I am back in the chair this week after a three-week tour of Europe that included visits to both Diamond Aircraft and Tecnam. My thanks to both those companies and to Phil Smart, who kept the website and newsletter going whilst I was away. You can expect to see flight tests of both the Diamond DA62 and Tecnam P Twenty-Ten in the Jan-Feb issue of Australian Flying.
November-December snuck out behind my back when I was away. Inside we do a flight test on the Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, have a look at engine management systems, check out Army Aviation at Oakey in the third of our defence careers series, examine what really happens in a forced landing and heaps more. If you haven't got your copy yet, check it out on-line first and then go get!
More calls from TAAAF this week to speed up reforms at CASA. In my last editorial in the November-December print issue, I hinted that slow change was better than no change, and I am standing by that position. However, that doesn't mean we should be painting the lifeboats first before launching them. CASA does need to get some exemptions in place soonest to relieve the industry of some soul-crushing burdens, and DAS Skidmore did point out in his response to TAAAF that he hasn't exactly been sitting on his hands. I applaud TAAAF's call to amend and exempt parts of CASR Part 61 rather than scream for total execution as some industry groups are doing. CASRs are legislation enacted by parliament and the DAS can't reverse them without the consent of the very same parliament. Proverbially, that will take some time, which the industry is pointing out it doesn't have an abundance of. Exemptions are our lifeboats, after that Part 61 should be beaten into a new shape until it starts to look more reasonable.
Am I being over-cynical by smelling something predetermined in the ATSB comments about recovering the Pel-Air flight data recorder? They say they'll have it back on the surface by mid-November and have the draft report out before Christmas. That gives them, let's say, five weeks to analyse the data, determine the impact of the pilots' actions and blend it all into their draft report. The only way a government bureaucracy can do that in such a short time is if most of the report, including the conclusions, is already written. Now, we have to give the ATSB this: they did say that they thought the data from the FDR would do nothing to change their view of what happened. That could be why retrieving the FDR is one of the last things happening in this investigation sequence rather than one of the first. I truly hope I am being over-cynical, because another white-wash report will do nothing to ease the pain of those involved.
Tecnam is throwing a lot of money, sweat and time into the P2012 Traveller, and it can't come soon enough! The first flight scheduled for June next year will be the start of a revolution for the charter industry. At last, a viable replacement for the workhorse Piper PA-31 and Cessna 400s. Tecnam hinted that interest from Australia has been very encouraging, to the point that some operators are urging Tecnam onward whilst they stretch the life of existing aircraft to their absolute limits.
Attention flying schools: update your listings please! As we prepare to upgrade our website, we are keen to update the information listed under Flying Schools on our website. I’d urge you to look for your listing – the basic listing is free. Are your details out of date? Are you not listed? All changes and additions should be sent to the publisher judyhinz@yaffa.com.au
My colleague and former publisher of Australian Flying, Doug Nancarrow, has gone to print with a biography of Virgin Australia supremo John Borghetti called Game Changer. For those unfamiliar with John, his story has been a classic hero's journey. From the lower ranks at Qantas he rose up to the point where he was the most promising candidate to take over the company from Geoff Dixon. Over-looked in favour of Alan Joyce, Borghetti re-emerged from the industry wilderness at Virgin Australia, transforming that company to become Qantas's greatest nemesis. In doing so, Borghetti also changed the airliine business in Australia forever. Is John Borghetti Australia's Lee Iacocca? Read this book and decide for yourself. More info on the Harper Collins website.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch