The New Zealand aviation safety regulator, CAA, has launched new licensing and safety standards requirements for what it calls “the adventure aviation” sector. That means that operators of pax-carry hang gliders, hot-air balloons, tandem parachutes and paragliders have six months to meet the regs; while operators of microlights, warbirds and aerobatic and gliding flights have a longer deadline. The regulation of adventure aviation like this is a first in the world, but it is likely to encourage other countries to emulate the move.
The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society has this week welcomed two ex-RAAF Caribous to its collection. Using the aircraft for Anzac Day events, Vietnam Veterans’ events and other heritage activities like Wings over the Illawarra, HARS will maintain the Caribous in flying condition so Australians will be able to continue to see them on the ground and in the air. The Caribous first entered service in Vietnam, serving with the United Nations Military Observer Group between 1975 and 1978, and were also used for humanitarian purposes in Papua New Guinea, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Further Caribous will also be preserved at RAAF Base Townsville, RAAF Base Amberley, the RAAF Museum at Point Cook and at the Australian War Memorial.
The Herald Sun reported earlier this week that DC3 ‘Gooney Bird’, operated by charter operator Shortstop Charter, landed at Avalon Airport after suffering engine trouble on a flight from King Island to Essendon Airport. Apparently the pilots noticed a warning light for low oil pressure on the left engine, and made an uneventful precautionary landing after shutting down the engine. 34 people, including two pilots, were on board.
The Waikato Times reports that long-serving and highly respected Waikato aviator and microlight exporter Max Clear passed away this week at the age of 71. For 28 years on his Limmer Rd farm, Clear’s company Micro Aviation NZ has been designing, building and exporting sophisticated microlight aircraft, with 354 manufactured to date. Clear was one of the first Kiwis to attend the EAA’s AirVenture convention in Oshkosh and was held in high regard by the EAA’s founders, who had visited his Te Kowhai operation. Read the full story here.
A new online tool that lets pilots plot an aircraft’s flight path using basic flight data is now available on the ATSB website. The ATSB 'KML Creator' uses a spreadsheet of recorded flight parameters (latitude, longitude and altitude) in csv format to create a flight path you can view in Google Earth. The KML Creator can also create a display of other aircraft parameters relevant to the flight on the same screen. The ATSB recently demonstrated the KML Creator in Singapore and received a high level of interest from airline safety and investigation agencies. Download the KML Creator for free now.
CASA’s John McCormick told this week’s AAA convention in Brisbane that the Australian aircraft fleet has grown from 12,718 to 14,470 in just five years. And that doesn’t include all those recreational category aircraft, hot air balloons and the like.
The RAAF’s Air Mobility Control Centre (AMCC) has this week been awarded Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators (GAPAN) Grand Master’s Australian Medal for its work in coordinating the Australian Defence Force’s air lift responses to a series of natural disasters in early 2011. Based at RAAF Base Richmond, the AMCC is one of the busiest agencies in the RAAF and coordinated air lift responses to the floods in Queensland and Victoria, the Christchurch earthquake, and the earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. The Grand Master’s Australian Medal is presented to an Australian individual or organisation which has made a meritorious contribution to any aviation activity.
Most definitely owing to its acquisition earlier this year by China’s state-owned China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company, Cirrus has scored an order from China’s largest flying school for 20 Cirrus SR20s. The Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC), based in Guanghan City, Sichuan Province and the only full-time regular institution of higher education for civil aviation pilots in China, has a massive operation encompassing four flight training colleges, seven specialist campuses, 8000 students and a fleet of over 200 aircraft (predominantly Cessnas).
Defence has released a Request for Offer (RFO) for six Iroquois helicopters – or ‘Hueys’, as they were known – reserved for sale to historical organisations for static display, following their withdrawal from service in December 2007. Priority will be given to historical organisations in Australia that have strong historic connections with the aircraft. The helicopters will need to be demilitarised at a cost of up to $10,000 per aircraft. The cost of this work, and other costs associated with preparing the display will be the responsibility of recipients. And organisations displaying the Iroquois Helicopters will be subject to the approval of the United States Government, under their International Traffic in Arms Regulations. RFO documentation will shortly be available for download after registering on the AUSTENDER website citing reference DMOFD/RFO117/2011. The tender will close on January 27, 2012. 11 Iroquois helicopters have already been allocated to Defence bases around Australia and one to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for static display; another five will be kept by the ADF as training aids; and two have been offered for sale to national returned service organisations.
Piper Aircraft has delivered the first six of an 18-unit fleet order for Piper Warriors to Sekolah Tinggi Penerbang Indonesia, a state-owned flying school at Budiarto Airport in Curug, Indonesia. The new Warriors add to the school’s pre-existing fleet, which includes a Beech Sundowner, Piper Dakota, Socata Tobago and Beech Baron. And interestingly, the Indonesian archipelago boasts nearly 700 airports – the the 10th most of any country in the world.
The Cirrus SR20. (Cirrus)
