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JIM DAVIS
Speaking
Plane English

Cardinal
Sins of Safety
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YAFFA 15297
6 Contents australianflying.com.au

Features

24 10 Cardinal Sins of Safety

Steve Hitchen takes a look at the ten safety sins pilots
continue to commit and asks, ‘what can be done?’

30
Grand New Outlook
Benn Marks catches up with a pilot of the sleek
corporate helicopter, the AW109 GrandNew

48
Life-Saving Essentials
Paul Southwick examines the vast array of
emergency equipment available for GA aircraft.

54
Cessna’s French Connection
Tony Self explores the remarkable legacy of
Reims Aviation

36
Upset? Regain Control!
Steve Hitchen takes a closer look at Upset Prevention
and Recovery Training.

Regulars &91&35

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Destinations 18
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Products 64 %&45*/"5*0/4
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A Spot of Recreation 66 JIM DAVIS

Speaking
Safety Matters 68 Plane English

Down to Business 69
What Can We Learn? 70
Kreisha of Habit 72 10 Cardinal
Sins of Safety
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2023
$9.50 (INCL GST)
PRINT POST APPROVED 100005339

06

Short Final 74 CAN YOU RECOVER FROM AN UPSET? 9 770004 912005

Cover: RANS S21 Outlander

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

8 Editorial KREISHA BALLANTYNE australianflying.com.au

Editor: Steve Hitchen

[email protected]
As HItch is on leave, Kreisha Ballantyne
Senior Contributor: Paul Southwick
takes over and ponders the importance of Test Pilot: John Absolon
aerodynamics.
ADVERTISING
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Surry Hills, NSW 2010.
Tel: (02) 9213 8272,
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ack when I was sitting school and completed every Recovery Training (UPRT). Advertising Production:
my CPL exams, we single practice exam. My hopes This, he said, would put the John Viskovich
were given three years weren’t high. theory into practice. And it most
to complete all seven In those days, I was of AOPA’s certainly did. After one lesson SUBSCRIPTIONS
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exams. If all seven magazine, Australian Pilot. in a Robin, I realised I’d been CALL 1800 807 760
were not passed in the This was back in the days when flying gingerly, timidly; that I was [email protected]
three-year period, the people still worked in offices afraid of the aircraft. By the end Subscription Rates
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AUSTRALIAN FLYING
years, I had CPL Aerodynamics flying school. fear that the aircraft would ‘bite’
is published by Yaffa Media Pty Ltd
left. I had already failed it twice and One afternoon, I was telling me. Hitch’s article on page 36 ABN 54 002 699 354
failing it a third time would cost me the chief pilot, Pete, about my echoes the importance of UPRT 17-21 Bellevue Street,
all seven exams. I hadn’t built in the upcoming exam and he said, “Oh, and ponders whether this sort of Surry Hills NSW 2010.
buffer required to sit it again, and I aerodynamics is easy. It’s just not training should be mandatory as Ph: (02) 9281 2333
Fax: (02) 9281 2750
knew if I failed, I would never resit taught properly. Book a lesson part of our PPL syllabus.
the seven exams again. with me and I guarantee you’ll For me, it was the difference All Mail to:
Passing CPL Performance pass the exam.” So I did. between flying and understanding GPO Box 606, Sydney, NSW 2001.
had been harder than my first
solo (and I grabbed onto the
instructors legs and begged him
not to leave). CPL Air Law had
For me, it was the difference Publisher: Chris Yu
Production Director: Matthew Gunn
nearly given me a hernia, as the between flying and Marketing Manager: Lucy Yaffa
Studio Manager: Lauren Esdaile
exam centre was upstairs and the
entire set of regs were required
understanding flying. Designer: Emmily Kalyvas

for the exam, which I had to All contributions should be sent to the
lug up in a suitcase. But CPL In that one lesson, I learnt flying. It changed my whole Editor on the above e-mail address.
Aerodynamics was my nemesis. more about aerodynamics than attitude to flight (pun intended). I Images should be supplied with a separate list
Both times, I had failed by more I had in all my practice papers. cannot recommend it enough. of captions and the creator’s name for each
image. Please note that digital images MUST
than five marks. With someone taking the time And for those of you BE SUPPLIED AT A RESOLUTION OF AT LEAST
300DPI AT 15 CM ON THE LONG SIDE.
To this day, the CPL written to explain the basic principles, wondering: yes, I did pass that
Most editorial queries should be answered
exams are the hardest thing I’ve without assuming I’d studied exam. I scored 88%, my best mark within a month; if not contact the editor.
ever done, and I’ve given birth physics (which I hadn’t; I always in all the exams. ISSN 0004-9123
three times without drugs, knew my misspent youth would And then, I went home, set
translated CASA regs into plain catch up with me) I learned to fire to my text books and drank
English and flown an aircraft understand aerodynamics. And, Champagne.
without an auto-pilot across as it turns out, understanding
Australia, so I’m not unfamiliar something is the key to passing
with pain. Passing the last exam an exam.
was important to me, but I had At the end of the lesson, Pete
run out of options. I’d read all encouraged me to come back
the books, attended the theory for an Upset Prevention and Kreisha Ballantyne – Editor

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

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10 FLYING LATEST NEWS

News
ATSB TAWS
ISSUES FEEDBACK
PG 10 PG 12

The ATSB takes

a look at what ATSB issues advisory
can be done
to encourage notice to aircraft lifejacket
pilots to observe
the correct manufacturers
procedures for
wearing life
proper fitment of seatbelts. should be worn in of seatbelts and lifejacket
jackets The Safety Advisory conjunction with seatbelts. interference, as the nature
Notice has been issued as “Our investigators of the second helicopter’s
part the ATSB’s on-going have identified that some collision with the sandbar
investigation into the mid- passengers’ seatbelts in would typically be non-
The ATSB has issued air collision of two scenic both helicopters involved survivable, and a range
a Safety Advisory flight helicopters at the in this accident were not of other factors beyond
Notice to both aircraft Gold Coast on 2 January fitted correctly, in part due seatbelts contribute to
lifejacket manufacturers this year. to interference from their occupant safety in aircraft
and national aviation During the course lifejackets,” said ATSB accidents.
certification authorities of the investigation the Chief Commissioner “But our investigation
encouraging them to ATSB has identified a Angus Mitchell. has identified that
provide guidance to potentially common lack “However, it is very there appears to be a
aircraft operators about of understanding in the important to stress we broader issue across as to how seatbelts and
how to fit a constant wear broader helicopter tourism have not attributed the the scenic flight lifejackets should be
lifejacket so that it does community about how outcomes from this tragic industry where there worn.”
not interfere with the ‘constant wear’ lifejackets accident to the fitment are misunderstandings Mr Mitchell said
an ATSB review of
social media photos of
passengers of helicopter
tourism operations,
both in Australia
and internationally,
established that incorrect
fitment of seatbelts with
constant wear pouch style
lifejackets was prevalent.
Many relevant social
media photos reviewed
by the ATSB showed
the seatbelt webbing or
buckle was positioned
above the lifejacket pouch
or over it. This meant
that the lap belt portion
of the seatbelt was not
low and tight across the

LEFT: left: lifejackets

are essential for over-
water flights
ABOVE: above: some
examples of life-jackets

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 11
CARBONIX WOMEN IN
EXPANDS AVIATION BREAKING NEWS
PG 14 PG 16 FEATURED ON WWW.
AUSTRALIANFLYING.
COM.AU RECENTLY

1 Federal Government launches

Women in Aviation Plan

2 ATSB issues Safety Advisory

over Life Jackets

3 Otto Aviation publishes

Ambitious Design

4 Cirrus teases with Rotax-

powered Trainer

5 VoltAero flies Test Bed

on 100% SAF

6 FTA adds Two more

DA40 XLTs to Fleet

7 Consultation on Modular Part

66 Licences now Open

8 Pipistrel Consortium takes

Liquid Hydrogen into the Sky

9 CASA calls for Feedback on

Pilbara Airspace

10 Federal Government hosts

Sustainable Aviation Forum

Many relevant social media SIGN UP TO KEEP UP!

photos reviewed by the ATSB showed The Australian Flying website is
updated daily with the latest GA news
the seatbelt webbing or buckle stories. Visit us online now at www.
was positioned above the lifejacket australianflying.com.au to also check
out our free classifieds section, photo
pouch or over it. and video galleries, blogs, flying tips
articles and comprehensive Warbird
passenger’s hips and was operators on how to “The ATSB encourages coverage. And be sure to register for
positioned either over the position a pouch or manufacturers of our FREE weekly electronic newsletter,
lifejacket, creating slack, yoke style constant wear constant wear lifejackets which delivers the latest news FREE to
or above the lifejacket, lifejacket so as not to to provide operating your inbox every Friday morning. This
close to the passenger’s interfere with an aircraft instructions and/or is the perfect way to stay up to date
sternum increasing the seatbelt. guidance material to with the latest news in between print
risk of injury. “Aviation lifejacket operators of aircraft on issue of Australian Flying.
“This suggests there standards require how to wear and use a
is a common lack of operational instructions be constant wear lifejacket
understanding in the provided in writing and on with a seatbelt such that
helicopter tourism the lifejackets themselves. it does not interfere
community, worldwide, For constant wear with the performance of
about how to integrate lifejackets, it is reasonably the seatbelt during an
constant wear lifejackets foreseeable that they accident,” he said.
with seatbelts, so as not to would be worn seated in “Further, the ATSB
reduce their effectiveness.” an aircraft and while using encourages certification
Mr Mitchell said the the aircraft’s seatbelt. authorities to modify
ATSB has identified that Yet there are no required lifejacket standards to
lifejacket manufacturers instructions related to this include the requirement
and regulatory authorities in the relevant standards for instructions on how
have not provided any and the ATSB found no to wear constant wear E-NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP AT
readily-available guidance manufacturers opting to lifejackets while seated and WWW.AUSTRALIANFLYING.COM.AU
to assist helicopter provide instructions. wearing a seatbelt.”

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

12 News australianflying.com.au

CASA seeks feedback: proposed

changes to TAWS fitment
Comments are now welcome in the CASA consultation hub.

CASA is currently seeking operational passenger to TAWS A. • the projected cost of standards in the context
feedback on a proposed seat configuration Feedback from the upgrading from the of these aeroplanes and
change to the rules between 10-13 seats aviation community old TAWS B+ to the contemporary costs
regarding the fitment of • carry 10 or more advised: TAWS A has increased associated with TAWS
TAWS in small turbine- persons. • TAWS B+ with a dramatically since the A fitment.
engine aeroplanes. Under the new Part detailed visual terrain new Part 121 and 135 This resulted in a
The consultation relates 121 and Part 135 of the display would only have rules were made in 2018. recommendation that the
to Part 121 and 135 Civil Aviation Safety small (if any) safety In response to the TAWS fitment policy
turbine-engine aeroplanes Regulations 1998 differences compared to feedback, CASA set for certain aeroplanes be
with a maximum take-off (CASR), the TAWS TAWS A for aeroplanes up a working group changed from TAWS
weight of 5700kg or less requirement for certain with a maximum take- to discuss the safety A to a new version of
and that either: aeroplanes was raised off weight of 5700kg differential between TAWS B+.
• have a maximum from a TAWS B+ system or less different TAWS The proposed
amendment would permit
these aeroplanes to be
In response to the feedback, CASA set up fitted with either a TAWS
A or a TAWS B equipped
a working group to discuss the safety differential with a visual terrain
between different TAWS standards display that provides
the terrain-related
information outlined in
section 3.5 of Appendix
1 of Technical Standard
Order (TSO)-C151c for a
terrain display.
CASA is proposing to
call it TAWS-Class B+ as
distinct from the previous
TAWS-B+ system.
Feedback on these
changes will help
CASA check that the
amended policy achieves
an acceptable level of
aviation safety for crew
and passengers.
Provide your comments
via the Consultation Hub
on CASA’s website by 24
October 2023.
Please note that this
does not affect the fitment
requirement deadline of 2
December 2023.

The Lockhart river

incident highlighted the
importance of TAWS.
AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023
 FLIGHTSTORE.COM.AU/BOSEAVIATION
JOIN THE AUSTRALIAN FLYING FREE ENEWSLETTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!
VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANFLYING.COM/AU/FLIGHTSTORE1123
TERMS AND CONDITIONS: This competition is open to Australian residents with a postal address. All entrants must provide their details and answer the question via the entry link provided. Your information will only be used by the pro-
YAFFA 15372

OQVGT;CHHC/GFKC#NNGPVTCPVUYKNNDGUWDUETKDGFVQVJG#WUVTCNKCP(N[KPIG0GYUNGVVGT[QWOC[WPUWDUETKDGCVCP[VKOG'ZKUVKPIG0GYUNGVVGTUWDUETKDGTUECPCNUQGPVGTD[EQPƂTOKPIQTWRFCVKPIVJGKTFGVCKNU;CHHC/GFKC2TKXCE[2QNKE[
6JGEQORGVKVKQPENQUGUCVROQP6JGYKPPGTYKNNDGFTCYPCPFPQVKƂGFQPVJGYGGMQH+HVJGYKPPGTFQGUPQVTGURQPFYKVJKPJQWTUVJGRTK\GYKNNDGTGFTCYP%WUVQOGTGPSWKTKGUVQ[CHHC"[CHHCEQOCW
14 News australianflying.com.au

Carbonix expands drone operations Matt from Skysports

Drone Services
Carbonix joins forces with SkyPorts to hire international
pilots in UAV expansion

Carbonix, an Australian Already, Skyports has

drone manufacturer, is been instrumental in
joining forces with the over 85 missions across CEO Philip van der Burg.
global company Skyports Australia for Carbonix, This will be Skyports’
Drone Services to servicing clients like first commercial project
expand its beyond visual Ausgrid, Endeavour in Australia, having
line of sight (BVLOS) Energy, and Charles provided logistics, survey
capabilities throughout Darwin University. and monitoring operations
the country. “Skyports Drone across Europe, Asia,
As part of this Services fills a gap with Africa, South America
collaboration, Skyports their scalable end-to-end and the Middle East.
will integrate its operational experience in Skyports Drone
international pilots into flying fixed-wing VTOL Services Director
Carbonix's operations to UAVs. We look forward Alex Brown says his this knowledge to boost growth and success of the
carry out data acquisition to having their pilots company is a leader in operational capabilities industry,” he said.
missions for the company's enhance our BVLOS regulation, compliance, and enable the company “We look forward to
mining and energy capabilities and forging safety management, to scale its infrastructure sharing our operational
clientele. The goal is a lasting partnership airspace, and stakeholder inspection services. knowledge to support
to enhance Carbonix's that sees both companies management. Proving the safety case Carbonix and promote
operational proficiency in exchange knowledge and “Our partnership for drone operations is the adoption of drone
the long run. expertise,” said Carbonix with Carbonix will apply crucial to the long-term operations.”

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AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 STAY CLOSE TO YOUR AIRCRAFT,
EVEN WHEN YOU’RE MILES AWAY.

)NIYMJ+'4WJRJRGJWYTKZJQ^TZWFNWHWFKY$-T\RFS^MTZWX\JWJTSYMJ-TGGXRJYJWFKYJW^TZWQFXY‫ܫ‬NLMY$
<NYMSJ\5QFSJ8^SHӴYJHMSTQTL^^TZHFSHMJHP^TZWUQFSJѣXXYFYZXWJRTYJQ^1JFWSRTWJFY,FWRNSHTR5QFSJ8^SH
16 News australianflying.com.au

Federal Government
launches Women in
Aviation Plan
The Federal Government has launched a new
strategic action plan aimed and encouraging more
women to choose aviation as a long term career.

Announced by Minister opportunities across the

for Regional Development, aviation sector by providing
The pla will focus on the next four years for women in aviation.
Local Government mentoring, guidance and
and Territories Kirsty networking opportunities,”
McBain, the strategic McBain said. and culture, visibility the next four years of the needs over time.”
plan is designed to correct “It identifies priority and awareness, Women in the Aviation Since the Women in
gender imbalance and areas for action including collaboration and Industry Initiative, driving Aviation initiative was
address skills shortages. the need for cultural change continuous improvement immediate outcomes but launched in 2019, the
“The Plan draws on the to ensure women are as outlined in the Plan. also activities that will deliver Federal Government has
lessons from the first four welcomed into an inclusive “We expect to release sustained, generational allocated $3.1 in funding
years of the Women in the and supportive industry. a formal process to seek change so women can to the program.
Aviation Industry Initiative “Over the next financial proposals for projects look forward to building The strategic plan
which aims to boost year, $1.3 million will be in October. careers in the sector. can be downloaded
diversity and encourage available to fund activities “The Plan will provide “The Plan will continue from the Department of
more women to pursue job relating to leadership guidance and focus for to respond to changing Infrastructure website.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

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18 Destinations ANGELA STEVENSON

Perched on the Murray, the twins towns of Yarrawonga and

Mulwala boast lots of sun, water and attractions to make the
perfect fly-away destination. Angela Stevenson presents the
best of “YarraMul”.

he thing about Yarrawonga Mulwala Yarrawonga in Victoria. With a Aerodrome does not disappoint.
is that at first glance it seems like a combined population of around Easy to find – just south of
“one-main-street” ordinary kind of 11,000, the two towns have a the big expanse of water that is
town. But when you know what’s on median age of 52. Compared Lake Mulwala and south-east of
offer, it feels like it should be three to about 38 in most Australian Yarrawonga township, at the time
times the size. Sun-filled, accessible, capital cities, one might draw the of printing, the 1200-m, bitumen-
and welcoming all year round, a conclusion that it’s a place for sealed, main runway runs 19/01,

$-6#
.6-8"-"
visit to the town’s excellent Tourist retirees. Truth is, however quiet has pilot-activated lighting, and a
Information Centre will help you it can be, and sometimes that’s a sometimes-closed short unsealed
decide what to fill your fly-in days wonderful thing, it’s full of life and crosswind runway (of course, you’d
with a plethora of available things on occasions it can be rockin’! never arrive without checking the
to discover, do, and see. NOTAMs and ERSA).
Yarrawonga and Mulwala Flying in to YYWG On approach, keep an eye and
are twin towns located on the ear out for low level agricultural a few open hangars containing
magnificent Murray River, about Any good fly-in destination and trike activity, and birds(!), but aviation-minded and beer-fridge-
43 nm west of the border towns article should start with the most once you’ve landed there’s more to owning locals, who are often
of Albury Wodonga; Mulwala on important place in town for the YYWG than first meets the eye. (A willing to show you their pride
the New South Wales side and pilot: the airport. Yarrawonga pleasant surprise is that, at least for and joy(s). Hot av-hint: there’s
the moment, there’s no landing fee.) a very cool, original retro nick,
On the airfield is a new terminal 100-hp Victa Airtourer that’s just
building (available to pilots by made its home there. Everybody
request), toilets, fuel, a flight likes a nice little Victa, right?
school, busy GA maintenance
facilities, Punkinhead Aircraft
Canopy Covers, and importantly, a
Bike, car, walk, bus
pilot shop– P&M Aviation –with a It may be a 3-km walk into the
bit of everything. From oil to charts centre of town, but on a beautiful
to spark plugs, batteries, air filters sunny day (of which there are many)
:"33"80/("
(0-'
3&4035

and pitot tube covers, it’s open the flat terrain might mean that’s
when the door is open. If you need manageable, or even fun if you don’t
anything in particular though, it’s have a lot of luggage. However,
always best to phone first! there’s a decent taxi service listed in
It’s possible to live on the the ERSA (thankfully, the airfield
airfield, so a wander around the is near enough to town that your
airport will find you more than booking doesn’t become last on the

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 19

MAIN IMAGE:
Patrons at
Club Mulwala
are greeted
by a DC-3 on
a pole.
OPPOSITE
PAGE:
A golfer’s
paradise?
Yarrawonga
Golf Resort is
rated in the top
100 courses in
Australia.

priority list, as is often the case with Yarrawonga Mulwala Pioneer elevators, the aircraft is said to have Scheme. The 343-m weir, itself
other regional airfields), and some Museum– an eclectic mix of local briefly lifted above terra firma after worthy of a visit if only to see the
of the local clubs and pubs offer a history (including vintage cars, being towed by a car at 40 mph and unique fish lift, holds back Lake
courtesy bus. dental surgery equipment, and hitting a bump. Sloane later joined Mulwala that, when full, stretches
Car hire is an option (P&M a blacksmith’s shop)– reveals an the war effort, unfortunately being from Bundalong to Yarrawonga.
Aviation is an agent). Alternatively, unlikely winner for visiting pilots. killed in an RE.8 aircraft accident Drained every few years to
Bike Locker in the main drag has a (Also see Savernake Station below en-route to Biggin Hill in the UK. control water weeds, the lake
selection of two-wheel hire options, for a sneaky avgeek discovery and becomes an eerie, other-worldly
including e-bikes, perfect for just Club Mulwala sports a Dakota Water, water, water vista of thousands of large dead
getting around. As with every on a stick.) The museum houses tree trunks in a mud bed. It’s an
small-ish town, transport and hire a biplane, built in 1913 by local Water is the name of the game extraordinary sight and well-
availability will be what it will be, Douglas Sloane. With no carpentry in Yarrawonga Mulwala. Where worth a visit with a good camera!
so the trick is to arrange it before training, Sloane managed to many regional towns become When full however, it’s a large
you arrive. design, and build, a biplane vaguely dry and arid during summer, expanse of water that lends itself
reminiscent of some of the early “YarraMul”, as it is sometimes magnificently to water activities:
Discover, do, see aircraft designs that did manage to known by locals, has Lake fishing (including cod, trout,
get airborne, but based on his own Mulwala all year round, and it is perch, crayfish and yabbies),
There is so much to do it’s impossible observations of wedge-tailed eagles. integral to community life. boating, swimming, skiing, boat
to get to all of them, but let’s start With a 34-hp, two-cylinder, The Yarrawonga Mulwala Weir racing, canoeing, strolls/bikes/
with an aviation-themed list. air-cooled, horizontally-opposed was constructed in the mid-to- runs around the lake, waterside
Well, to be honest, there’s engine, a 6-foot hand-carved late 1930s as an integral part of picnics and glorious, photo-worthy
not a lot, but a visit to the propeller, and canard-mounted the Murray-Darling Irrigation reflections of sunset or sunrise.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

20 Destinations australianflying.com.au

The lake is key to the twin Walk, walk, walk middle of the wooden construction in Golf Australia’s 2023 top 100
towns’ popularity in every season in order to join the two. picks, includes two 18-hole courses
with any number of water-based As you would imagine with that A stroll over the bridge between and a 9-hole “executive track”.
festivals on the Murray River much water around, water and the two states will take you past But wait, there’s also a driving
and Lake Mulwala, including land birdlife is abundant in the the quaint Yarrawonga Customs range with a sand bunker and
the Victorian Speed Boat Club’s area and walking is the way to see House; a tiny office built in 1892 chipping green at the nearby
popular EC Griffith Cup to them. Twitchers will be twitching that operated until 1910 imposing Airtree Golfer’s Resort. The resort
be held in April 2024, rowing with joy as they wander the border import duties and stock offers lessons and whole-resort
and sailing regattas, the Red various trails and reserves around taxes on goods transported. accommodation is available for up
Cross Murray River Marathon, the lake and up into the riverlands And, if you keep strolling a few to 30 – perfect for a golf group!
the Lake Mulwala Water Ski and at the river’s beaches. kilometres along the Yarrawonga
Spectacular, and the Barefoot Ski Aside from the usual Aussie side of the lake, you will end up Eat, drink, sleep
Championships – usually held in suspects–corellas, rosellas, near Chinaman’s Island (actually
March and hosted by the Mulwala kookaburras and the like– a promontory). Once used by local There’s some great pubs in
Water Ski Club. honeyeaters, kingfishers, kites, indigenous tribes as a hunting Yarrawonga. Burkes Hotel is
A quick Google search will let pardolates, shrike thrushes and ground, Chinese immigrants used it iconic, with traditional pub fare
you know when these sorts of events friarbirds can be found. If you’re as a market garden site. Nowadays and specials including lambs fry
are on, depending on whether you lucky, you might glimpse an it’s a lovely walk amongst the lakeside and ham steaks at great prices.
wish to attend or avoid them! Australian Hobby Falcon, a glorious nature, including birds and wallabies, The Yarrawonga Hotel is a little
If noise and speed aren’t your Rainbow Bee-eater, or a Dollarbird. with a variety of signs to help you more upmarket, has a good wine
thing but gently cruising is, there The Yarrawonga Mulwala identify the wildlife and a number list and offers some very well-
are a number of dinner/lunch Bridge is also a much-loved feature of seats to sit in wait for them. priced, good accommodation
cruise boats (PS Cumberoona, of the town. Rumour has it that upstairs. The Terminus is popular
Paradise Queen, and Sienna the two state governments began Golf, golf, golf with locals for its pool tables,
Daisy) to choose from, a couple of building the bridge under separate good tucker, and beer garden with
outfits that rent boats for on-water projects. Bad communication Second to water-sports, golf has to regular entertainment.
BBQs, and kayaks to be hired. resulted in the dip and bend in the be the biggest sports draw card for The Criterion sits near the
the area. The Black Bull is an 18- lake with a massive deck and
hole course popular with the locals. an excellent menu, perfect for
Opened in 2015 at a cost of around summer evenings. The Mulwala
$22 million and listed at #77 on Royal Mail might be cheap
Top 100 Golf Courses Australia and cheerful, the servings are
(#30 in Victoria), it is part of big and they sometimes have
the Sebel Silverwoods Golf entertainment, but it’s also famous
and Lifestyle Resort. Sporting for very mixed reviews.
a life-size bull-statue, the course There’s not a huge variety of
features three tough holes in a restaurants, in either Yarrawonga
row, known as “the bull ring”. or Mulwala, but the Italian,
There’s also Australia’s biggest Chinese, Thai, and Indian
public-access golf course. With 45 offerings are all not without
holes, the Yarrawonga Mulwala merit. However, the writer can
Golf Club Resort is listed #46 wholeheartedly recommend
+0)/
4.*5)

Blacksmith’s Provedore in
Mulwala for pizzas and wine on a
warm day or evening, The Naked
Tree in Yarrawonga for a tapas
ABOVE: Boat Rock: experience … oh, and definitely
extraordinarily carved in granite. Cook & Co. for their quick and
BELOW: The new Sebel delicious Banh Mhi, Laksas,
Yarrawonga is a 4.5-star boutique Tacos and Bao Buns. Yum!
hotel boasting a poolside bar,
tennis courts and the Black Bull
In Yarrawonga Mulwala, it’s the
golf course. sport and gaming clubs where a lot
of the action is at. Club Mulwala
Resort offers accommodation,
three dining options, lounges, bars
and lakeside views, entertainment,
trivia nights, a day spa…the list is
"/%3&"
4*440/4

never ending.
The Mulwala Water Ski Club
has a calendar jam-packed with
variety entertainment, restaurant,

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

22 Destinations australianflying.com.au

in the 1840s. “Mulwala” means Kelpie’s Curse, Convict’s Cure,

&45*/"5*0/4
/48
“big black water” or “big lagoon”. Remi’s Remedy, and Quinn’s
Around 11,000 Bpangerang Poison, and serves a variety of
peoples - the “People of the Tall food from Devonshire Scones to
Trees”, of the Yorta Yorta nation, Ploughman’s lunches to Baja Tacos.

'03%%
were the traditional owners of the A bit further out of town
land from Howlong to Berrigan. you can visit the heritage-listed

"-&4)"
+&8&-
#3"%
Among a number of indigenous Savernake Station. Popular
sites in the greater area, a must- with tourists and locals, the
do for those interested in local property, established in the mid
Even when the water
is low, Lake Mulwala
heritage, is Boat Rock. An 1800s, is still family-held by the
is an inspiring sight extraordinary man-made reservoir 5th generation, and includes a
at dawn and dusk. carved out of solid rock through huge 23-room homestead and
a process of charring the granite associated buildings including
with a fire and then scraping it a woolshed with steam engines
“it’s full of life and on occasions away ¼ inch at a time.
The reservoir was not only
and shearer’s living quarters,
a working example of a 1920s
it can be rockin’!” designed to retain water for Larkins Aircraft(!!) and a range of
human use, but to attract the Peugeots (1948-1970). Tours are
coffee shop, and a laser-light- Sebel Yarrawonga is a relatively new plentiful kangaroos in the area for by appointment only and groups
sound show on Wednesday and addition to the community. The easy picking. can be accommodated.
Saturday evenings. Yarrawonga architecture is a welcome, modern Boat Rock is located 25 km nor- Word is, you need to allow at
Golf Resort is much more than addition to the area’s tourism nor-west of Mulwala, and is accessible least a morning or an afternoon
golf! It offers accommodation, industry. With tennis courts, the via private land – just make sure for this extraordinarily well-
The Border Bistro (2 for 1 Sunset Poolside Bar and the Black to shut the gates behind you! preserved example of early
seniors meals on Wednesday Bull Golf Course, its choice of eating The colonial era of the pastoral property life.
evenings!),The Sand Wedge Bar, options is not like what you find in Yarrawonga Mulwala area was It feels like a race to get everything
tennis, croquet, swimming pool, the towns. The accommodation, marked by the construction of worthy of mention into this article,
massage, an excellent cinema with from garden view studios to three- Byramine Homestead, 16 km to but there is far more to be had than
lounge, and a health and fitness bedroom apartments, ranges from the west of Yarrawonga. Built in this in Yarrawonga Mulwala.
centre …even kids’ activities. around $300-700 per night (at 1842, it’s the oldest homestead in There’s Rich Glen Olive Farm,
There’s the usual B’n’B options, standard rates). country Victoria. The National a variety of regular markets (self-
and a few good small hotel/motels Trust-listed, pioneer-built home made, craft, and farmer’s, trash
including the stand-out Mulwala Heritage sites and garden was built for a woman and treasure), good supermarkets,
Resort; a gorgeous, quirky, widowed by bushrangers, Elizabeth a great set of wanderable shops
fully-renovated 14-room motel Whether you fancy a stroll around Hume, and her nine children. including a local-produce
with a saltwater pool. With an town or have access to wheels, Open for tours on set days, the provedore, fashion, fishing and
entertainment room that spills Yarrawonga Mulwala has plenty home is a key tourist attraction camping stores, everything from
out onto the pool, there’s plenty of history to discover, so, welcome for the area for its very unique big hardware stores to an excellent
of opportunity for a fly-in group to Yorta Yorta Country! design with a central fortress space community op shop and a Pirate
to enjoy this little gem at really “Yarra” is an indigenous word providing a clear view of all angles Treasure House bazaar with
decent prices. Tell Michelle and for “water running over rocks” in the case of a possible attack, and everything cheap – possibly even a
Laurie we sent you. and “Wonga” is a type of plump octagonal-shaped rooms. Today, kitchen sink.
And finally, if you’re into upmarket native pigeon that was plentiful in Byramine produces beers, wine, YarraMul is a must-do for a two
accommodation and food, the the area before white settlement and ciders with nifty names like or three day fly-in. Enjoy!

Yarrawonga
Airport is owned
and operated by
.0*3"
4)*3&

Moira Shire.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 The Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the Royal Aeronautical
Society Australian Division and Australian Flying present

TH E 2 0 23 CA S A

THE 2023 CASA WINGS AWARDS

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!
The 2023 CASA Wings awards will take a panoramic
view of the General Aviation industry by recognising the
achievements of flyers, instructors, clubs and services.

AWARDS INCLUDE
h The Col Pay Award for Lifetime of Service to General Aviation
h Aero Club of the Year
h Flying Training Organisation of the Year
h Flying Instructor of the Year
h The Young Achiever Award

JUDGING PANEL
The awards are independently judged in association
with the Royal Aeronautical Society Australian Division.

STEVE DOUG DAVID SHELLEY

HITCHEN NANCARROW PILKINGTON ROSS

www.australianflying.com.au/wings-awards
NOMINATIONS CLOSE 05 NOVEMBER 2023
Winners announced in the March/April 2024 issue of Australian Flying
YAFFA 15187
24 Aviation Safety STEVE HITCHEN

General aviation is safe, but it could be safer if we allowed some bad

habits to die hard. Steve Hitchen examines the top 10 safety sins that
aviators continue to commit and asks what can be done.

Unapproved low flying

has led to its share of
fatal accidents, most of it
completely unnecessary.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 25

viation could put up a good Andreas Marcelja, CASA “We want to encourage pilots We’ve seen some high-profile
argument that it is the most Executive Manager Stakeholder not only to have a Plan B, but accidents where fuel may be
safety-conscious industry in the Engagement, told Australian the discipline to pull it out of an issue; the ATSB is still
world, except maybe for explosives Flying it was often due to a history their back pocket and use it. Just investigating, but older statistics
manufacturing. But for all the of successful transgression. because you’re not earning a living show that we have one fuel-related
training, reviews, regulations “Almost all the accidents we see as a pilot, doesn’t mean you can’t accident or incident in Australia
and education, the same old sins come back to decision-making and fly like a professional.” every 10 days. And they’re just the
still stand out from the safety risk-taking and peoples’ attitudes,” ones we know about.

2 Behaviour around
statistics. It’s not like pilots are he says. “What we often find “Fuel management is impacted
finding new ways to transgress; behind that is normalisation of so much by human factors and
the old ways seem to do just fine. deviation: continual, deliberate
Non-controlled things like get-there-itis. Fuel
And that points at a people instances where you take a risk Aerodromes management has impacts on things
problem. Things aren’t breaking that you know you shouldn’t. This is a CASA favourite, and like appreciation of weather and
down or failing; pilots are largely “It might only be very small, but with some justification. Too often unforeseen headwinds. It’s one of
contributing to their own safety it’s dangerous when you’re successful pilots either don’t understand those things that has been around
woes through laziness, a poor at it. It continues to reinforce that if or don’t respect the rules and for a long time, and not just for the
attitude or a simple lack of you get away with it safely, you’ll do conventions of see-and-avoid at private and recreational pilot; fuel
understanding what is and isn’t it again, and again and again until it non-controlled airports, resulting management for a young CPL that
safe practice. becomes the norm. too often in conflict. is on their first or second job and
“But eventually, there will come a “This is people not fully has pressure from the boss to go
time when you don’t away with it.” understanding the air picture: with minimum fuel because they
So, what are these oft-repeated who’s around them, what type of can carry more payload.
cardinal sins that haunt general aircraft they’re flying, what type “It comes down not only to
aviation’s safety record? We threw of circuit they’re likely to do, VFR decision making but in many
that question to CASA, who mixing with IFR, someone flying ways the safety culture in the
consulted with the Australian downwind at 180 knots compared organisation.”
Transport Safety Bureau, with someone at 70 knots, pilots

4 Loss of Control
Airservices Australia and the being afraid to talk to an inbound
Bureau of Metrology to compile Dash-8,” says Penney.
this list of the greatest safety “There are no tower controllers
in Flight
concerns facing general aviation. around these aerodromes, so Generally speaking, loss of control
all the decision making and in flight (LOCI) results in a

1VFR into situational awareness falls on the critical situation such as a stall/
shoulders of the pilot in command spin or a spiral dive. Most often
IMC so it’s all about decision-making this is a result of poor handling or
Visual pilots continue to stumble and situational awareness. lack of awareness of the aircraft’s
in to weather conditions that don’t “Pilots need to ask ‘what is out situation. Recovery is even more
offer a visual horizon. This type there that can potentially bite precarious as a startled pilot
of incident features in an alarming me and what can I do to prevent finds themselves struggling with
number of ATSB reports. that?’, rather than just go blasting unfamiliar behaviours that they
CASA Aviation Safety Advisor in an expecting the Red Sea to haven’t been trained to correct.
Tim Penney is not surprised this part for them. Pilots need to learn “Gravity works 24 hours a day,
takes the Number One slot. to work well with each other.” seven days a week, and so does the
“This has been around since lift equation,” Penney remarks.

3 Fuel
the Wright Brothers! It happens “When we go flying, all we are doing
all over the world. A lot of it is is manipulating physics, and we need
due to decision-making and the
Management to go back to the basics of respecting
human habit of thinking ‘it’s not Fuel exhaustion (empty tanks) both the lift equation and physics.
going to happen to me’. For every and fuel starvation (none getting “A big problem we’ve been
VFR-into-IMC accident that to the engine) are perhaps the finding recently is people spinning
occurs, there’s generally someone most avoidable safety issues in aircraft when it is prohibited
around the aero club bar saying ‘I Australia. Except in cases of in the flight manual. You need
$0.104*5&
*."(&

always knew they’d do that’. It’s mechanical failure, most are the to get the right aeroplane and a
a challenge to break the cycle, be result of human error. properly trained and experienced
we can’t afford not to pursue it. Tim Penney: “A lot of it comes instructor to go up and explore the
Invariably it’s at the top of our list. down to systems knowledge. flight envelope.”

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

 26 Aviation Safety australianflying.com.au

RIGHT: Where did that come from? CASA

says circuit etiquette at non-controlled “A good decision made early is a lot
airports continues to be a problem.
BELOW: Grid Point Wind and Temperature
better than a bad decision made late.”
(GPWT) charts are causing some
confusion, leading to poor understanding
and interpretation of the weather.

$0.104*5&
*."(&
5&030-0(:
#63& "6
0'
.&

5 Poor Decision
6 Maintenance the aircraft still remains the whether they’re doing aerial
responsibility of the owner of the work, agricultural flying, power
Making Certificate of Registration. line inspection, mustering, fish
This could almost be an Safety sins in maintenance are “There is a defined list of spotting or other.”
addendum to every safety issue; many, from expired maintenance maintenance tasks that pilots “We’ve seen a bit of an uptick in
most incidents can be traced releases and unapproved parts to can do under Schedule 8 of the wire strikes, particularly in aerial
back to a decision by somebody unauthorised maintenance and CARs, but we still hear of pilots ag,” adds Andreas Marcelja. “But
somewhere, either in flight or on ignored airworthiness directives. they are either not authorised if you’re in a two-tonne aerial ag
the ground. It’s a learned skill that All of this on a GA fleet that is to do or are way beyond their aircraft it tends to take the wire
can make or break your flight. already over 40 years old. capability and training.” with it, but if you’re in a Jabiru
“Good decision making requires “Out in the regions, it can you’re in trouble. Often it’s a case

7 Unapproved/
good information and information often be a temptation for people of trying to land in a paddock
delivered at the right time,” to fly aircraft with maintenance rather than at a nearby airport.
Penney reckons. not signed off or over-flown
unnecessary “Interestingly, the ag pilots tell
“But it also takes time to make maintenance releases, especially Low Flying us they rarely hit a power line
a good decision. If you’re heading when the engineer in 3-400 miles Low flying brings solid obstacles they didn’t already know about.
into bad weather as a VFR pilot, away,” Penney concedes, “and into play, which alters the flying Distraction, task immersion and
don’t leave the throttle open and there is always that temptation to environment into one that most sun glare are often factors in
barrel along at three miles per perform maintenance that you are pilots have never been trained hitting wires.”
minute. Slow the aircraft, put out not trained or licensed to do. for. It’s tough enough for those

8Lack of Situational
a stage of flap, drop the gear; give “Unapproved parts are that have been trained, and the
yourself time. A good decision something that all of us need to consequences of getting it
made early is a lot better than a keep an eye on, and it’s amazing wrong are dire.
Awareness
bad decision made late. how many ATSB reports show Tim Penney: “It’s a perennial The common term used is
“And pilots need to be aware of that the aircraft had over-flown issue, people doing beat-ups and “fat, dumb and happy”; blithely
the things that impact decision the MR, or required maintenance that type of thing. Even if you do wandering along infused with the
making: the workload they’re had not been carried out have the ticket and the approval joy of flight not understanding the
under, their experience level, “ There are many private to go low flying, pilots are still situation coming for you. Other
the training they’ve been through, pilots that deep down don’t fully required to do their own risk aeroplanes, CTA boundaries,
the information at their disposal. understand the maintenance assessment. Do they need to be PRDs, your fuel state ... no-one
“Sometimes good decision- release and their responsibilities down that low? Pilots need to flies in a vacuum.
making means that you don’t go if they’re the holder of the think about what they’re doing, “It’s that ability to work out
flying at all. That can be entirely Certificate of Airworthiness. why they’re doing it and be always where you are in time and space,
appropriate, because although The LAME is responsible for prepared to reassess risk as where will the aircraft be in
we need a level of confidence, we ensuring that the work they circumstances change. five seconds, five minutes or 30
also need to be humble and fly are requested to carry out is Most of the people that get the minutes,” Penney elaborates.
within the capabilities of both our done to the required standard. low-level rating can demonstrate “A lot of things impact on
aircraft and ourselves.” The overall airworthiness of they have a legitimate reason, that: fatigue levels, passenger

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 *Photo by Steve Hitchen – Australian Flying

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28 Aviation Safety australianflying.com.au

10 Forecast
distraction. Is your mind review,” Penney laments. “A offered this perspective on behalf
elsewhere; are you going flying non-commercial pilot gets very of the Safeskies board.
thinking about something in your little professional development.
Confusion “Recreational/RAAus type
personal life? Are you distracted For most private pilots the flight Weather is aviation’s medium; it’s flying, and VH-recreational flying
by iPads and magenta lines? review is the only time they go what we fly through. Consequently do share some common issues,
“There’s a lot to distract the near an instructor. the more we know about the namely airspace management and
modern VFR pilot. It’s about “Is it perfect? No, but at least weather the better we can plan and increasingly congested airspace,
creating an air picture, especially in it is something they can baseline execute our flights. But weather as the recent and tragic mid-air
non-controlled airspace when you themselves with. We’re trying forecasts are coded, meaning collisions demonstrate. Safeskies
don’t have that second set of eyes.” to get all pilots–especially in the pilots need a whole new skill set Australia is watching this very
private and recreational sections to understand, and in many cases closely and will be targeting

9 Flight Reviews: of our industry–to understand the a lack of understanding is letting continuing education focusing
value of learning and development down air crews. on pilot situational awareness,
Lack of Recency over the course of their careers. “Confusion with GPWT radio procedures and improving
and Effectiveness “The flight review is the only charts are an issue that the BOM communication.
Once they qualify, PPLs rarely formal thing a PPL has to do, but is aware of,” Penney points out. “The ageing of the VH-
find themselves flying in the it would be great if pilots engaged “To be fair, the BOM has an registered GA recreational
company of an instructor, which with their own development more. obligation under ICAO to put fleet is a major issue. In March
provides ample opportunity “There’s nothing wrong with out products and information in 2023, the US Federal Aviation
for bad habits and lax practices grabbing an instructor two or a standardised format. Administration held a safety
to flourish unchecked. Flight three times a year and practising “We point pilots to the knowledge team webinar, and introduced it
reviews are intended to correct the forced landings or stalls. It is centre on the BOM website, which saying ‘The general aviation fleet,
problem, but too many pilots are important to encourage people to is an awesome resource and grossly or 150,000+ aircraft, average age
skipping class. start thinking about behaviour under-utilised. There’s all sorts is more than 50 years old. The
“I am still staggered by the and their approach to managing of good information on decoding fleet is being used well beyond the
number of ATSB reports I risk. The flight review process is forecasts (TAF and GAF), flight hours and years envisioned
read where the person involved not the be-all and end-all, but it is various hazardous weather when the aircraft were designed.’
did not have a current flight a key piece of the puzzle.” phenomena and guides for the “In Australia, according to
typical weather hazards found in BITRE’s 2021 figures, the top
most parts of Australia. four fixed-wing VH-aircraft
“One critical gap in many pilots categories–Cessna, Piper, Other
knowledge is the VFR alternate and Beechcraft (a total of 6829
criteria. A sound knowledge of aircraft)–have an average age
this critical and often neglected of 45.9 years. While you can
LEFT: Loss of requirement can prevent pilots operate older aircraft safely, their
control in flight trying to get into an airport with maintenance requirements as they
:
#63&"6

often leads to a
poor weather and not having continue to age, are greater.
tragic outcome,
as in the case sufficient fuel to go elsewhere.” “And here we have a perfect
of this warbird storm: the dire shortage of licensed
/41035
4"'&5

that crashed in
Gippsland in 2018.
Safeskies view aircraft engineers means that finding
someone qualified and available to
BELOW: That’s not a Safeskies Australia is an maintain these aircraft is difficult,
good looking sky for
independent, not-for-profit especially in rural and regional areas.
"6453"-*"/
53"

VFR, yet too many

pilots try their luck organisation promoting aviation The shortage also adds to cost –
by challenging IMC. safety through safety education. supply and demand kicks in.
Manager Margo Marchbank “We referred to increasingly
congested airspace earlier in
referring to the recent mid-air
collisions. The safe integration
of an increasingly complex mix of
aircraft types–crewed fixed-wing
and rotary, uncrewed aircraft
and e-VTOLs (advanced aerial
mobility vehicles)–for example,
into limited airspace is only going
to create further issues for all
sectors of aviation, including GA.
“It will also drive a broader
uptake of technologies to help
address these issues, such as more
capable ADS-B.”

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

30 Aircraft Profile BENN MARKS

Outlook
Leonardo’s AW109 GrandNew is a sleek and speedy corporate
transport that is as spectacular in the air as it looks on the
ground. Benn Marks caught up with one pilot who knows it well.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 31

eonardo’s AW109SP GrandNew

is fast and furious, fancy but
formidable. The swift and sleek
light twin helicopter is becoming
very popular in the light twin
executive/VIP and private
helicopter spaces.
The Leonardo AW109SP
GrandNew packs an almighty
punch, with a top speed well over
150 knots, a six-pax carrying
capacity depending on the buyer’s
choice of cabin fit out, an advanced
glass cockpit packing a raft of safety
ABOVE: A panel full of
features for pilots to comfortably advanced avionics makes
fly it, and retractable undercarriage responds well to inputs with a the GrandNew a very
providing that extra level of mobility great stability system,” he says. capable IFR platform.
for ground manoeuvring ops. “It has a very ‘light jet’ feel to it MAIN IMAGE:
And, while a pilot might rarely in terms of cockpit ergonomics Leonardo’s AW109
fly at maximum cruise speeds, and general flight behaviour and GrandNew looks fast even
when it’s on the ground.
the average cruise speeds in this interaction with the FMS and
elegant machine are still more autopilot systems. However just
than sufficient to cut flight time like all aircraft, you just need to be layers of nav assistance, situational
between locations down to an familiar with its inherent design awareness and safety. A quick glance
impressive number relative to traits and work with them. under the instrument panel shroud
other comparative designs (but “One of its most desirably traits reveals why.
more on that later). to owners is the fantastic speed of The AW109SP is equipped
One pilot rated on the the aircraft, as it is notably faster with a highly sophisticated digital
GrandNew is James Gruber, than most machines even at lower dual-duplex four-axis autopilot
an aviator who has racked up a power settings due it’s ‘slippery’ and advanced EFIS with Synthetic
considerable number of hours on a nature and requires a little extra Vision, that packs a Helicopter
multitude of light single- and light preparation in the approach phase, Terrain Awareness Warning
twin-engine helo types during the or for IFR procedures as it covers System (HTAWS), Highway
course of his flying career – one ground very quick. in the Sky (HITS) display, plus
that’s still going strong. “And the ‘slippery’ aspect refers to EVS (Enhanced Vision System)
This unassuming pilot, who it being very sleek/aerodynamic, and and Flight Management system
conveys the strong impression of thus holds speed well, so it needs (FMS), all optimised to reduce the
taking nothing for granted, says to be slowed down appropriately pilot’s workload.
that the bulk of his flying in the as a result to remain ahead of the Not surprisingly, with such a
AW109SP is “mostly Victoria machine,” Gruber says. raft of features, the GrandNew
based operations, with the odd
interstate venture here and
there”, adding that his ops are
“just like all aircraft, you just need
predominantly corporate/private in to be familiar with its inherent
nature with “some ad-hoc corporate
charter on the side with a local jet
design traits and work with them”
operator” constituting the rest.
Overall, Gruber says the light Wow stuff is certified for dual- and single-
twin chopper performs very well For the flying fraternity rated on pilot IFR ops, adding to its
for the private/corporate ops it’s the GrandNew however, they’re overall safety and flying appeal
used for, nevertheless, adds he’s fortunate in being able to sit upfront in Melbourne’s at times busy
constantly mindful and respectful in a cockpit that affords excellent airspace, as Gruber explains.
of the elegant machine’s high visibility due to the machine’s “From a pilot’s perspective,
performance characteristics when wide, expansive but streamlined specifically, the AW109SP has
at the controls. canopy; a feature augmented by the great speed, a nice feel to it, a
“It’s a very well behaved machine helicopter’s highly advanced avionics great autopilot and integrated
in the sense that it’s smooth and suite that provides additional EMS/avionics for IFR use, plus

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

32 Aircraft Profile australianflying.com.au

MTOW of 3175 kg (with the load

carried internally), rendering it able
to hold its own amongst its peers in
the light twin helo space.
The GrandNew that Gruber
pilots, has a pax cabin (located
immediately behind the cockpit)
that can seat up to six guests
in a club seating arrangement,
providing them with a comfortable
flight, short or long. On that
front, Gruber explains some of the
operational details that can unfold
on any given day with the machine.
“I generally work to a standard
/$&

autopilot coupled speed (thanks to

&'&

four-axis A/P) of 138-140 KIAS

%&1"35.&/5
0'
%

depending on wind and atmospheric

conditions at the time, as it is rare we
lose more than 10 kt to headwind.
However, any wind from abeam to
aft will provide generous ground
GrandNew interior speeds of 150-180 kt.
“Any more than that starts to
While the machine looks as if it shift the leg fuel burn on any spare
could make light work of such fuel in hand for no significant gain
tasks, considering its sophisticated in time. And as always, it also pays
pilot-assisting avionics armoury, to be kind on the aircraft and take
this trim-looking machine is also any additional load off the rotor
incredibly photogenic, and cuts head for no great benefit.
a dashing figure on the ground “And in terms of range, that’s
and in the air due to its elegant entirely dependent on payload
design, which looks as if it could on board, almost impossible to
cut through air like a hot knife answer, however generally up
through butter. to 200-240 nm is fairly do-able
The AW109SP has a four- with, say, three to four pax with
bladed main rotor assembly, while minimal baggage, but it’s always
TOP: The AW109 airframe
has lent itself to many the tail consists of a two-bladed entirely situation specific on
missions over the years, operations, it boils down to semi-rigid tail rotor. At an overall passenger weights and baggage.
including these military planning, being constantly length of 12 m, height of 3.3 m, “When ferrying the machine
variants operated by the vigilant and situationally and rotor diameter of 10.8 m, alone or with capability to take
RAN up until 2012.
aware of the environment, and the GrandNew looks every bit max fuel, it’s possible to get 320-
ABOVE: A typical passenger operating the helicopter within as attractive and compact as it is 330 nm and land with all fuel
cabin layout with six seats
in club configuration. its operational limits, all of which sleek and fast. planning requirements in hand.
contribute to obviating any of the Its speed also highly attributable “One key planning note is being
potential risks. in part to its two advanced and mindful of passenger seating
retractable undercarriage, which “Weather and terrain are the powerful, reliable and fuel-efficient positions and CoG considerations
is a big benefit for being able to biggest issues in Melbourne Full Authority Digital Engine when say carrying two pax and
taxi around airports/heliports for all operators,” he explains. Control (FADEC) governed Pratt high fuel payloads, and that’s just
with much less downwash than “Although, utilising the IFR is & Whitney Canada PW207C an inherent design consideration
having to hover. very handy for bypassing the turboshaft engines that are of the 109, being more ‘aft’
“It is single and dual pilot Melbourne basin marginal VFR capable of rustling up a maximum orientated,” Gruber says.
IFR certified, but as with most conditions when it is known continuous rating of 572 shp per “And in in terms of pax numbers
helicopters, not certified for icing conditions outside the basin area side, generously provisioning the carried, again that’s highly variable,
conditions. The autopilot is very are clear as is often the case. light twin helo with plenty of muscle we have six seats, but it’s rarely
capable and stable in flight and “IFR and night ops are in the – and peace of mind when transiting above four due to operational
handles turbulence well.” most part predominantly airport-to- over water, congested and built up restrictions in terms of payload/
Gruber, in his measured tone, airport due to regulatory planning areas, or having to operate into and range, as well as comfort etc.; but
adds that whether it be flying in and landing requirements, but it out of confined landing spaces. otherwise, the most common
the context of inclement weather, is very handy for departing and On meteorologically magnificent would be three or four pax on golf/
performing night time or helipad returning to Melbourne.” days, the chopper can lift off at an day trips etcetera.”

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

34 Aircraft Profile australianflying.com.au

There’s more for passengers to board and exit when the first A109 prototype design evolution of the family
the helicopter, while an external took to the skies in ‘71, and with predecessors underpinning it. Fast
Additional features of the extended baggage compartment the first production model, the forward to the here and now, and
GrandNew include a cabin located immediately behind A109A entering service in ‘76. Gruber is content to expand on
that comes with an effective the cabin, allows them to carry During the course of the the impressive performance specs
soundproofing system which can luggage. And if push comes to base model airframe’s evolution of the machine as it operates in a
be fully customised to suit the shove, a seventh passenger can sit though, which saw successive corporate/private capacity today.
needs of the operator, regardless of upfront next to the pilot. variants showcasing increases in “We have a pretty standard leg
whether they be in the Executive/ Being such a high-end performer size, passenger comfort, systems we do often that is 58 nm from
VIP or private owner spaces. in the light twin helo space as well, upgrades (e.g., avionics and the CBD, at the usual conservative
For instance, the main cabin it’s hardly no surprise to learn powerplants), and increases in set cruise speed of 138 KIAS.
can be configured to carry from that the AW109SP has gone on performance, different companies We usually are engine-on to
four to six seats, and large sliding to form the backbone of many an took over the commercial helm engine-off in around 31-32 min
doors and electrically retractable operator’s fleet. Not just those of the helicopter’s development depending on traffic/wind/cloud
steps on both sides, make it easy in the aforementioned spaces, and production. to go around, etcetera.
but those in the Military, EMS/ These innovative entities, “Perhaps a longer run that
Medevac and Search and Rescue which experienced a few would give a good comparative
TOP TO BOTTOM: (SAR) environments, too. company mergers, acquisitions concept in terms of speed, would
Swinging the four-blade A quick excursion down helo and morphings along the way, be say Essendon to Albury. It’s
main rotor is two PW207C
572-shp turbines.
history lane will reveal that the ranged from the likes of Agusta approximately 145 nm to Albury
Leonardo AW109SP GrandNew and Westland Helicopters, just for the calculation. We can
Wheeled undercarriage
makes the GrandNew easy light twin chopper can trace its to AgustaWestland, and now do that leg in around 65mins and
to manoeuvre on the ground. lineage back to the early 1970s, Leonardo as we know it today we’d burn around 235 kg of fuel,
(otherwise known as Leonardo which, say, if you compare to a
SpA, and formerly known as general single-engine heli like a
Leonardo-Finmeccanica). EC120 or EC130, we typically
Commercially, a figure would plan at 115-120 kt in those
approaching 1600 units of the aircraft and it would be around
AW109 series of helicopters 78 min, plus not being IFR, so the
(encompassing legacy models benefit is twofold for the 109.
from A to K2, Power, LUH, “However, the time I gave for
Grand, GrandNew and Trekker the 109 is a planned speed, we will
plus the latest relevant military almost always get 10-20 kt faster
variants) have been built, with ground speed, especially if there is
around 250 of that number being a tailwind. I’ve done Albury in 50
GrandNews. min before where we’re cruising at
These impressive figures not 165-170 kt the whole way.”
only attest to the commercial sales
success of the GrandNew design, In closing
but also the creative aeronautical
So the beast that flies the skies
today is certainly a beast ... but a
beautiful one! And from Gruber’s
perspective, someone uniquely
qualified to comment on its merits,
his last words sum up the merits of
the GrandNew, and in a sense, its
predecessors quite succinctly.
“I think the key to the 109
argument as such is one unique
to its styling and strengths; that
is the sleek design/speed of the
larger style machines, wheels for
the ground benefit there to taxi,
as well as the very capable IFR
performance just lend well to the
VIP/corporate game.”
While the Leonardo AW109SP
GrandNew might not be brand
new, it certainly is grand and
beautiful to view.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

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36 Flight Training STEVE HITCHEN

Regain Control!
A knife-edge, a blaring stall warning,
the ground is out the left window, the
sky is out the right window and the
aeroplane has only a few more seconds
of flying time. How do you get out of
this? Do you move the stick forward to
un-stall the wing? Do you hit the rudder
hard to swing the nose down? Steve
Hitchen takes a closer look at Upset
Prevention and Recovery Training.

ou are alarmed at your Flying Training Organisation

situation. Your problem of the Year UPRT Australia are
is that you don't have trying to correct. Both believe
time to think this through. that UPRT represents basic
Action is needed now. Do flying skills, the lack of which
something! contributes to loss-of-control
In aviation, this is called (LoC) incidents in flight.
an upset. The aeroplane has "The stats are still very strong
been knocked off a nice straight- globally around these accidents,"
and-level and you need execute says UPRT Australia's Shane
a plan to get it back there safely. Tobin, "they're still the highest
Your problem is that no-one has cause of fatalities by a large don't know what UPRT is; they the pilot has never experienced.
ever taught you how to do that. margin. In the last 10 years in think they have an idea, but they Traditional recovery techniques
Upset Prevention and Recovery jet aircraft, they've accounted for actually don't." may not arm the pilot with enough
Training (UPRT) is not taught the same as every other kind of skill or aerodynamic knowledge
as part of ab initio training. accident combined. The great to quickly assess the situation and
An instructor is likely to run "Turbo-props are five times more apply the right inputs.
through some unusual attitudes, likely to encounter this, and 47% of
ughknown Aerobatic endorsements
but generally these exercises fatalities in GA in the US last year Some corners of the flight envelope include advanced unusual attitude
don't venture anywhere near the were LoC in flight accidents with have faded out of the training recovery, which is often mistaken
perimeters of the flight envelope. an instructor on board. syllabus over several decades, for UPRT, but Tobin says it
And that is what the Australian "The biggest issue is education. leaving dark spaces into which a doesn't go far enough.
Flight Training Industry Most people in the industry don't pilot never sees. In those spaces, the "A lot of people who are training
Association (AFTIA) and 2022 know what they don't know. They aeroplane will behave in a manner UPRT in Australia aren't training

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 37

Upset Prevention and Recovery

Training (UPRT) is not taught as
part of ab initio training.

UPRT, they're training unusual been afraid to ask because it might trainers also have to have a line component does not adequately
attitudes and aerobatics and just expose their lack of knowledge. drawn through them. According to prepare the pilot for the real world
naming it UPRT," he believes. "They "There are a lot of human Tobin, an effective UPRT aircraft upset: it's false training for what
haven't been out and looked at the factors involved around startle needs a wide flying envelope. will happen.
industry or global best practices and and surprise and why a pilot's "This means time," he says. "It "The large envelope also means
constructed their courses based on instinctive reaction is wrong and takes time to effectively train this we can allow the trainee to make
that guidance material. how much time they have in one of recovery, especially in the aircraft, errors without compromising the
"Courses need to focus on these events." and we needed an aircraft that structural integrity of the aircraft.
improving the pilot's knowledge Among the challenges facing would allow the trainee to have For example, when considering
around aerodynamics. It's not one- UPRT is the lack of suitable the time to go through the mental a nose-low, high angle of bank
glove-fits-all, and it has to be a safe aircraft in Australia. Non- recovery process and then through scenario, the pilots always want
space where they can feel free to aerobatic models are a definite the aircraft recovery. to roll and pull at the same time
ask the questions they've always no-go, and even most aerobatic "Just training the aircraft despite us telling them not to. It's

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

38 Flight Training australianflying.com.au

instinct, and it is going to happen, boost its stock of UPRT-qualified chance when the aeroplane Although UPRT would be
particularly if you are effectively instructors. But that is the departs controlled flight. taught within the GA industry,
startling the trainee ... which is beginning of a Catch-22 spiral: "What we've been having the push for an increase in
effective training!" we have a dearth of instructors discussions about is putting training is coming from the
In Europe, some trainers have qualified to teach instructors. together an actual program airlines, which have lamented the
been known to use Cessna 172s in It's just another one of many and what that would look like," lack of some basic skills displayed
the utility category, which Tobin hurdles placed in the way of AFTIA's Maddy Johnson told by pilots they've taken on board on
says is completely unsuitable implementing wide-spread UPRT. Australian Flying. “If we work the strength of an impressive CV.
for UPRT. UPRT Australia together and come up with an "The research that we've done
has Decathlons on their books, The plan idea that enables us to start shows that all the airlines globally
but they won't use them either, implementing this with AFTIA are all saying–because UPRT
preferring the performance AFTIA and UPRT Australia as co-ordinator. is now mandatory for Part 121
capabilities of their Extra 300L. both want to restore UPRT to "We're not the subject-matter operators–that they shouldn't be
Then there is the lack of the list of basic piloting skills to experts in this, we're just helping teaching this," Tobin points out.
instructors. For UPRT to become lift the quality of training and, bring the industry together to "They should not be teaching
ubiquitous, Australia needs to hopefully, give pilots a fighting work out what the training would the basic UPRT concepts and
look like, who should be doing behaviours, it should be done earlier.
the training and when should it "So we know we've got the
be done." top end of town supporting us.
The nirvana for both groups RAAus is doing a lot of good work
would be to have CASA amend in this space; they're pushing on
the training syllabus to include and starting to implement it into
UPRT, but there are challenges their advanced pilot award and
galore facing that strategy, and advanced instructor training."
they're not sure it really is the best
option anyway. Declining
"We're trying to work out
whether we want to go down
knowledge
the regulatory pathway," Tobin It’s concerning that trained pilots
adds. "CASA is very much on are getting through to the airlines
board with this training. They're when their skill levels are below
for anything that's going to up- the expected standards, which
skill and improve safety, so the is the crux of the push to have
conversations that I've had with UPRT included in the syllabus
CASA they're two thumbs up ... at lower levels. But what exactly
keep doing what you're doing. is it that is missing from pilots’
"They don't know at the knowledge bases? Surely they
moment what the appetite is going know how to fly an aeroplane?
to be like for regulatory change “Aerodynamics are a big
to introduce this, and I think issue,” Tobin says. “The lack of
they're a little bit gun-shy over the knowledge, even from pilots who
regulatory change they've put in have been in the airlines for a
place over the last 35 years when decade; they can't even explain
they've had a bit of push-back critical Mach number and how
from industry." it changes the aerodynamics
of a stall. They've got no idea,
but it's no person, or entity or
organisation's fault.
“This has occurred over a
generation or more when people
are Googling what they need to
know to pass a test, then they just
want to go and fly an aeroplane.
ABOVE: Among the “They expect the employers to
challenges facing UPRT teach them what they need to know,
is the lack of suitable but the industry just doesn't have the
aircraft in Australia. people to teach them anymore.”
LEFT: an angle of attack For a case in point, readers need
meter can be useful.
to look only at the investigation
report into the 2009 crash of Air
France 447, an Airbus A330 that

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

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40 Flight Training australianflying.com.au

understand the success and failure

of UPRT in the syllabus rides on
how it is put in place.
"We need to be really careful
how we implement this," Johnson
admits. "We need to do it outside
the regulatory framework, so it's
industry-led.
"We need to work how we roll
it out. We can't be telling the
schools that they need to add
TOP: In Europe, some trainers $20,000 worth of training to every
have been known to use Cessna instructor, that they all need to be
172s in the utility category. UPRT trained, and they have to
BELOW: UPRT represents basic have a certain type of aeroplane.
flying skills, the lack of which We can't do that.
contributes to loss-of-control
"But, we need to look at what
(LoC) incidents in flight.
should be done in ab-inito
training, when it's done and who
can teach it."
"When they get into a situation Shane Tobin agrees.
where they're experiencing loss of "I've told CASA that I would
control, the aircraft is exhibiting prefer they don't mandate this," he
aerodynamic characteristics that points out. "I've told them that I
they've never seen before. would prefer that, as the regulator,
"Anecdotally, we believe the by they make some recommendations,
the time a pilot has qualified for but be totally hands-off and allow the
their licence, they've probably spent industry have a standard that makes
about 30 seconds outside the critical sure UPRT is done properly, rather
angle of attack. It is impossible than regulate it and get it wrong.
for an pilot to understand how an "There is no doubt going to be
aeroplane is going to behave with 30 push-back. We know that there
seconds of experience." will be people who will say it's
not needed and there are vested
Hurdles ahead interests involved.
“there are challenges galore "But the fact that we've had to
If AFTIA and UPRT Australia set up a school especially to teach
facing that strategy, and are successful in their quest to this means that it's not being done
they're not sure it really is have UPRT included in training right and the industry is broken."
syllabuses, they know they
the best option anyway.” face an uphill battle to actually The moment
implement it.
ploughed into the Atlantic Ocean en "We've had people do our course The problem, as noted earlier is A knife-edge, a blaring stall
route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris. who have 18 hours, and people aeroplanes and instructors; there warning, the ground is out the left
Confusing airspeed indications led who have had 12,500 hours, but aren't enough of the right type of window, the sky is out the right
to the crew stalling the aircraft and when we ask them 'how do you either in Australia. window and the aeroplane has
failing to recover because one side make a decision?' they can't tell "We don't have the aircraft to only a few more seconds of flying
stick was held back in an attempt to us," Tobin says. teach UPRT in volumes at the time. How do you get out of this?
arrest a rapid descent. "What we're seeing is that pilots moment, but that doesn't mean we Yes, release the back pressure
All that was needed was for the are not being taught how to make can't," Tobin cautions. "It's one of to unload the wings, but not
stick to be released to un-stall the decisions, how to identify and the things that will be dependent aggressively. That maintains aileron
wing and 228 people would not assess risk. That's one of the key upon when in the training command and puts the wing below
have died. problems in loss of control is that program we decide to teach it. the critical angle of attack. Reduce
The pilots were caught in an they're not recognising when things "If we do it pre-RPL, then we're the power a touch then roll the
unusual situation for an A330, but are starting to go bad, because they going to need more capacity. The wings to match the horizon, using
somehow couldn't leverage the basic don't have an awareness of risk. further you leave UPRT down the rudder to stay in balance the
aerodynamics they would have been "They don't know where they the line, the less the capacity whole way. Stabilise and fly away. It
taught during their ab initio training. are in the envelope and they don't requirements will be." was all as simple as that.
According to UPRT Australia, a lack know how to assess that and make Both Tobin and Johnson are But you probably wouldn't
of basic knowledge in experienced a decision that will bring them bracing themselves for expected have known unless you'd done
pilots is not uncommon. back to safety. industry push-back, and UPRT.

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42
Jim Davis has a passion for instructing. He has been

Right Seat training civil and military pilots, in the air and on

rules
the ground for 50 years. His other passion is writing,
which he studied at Curtin University in Perth. You
can see, and buy, his two pilot text books PPL and
JIM DAVIS Flight Tests at www.jimdavis.com.au

Preparation for Flight

Words are the most powerful tool in an instructor’s toolbox,
says Jim Davis, and to be effective, words must be not only
correct, but also interesting and memorable.

nstructors, it’s your job to your students. Examiners call “red balloon”, your students will
to use the right words it "accuracy of statements". Many hate you – and so will I.
at the right time. Have of us are afraid of these three You can picture a red balloon
a look at this heading. wonderful words: "I don't know." – it’s a cheerful thing. If I ask you
Now that’s a really dull, As an instructor, you will gain about it tomorrow, or even next
boring title – but that’s the student’s respect if you say, "I week, you will remember it.
what it says in the syllabus. What don’t know – let’s look it up." You Avoid boring words like
it means is planning for a safe and will also learn to love students who "empennage" for instance. I have
comfortable flight. And to achieve happily admit they don’t know. to say I don’t really know what
this you have to use a whole lot of The dangerous students are the it means. Do you have a clear
the right words and numbers. ones who say, "yes, of course I know picture of it? Apparently it’s an
Some of the right words are on all that stuff" when they don’t. arrangement of stabilising surfaces at
screens, some are on bits of paper, Memorable – if what you say is the tail of an aircraft.
some are numbers, some are on not memorable, and your students So would flaperons on a delta
keyboards, and some are spoken. will forget it in five minutes, then wing qualify? And how about a
I’m going to tell you a couple of why bother saying it? canard? Hmmm. It’s not really
stories about people who used the Mike van Ginkle was one of the on the tail is it? "Empennage" is
wrong words while flight planning best instructors I ever flew with. a muddy, unhelpful word that
and got very close to killing He had that knack of making doesn’t really tell us much. Avoid
hundreds of passengers. things memorable. He converted it, and similar words if you can.
Of course, if you use the right me onto my Grob G109-B at Numbers are difficult. They
words you can transform the lives of Grand Central. As we taxied can be seriously boring – but hell
your students and their families and out between parked aircraft and they are important.
friends and ultimately their own hangars he said, "watch out for the I’m thoroughly dyslexic which
students, and then their students. wingtips. This aircraft is like a means the sequencing of letters
You can breed generations of great Dakota with its huge wingspan." and numbers doesn’t mean much
instructors and good safe pilots. That had emotional impact. to me. Dumb and stupid are words
For your words to be right – Suddenly I was a Dak Captain that my teachers employed when
they need three properties. Words – not just a guy getting dual in a explaining my poor performance
must be: motor-glider. to my desperate parents. I couldn’t
• interesting read out loud, and still can’t.
• correct Plant a pic The words "bed" and "dad" look
• memorable. identical to me and I see little
Interesting – if your words are I told you last time, if you want difference between the numbers
not interesting you will lose your your students to remember stuff 118.3 and 113.8.
audience. You will see their eyes then try to make it emotional, To rectify the problem I bought
glaze over and they will squirm otherwise give them a mental a book called The Gift of Dyslexia.
in their seats and fiddle with picture to keep in their heads. I can summarise its contents into
their phones. Try not to be academic – use three words: be bloody careful.
Correct – your words must be simple words. If you say “rufescent, This has proved to be excellent
correct otherwise you are lying inflatable sphere” when you mean advice. I pass it on to all aviators

AUSTRALIAN FLYING JNovember – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 43
As one of the most experienced instructors to teach flying in both Australia and South Africa, Jim Davis has
amassed a wealth of personal knowledge about how to tutor both student pilots and experienced pilots at all
levels of their careers. His advice laid out here is directed at instructors, but contains a lot of good material
equally valuable no matter which seat you sit in.

Vale Ryno. Fly high and

thanks for all the laughs.

– and particularly instructors –

dyslexic or not – free of charge.
“Be bloody careful” means
check everything twice and then
ask yourself if that makes sense.
If your figures show that a
Cherokee 180 has a useful load of
say 1117 kg – does it make sense?
The figure is actually correct, it’s
just that the units should be lb.
I would probably pick that up in
an exam because my caution with
figures dictates that I view the
final answer with great suspicion.
I like to know that it makes sense
and sounds reasonable.
If the airline pilots I am going
to tell you about had used the
reasonableness filter neither of
their near-death experiences
would have happened.
Before I developed the habit of
checking for reasonableness, I did
my initial instrument rating flight
test at Port Elizabeth in a Twin
Comanche – and I cocked it up
badly. As I approached the beacon
I knew I would have to turn onto
230 to join the pattern. So what
did I do? I turned onto 320.
Instant fail.
230 is south-westerly while
320 is north-westerly. My
reasonableness check would have
picked this up.
Anyhow, back to "Preparing
For Flight". Let’s make this
more interesting, correct and
memorable. It’s a pretty vast
subject so we’ll split it into three
manageable parts:
• painless paperwork
• classroom capers
• perfect pre-flights

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

 australianflying.com.au

RIGHT: The wingspan of

the Grob made Jim feel
like he was piloting a Dak.
BOTTOM: The Cherokee
180 has a useful load of
1117 kg, or does it?

As they were
planning their next

'-*$,3$$6
move the right also
engine stopped

Painless paperwork Yep, I have heard of electronic copied all the entries across, and that she panics and locks solid on
logbooks, and of computer crashes tossed the original. the controls? I have no idea, and
Do you remember bitching about and lost data. Keep both if you That’s the way to start – and nor did the instructor who sent
examiners who just try to catch like, but the one people want to carry on. her off on her next flight to die
you out with trick questions? see is the paper one. When I say Everything your student while doing solo circuits.
They give you all the fuel figures "people" I mean CASA, potential writes is important – times in If you can’t be clear and precise
in kg but slip one in that’s in lb. employers, and your grandchildren. the authorisation book, mass and with your words–both written
Bastards, hey? Well, yes and no. CASA doesn’t really care if it’s a balance, fuel calculations, SAR and oral–do not be an instructor
When you are dealing with mess. Potential employers do. And details ... absolutely everything. I say again – your words are life
aeroplanes your paperwork has to be what are you going to say to the Her words and figures are all threatening.
meticulous; spot on, dead accurate, rug-rat sitting on your knee when potentially lethal. And your student must start
neat, precise – actually perfect. you show it evidence that you flew I recently looked at a fatal her flying career knowing that
When was the first time, aeroplanes with propellers, and accident in which the student had everything she says or writes must
in aviation, you had to write they say, "Hell, Grandpa, you were lost control of her C172 in the be neat, clean, precise and accurate.
anything in pen and ink? a messy old bugger weren’t you?" circuit and spun into the ground. So to cement this concept in your
It was in your logbook, right? Teach your student that her On the previous flight one head here are a couple of true stories
And it’s very easy to make a logbook is a big deal – she should instructor had written in her about wrong figures (or words) that
mistake: put something in the be proud of it. training file that she was inclined endangered hundreds of lives.
wrong column, mix minutes with I have seen students who, at the to "freeze" on the controls.
points of an hour, add the wrong end of their PPL training, realise What the hell does that mean? Remember Gimli
figures. If your first page was that their logbook is a disgrace. That she is inclined to hesitate
perfect – you are exceptional and They have then bought a new one with bringing the stick back On 23 July 1983, an almost brand-
don’t need to read any further. and a dedicated logbook pen, and during the flare? Or does it mean new Boeing 767-200, C-GAUN,
operating Air Canada Flight 143,
took off from Montreal, Québec,
and headed towards Edmonton,
Alberta, via Ottawa. It was carrying
61 passengers and eight crew.
Shortly after 8pm while the
aircraft was cruising at 41,000 feet
over Red Lake, Ontario, the crew
were alerted by a warning of low fuel
pressure in the left fuel pump. The
pilots believed that the pump had
failed so they switched the alarm off.
They were wrong.
Within minutes the left engine
stopped and they began to lose
'-*$,3$$-*".
.$."/64

height. As they were planning

their next move the right also
engine stopped, and so did all the
electronic instruments, and most
of the hydraulics which, were
powered by the engines.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 2024

RIDE ON FULLY CLOSED ROADS

23 MARCH 2024
snowyclassic.com.au

DESTINATION PARTNER AUTOMOTIVE PARTNER RALIAN OWN

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46 Right Seat Rules
converted into a motorsport park! However with the two-crew
As they landed the nose gear 767, the job of checking the gal-
folded, but the aircraft slid safely to-kg calculations had not been
to a stop. No-one was seriously clearly defined by the company.
injured from the plane or from Furthermore, neither the ground
the motorsport enthusiasts on crew nor the pilots had been
the ground. trained to do this.
Investigators found only 64 The cockpit crew then entered
litres of fuel in the tanks, and the value into the FMC without
there were no leaks. recalculating it for metric values.
How could this happen? So instead of having the 22,300
Well, pretty much everything litres of fuel they thought was in
went wrong on the ground the tanks, they had only 22,300
before takeoff. The fuel quantity lb – less than half of what they
indication system had failed, but needed for the flight to Edmonton.
that would only ground the aircraft So when you write exams that
“Empennage” refers to the tail surfaces of an aeroplane, but it may not be if the tanks were not dipped. This present you with different units
useful to use that term. was done, but during a ground- of measurement – the examiners
crew change there was confusion are not trying to trick you. These
But it was not all bad news. The When they selected gear down, between the metric system of are real world flight planning
captain had 15000 hours and his first the mains dropped by gravity, and measurement and the imperial one. situations that can cost lives.
officer had 7000 hours. The good part locked into position, but the nose This was the first aircraft in the Instructors, you cannot be too
is that the captain was a competent gear only extended partially. Air Canada fleet to use kg on the careful with preparing for each
glider pilot – and he was now flying As they got closer they saw they fuel gauges, and the fuel truck’s flight. Your job is to get that in
the world’s biggest glider. And the were hot and high so the captain meter showed how many US every student’s head.
only suitable landing spot within threw the big aircraft into a sideslip gallons were loaded. The refueler Now here’s the next monstrous
gliding range was an abandoned air for a touchdown just 800 metres had to convert this to weight stuff up ... and there is much to
force base at Gimli, where the co- past the threshold, only to find because the crew needed to have be learned for all, particularly
pilot was previously stationed. the runway had been closed and the figure in kilograms. instructors.

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AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 47

Overloaded jumbo weight of 203,580 kg instead of the

aircraft’s take-off weight of 324,456
On 11 March 2003, the crew of a kg into the hand-held performance
Boeing B747-300 was preparing computer. He then wrote the
to depart on an international computed take-off speeds onto the
scheduled flight from Johannesburg take-off cards, which are mounted
to Sao Paulo, with 20 crew and 137 on both control columns.
passengers on board. The captain checked these take-
The captain had over 20,000 off speeds, as the first officer, who

(00(-&
&"35)
*."(&
hours, including nearly 6000 on type normally does this, was busy. Both
The aircraft was initially pilots then set the bugs on their
delayed by ATC due to only one ASIs to these incorrect speeds.
radar sector being in use. The captain started the take-off
During the pre-flight inspection, roll from runway 03L, with the
the Auxiliary Power Unit failed engine power set at 1.42 EPR and
to provide sufficient airflow into 10° of flap. The first officer called Gimli, Manitoba. The runway had been converted to a motortsport park, but
skilled gliding resulted in a successful forced landing.
the cockpit and cabin area as well "rotate" at the incorrect bug speeds.
as to start the engines. The crew The captain said the aircraft
planned to use a ground air cart to felt nose-heavy and delayed the and the aircraft landed back at figures and procedures? The short
start an engine and then to cross- rotation by 15 knots. As the Johannesburg. answer is that they were rushed.
bleed start the other engines. aircraft became airborne the The cause of this horrendous Instructors, if you can get one
Amid several distractions on engineer shouted "sinking" and the incident was that the engineer had very simple concept into students
the flight deck, ATC suddenly captain called for more thrust as fed the ZFW instead of the aircraft’s heads, you may pat yourselves on
reduced the expected 45-minute the aircraft felt sluggish. take-off weight into his computer. the back. This is it: never be in a
delay, to only 30 minutes, causing The aircraft slowly achieved The result was that the aircraft was hurry around aeroplanes.
further pressure on the already a positive rate of climb and the 120 tons heavier than he thought, Next month we will look at
stressed crew. landing gear was retracted. ATC and was actually 100 tons over gross! Classroom Capers, or how to
The flight engineer obtained the notified the pilot that a tail scrape Why did the crew make a get the good stuff painlessly into
load sheet, but entered the zero fuel had occurred. Fuel was dumped number of basic mistakes with students’ paw-paws.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

48 Emergency Equipment PAUL SOUTHWICK

Life-saving

Paul Southwick looks through the array of emergency equipment available

for GA aircraft, and consults the experts on what will save your life in the
event you are forced to land somewhere remote and inhospitable.
48*5-*,

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 49

The only time you one day, you and your passengers trend we are seeing is toward strobe. Bayne points out that
need emergency may be in a life-or-death more awareness of the duty of technology has made major
equipment is when you don’t survival scenario, with only your care, by both individuals and advances possible in emergency
have it with you,” is a thought preparation and training to keep organisations, to do the right equipment and safety. For
provoking maxim, especially in you alive.” thing when it comes to safety and example PLBs that send a signal
Australia, with its tyranny of When a pre-start checklist emergency planning.” back to you to confirm that your
distance, and large remote areas. says “Emergency Equipment Bayne’s has some sage, experience- signal has been received.
It’s impossible to separate Onboard” that’s a subtle reminder based advice for pilots, including: • don’t underestimate the risk
attitude from equipment when to check you have matched • no matter what you budget, or of flying over (especially
it comes to emergencies. AOPA emergency equipment on board to weight and balance restrictions, cold) water. For example, to
(USA) says, “No one likes your impending mission. don’t scrimp on emergency Tasmania or New Zealand.
to consider the unwelcome Greg Bayne, Managing equipment. Carry the basics – a Wear an exposure suit. If you
possibility of a forced off-airport Director of Australian-owned, first aid kit, water (see below for can’t afford one, rent one. Don’t
landing - and the potential Red Baron ALSE, which has a water alternative), a thermal island-hop over water just to
survival situation to follow. But decades of hands-on experience blanket that can keep you warm avoid taking a life raft with you.
as pilot in command, it is your with military and civilian aviation and dry, a personal locator It’s much more comfortable, and
job to prepare for the chance that safety equipment, says, “The beacon (PLB) and a torch with you’ll last much longer in the

If you’ve got a long flight over water

ahead of you, carry advanced equipment
like the Switlik Inflatable Single Place
Life Raft will give you peace of mind

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

50 Emergency Equipment

LEFT TO RIGHT:
Personal Locator Beacons
(PLB) have become the
recommended beacon
because they can be

&
130
carried on the person and
not left in the aeroplane.

(3&/"%
The Grenade Pro packs a
lot of very handy tools into
one quick-grab grenade.
Approved life jackets
are compulsory for some
"$3

operations, and just a

really good idea for others.
Get your own collection
of safety equipment, and
leave it in the aeroplane
so that it goes with you
automatically.

life raft than the cold water. of Standards (MOS), especially simple terms the more
• don’t be so quick to dismiss divisions 26.12 to 26.15. You inhospitable the area and
helmets for general aviation can download the rules free. Pay weather, the better you need to
(GA). Multiple air accident particular attention to when be prepared. Avoiding trouble
reports reveal how serious you must carry life jackets, life Good flight planning avoids,
injuries from hitting their head rafts, and “survival equipment, as where possible, inhospitable areas. Melbourne-based Grade One
on the dash, or even fatalities, appropriate for the remote area For example, mountainous, hot instructor, Marlan Balasuriya
were prevented by pilots wearing to be flown.” And make sure you or cold, desolate, uninhabited, says, “as a general rule I like to fly
a helmet. Conversely, images know exactly where the designated snow-covered, dry or watery high, and close to the shore, if near
abound of, for example, bent remote areas are in Australia. environments. In some long water, not over it.”
keys, deformed by the faces of The rules are the bare skinny countries like New Balasuriya who spends much
pilots in sudden stops. Helmets minimum though, and are best Zealand, or when flying coastal, time in IMC, often at night or in
are now regularly worn in supplemented by good training, it’s hard to get lost, but in winter, over rural areas, says, “My
not just the military but also planning, and equipment. featureless, desert-like Australia, recommended best emergency
aerobatics, warbird, vintage, crop There are many golden rules it’s easier. Sometimes flights will prevention tool is thorough
dusting, surveillance, power line about survival relevant to aviation. combine multiple danger factors: planning and a careful pre-flight.”
inspection, fire-spotting and fire- For example, in relation to what you flying over the remote, high Wise pilots always carry a torch
bombing aircraft. carry with you, “two is one, and one level, inland areas of the Snowy for a close inspection of the engine
• PLB are a much better option is none.” The Rule of 3s states “You Mountains in winter is one. compartments and other parts
than trackers, because they emit can survive three seconds without The progress and low cost of of the aircraft. Torches now are
a signal that gives your exact the right attitude, three minutes GPS based electronic cockpits small, but feature-rich, including
location for rescuers, so that you without air, three hours without and hand held devices, and even not just a white light, but also
get found quickly. shelter, three days without water watches, with moving maps, red and green in-cockpit lights,
and three weeks without food.” have transformed navigation to and an ability to flash and attract
Laws, regulations the extent that there really is attention in an emergency.
and golden rules Where and when no excuse for getting lost. Most Regarding emergency
pilots have or carry multiple equipment, Balasuriya says,
Knowing the rules about It makes a big difference, and devices. It is important to know “It’s so important to brief your
emergency equipment is critical. determines the best mix of how to use them; to have back up passengers, not only on seatbelts
One of the best places to find emergency equipment, where and power, or even back up coverage, and exits, but also on where
them is CASA’s Part 91 General when you are flying, over what and a plan for when mobile survival and rescue equipment
Operating and Flight Rules Manual territory, and in what weather. In service is lost. is located, and how to use it. For

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 51

4
035*&
*/(
'
30"3

“Precautions like this mean that an incident stays

just that, and does not develop into an emergency”
example, how exactly to access, substitute devices, like Garmin’s failure over water, at night, off the Another option is to carry a
move outside the aircraft, activate, InReach remain popular. coast of Florida. He conducted hand held transceiver, especially
and get safely into a life raft.” A top-of-the-line PLB like a successful ditching with his one with headset connections,
Older GA aircraft don’t tend to the ResQLink View works with passengers, but they spent the an option favoured by Bruce
have carbon monoxide detection the next generation MEOSAR whole night in the water because Stark, who has around 5000
systems as standard. A small, satellite system, for faster alerting their life jackets did not have hours flying GA aircraft VFR
inexpensive, hand held version, that times, and is compatible with both lights. He could see the rescue around Australia, mostly without
can be swapped into and out of the US and European systems. It aircraft’s lights, but they could not autopilot. He also carries a Spot
aircraft, and emits a loud “beep” and has a built-in screen allowing users see or find him. tracker that sends his position
or flashing light when triggered, is to monitor GPS position, system Mobile coverage is pretty regularly. It has an “OK” button,
good insurance against something status, and more. good in Australia, but there are which he uses to advise loved ones
that sadly and unnecessarily features It features nearly instant alerting places with little or no signal. he has landed safely; a “Help” key
as the cause in too many aviation of search and rescue forces, One frustrating trap is locations which signals he has diverted, and
accident reports. transmitting a distress signal where your provider does not have “Emergency” which means “come
with a personal identifier code coverage, but perhaps others do. and get me!”
Getting found and GPS location, accurate to An often overlooked option, Under “nice to have,” is a solar-
within 100 metres, significantly because it is wrongly perceived as powered, battery back-up device,
If you want to be found, people reducing search time compared to too expensive, is a satellite phone. with multiple USB and other
need to know if you are lost, and traditional ELTs. It is unaffected by One with worldwide coverage can output charging ports. It doubles
where to find you. Surprisingly, terrain, obstructions or weather, is be purchased for about the same as a powerful torch.
some GA pilots choose not waterproof and works anywhere in as a mobile. There’s a monthly Marine flares – they cost less
to file a flight plan, include a the world. There are no subscription fee to pay, but this can be largely than A$100 for a kit of four - are
SARTIME, or to make use of fees to pay (as for a satellite phone), suspended when not travelling. It an option for getting seen quickly,
VFR flight following. and the battery lasts five years. can come in handy on an IFR trip especially after a night ditching,
Craig Newlyn, head of A key point Newlyn makes to WA, as without it (or a rarely but come with their own safety and
marketing and business about emergency equipment seen in GA, HF radio), ATC transportation issues, especially
development at FlightStore is that, “Quality varies with requires a change to VFR. when traveling on the airlines to
Australia says, “During COVID price, but it can be worth paying Satphones gave me assurance, pick up your aircraft. Like other
a number of key suppliers went more.” AOPA USA has a case that no matter where you land, safety equipment, some are banned
broke, restricting supply of locator study about not scrimping on planned or not, you have world-wide outright, others require permission,
equipment. But availability is quality: a Mooney pilot had coverage, and can call for help, or and some must or must not be in
becoming better now.” PLBs, and a sudden, unexpected engine simply cancel a SARTIME. your carry-on luggage.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

52 Emergency Equipment

across the desert to Perth, I signaling devices such as coloured

emphasise the need to take smoke bombs, railroad fuses,
water and food. It could be or Very pistol shells, in sealed
hours or days before you are metal containers.
picked up. I also like to carry a “In addition, the following must
spare aviation hand held radio, be carried as minimum equipment
just in case. from October 15 to April 1
3
4&37*$&

“Precautions like this mean (northern winter) of each year: one

that an incident stays just pair of snowshoes, one sleeping
that, and does not develop bag, one wool blanket or equivalent
&-*$015&

into an emergency.” for each occupant over four.”

The northern, remote, and US survivalist, Dave
often freezing US state of Canterbury, one of the nation’s
8&451"$
3&4$6&
)

Alaska has some informative leading survival experts, with

legal requirements to keep more than 40 years’ experience
pilots alive. AS 02.35.110 of mastering survival techniques,
Emergency Rations and promotes carrying the “5 Cs of
Equipment states: “An airman Survivability” as follows: cutting,
may not make a flight inside covering, combustion devices,
ABOVE: The idea after being Staying alive the state with an aircraft unless containers and cordages.
forced to land somewhere emergency equipment is carried Stark also has in his travel
inhospitable is to keep “In winter I always carry a warm as follows: rations for each kit a multi tool, a hand held
yourself safe until one of jacket,” says Balasuriya. “If forced occupant sufficient to sustain life compass, ELB, and small bottles
these arrives overhead.
to land – either at a remote for one week, one axe or hatchet, of water. Perhaps not a survival
OPPOSITE PAGE: airfield or off-field, I want to be one first aid kit, an assortment item, but a Stark tip to include in
A USB firestarter and flint
will help you get a fire
able to survive or walk for help at of tackle such as hooks, flies, your kit, is a spare set of keys for
started should you find night, in the cold. lines, and sinkers; one knife, fire the aeroplane, and printed out
yourself force-landed many “When people tell me they are starter, one mosquito head net airport charts for intended and
miles from anywhere. doing longer flights to places like for each occupant, two small nearby (diversion airports).

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AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 53

In terms of survival, all the high-calorie items such as monoxide detector. Both the
aviation experts agree that there chocolate, protein bars, nuts, Google Pixel and just released
is much that can be learned and similar food. Samsung Z Fold, combine a
from visiting outdoor camping Keeping warm may involve mobile phone and tablet that can
and survival stores. One useful starting a fire. It used to be run popular EFBs, and PLBs
example, replacing traditional matches were carried. Today come with a built in torch and
halogen-based water purifying however a simple flint, or signaling device.
tablets, usually made of chlorine or lightweight USB chargeable As mentioned above, a water
iodine, is a water filtration drinking lighter where a charge jumps filtration drinking straw can
straw, for example, a LifeStraw. across two points (enough moderate the amount of drinking
These devices, that cost to light paper or tinder) is a water carried. CASA/TSO
about A$40 each, weigh just great option. approved life jackets can be worn
65 grams, and measure just First aid kits are essential, around the waste and weigh just
3.2 x 19.5 cm, will filter up to inexpensive and don’t weigh 1.2 kg. No need for a separate pulse
4000 litres of water. That’s much. So there is no excuse meter when flying high anymore
enough for an individual for not to have one. Even a small as aviation watches can measure
many years. They can be used to kit with bandages, band- blood oxygen saturation levels.
drink water from the wild, and aides, and antiseptic can be A number of providers offer
are claimed to “protect against a life saver. Equally useful can be all-in-one survival kits with a
99.999999% of bacteria (including a first aid course, and some first a limiting factor for emergency multitude of tools. One of the
E.coli, Salmonella), 99.999% aid instructions in the kit. What equipment. Bayne says “that’s no best is the US$89.95 GrenadePro
of parasites (including Giardia would you do if a passenger was excuse not to carry the basics.” Survival Essentials Kit. Shaped
and Cryptosporidium), 99.999% bitten by a snake or spider? When it comes to weight, like a ball, and easily attached to a
of microplastics, silt, sand, and technology can be a saviour. For pack or even your belt.
cloudiness. You can drink directly Technology saves example, a cigarette adapter can Bright florescent clothes, like
from lakes, rivers, and streams, be used as a USB charger, as well high visibility vests, made of light
or fill a container to use your
weight as a carbon monoxide detector. materials, make you easy to see on
LifeStraw on the go.” The smaller the GA aircraft, the Lightspeed makes the Zulu the ground, and easier to spot in a
Food is essential too. With more likely that weight becomes headset with a built in carbon search and rescue situation.

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November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

54 Reims Aviation TONY SELF

French Connection
any a Cessna aficionado will of the International Civil
How did a small operation happily tell you that the best Aviation Organisation
in the French province of Cessnas weren’t made in (ICAO) had an immediate
the famous Wichita Kansas effect on international airline
Champagne manage to factory. They were made transportation, but protection of
out-Cessna Cessna? Tony in the Champagne wine local aviation manufacturing was
region in northern France, in the still widespread.
Self explores the history of city of Reims. Already famous Tariffs and import restrictions
for hosting the world’s first made it difficult for foreign
Reims Aviation and their international air show in 1909, aircraft manufacturers to
remarkable legacy. the association between aviation get a foothold in another
and Reims was cemented when manufacturing country. For
production of Cessna 172s and example, Victa exported
175s began in 1963. Airtourers to the UK, but could
An F406 Caravan II, one of very After World War II, only do so in knocked-down kit
few on the Australian register. globalisation and the formation form for assembly (and fitment of

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 55

'-*$,3$$4)"%."/
4".&&
UK-made engines) in the UK. Kicking off O-300 of 145 hp. The F172s sold as the 172. The 175 prototype had
Cessna’s approach was to find When Cessna 172 production began, like hot gateaux in Europe, and by flown in 1956, and was certified
a European partner, and set up a Reims only had 280 employees, but 1965, were pumping out 12 aircraft in 1958. The main difference over
licence-manufacture arrangement. ramped up quickly so that the first per month from the little factory. the 172 is the engine: the 175 had
Thus, Reims Aviation was formed aircraft rolled off the new production By then, some sub-assemblies were a high-revving geared GO-300 six-
around the small Avions Max line on time in April 1963. That French-made, and by the end of cylinder 175-hp Continental.
Holte company, famous for their first aircraft was a 172D, but Reims that year, nearly everything other The more powerful engine
Broussard single radial-engined prefixed the model number with an than the engines and the landing resulted in a cruise about 15 knots
monoplane family. ‘F’. (The French-built aircraft are gear springs were made in France. faster than the 172. Reims started
Cessna purchased a 49% stake variously known as Reims, Cessna/ More importantly, Reims had producing the 175 (confusingly, as
in the company, the company sold Reims, or Reims Cessna, but the introduced corrosion-proofing, the FP172 – P for “Powermatic”)
off the Broussard line to Nord, giveaway is always the F prefix.) which is one of the features that with a Rolls-Royce Continental
and re-badged to Reims Aviation. The first F172s were assembled today make a Reims Cessna more GO-300 and a constant speed
From then on, Reims Aviation from US-built airframe parts, but attractive than a Cessna Cessna. propeller, but by the time three
has produced only Cessna (or fitted with a British-made Rolls- The licence production of the had left the factory, the parent
modified Cessna) designs. Royce version of the Continental Cessna 175 didn’t go as smoothly company had dropped the model.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

56 Reims Aviation

Strength to strength
In 1965, the Reims company
enjoyed a boost when the French
Government introduced a 50%
subsidy for aero club buyers of
French-built light aircraft. Cessna
was hoping to start importing
'-*$,3$$"-"/
8*-40/
150s, but the subsidy made the
cost of an imported US-built, two-
seat 150 a lot more expensive than
a French-built four-seat 172.
But in 1967, Reims started
producing the F150F alongside
the F172D. In fact, things were
going so well that a new factory
was required, and production Reims warbirds clandestinely acquired 21, operating O-200 engine, the FRA150 was
moved to the new Reims-Prunay them as the Reims 337 Lynx. fitted with a Rolls-Royce O-240
factory in 1968. The workforce Reims converted one of their engine of 130 hp. The 30% extra
had grown to 400. FP172 (Cessna 175) airframes Twins and aerobats power made this French Aerobat a
In the US, Cessna had changed to the FP172M prototype, a much better aircraft for aerobatic
the 172 powerplant to the Lycoming proposed militarised version. The Reims factory saw a few training and competition. Over
O-320 four-cylinder engine, but While Reims didn’t pursue the small production or assembly time, 390 Reims 150 Aerobats were
Reims continued using the Rolls- model, the parent company did, runs, including eight Cessna produced before production moved
Royce Continental O-300. and eventually sold 255 to the US F411 business twins. Although to the F152 and FA152 in 1978.
While Reims had undertaken Army as the T-41B Mescalero. fixed gear Cessna 177 Cardinals Reims pumped out other
to make Cessna and Reims parts However, nine Reims Rockets were never made in Reims, a very Cessna models too, including
interchangeable, the next step for were sold to the Irish Air Corps, convenient total of 177 Reims Skylane variants (F182P,
the French company was its own operating from 1972 to 2019! FR177RG retractable Cardinals F182Q, and FR182), Hawk XP
model of 172: the FR172E “Reims Although never used other than in did roll off the French line (FR172K), Super Skymaster
Rocket”. This version was a high trials, the Irish aircraft had hard between 1972 and 1978. (F337F, F337G, F337H, FP337H,
performance 172, made possible points under each wing, intended The F150 production was FT337G, and the FTB337G).
by the Rolls Royce IO-360 fuel- for rocket pods containing 24 expanded to include the A150
injected engine. Matra 37 mm unguided air to Aerobat, which started coming The first death of
There’s no guessing why it was ground rocket projectiles. off the French line in 1969 as
nicknamed the Rocket: it was The aircraft most commonly the FA150K. After about 120
Cessna
20 knots faster than the 172D, known as the Cessna O-2 was of the K and L variants of the In 1986, the liability claims against
for very little change in fuel produced in Reims as the FTB- FA150 had been produced, Reims Cessna (and Beechcraft and Piper)
consumption. Over the next 10 337G Milirole. The Portuguese introduced their own modified were spiraling out of control. In
years, around 600 Reims Rockets Air Force operated 32 of these, Aerobat: the FRA150L. 1962, the cost of liability insurance
were produced. and the Rhodesian Air Force also Instead of the US 150’s 100 hp was US$51 per aircraft. By 1985,
it was US$70,000. This, alongside
the fact the market had reached
saturation (and well-maintained
aircraft don’t need to be replaced for
decades), resulted in a collapse of
single-engine piston aircraft sales.
Cessna closed down its single
piston production, and Reims
followed suit. Cessna was
purchased by General Dynamics,
and Reims started looking for a
new future. One pathway was to
move from singles to twins, and
'-*$,3$$"-&$
8*-40/

from piston to turbo-prop, and this

started with the Reims Caravan II.
The first turbo-prop produced
by Reims was a Caravan, but not
the familiar Cessna 208 Caravan
that Australians are now very

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 57

an attractive proposition, and was licence-produce. But in late

picked up by operators including 1995, Cessna changed their
Australian Custom and Border decision, and in 1997, Reims
Protection Service. (Cessna later started re-skilling its depleted
developed the Titan into the 441 workforce with the assembly

0/4/*.#64
Conquest turbo-prop, but used of a handful of new 172R
Garrett engines instead.) Skyhawk kits from Wichita.
But Caravan production was But CFCI, the new owners of
nothing like the heyday. Only Reims, abandoned the idea
'-*$,3$$'3 "

8*,*.&%*"
$0..
one aircraft per month was being to concentrate on Caravan
produced by the Reims factory II production and their sub-
in 1989. Inevitably, Cessna sold contracting projects.
its share in Reims to Compagnie
Française Chaufour Investissement Making parts
(CFCI) in May 1989.
In 1994, the US Government Building one or two Caravans CLOCKWISE FROM
passed the General Aviation per month was not going to keep OPPOSITE PAGE:
familiar with. The Reims F406 Revitalisation Act, which put a the company afloat, although Reims made only the RG version
Caravan II was a design joint statute of limitations on aircraft Reims ended up building a total of the 177 Cardinal, producing,
venture between Cessna and liability claims. No longer could of 99 F406s, the last in 2013. ironically, 177 of them.
Reims for an aircraft like the 208 someone sue the manufacturer To keep the doors open, Reims Reims F172s sold in Europe like
hot gateaux.
Caravan but with two engines. when a 60-year old aircraft’s manufactured components
The 130-hp engine fitted to the
European regulations at the undercarriage failed. Cessna, now for the big French aircraft
Reims 150 resulting in greater
time permitted multi-engine types owned by Textron, put the wheels manufacturing powerhouses of aerobatic performance then the
only for commercial IFR flights. in motion to re-start single engine Airbus, ATR and Dassault. Wichita models.
The F406 was essentially a turbo- piston aircraft production. However, as was the Reims F175 used a Rolls-Royce
prop version of the Cessna 404 Initially, Cessna decided that it experience of Australian version of the six-cylinder
Titan. With two PT-6A engines, would keep production to itself, aircraft manufacturers, making O-300 motor.
this versatile Reims product was and no longer allow Reims to components just staved off

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November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

58 Reims Aviation

the inevitable collapse. For be attributed to the corrosion- at 2800 RPM on take-off. Many
Reims, that happened in protection during manufacture. owners retrofitted a three-bladed
2003. The bankrupt company The Rolls-Royce Continental MT composite prop, and others
was reorganised into Reims O-300 of the F172 is heavier, and fitted an extra Gomolzig muffler.
Aerospace, the subcontracting has slightly less power than the Arguably even more highly prized
business, and Reims Aviation four-cylinder Lycoming of later than the Rocket is the FRA150 and
Industries, which continued with Wichita 172s, but the Continental FA152 Aerobats (even though it

*-40/
the F406 Caravan II production is smoother and makes a appears only a handful of FRA150s

'-*$,3$$"-"/
8
despite having only 70 employees. magnificent sound. made it to Australia).
Cessna purchased the The undercarriage of the
Type Certificates for all the F172 was steel-spring, whereas Reims in Australia
Reims-Cessna models, which the C172 of the same era had
allowed Reims-built Cessnas tubular spring, and some Cessna While Reims Cessnas are relatively
to be considered US domestic design changes to the wing never easy to find in Europe, Australia
products, making it easier for found their way into the French was “Cessna Cessna” territory, and
owners of the French machines to equivalent model. only a few Reims models found
keep them flying. But there’s little argument about their way in. Understandably, all of for sale in Australia very often. At
Reims Aviation Industries finally whether the FR172 Reims Rocket these were second-hand imports. 750 kg MTOW, even the heaviest
collapsed completely in 2013. Reims is better than any other 172. The Six are still on the register: a couple of the 150 Aerobats, the FRA150
Aerospace continues to operate at 210-hp IO-360 gives the Rocket of Rockets, a couple of Aerobats and will be eligible for RAAus Group
Reims-Prunay airport, still making plenty of performance, even with a couple of Caravan IIs. Most came G registration when it comes into
aircraft components, as part of the four adults, a full load of fuel, and into the country as private imports. effect shortly. However, at least
ACI Groupe. a 400- m strip! The FR172 also Surveillance Australia acquired one Reims Aerobat has previously
picked up a nickname–the Reims three new F406 Caravan IIs (as early as 2008) been registered
Prized Cessnas Racket–revealing its one flaw: too for a contract for Coastwatch under the Group A category for
much noise. (Australian Customs Service), and aircraft under 600 kg MTOW.
Reims Cessnas have maintained The high-pitched component around six or seven others were What is attractive about a rare
their reputation as “better than of the engine racket was produced imported by other operators. French Cessna over the common
a real Cessna”, most of which can by the two bladed prop rotating Reims machines don’t come up American equivalent?

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AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 59

LEFT TO RIGHT:
They called it the Reims Rocket.

'-*$,3$$%&/.&/
"7*"5*0/
1)050(3"1):
The FR172 has a 210-hp IO-360
up front, making it perhaps the
jewel in the Reims crown.
The Irish Air Corps operated
militarised Rockets for a
remarkable 47 years.

sell his “ joy” was that with the

standard short-range tanks; it was
not suitable for IFR flying.
He had kitted out his Aerobat
with IFR bells and whistles
“There’s no guessing why it was nicknamed the including an autopilot, and with a
Rocket: it was 20 knots faster than the 172D” classic Aerobat paint scheme, the
little 150 was fully schmick.

Jock Folan, from Victoria, likes Folan. “The Reims aircraft use tailwheel conversion, as ZK-TDI. What a score!
out-of-the-ordinary aircraft, and standard Cessna parts … you just Robert McNeill from
has owned a Cassutt III racer, have to make sure there is an ‘F’ Queensland no longer owns a For a little company in
a Decathlon, and an aerobatic in the applicability column in the Reims Aerobat. Champagne, Reims Aviation had a
Bonanza. He recently bought a Parts Manual.” “There are things in your life you massive impact on general aviation
tailwheel-conversion FRA-150 from The rarity of the Reims variants regret, and one of mine is selling in Europe. From 1963 to 1986,
New Zealand. Folan gives two in Australia means that every that Aerobat. It was a beautiful Reims produced a whopping 6300
reasons for preferring the Reims. aircraft has an exotic backstory. aeroplane," he laments. The aircraft of 16 different types. Its
“Having 130 hp instead of 100 Folan’s 150, now VH-8X8, left Aerobat in question is still flying in FRA-150 Aerobats are the most
gives that little bit more power for the Reims factory in 1974, and Boonah, now as a glider tug. desirable of this iconic type, its
take-off, climb and aerobatics … was delivered to a buyer in New The Reims desirability for Reims Rockets are legendary, and
it’s a better performing aeroplane," Caledonia as F-ODAL. Being McNeill had been the bigger the quality of production eclipses
he says. The second reason is the technically part of France, there engine and better build quality. that of Cessna itself.
corrosion treatment. “All Reims were no sales territory disputes “I read somewhere that The French have an expression,
aircraft were primed during with Cessna over the French while Cessna spent 2400 hours “ je ne sais quoi", which literally
manufacture. Cessna didn’t do Pacific territories. building an Aerobat, Reims put means “I don’t know what”, but
that until much later.” After being damaged, it was 3000 hours in per aircraft.” The figuratively, it means “indefinably
The prospect of parts being sent to New Zealand for repair, limitation of the FRA-150 which special”. Reims aeroplanes have
difficult to obtain does not faze and ended up staying there after a ultimately prompted McNeill to plenty of je ne sais quoi.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

60 ROTARY-WING NEWS

Rotors
Western Australian Police
induct Airbus H145 into service
Dave Soderstrom presents news and views from the helicopter industry.

A Police organisation in the southern and manage and coordinate time tactical situational awareness
Force recently hemisphere to operate the type. emergencies like never before. to officers on the ground, will
took delivery of Speaking at the aircraft “Seconds count when providing facilitate improved decision making
Australia's first unveiling ceremony on 26 July, timely and quality responses and response."
five-blade Airbus Commissioner of WA Police to calls for help. The H145’s The new H145 offers a range
H145. Force Col Blanch said, “The H145 enhanced technology gives it better of capabilities for the WA Police
The aircraft is the first of two provides a significant capability take-off performance and the Force, including single-pilot IFR
ordered by WA Police Force, which uplift that will enable our people aircraft’s ability to respond quickly and NVG capabilities. The H145
becomes the first law enforcement to enforce the law, prevent crime, and provide evidence quality, real- is fitted with a fully integrated

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 61

New UH-60M Blackhawks

arrive for the Australian Army

police mission system, as well as useful load by 150 kg. WA Police Rd Fire burning near Coutts
Airbus’ Helionix avionics suite Force is expected the second Crossing (Clarence Valley LGA),
and four-axis autopilot. helicopter by the end of the year. approximately 20km south of
Powered by two Safran Arriel The newest tool in the New Grafton. With the ability to drop
2E engines, the H145 is equipped South Wales Rural Fire Service’s up to 10,000 litres of water, the
with full authority digital engine aerial fleet, the CH-47D Chinook along with other aerial
control (FADEC) and the Chinook, had its first operational assets helped slow the spread of
Helionix digital avionics suite. tasking assisting firefighters fire, which firefighters on the
The five-blade rotor increases the control the Kangaroo Creek ground was able to contain.

"%'

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

62 Rotors
Blackhawk joins through the Palaszczuk Labor New UH-60M Commando Regiment. Where
Government’s investment to our they will undergo some local
Queensland RFS front line.
Blackhawks arrive testing and certification work
The Queensland Rural Fire “ It’s exciting for the for Australian Army before commencing regular
Service has contracted its first community to host the Black The Australian Army has received duties towards the end of the
Blackhawk for the Queensland Hawk as the aircraft joins the the first three of a total order year. As more airframes are
fire season. Operated by South ranks of the Queensland Fire and of 40 UH-60M Blackhawks. delivered they will be split
Australian operator Aerotec, Emergency aerial fleet for the Arriving in the back of two USAF between the former and the
who now have three of the type in first time since 2019.” C-17A Globemasters at RAAF Army Aviation Training Centre
the fleet on the Australian VH Aerotech positioned the Richmond, the Blackhawks at Oakey Army Air Field (Qld.)
register. This contract signing is helicopter, Helitak 516 from will replace the European made
the also a return to the state since its Parafield head office in late Airbus Helicopters MRH-90 Vale Ian Paull
2019 that the Queensland Rural August to Bundaberg where Taipan which remains grounded
Fire Service has used the type upon arrival and certification the after the fatal crash recently. The The Australian Helicopter
Industry Association is
saddened to hear of the passing
“The H145 provides a significant capability uplift that will enable of Ian Paull in Townville,
our people to enforce the law, prevent crime, and manage and following a lengthy illness.
coordinate emergencies like never before.” Ian was a colourful character
with a distinguished career
over more than five decades in
on fire suppression duties in the machine was put to work on a accident claimed the lives of four predominantly rotor wing aviation,
state. Operating from Bundaberg fire at Mount Tom. Fitted with serving members. but also fixed wing holding
Airport Member for Bundaberg the Australian designed Helitak The first three airframes will ATPLH and CPLA licences.
Tom Smith MP said, “I’m excited FT4500 collapsible belly tank based with the 6th Aviation He began his career in army
to welcome the crew back to with a capacity of 4000 liters the Regiment (AVN) at Luscombe aviation, and in the civilian
Bundaberg for another season as tanks design allows the pilot/s to (NSW), also known as world was SFOI at CASA prior
we continue to extend this vital fly to their destination faster due Holsworthy Army Air Field to joining Westpac Helicopter
partnership that has come about to its low drag profile. supporting members of 2nd Rescue and subsequent stints

"%'

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 63

include: CFI at Airwork Aviation,

Chief Pilot at Curry Kenny
Aviation, Chopperline and safety
and compliance roles at Australian
Helicopters and Babcock/
Offshore Services Australasia.
In addition, Ian ran his own
consultancy Aviation Solutions
(Qld) and conducted flight tests as
a CASA Approved Test Office.
Ian was a very strong member
of the Helicopter Association
Australia over 25 years and
worked tirelessly as a director
and committee chair during this
often challenging period to pursue
the best interests of members

4&"/
-&"5)&34
/184
and the industry. He was awarded
HAA Life Membership for
this selfless contribution and
industry leadership.
AHIA on behalf of our board
and members acknowledge the
outstanding achievements and ABOVE: NSW RFS CH-47 goes straight to work
contribution of Ian over his career OPPOSITE PAGE: Blackhawk joins Queensland RFS
and extend our thoughts and
condolences to his wife Annette,
family and friends. He will not be
forgotten.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

A Book to Save your Life
Pilots at the beginnings of their which includes the new dangers of
careers plunge straight into one of emerging technology.
the most dangerous phases of their Based on an in-depth study of
flying lives: the immediate post- pilot behavior and general aviation
licence period when they start to flying accidents The Killing Zone
build distance between themselves offers practical advice to help
and their instructors. They have identify the time frame in which
confidence and they have luck, what you are most likely to die: the
they don’t have is the experience critical period between 50 hours
to know what they may be getting and 350 hours. The author
themselves into. Author Paul A. offers rare insights into the
Craig details it all in his book The special risks new pilots face and
Killing Zone: How and Why Pilots includes updated preventive
Die. This is a classic of aviation strategies for flying through the
literature that has been killing zone and emerging out the
updated into a other side still alive.
second edition, The second edition includes
sections on glass cockpits,
GPS moving maps, TCAS
and a separate chapter on the
Looking Smart
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The Killing Zone also alerts one of those things. A hardy and useful jacket, it sits very
pilots to the 12 mistakes most well on the shoulders and boasts a very healthy line-up of
likely to end in tragedy and features, including:
provides guidelines for avoiding, • high-quality softshell fabric that stretches four ways
evading, diverting, correcting and • windproof and waterproof
managing dangers. • strong YKK zipper
This book has the potential • several pockets both inside and outside
to bridge the gap between the • pen holder and ID card pocket on the left arm
proverbial bags of luck and • detachable velcro patch on the right arm
experience, just as new pilots • knit waistband and cuffs
need it the most. • provision for epaulettes.
The Killing Zone The Design 4 Pilots Pilot Jacket comes in all sizes from
by Paul A. Craig Small to XXXL.
Typical Price: $59.00 Typical Price: $149.95
McGraw Hill www.design4pilots.com
www.mhprofessional.com

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 65

An Illuminating Gift THE ONEHOP

PILOT S
When it comes to torches the equation is simple
for pilots: they’ve either got one or they need one.
Often thought of as an IFR tool only, torches are
an essential for VFR pilots as well, helping to
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A pilot can’t go wrong with a Maglite in their kit. • Extensive Book Selection
Known for the superior craftsmanship that goes
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It’s also worth considering the Mini Maglite • Bob Tait’s Aviation Theory Books
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A Kneeboard for the Basics

With all the technological gadgetry available kneeboards. A thick leg strap feeds
for today’s GA cockpit, it’s easy not to notice
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through a metal buckle to firmly attach the
kneeboard to your leg—it will stay in place
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November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

66 A Spot of Recreation RECREATIONAL AVIATION AUSTRALIA

Here’s to
40 Years
RAAus CEO Matt Bouttell looks
back on a significant milestone for
his organisation and reports on a
very successful celebration dinner.

he year was 1976

when the first
rules were established in
Australia permitted the
operation of single seat
aircraft weighing up
to 300 kg (ultralights).
However, with these
new rules came a whole lot of
burdensome restrictions such
as not being able to cross public
roads or fly over people, amongst
other things.
Albeit the case, these newly
established rules provided a legal
way for people to take to the skies inclusivity is an organisation value of
in rudimentary, ultralight aircraft RAAus and this is taken seriously
thereby stimulating innovation
amongst this newly established
cohort of aviators.
To formalise this new all Australians to take to the skies aircraft maintenance, aircraft a wonderful place to meet with
movement of aviators and to for recreational purposes, thereby manufacture, and so on. friends and to learn.
advocate on their behalf, a new creating an industry within the Whilst RAAus has grown Importantly, inclusivity is an
peak body was established. It was broader aviation industry. significantly over the years organisation value of RAAus
called the Australian Ultralight As changes occurred over through tenacious advocacy and and this is taken seriously. Not
Federation (AUF) and on 21 time within the more traditional technological advancement, it simply to be aligned to a modern-
September 1983, then Minister general aviation industry– continues to have its roots firmly day corporate trend, but because
for Aviation Kim Beazley, wrote particularly the increased cost of planted in the original ethos of RAAus does genuinely welcome
to the AUF to inform them operations–recreational aviation the AUF. That is, to make non- all with open arms. If you want to
that his department would did more than just fill a gap. It complex aviation accessible to the fly or fix aircraft, we’re your peeps!
now recognise the AUF as the stimulated the broader industry masses and RAAus’ Vision, We On 9 September this year
body to represent all enthusiast and Recreational Aviation inspire and connect people through RAAus celebrated our last 40
undertaking aviation activities Australia (RAAus), formerly aviation, speaks loudly to this. years and welcomed in the next.
taking place under the new rules. the AUF, is now the largest RAAus' affiliated aero The celebration included a Gala
Forty years have now past and administrator of aircraft, pilots clubs and flight training Dinner held in the Australian
during this time many changes and maintainers outside of the schools–although independent War Memorial’s Aviation Hall in
have occurred in relation to traditional civil aviation system. organisations–strongly represent Canberra. It was a fitting tribute
ultralight operations including Furthermore, it is this the recreational aviation to RAAus’ founders, members
permission to fly two-seat authors’ contention that movement, and for this reason are past and present, and of course
aircraft, increased take-off without recreational aviation in the front line to a community of scholarship recipients.
weight, permission to operate Australia, our aviation industry recreational aviators. There was a tremendous show
over populous areas, and CASA would be significantly smaller They work hard to foster of support from the aviation
oversight of the administrator of and contribute a great deal less a welcoming environment of community with sponsors
these operations, to name a few. to the Australian economy likeminded people. Be it through including OzRunways, Agile,
The birth of recreational as it does today by creating hosting club fly-in’s or trips, or QBE, and Pace, and had members
aviation in Australia really did additional opportunities for a BBQ to provide a welcoming and others attend from across the
created an additional pathway for employment, flight training, environment, this community is country. Attendees were regaled

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 67

LEFT: Left to right: Craig Bainbridge,

Stephen Limkin, Trevor Bange, Matt
Bouttell, Kirsty Bouttell.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Matt Hall
addresses the RAAus Gala Dinner
BELOW: Scholarship winners Nigel
Hughes, Porscha Shepperd, Lincoln
Cottingham, Larni Wallace, Ethan
Bailey and Charles Oakley.

with stories from RAAus’ past 40

years, celebrated the ability to help
dreams become reality, and shared
examples of what is made possible
through recreational aviation.
One member who shared
his journey was Matt Hall who
discovered RAAus at a young
age and went on to having a

"--
1)0504
1"#*
1)050(3"1):3""64
distinguished career as a fighter
pilot with the RAAF before
becoming the reigning Red Bull
Air Race World Champion.
I cannot describe the excitement
and pride that was on display by
the RAAus scholarship recipients
at the Gala Dinner, and rightly so.
The RAAus scholarship program
is a way for RAAus members
to "pay it forward" to worthy
recipients, and to inspire and
connect people through aviation.
Be it junior members just of corporate partnerships with RAAus has come a long way future in relation to enabling
starting out, supporting those Airservices Australia, OzRunways since 1983, but as the famous members to take advantage of
with dreams without means, and GoFly Online, whom song by Bachman-Turner more capable aircraft and new
or helping members progress have each been long-term and Overdrive says, "you ain’t seen technology including Personal
through the instructor ranks generous supporters to make these nothing yet". RAAus is now Aerial Mobility devices, and
to share their expertise with scholarships be a reality. These in the midst of delivering on to attract new participants to
student pilots. This scholarship partnerships are in addition to the an organisational strategy to experience the joys of aviation.
program is something RAAus is generous voluntary contributions diversify the organisations’ It is therefore, without doubt,
incredibly proud of. individual members make year-in revenue streams which aims to that Recreational Aviation
Of course, none of it would and year-out in support of their keep RAAus accessible. Australia’s next 40 years will at
be possible without the support fellow members. It’s also looking towards the least as good as the last!

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

68 Safety Matters CIVIL AVIATION SAFETY AUTHORITY australianflying.com.au

Too Good
to Refuse The rebate for installing ADS-B
Out applies to Australian registered
identify better potential traffic
conflicts. It found several benefits
when you’re flying outside
controlled airspace.
CASA Director of aircraft operating under visual to pilots – firstly by helping them Others can see you and,
flight rules (VFR) and to low-cost to have a better chance of locating depending on the ADS-B unit
Aviation Safety and
portable ADS-B units known as the other aircraft; and secondly, you get, you can see them on a
CEO Pip Spence lays electronic conspicuity devices. alerting pilots to the position of display that shows you other
out the argument for Although it is primarily aimed other aircraft much earlier. aircraft in the sky.
VFR ADS-B. at encouraging people to adopt It is possible that correctly And while you might not get
ADS-B Out, which alerts air fitted and operational ADS-B all the functionality of a bigger
traffic control and appropriately may also have produced a unit, basic ADS-B doesn’t have
equipped aircraft to your presence, different outcome in some recent to break the bank.
ow do you resist the rebate is a terrific opportunity mid-air incidents through alerted Electronic conspicuity devices
something that to install a system that includes see and avoid. are relatively cheap and don’t need
offers significant both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In.
safety benefits, ADS-B In allows you to see
could save your life nearby IFR aircraft and other VFR basic ADS-B doesn’t
and attracts a rebate of up to 50%?
Those pilots who have
aircraft equipped with ADS-B out
and is a great aid to safety.
have to break the bank
installed Automatic Dependent A 2019 study by the US-based
Surveillance-Broadcast, or Regulus Group focused on five ADS-B coverage is already to be certified, but still help with
ADS-B, are enthusiastic about the years of accident data for general wider than radar and extends air-to-air situational awareness in
benefits the technology provides. aviation and small air taxis to remote areas because ground non-controlled airspace.
And in an industry where in Alaska. It found the use of stations are cheaper to install From speaking to people
safety is always front of mind, ADS-B In would have reduced the and maintain. But space-based in industry, we know that
anything that can be done to help total accident rate by up to 53% ADS-B, already used by some air they are seeing the benefits
you stay safe each time you fly is and the fatal accident rate by as navigation providers, is making of the technology.
worth considering. much as 89%. 100% coverage a possibility. Flying training schools are
Until 30 June 2024, the This is a significant reduction Many of you may still have using it to keep track of their
government is offering a 50% by anyone’s standards. questions about the safety students and aircraft, private
discount on the cost of buying The Australian Transport benefits you get from installing pilots are getting traffic and
and installing an ADS-B system Safety Bureau (ATSB) also did a the equipment, but consider the weather advice from air traffic
with a total rebate of up to $5000 visibility study that highlighted significant safety benefits of control, and others can see other
per aircraft. how ADS-B In can help pilots improved situational awareness aircraft flying nearby.
The government offer to 30
June means there has never
been a better time to consider
investing in technology that
could save your life.
While there are plenty of
reasons to install ADS-B
today, anybody looking to the
future will understand it will
be an essential component of
navigating shared airspace.
Electric vertical take-off and
landing aircraft, drones and
conventional aircraft will all need
to accurately know each other’s
positions and we see ADS-B as a
key technology in achieving this.
Taking advantage of this deal
not only gives immediate safety
"*34&37*$&4
"6453"-*"

improvements but provides a

foot in the door when it comes to
aviation’s future.
Just remember this is a limited
time offer that ends in the middle
of next year.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 69
Down to
Business
Stability Bombardier Australia
is reporting favourable
interest in the Global 7500.

Ahead
Jessica Graham from the
Australian Business Aviation
Association reports on an
industry coming out of
turbulent times.

oming to the end of

2023, indications “manufacturers are reporting
are that the global stronger figures and forecasting a

#0.#"3%*&3
business jet market
has settled somewhat.
sustained increase in deliveries”
The almost frenzied
pandemic-driven demand of
recent years has subsided with Bombardier’s recently released driven by the Global 7500 and of industry member organisation
manufacturers now reporting quarterly report reflected this, 8000 range that continues to find Norton White, to its Executive
a more considered approach announcing an 8% growth in favour with Australian buyers. Committee. A senior associate
from buyers, though one that revenue year-on-year together with "Demand remains steady for the and experienced aviation and
clearly supports consistent and significantly improved profitability super long-range bizjets due to our transport lawyer, he has been
sustainable growth. on the back of new aircraft True Four Zone cabin and 7700- a member of the company’s
In their second quarter 2023 deliveries and strong aftermarket nm range, giving the capabilities commercial aviation team for
General Aviation Shipment demand. In commenting on the to enjoy 'Your Home in the Skies' five years.
and Billing Report, the General report, President and CEO Eric Sydney to LA direct,” he said. Brendan has a keen interest
Aviation Manufacturers Association Martel commended his team for At the other end of the scale, in aviation law. Having obtained
(GAMA) recently reported successfully navigating a highly and in a first for the region, an Advanced Masters of Air
increased aircraft deliveries across dynamic business environment Sydney-based operator FalconAir and Space Law from Leiden
all segments, an increase in the that saw sustained demand for recently added the Cirrus Vision University, his academic and
overall value of aircraft shipments new and pre-owned jets, as well Jet to their AOC. Hugely popular professional experience has
and a 2.4% increase in business jet as steady service growth, all while in the US, the single-engine, enabled him to explore its
deliveries for the six-month period. supply chain pressure persisted. single-pilot light jet is recognised application across multiple
Constrained by factors such as Domestically, the renewal of by its distinctive V-tail and jurisdictions and to publish several
supply chain disruption and talent the national business jet fleet distinguished by class-leading articles in the field.
shortages, new aircraft deliveries has continued its momentum, safety features such as the CAPS A specialist in cross-border
were, for the most part, steady led by transactions in the parachute recovery system and transactions, financing and
throughout 2022. As 2023 draws very light/light jet and heavy Safe Return emergency autoland. leasing, he also has strong
to a close and these obstacles are jet categories as owners and Comfortable and nimble, it is experience with regulatory
lifted, manufacturers are reporting operators embrace the updated well-suited to domestic leisure matters, frequently advising on
stronger figures and forecasting a technologies and capabilities of charter, but the aircraft has issues impacting airlines, business
sustained increase in deliveries over new-generation aircraft. also significantly boosted the aircraft owners and other general
the next 12 months. While Bombardier’s operator’s aeromedical capabilities, aviation operators.
In their recent market briefing, Australian Sales Director Paul supporting the east coast hospital His expertise is a welcome
business jet financing experts Global Wauchope has seen factors networks with patient transfers addition to the ABAA leadership
Jet Capital set the expectation such as inflationary pressures and organ retrieval flights. team as its members continue to
that transactions should continue and a weakened Australian monitor the impact of recent and
to pick up as OEMs continue to dollar become talking points, he Good Lord impending regulatory change.
resolve these issues and the pre- notes that while the market has With thanks to ABAA members
owned market reaches a new, post- stabilised, the long-term outlook The ABAA recently welcomed Global Jet Capital, Bombardier and
pandemic equilibrium. for the region remains positive, Brendan Lord, a representative FalconAir.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

70
What can we
Jim Davis has 15,000 hours of immensely varied

learn?
flying experience, including 10,000 hours civil and
military flying instruction. He is an established
author, his current projects being an instructors’
JIM DAVIS manual and a collection of Air Accident analyses,
called ‘Choose not to Crash’.

Normalisation of Deviance
CAA Aircraft Accident Report and Summary
This discussion contains extracts from the SYNOPSIS to a heading of approximately
SACAA’s accident report. It is compiled in The pilot took off from Parys 080˚. The aircraft continued
the interest of aviation safety and is not to Aerodrome with the intention to lose height while heading
establish legal liability. of completing crop spraying 30 towards high ground: the
nm away. According to the pilot, pilot turned to the left to avoid
Aircraft registration: ZS-JTW he carried out the pre-flight and impacting the high ground.
Date and time of accident: the chemical loading, started The aircraft continued to lose
6 February 2014 1920 the aircraft and warmed up height, with full throttle and fuel
Type of aircraft: the engine for approximately pump ON. It crashed into an open
PA-25-250 Pawnee five minutes. He then taxied to field approximately 800 m from
Type of operation: the runway and back-tracked the threshold of runway 06.
Agricultural on runway 06, as the wind was It is possible that a nearby
PIC license type: approximately 090° at 10 kt. thunderstorm brought about
Commercial During line-up and windshear. This could have
License valid: Yes application of full power on the caused the airspeed to decay,
PIC age: 52 runway, the pilot checked static which in turn would have caused
PIC total hours: 5346 RPM and continued with the the aircraft to lose altitude and
PIC hours on type: 47 take-off. The aircraft rotated at crash into the ground.
Last point of departure: 70 mph and accelerated to 80 Thunderstorms are associated
Parys, Free State mph, which is the best rate of with windshear. The official
Intended landing: climb speed. At approximately report of the SA Weather
Parys, Free State 100 feet above ground level he Service revealed that there were
Meteorological information: experienced turbulence and the thunderstorms in the area at the suicidal – actually almost worthy of
090/10. Viz good. 20˚C. indicated airspeed remained at time of the accident. a Darwin Award? He was not a wild
Cloud 4/8 at 1000’ AGL 80 mph. youngster; he was a mature 52-year-
POB: 1 The aircraft began to lose PROBABLE CAUSE old who had over 5000 hours.
People injured: 1 height and the pilot turned the Downdraught associated with a I suspect the answer is nothing.
People killed: 0 aircraft to the right into the wind thunderstorm. It didn’t happen all of a sudden.
He built up to this level of over-
confidence, progressively over the
years. At first he got away with
Jim’s Analysis instruments, but you must instantly take-off, your body and the AH minor corner-cutting and rule-
I just have to shake the turnip in fly extremely accurately because you both react as if you are climbing. breaking – and each time he did so
horror when I think of this guy are only feet from the ground. Your natural reaction is to lower it boosted his confidence so that he
setting off to do crop spraying, Your airspeed is changing, the nose – which is exactly what began to think he was invincible.
amongst thunderstorms, at night, which means the aircraft is not you can’t do just after lift-off. Let’s side-track for a moment
with no moon (I checked). properly trimmed. And if that’s Either that, or you drop a wing, to give you an idea how this
Oh, and he also took off into not enough you will be suffering due to fuel imbalance, turbulence "normalisation of deviance" happens.
a black hole – away from the from acceleration illusions, and or rudder bias, and start a In January 1986 some
town’s lights. This is an act which the AH will be telling you the graveyard spiral. will remember watching the
has killed many pilots, both same lies as your body. Typically, you lose control before horrendous footage of the
experienced and raw. Here’s how it works. When you reach 100 feet. I wonder if that Challenger Space Shuttle flight
Taking off into a black hole is you are flying straight and level happened to this guy. that went so desperately wrong
about the most dangerous thing your body agrees with the AH, It would either be a botched just 73 seconds after lift-off?
you can do in a light aircraft. and reality. When you climb your instrument take-off, or a The flight captured the attention
As your wheels leave the runway body gets pushed into the back downdraught associated with of the world’s media largely because
you lose all outside reference – you of the seat, and the AH shows a the thunderstorms. it carried the first civilian passenger,
are surrounded by blackness. You nose-high attitude. But what got into his head, all Christa McAuliffe, a 37-year-old
have no time to settle down on But when you accelerate during of a sudden, to do something so school teacher from Concord, New

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 71
Aiming to make safer pilots of us, here veteran instructor Jim Davis looks at extracts
from official CAA Accident Reports from his homeland of South Africa and analyses
why things went wrong and how we may all avoid making similar mistakes.

Every time you

accept a slightly
lower standard
you are making
that the norm

What Can We Learn?

The best way to avoid the slide
into the normalisation of deviance,
is to stay forever uneasy. This
means having a sceptical and
questioning attitude about our own
competence and discipline.

8*,*.&%*"
$0..0/4(;;;
It’s not easy to detect this
gradual drift in yourself because
we humans are really good at
rationalising. If you find yourself
trying to justify some action, the
chances are you are on a slippery
slope towards normalising that
behaviour.
Watch out for the word
Hampshire. This was to be the start booster rockets’ O-rings and their the front tyres of his ute had blown “because”. Here are some
of Ronald Reagan’s programme behaviour in cold weather. out and caused them to crash. examples.
to raise awareness and promote The “group think” that lead How had this happened? • I didn’t bring a map because I
interest in space exploration NASA to accept the risk was Hennie knew the tyres were in know this route so well. Yes, and
amongst young people. the defining case for normalised poor shape, but he had got used how does that help when we have
There were six other crew deviance. The rocket carrying to it and kept thinking that level to divert for weather?
members who all died in the Challenger aloft had a known of wear was okayish and the tyres • I didn’t check the tyres for flat-
disaster. In the photograph you defect which had given no trouble would last another month. spots because I never brake hard.
can see the remains of the orbiter up till now. Every time you accept a slightly • I didn’t check the tanks for water
and tank which leave thin white Management and human lower standard you are making because she lives in a hangar.
contrails as they fall 46,000 factors within NASA permitted that the norm, and you are • No need to check the oil because
feet toward the Atlantic. It’s critical safeguards to be ignored. decreasing your safety margins. I have only flown a couple of
particularly horrendous because What once seemed wrong So it’s easy to see how Hennie hours since the MPI.
it’s likely that all on board were starts to feel normal, and had killed his wife and himself, • We don’t need to do fuel
alive and conscious throughout. outcomes that may be mostly due and orphaned their children. His calculations for this trip –
So the connection between to good luck start to feel more like worn tyres had become acceptable. because she always uses around
the crash of the humble Pawnee, skill. In aviation, rationalising can Our crop spraying pilot had got 25 gallons.
and that of the space shuttle result in disaster. away with low standards for years • I’m sure we will be within CoG
Challenger, would seem to be an Many years ago when I was – why not this night? because she is a four-seater.
erosion of standards. A deviation building 43 Air School, I had Now turning to Challenger, the
from safety levels that both a really excellent guy in charge. problem of eroding standards was
operators were aware of but chose Hennie was a bricklayer, plumber, addressed by Dr Diane Vaughan which unacceptable practice or
to ignore because it had always carpenter, electrician and foreman. in her book The Challenger standards become acceptable. As
proved OK in the past. One Monday morning he didn’t Launch Decision. She coined the deviant behaviour is repeated
NASA chose to repeatedly fly turn up at work – it wasn’t long the term, the “normalization of without catastrophic results, it
the space shuttle despite knowing before we got the news that he and deviance”, which she defined as, becomes the social norm for the
about a design problem with the his wife had been killed when one of “the gradual process through organization.”

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

72
Kreisha Kreisha Ballantyne is one of the most recognisable aviation
writers in Australia. With experience writing for several
aviation titles, Kreisha has a broad base of experience,

of habit KREISHA
BALLANTYNE
an ability to tap into important general aviation issues
and a talent for expressing in simple terms what everyone
is thinking. An active pilot, she lives and loves aviation.

The Triple Whammy

Kreisha Ballantyne lived the dream for one week
at AirVenture, then lapped up a luxury cruise to
Duluth in the back of an SF50 Vision.

t the beginning of customers and colleagues but as

each year, I sit down we weren’t tied to a stand this year,
and plan which we had the afternoons off to catch
aviation events I the displays. Whether you call it
will attend. This Osh, Oshkosh, EAA, AirVenture,
process is largely based on what I it really is the greatest air show
can afford, whether the event is on earth –anything that’s flying
a work possibility and whether is pretty much flying at here:
it’s one of my favourites. With Spitfires, Mustangs, Trojans, the
Airventure 2023, I scored the F-22, F-35 (ear-plug alert) and the
triple whammy. most fabulous Constellation. T
Each year, one lucky crew he aerobatic teams were out in
member at the EFB where I full force with Skip Stewart, Kirby
work gets to join the boss on a Chambliss and Mike Goulian
trip to Oshkosh, for a week of demonstrating some world class
networking, catching up with displays. The Wednesday night
customers and scouting out what’s fireworks were the best yet. The
new in general aviation. This year night show offered the chance to
it was my turn, my first since 2018 witness aircraft like the MiG-17
(thanks, COVID!) and my fifth or F-22 with afterburners ablaze
trip in total. against the dusky backdrop.
My first stop in Oshkosh is The golden hour light was truly
always Ardy and Ed’s Drive In, breathtaking, enhancing the
where the roller-skated waitresses visibility of the afterburners – and, the Super Guppy didn't stay for the third most visited nationality,
deliver burgers right to your car – the bars were open! the entire week, taking off early on and this year was no different: I
possibly the most suitably American The Experimental Aircraft Thursday. Nonetheless, during its ran into a customer on the aircraft
restaurant one can choose after a 14 Association, true to its name, visit, its eccentrically hinged nose on the way out and bumped into
hour flight. Fueled with curly fries once again delivered a plethora was opened, allowing spectators to multiple Australian Flying readers
and melty cheese, I hit the ground of aviation curiosities this year. peer into its cavernous cargo hold. in all sorts of unlikely places.
running with the Cirrus VIP party Welcoming visitors at Boeing Plaza This year’s attendance was An added challenge this
that very night. in the early part of the week were approximately 677,000, up from year, which caused a great deal
The ever-dedicated Cirrus team two extraordinary giants: a Boeing the previous record of 650,000 last of anxious speculation before
from Australia had organised a tour 747-400 Dreamlifter and NASA's year. More than 10,000 aircraft AirVenture, was the smoke
of the factory for my boss and me, Super Guppy. The Dreamlifter, arrived at Wittman Regional from wildfires raging hundreds
as well as VIP passes for the whole with its peculiar resemblance to a Airport in Oshkosh and other of miles away in Canada. It had
show, which turned out to be the python attempting to imbibe an airports in east-central Wisconsin. drifted southward enough to cast
gift that kept on giving, due to the elephant, appeared colossal and At Wittman alone, there were a tangible shadow over the event's
muggy weather (and the fact that unwieldy on the ground. 21,883 aircraft operations in the 11- ability to proceed as scheduled.
the VIP tent had air-con and an However, it defied expectations day period from July 20-30, which Fortunately, the ensuing haze
actual barista. I’ll leave my opinions with a lively departure on is an average of approximately 148 was primarily a concern on
of American coffee elsewhere). Wednesday morning, only to be takeoffs/landings per hour when Monday and Tuesday and didn't
As ever at an air show, I spent replaced by another behemoth, a the airport is open. result in the cancelation of any
the first few days catching up with USAF C-5M Galaxy. Regrettably, Each year, Australians make up of the airshow components on

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

 australianflying.com.au 73

What better way to top off a week

at Oshkosh than with a trip to the
Cirrus factory in a SF50 Vision!

profile (apart from the 3 degree

angle) was pretty much the same
as doing it in the SR22. Down we
went at 320 kt ground speed and we
started being vectored for the ILS.
Abeam the runway we were visual
at around 4000 so I cancelled the
ILS approach, disconnected the
autopilot and auto throttle (which
is an awesome piece of kit. Totally
need an autothrottle in my life) and
hand flew the approach.
“In the circuit area the aircraft
behaves like the SR22, with similar
speeds and approach profile. Only
thing to remember is there are
folding rollers, and with a max
speed of 210 kt we can use them
as an effective speed brake. This is
really liked – most of my flying is
in Beech Bonanzas, and using the
gear to slow you down in the circuit
is always a useful tool. Especially
when mixing with faster traffic.
Touchdown was super smooth
– the trailing link landing gear
made me look like a pro on my first
touchdown. (Note here from me: it
was an absolute greaser!)
“Lunch, a factory tour and
then I got to enjoy the space in
the back in the return journey to
Appleton. Overall an awesome
those days, including Monday's The golden hour light was day and a highlight of all my visits
customary mass warbird arrival. to AirVenture.”
On Monday morning, we
truly breathtaking While a flight in an SF50
received the exciting news that our and tour of the Cirrus factory
flight to the factory would be in a is hard to beat, other highlights
Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet. We crossed NXi and GTN to ensure you clearance to Duluth. It was great of the trip included a tour of the
everything in the hope the smoke are not instantly overwhelmed; to fire off some good ole ICAO warbirds area, the night fireworks
wouldn’t dash our flight to Deluth, it is extremely capable. PFD standard phraseology at the US and spotting an absolutely mint
Minnesota. It didn’t, and my boss, symbology and layout is almost controllers again. My instructor Beechcraft Staggerwing–my
Bevan Anderson, piloted the aircraft the same as the G1000. noticed we got a different level favourite aircraft of all time–and
on the Oshkosh to Duluth leg, and “We departed VFR off runway of service when they heard an getting to talk to the owner.
agreed to share his experience: 27 at Oshkosh, maintaining 500 unfamiliar accent on the radio. AirVenture transcends being
“It is an amazing aircraft, with ft AGL at 210 kt with excellent “We climbed and levelled off merely an airshow: it stands as a
enough similarity with the SR visibility after a storm had just at 21,000 and we had time to get convergence of aircraft, aviators, and
series that a pilot with Cirrus passed through. The aircraft familiar with the systems before aviation enthusiasts. After a tough
SR22 time will be instantly was rock stable, zooming along it was time to plan the descent few years for general aviation, it was
familiar. Switches and controls like a magic carpet. Clear of the into Duluth. Duluth ATIS was an absolute delight to get back out
fall easily at hand. The Garmin Class D zone we climbed VFR reporting broken cloud at 2500 so there and see the joy, enthusiasm
G3000 avionics shares enough around some lower-level stratus to we set up for the ILS to runway 09. and sheer volume of pilots who
of the components of the G1000 5500 feet and picked up an IFR Decent planning and the VNAV remind us why we live to fly.

November – December 2023 AUSTRALIAN FLYING

74 Short Final SUE WOODS australianflying.com.au

Some Jabiru models will already

comply to the new LSA standards
with some conditions.

of an innovative future, the reality

is that this will be limited by the
industry consensus standards that
the FAA accepts, and the evolution
of those standards. At this time,
Jabiru will maintain a watching
brief on the relevant standards.
Aerial work, which is already
conducted by Jabiru customers in
some jurisdictions, will become
possible under LSA category.
While there is currently no standard
to identify the requirements for
aerial work it is expected that Jabiru
aircraft will be well placed.
Some customers may be able to
have their aircraft reassessed against
the new LSA ASTM standards,
with a full inspection by Jabiru and
Ready and Waiting checking of the log books. The
owner must be able to demonstrate
Jabiru’s Sue Woods looks at what the MOSAIC proposal that all maintenance has been
done to the Jabiru maintenance
means for the future of the aircraft fleet. schedule, and no modifications have
been made since the initial LSA
Statement of Compliance.
The cost impact of the new
abiru welcomes the FAA these terms are well known in F2245. Current MTOWs are regulations is not yet clear. Costs
NPRM on MOSAIC, in aircraft certification in higher generally limited by regional such as additional regulatory
particular, the recognition categories, this NPRM brings operating regulations and the oversight, noise certification and
of the safety record of Light these engineering aspects to LSA. structure of the aircraft are compliance with the ASTM
Sport Aircraft (LSA) and Inevitably, these aspects will need generally capable of higher standards are all potentially
the application of that to be addressed by manufacturers, MTOWs than those currently in significant cost increases, which will
safety record to the logic of most likely in revised aspects of place. The expected impact on inevitably be borne by the customer.
the expanding the category to ASTM F2245. Demonstrating the Jabiru aircraft fleet is: Jabiru disagrees with the FAA’s
broaden the opportunities for compliance with these systems • J170 intent to make OEM maintenance
recreational aviation. engineering aspects has the potential No significant change instructions non-mandatory.
Jabiru also welcomes the FAA’s to be expensive and time consuming; • J230 Jabiru believes that its aircraft and
intent to retain the LSA category costs which will eventually be borne Would allow certification at engines are most safe when they
as a home for aviation innovation by the owners of LSA aircraft. 760 kg MTOW, significantly are maintained in accordance with
and the continuing recognition of While Jabiru is confident improving payload the OEM instructions.
consensus-based standards that its products can meet these May be converted to J430s The rationale provided in the
allow aviation to progress and requirements, the devil, as they under strict conditions NPRM that the requirement is
innovate safely. say, is in the detail. Could be certified for aerial work implied elsewhere appears to be
MOSAIC highlights the The evolution of the ASTM • J430 a weak rationale in removing the
continued use of consensus design standards and the new Could be delivered as a factory- mandatory requirement.
standards in LSA and primarily the requirements that places on built LSA Jabiru is familiar with an
FAA-accepted ASTM standards. manufacturers is currently an Would allow J430 to be international environment where
MOSAIC introduces a number unknown aspect of the proposal. certified for aerial work. aircraft categories and operational
of new requirements to LSA Jabiru urges regulators to consider • JT430 Twin requirements are different,
that are not currently covered simplified compliance methods Could be certified as an LSA country by country.
by the ASTM standards. These with these aspects, particularly the Permits delivery as a factory- While the adoption of
include noise certification and use of past performance, to ensure built LSA these rules by the FAA is to
aerial work, and compliance with that LSA remains an affordable Could be certified for aerial work. be applauded, the adoption of
systems engineering aspects category for recreational aviation. Whilst the excitement of the these or similar rules in other
such as reliability, hazard and The current fleet of Jabiru “any number of engines of any jurisdictions will be treated on a
environmental conditions. While Aircraft are designed to ASTM type” paints an encouraging picture case by case basis.

AUSTRALIAN FLYING November – December 2023

BERTFLOODIMPORTS | (03) 9735 5655
[email protected]
BERTFLOODIMPORTS.COM.AU/
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