, Is there anyone, who has the Nav endorsement, you can go flying with? While not an instructor (they would have to be PIC for any actual flying) they could help you through the planning and then the applicating - go on some Navs! With practise comes confidence - next time you front up to an instructor. you will be a diffrent, way more capable student.😈

I would encourage all private pilots, who happen to be charged for something they did not do (Land) or billed for a service that was not listed in ERSA, to ignore demands for payment. I contend that you can not be charged for a service you did not use or had no knowledge of the charge, BEFORE receiving the service. You as the consumer/pilot should not be expected to go hunting for airfield access fees ie the fee schedule should be posted in an easily access able form & location. (ERSA). 😈

I am familiar with the DH Heron (2?) having spent many hours/trips droning over the Pacific in the folding undercarriage variants (Fiji-Solomons)😈

To the best of my understanding; Your wheels touch the airfield ground - you pay No contact (go round) - no pay For the latter, I surest there be no doubt, as to there being no ground contact ie be well above the strip. 😈

Using ERSA alone, I am challenging anyone to have a go (no efb shortcuts, just the official ERSA entry) and report back. I would be intersted in the experince of anyone trying to find the Landing Fees (etc) for Canberra. You know the one , the airport for our National Capitol. How long did it take you? What steps (phone calls, web sites, etc)? 😈

There is no on going "visible security", of any note, at most regional Security Controlled Airports (SCA). When an RPT lands there is and has always been a degree of security, provided by ground & flight staff. This disappears as rapidly as the departing aircraft. Some busier airports, have aircraft maintenance, other aircraft movements, etc who by their presence provide informal security ie you may be asked what your business is. In my experince there is no more/less security, at small regional SCA's, than there has ever been in the last 35 years or so that I have been flying. The problem with ASIC, as it applies to private pilots wishing to access so called SCA, in the regions, is that ; It is completly ineffectual ie has no functional purpose, benefit, outcome of any kind. The pilot must pay for a short term (think 2 years ?) security pass, which is most likly never going to be used/ requested, when accessing SCA regional airports. It appears that the holder of an ASIC (a photo ID card the holder of which, has been investigated/cleared, by Australian Security Services, as a non risk & bonafide person ) can not use the card for any other purpose, making its acquisition/function even less attractive, more meaningless. A drivers license has more currency. The risk of being caught, without an ASIC at an SCA, is so low as to be laughable, unfortunately this comes with a potential $5,000 fine (?) The associated security infrastructure (security fencing, gates and staff)that the Federal Government required the SCA owner (mostly Councils) to install is a joke. Varying from almost non existent to an annoying token. Technically you do not need an ASIC to land at a SCA; You may do so as long as you do not exit your aircraft without an escort. You can make arrangements to be met by an ASIC holder, who can escort you to/from your aircraft (could cost you$$$). A PIC declaring an emergency may land wherever they deem appropriate. Can't think of a single posative feature, for the private pilot, landing at a regional SCA, other than the freedom from being fined, if you don't have one & happen to get caught - expensive insurance. NOTE: ASIC has never been formally required, for entry to some very busy airfields, with high daily aircraft movements well beyond, what many regional airports will experince in a month or more - ??????? 😈

Whats the fixed undercarriage DH Heron look alike?😈

https://rotax.my.salesforce-sites.com/DocumentsSearch/sfc/servlet.shepherd/version/download/0681H000004N2WfQAK?asPdf=false

Hi IBob, "Rotax seem to have gone to some trouble to arrive at a durable solution" My understandings is that VDO changed owners. The new crowd refused to supply sensors, to Rotax, for use in aircraft. (similar scenario with NGK spark plugs). VDO supply the same basic oil pressure sensor, in range of diffrent thread sizes including, a tapered fitting - example below. VDO Oil Pressure Sensor, 5bar, Thread: M12 x 1.5, Sensor signal: 1-pole common ground, Sender resistance range: 10 - 184 Ohm

Thats cheating - I want you to follow ERSA intructions.😈

How!😈

I would be intersted in the experince of anyone trying to find the Landing Fees (etc) for Canberra. You know the one , the airport for our National Capitol. How long did it take you? What steps (phone calls, web sites, etc)? 😈