Last Sunday, for only the second time in my flying career, weather trapped me at a remote airport with no way of safely completing the flight home. That feeling of failure and inconvenience that swept over me was similar to that of running out of petrol on the side of a long country road. I can see how too many people start to see improvements in weather patterns and convince themselves that it's VMC and OK to get going. Push-on-itis is a powerful malady. In our case, Latrobe Valley Aero Club came to our rescue with a couple of loan cars to get home. Thanks, LVAC, you are lifesavers, perhaps literally, because you made the no-go decision a lot easier by giving us a workable alternative to tackling angry weather and fading light.
Last week we surveyed the readership asking the questions about what they feel about the progress of reforms in aviation. It appears, generally, that the GA community is not happy at all. Look at these returns:
- Good. They've made more progress than previous governments. 8.11%
- Could be better. Reforms are real but not fast enough. 10.81%
- Not so good. Things don't seem to be changing and I'm not sure they will. 37.84%
- Bad. There is no real attempt to reform aviation regulation. Heads must roll. 43.42%
So who's surprised at these results? Perhaps some of those in the entrenched bureaucracy who think reform means changing the position of the filing cabinets, or maybe those who believe the aviation community should just shut up and get regulated. For anyone else, these results are a bit of a Sherlock statement. Most recently, Phil Hurst from the Aerial Application Association of Australia (AAAA) reinforced the discontent with more criticism of the reform process, so the powers that be (or may not be after 2 July) shouldn't be shocked by what this survey has told them.
And this week there's a new survey up. This time we're looking to find out what general aviation cockpits are starting to look like given the proliferation of new technology. We'd like you to go in and answer the five questions being asked when you get a spare moment.
Lachlan Smart is off on the adventure of his life in only 10 days time. His journey solo around the world in an aeroplane will again lower the mark for the youngest person to do so, and bring the trophy back to Australia. But is that all these trips are, a grab for glory and nothing else? I talked to Lachie during the week, and his age was barely mentioned in the conversation. In truth, I don't know how old he is now, nor how old he'll be when he gets back. I did this on purpose to see if he'd bring it up; he didn't. Although the rest of Australia seems to be focusing on his age, Lachie is all nose-to-the-grindstone making sure he does a professional job of the trip. Yes, his target is to inspire young people by showing that youth is not an insurmountable hurdle to achievement, but when the flight plan gets a savage kink in it (as it inevitably will), it will be the mind of a professional pilot, not a teenager, that will get it back on track. Lachie seems to have that bit well in hand.
There is but a week until the 2016 Wings Awards close for nominations. Your submissions should be starting to look like winners by now, with only polishing to do to make sure it gets more notice than the others. The Wings Awards is the only annual GA award scheme in Australia, and as such is the primary way of making sure your candidate gets the national recognises she, he or they deserve. It'll look pretty damned good on the shelf.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch