What's
new
Stuff
we've added recently
Features
A
good read
In the cockpit
Meet
some flyers
Employment
Get
a job
New products
Gadgets
and toys
Archives &
downloads
Try our library
Coming
events
Get out there!
Links
Clubs
& contacts
The trade
Where
to buy stuff
Health
& safety
Editorial
About us
Airfield codes
Airservices
Weather
Streetmap
Weather
For
learners
Key clubs
Aircraft Owners & Pilots
Helicopter Association
Recreational Aviation
Sport Aircraft
Women Pilots Assn
Pacific Flyer covers all the latest in amateur-built & ultralight aviation. Look for it at your newsagent.
Our
other mags
Main
index
|
News
Starlets turn 40 at Wagga (31 October)
The Sport Aircraft Association's Wings Over Wagga Annual Convention and Fly-In was held at the Wagga Wagga Aerodrome (NSW) last weekend, and celebrated the 40th anniversary for the diminutive Coby Starlet.
Cool, windy conditions kept the attendances down, but a whole gaggle of Starlets from around the country made the pilgrimage to celebrate the invention of this all-wood Aussie design.
Other all-Australian designs that made an appearance included PG Aviation's Brumby LSA, the Morgan Cheetah 2-place kit, Lightwing, Terrier, X-Air, various model Jabirus,and Gippsland Aeronautics very successful GA-8 Airvan, while the Queensland-based Supermarine Spitfire replica put on an impressive daily handling demonstration. Euro imports included the Tecnam, Pioneer 200 and 300, Flysynthesis Storch, Esqual and the big Columbia.
A good variety of accessories and equipment was on show
including avionics, GPS, ADS-B, headsets, instruments, Rotax engines and locally produced X-Com radios, Aviation Trader and Flying magazine, Punkinhead aircraft covers and the unique Eco2000 anti-corrosive aircraft wash.
Rotec Engineering displayed its 7-cylinder radial engine on, not one, but two award-winning aircraft, as well revealing its 150 hp 9-cylinder engine featuring cast alloy heads. A variety of forums and workshops on such topics as electronic panels, engine installation, avionics, weight and balance, building an aircraft and fabric covering were of great interest to members who were looking at building or maintaining one of the many new types of recreational aircraft now available. It was particularly pleasing to see the variety and sophistication of so many innovative Australian-designed and produced products such as radios, engines, cleaners, and aircraft kits. (Click here to see more pics.)
Martin Hone
Move to an airpark (31 October)
Ever dreamed of moving to an airpark? Gatton airpark (Qld) resident Martin Hone shares his experiences -- see this link.
Warbird treat (30 October)
If you’re a lover of old warbirds, you’ll enjoy this page from a USA enthusiast. It has some highlights from the 2006 airshow at Chino, in the Los Angeles area. See this link.
CASA launches new newsletter (28 October)
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will launch a new email newsletter next week, intended to help everyone in aviation from the private pilot to commercial operators.
Called The CASA Briefing, it will be published once a month, promising an easy to understand overview of key safety regulatory issues. See this link for more info.
Make way for the Tecnam twins (26 October)
 Italian light aircraft manufacturer Tecnam is working on what is calls a very light twin, which it claims may spell the beginning of the end for four-seater single-engine aircraft such as Cessna 182.
According to the propaganda: “Although it is a twin, the four-seat P2006T will compete – favourably – with single-engined four seaters (with respect to both purchase and operating costs) with the potential to displace a great many of them from aero-club and flying school flight lines around the world.
“Given the choice, who wouldn’t prefer a fully certified (FAR/CS23) glass-cockpit twin to a single – for the same price? There can be no doubt that flying schools in the market for new aircraft will be quick to see the benefit in equipping with machines capable of operating as IFR multi trainers for the same money as singles of equal (or lesser) performance!
“While most (piston) aircraft manufacturers cling to Stone-age technology engines (even in the latest 21st century designs) Tecnam has drawn from its highly successful experience with its range of light singles – both microlight and certified aircraft – in selecting the lightweight Rotax 912 engine to power the P2006T. With 100 hp per side, the 200 hp P2006T, with hydraulic constant-speed propellers, will have a 75% cruise of 147 kts – only 3 knots less than the Cirrus SRV-G2 (also with 200 hp).”
Called the P2006T, it is designed by Professor Luigi Pascale, who also penned the larger Partenavia twin.
The company says it is aiming for a max take-off weight of 1090kg, with 460 useful load. It is looking for a very quick climb rate of 1400ft/min, reduced to 350ft/min on a single engine – without saying with what sort of load. Retractable and fixed undercarriage options will be offered.
See this Tecnam page for more info.
Cessna LSA takes wing (25 October)
Cessna’s much-anticipated light sport aircraft (LSA) took flight for the first time last week, performing some basic test manouvres over a half-hour trip which took it to speeds over 110knots.
"It's been nine months to the day since I gave the team the go-ahead to build an LSA concept aircraft," said Cessna Chairman Jack Pelton. "As the world's largest producer of single engine piston airplanes, it's a testament to the experience and engineering ability of the Cessna team that we were able to make this happen in such a short timeframe. I extend my congratulations to the team in getting the LSA airborne so quickly so we can further evaluate this promising concept."
The newly-emerging LSA category is the highest growth sector of general aviation. Light Sport Aircraft are defined as having a maximum gross weight of 1320 pounds, maximum level-flight speed of 120 knots, and no more than two seats.
Pelton said the company will evaluate a spectrum of issues associated with entering the sector to determine if there is a favorable business case. That decision is expected to be made in the first quarter of 2007.
"An important part of our thought process in looking at LSA is the value in terms of new pilot starts," Pelton said. "Experience has shown that Cessna brand loyalty is a powerful force in our success, and we believe this new category of aircraft could provide a conduit for new pilots to grow through the Cessna product line in the years ahead. We also believe our extensive sales and service network could provide an important market advantage, which, in concert with our design and manufacturing experience, could make this an attractive extension of our product line."
Cessna's LSA proof-of-concept features a high wing spanning 30 feet, side-by-side seating for two in a cabin with a maximum width of 48 inches (a half-foot more than the ubiquitous Cessna 152), tricycle gear, and a 100-hp Rotax 912 engine.
Cessna's sport aircraft incorporates dual control sticks, upward opening doors, toe brakes, and a castering nose wheel. Construction is primarily of aluminum, with selective use of composite parts for the cowl, wing and dorsal fin. (Source: Cessna)
Cessna web
Attitude before altitude -- Aussies to cool for safety (October 24)
Are you comparing your seat allocation to colleagues’ or rummaging in your hand luggage? Perhaps you are already cruising through the in flight radio programs.
Either way, it is unlikely you are watching your flight attendant explain the location of oxygen masks or reviewing the safety card in the pocket in front of you.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report on passenger attitudes towards aircraft cabin safety messages, published earlier this year, has found that Australians' attention levels to safety communications are generally low.
Despite acknowledging the importance of safety messages, Aussies think they are too cool to pay attention to where their nearest exit is and would rather flip through magazines than observe the finer points of the brace position.
Frequent flyers were the worst offenders, according to the research, based on interviews and focus groups with 400 passengers who travelled with a range of Australian carriers.
Passengers’ poor attitude towards potentially life-saving information is often due to confidence that they were familiar with the drill and that aviation accidents in Australia are rare.
Troublingly, this self confidence might be misplaced. Only half of the respondents sampled for one of the carriers in the study reported identifying the correct emergency brace position for their seat.
"I thought brace meant the position of your seat for flying," is one revealing comment the study elicited from a passenger.
Comments from focus groups highlighted that Australian passengers are usually safety optimists, with a "she’ll’ be right" attitude to safety.
"I’m happy to switch off," said one passenger questioned for the study.
The too cool for school factor also emerged as a significant barrier to travellers' understanding of safety devices and techniques. Passengers would often be critical of their fellow-travellers who did pay attention to safety communications and would characterise them as undesirable stereotypes, such as the nervous or inexperienced flyer.
While Aussies may feel relaxed and comfortable about their safety knowledge (or lack thereof) they may find themselves alarmed by the some of the report’s suggested actions to reduce their distractedness, such as withholding newspapers and magazines or any refreshments until after take-off. Even in first class.
As complacency was found to be far higher towards the safety video and safety card than the safety briefing and crew announcements, the researchers did not overlook the eye candy factor. Unsurprisingly, they found that the physical attractiveness of the cabin crew to passengers would improve attentiveness to safety briefings.
"I always like to check out the flight attendants ... because I always think they always look so groomed and a lot of them are so perfect and they have so much energy ..." a passenger pointed out.
Unfortunately for like-minded flyers, the report states that this finding does not provide an "actionable" means by which to improve attention.
Read the full report at this link.
By Daisy Hoffman
3000th R44 takes off (22 October)
Robinson Helicopters last month delivered its 3000th R44, 13 years after the first rolled off the production line. It was sold to USA real estate developer Chris Bond.
According to the company: Developed in the mid-1980s to fill the void between two-seat helicopters and expensive multi-passenger turbine aircraft, the four-place R44 helicopter received FAA certification in late 1992. Production deliveries began in February 1993. Since then the R44 has become the best selling helicopter in the world. The R44 is offered in two models: The Raven I and the more powerful Raven II.
Robinson web (Pic: Robinson)
Ryan to take Aer Lingus (20 October)
Ryan Air is reported to have made an offer for rival Aer Lingus, which Aviation and Travel Industry news online says it would be wise to take. The site lists what is says are numerous problems for Lingus, including service that needs improvement, uncompetitive short-haul fares, high costs per passenger and limited market reach.
Aviation & Travel Industry News
China speeds up development of military jet (October 19)
Jane’s Defence reports that China is speeding up the development of its Y-8 early warning aircraft after the loss of a second aircraft earlier this year. The plane is based on the Antonov An-12 and is built by the Shaanxi Aircraft Company
Jane’s Defence
BA to replace ageing fleet (18 October)
British airways is to replace its ageing fleet in a move that will cost around US$7 billion. Deliveries are expected to start in 2009. Around 20 747s and 14 777s are up for change-over.
Airvan 100 drops in on Gatton (17 October)
 From Martin Hone at the Gatton Airpark (Qld): We currently have a distinguished visitor at the airfield - the Gippsland
Aeronautics GA-8 Airvan Number 100. It is staying overnight during a mini
barn-storming tour of the Eastern States en-route to its new home in
Papua-New Guinea, where it will be doing missionary work for the Missionary
Aviation Fellowship. Along its route northwards, it is stopping off at
selected places to allow those that support the MAF to come out and inspect
its latest acquisition.
MAF's 10th Airvan was officially handed over on
August 23 in front of about 300 guests and staff gathered in the large
hangar at GA where its 100th aircraft was unveiled by the Federal Transport
Minister, Mr Warren Truss. MAF is a not-for-profit team of aviation
professionals providing air transport in places of deepest human need -
remote places where flying is not a luxury, but a lifeline. For almost 60
years, MAF has flown over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts to bring
thousands of men, women and children medical care, emergency relief,
long-term development and Christian hope.
Special co-pilot licence for 2007 (17 October)
You may have heard some comment about proposed co-pilot licences over the news in the last 24 hours -- here is the story from the Civil Aviation Authority, which is planning to bring them in some time next year.
Improved air safety is the key principle behind a proposal for a new way of training and licensing airline co-pilots.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has started work on developing regulations to introduce a multi-crew pilot licence.
This licence would be issued to people who train specifically to become a first officer in an air transport operation.
The move to develop the new regulations will keep Australia at the forefront of international changes in air safety, in line with the latest standards issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation which come into effect in November.
CASA and other world-leading safety regulators have been working with the International Civil Aviation Organisation to improve safety by developing better training standards for airline pilots.
Safety research over many years has indicated that failures in teamwork are a major contributor to airline accidents. One reason is that traditional methods of training pilots emphasise independence and individual skills.
This is suits single pilot operations but pilots moving to work in airlines have needed ‘top up' training to work effectively in the small teams that fly air transport aircraft. The training behind the proposed new licence is designed to embed multi-crew teamwork from the very start of training, which will lift safety standards.
CASA will undertake a comprehensive consultation process with the relevant sectors of the aviation industry in developing the regulations to introduce the new licence.
This means the final details of the regulations have not yet been determined, with the rules not expected to be finalised until the second half of next year.
The proposals have met with some opposition. President of the Australian Federation of Air Pilots, Captain Bryan Murray, told ABC Radio last night, "The safety standards would not be as high as they otherwise might've been." The proposals have also been questioned by the Federal Opposition. Click here to see the ABC report.
Flying Bulls for Perth (12 October)
 We’re about five weeks from seeing the Red Bull Air Race circus hit an unsuspecting Perth. The series has been pulling crowds of several hundred thousand at its overseas rounds and the local event will take place on November 19.
According to the blurb from the race organizers: “The world-class competition, to be held on Sunday 19 November, will see 11 of the world’s best pilots from across the globe, navigate a challenging race course in the sky, reaching speeds in excess of 400 kilometres per hour, with acceleration forces of 10G or more.
“Launched in 2003, the Red Bull Air Race became a global event in 2005. The Perth leg will be the last race following stages in international destinations including Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Berlin, Istanbul, Budapest, Longleat (UK), and San Francisco.
“The Perth Race will be held over the Swan River between the Narrows Bridge and the Causeway, with the best vantage point on the South Perth foreshore at Sir James Mitchell Park.
"Perth-based Red Bull Air Race project manager, Shani Wood, said this was the first time the Red Bull Air Race has been held in Australia and the event is expected to attract a huge number of local, national and international spectators.”
See this link for the series web site
Airbus heads for China (10 October)
European maker Airbus is to take a majority shareholding in a $600 million-plus aircraft assembly plant, in the Chinese city of Tianjin. This will be the first time the company has manufactured in that country.
Other shareholders include the city government with 29% and local company Jiangxi Hongdu Aviation.
US museum opens up F-14 Top Gun simulators (9 October)
The National Museum of Naval Aviation in Florida, USA, has put a couple of F-14 Tomcat simulators on for the locals to have a play with.
The International Herald Tribune reports: “Flyers can grab the flight stick and experience mock air-to-air combat, practice carrier landings or simply cruise over Las Vegas, Iraq, California, and other simulated sites.
"’Everyone can be a hero in a simulator,’ said retired Marine Col. Deej Kiely, a fighter pilot in Vietnam and the museum's spokesman. ‘If they are proficient enough, they can mess around with the radar and lock up targets, they can interact with each other. I think for these purposes it's close enough to the real thing.’"
The F-14 was recently retired from active service and is perhaps best known for its starring role in the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun.
Museum web site; IHT report
Airbus suffers giant delay (4 October)
The problems at Airbus with its A380 super-sized airliner are more serious than first thought, with the announcement of a one-year delay to the program. This has potential to in turn throw the plans of airlines into chaos as they scramble to find aircraft to fill the short-term gap. Qantas, which was early to order A380s, will be one of them.
Airbus said: “Airbus has informed its A380 customers about a further delay in the delivery schedule of the A380. According to this revised plan, the first A380 will be delivered in October 2007. Thirteen more will be delivered in 2008 and 25 in 2009. The industrial ramp-up will be completed in 2010, when 45 A380s are going to be delivered.”
Full announcement
Military prices need to drop – Boeing (3 October)
Boeing’s head of integrated service defence systems, Jim Albaugh, has said the cost of the Bell Osprey V-22 helicopter needs to drop from its current US$70 million by up to $30 million for it to find a market. He added this was possible, if the company could find more production efficiencies.
Link to TUV Product News
 Return
to top
See
our archives for earlier news
Use this tool to search our
site or the web.
|
Job
watch
Have your job ad highlighted here and on its own page -- email us via this link for details.
See our jobs
page
Free
Newsletter
AllFlying is sending out a weekly email newsletter with all the latest gossip. It is free. See our subscription page.
Got
news, an event or product?
Let us know about it & we'll give it a
run on this site. It's a free service. Email us via this link.
We are happy to host club & airpark pages FOC: See this example from Gatton Airpark. Email us at this link & we'll get yours up & running.
|
