Newsdesk – General Aviation

The Transisco investment is needed to allow Piper in its present financial crisis to maintain a steady supply of vendor parts to customers, and to complete and deliver aircraft from the $US175m order backlog. Piper recently signed a new credit relationship with Textron Lycoming to ensure availability of piston engines for backlog order aircraft.

Under the new agreement, Transisco will become a member of Piper’s board of directors, though it will not affect Piper management. Transisco will establish a new company within the next 3-6 months to well and distribute aftermarket spares for Piper aircraft. It is envisioned that the new company will allow Piper to be more competitive in the spares market, though its profits will not be directly linked with PiperAircraft’s.

First Mamba Sales Recorded:

The International Aircraft Corporation (IAC) previously Melbourne Aircraft Corporation (MAC), has reported the sale of the first six production Mambas.

The West Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management has ordered three Mamba aircraft to replace their current fleet of fire spotting Piper Super Cubs. A second sale of three aircraft to Cessnock based Professional Pilot Training has also been announced. Both sales are important first steps in the Mamba program, being first sales to both a Government authority and private customer. First delivery is expected before year end.

Negotiations for the first sale overseas are reportedly also underway. It is believed an initial two aircraft will be sold to a South American company as regional demonstrators and, if sales are recorded, Mamba aircraft will possibly be assembled from kits as a joint venture in Columbia, Ecuador and Venezuela. The Mamba is being marketed overseas as a general aviation, law enforcement, spotting or basic flight training aircraft.

Meanwhile, IAC’s second aircraft model, a “four-plus-two seat aircraft”, should be flying next year.

 1991 Rainbow Coast Airshow:

As part of its town’s bicentenary celebrations, Albany, WA, is to hold the 1991 Rainbow Coast Airshow on 9-10 March, 1991.

The airshow will be a combination of aviation trade and flying displays and, no doubt will be of interest to west coast aviation enthusiasts and the general public alike. It is expected that a wide variety of aircraft will attend the show, with particular emphasis being placed on the ever popular vintage, warbird and military types. Definitely one to be marked on the calendar.

Owners Recouping Operating Costs of Local Airports:

Members of the Australian Airport Owners Association are introducing landing charges at their airports to reduce the costs borne by local communities.

Charges will apply on a ‘user pays’ principle to all airport users, including private aviators. The level of charges has been set by each airport owner to cover the costs of operation and development, and will be based on the maximum takeoff weight of an aircraft. The charges are separate and distinct from those of other organisations such as the FAC or CAA.

Collection of most charges will be done centrally by ACT based Avdata Services. This central collection will be more efficient, so that aircraft owners will receive only one

account irrespective of the number of airports they may visit. AAOA members state that by improving their economic position they can thus improve their service to the aviation community. For further information contact Ken Barnes (06) 248 6653.

Friedrich Ordered to Pay $97M:

Former National Safety Council of Australia, Victoria chief, John Friedrich, has been ordered to pay the State Bank Victoria (SBV) $97m.

The SBV was the big loser in last year’s $250m collapse of the NSCA’s Victorian division. Friedrich is one of just ten former NSCA Victoria directors being sued for their part in the Council’s financial collapse. In response to the repayment order, Friedrich commented: “The judgement was expected and will not be contested. ” One must wonder, however, just where the court and SBV expect the money to come from.

 More Tiger Firsts:

Subsequent to our June issue news item on Brian Edwards’ epic Tiger Moth sortie from England, we have learnt that this was not in fact the first single pilot Tiger flight from the UK to Oz.

Apparently David Cyster beat Brian by some 12 years when in 1978 he flew from Dunsfold, Surrey to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bert Hinkler’s 16 day 1928 flight in Avro Avian G-EBOV. A thank you to all our keen eyed readers who spotted the error.

No doubt, there are probably more individual records held by the venerable Tiger Moth. For those dedicated Tiger fans (and who isn’t!) you might like to catch Commander Norman Lee’s fascinating reminiscences of the type in his Reflections series elsewhere in this edition.

 Full Set of Magazines on Offer:

For unstated reasons, a reader is selling his entire collection of Australian Aviation and has offered them for sale to any reader who would like a complete set in what is described as mint condition. If interested, contact AJ Sims on (02) 605 8204.

 $250,000 Boost to Rfds Aircraft Appeal:

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has received a substantial financial boost to its aircraft replacement appeal through a donation from the Perpetual Trustees Queensland Charitable Trust Fund. Perpetual Trustees Queensland board members were able to donate money from two deceased estates to the RFDS, quite rightly recognising the Service as “a most worthy recipient of funds. ” The $250,000 donation, which will be paid in five $50,000 lots over the next five years, will go a long way towards helping the RFDS raise the $11m in private funding ($6m of which has already been received or pledged) that is presently sought to enable it to replace its ageing fleet with high speed, pressurised and fully medically equipped aircraft.

 Nsw Air Ambulance Service Vital:

Surgeons attending a recent seminar held in Dubbo by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons voted in favour of the reestablishment of an air ambulance service for the western and central western regions of NSW.

The surgeons recognised that an air ambulance service is vital for the outback regions of NSW, an area covering some 43% of the state, and that the NSW Government should be pressured into re-establishing it. It was claimed that not only would an air ambulance service reduce transport times between hospitals – it takes, for instance, about five hours to transport a patient between Bourke and Dubbo base hospital by road- but it is necessary to save lives.

More Training for Mooney Pilots Recommended:

Following the coronial inquiry into the fatal crash of a Mooney 201 at Rutherford, near Newcastle, in June last year, it has been recommended that the CAA create a separate endorsement for pilot training to fly the Mooney.

The Coroner, Mr Derek Hand, found that the crash – which killed both pilot and passenger after the aircraft stalled and went out of control. The aircraft’s pilot held the CAA endorsement to fly a single engine retractable undercarriage and constant speed aircraft and had six hours experience on the Mooney, yet he was unable to cope with the aircraft stalling. The recommendations of Mr Alan Stray, CAA senior air safety investigator, that additional flying training in stall and spin recovery techniques be provided for Mooney pilots, was adopted. The CAA has sent letters to all Mooney owners and pilots, and to flight instructors to ensure adequate training in Mooney stall recovery be provided, as lateral control at the point of stall is considered poor.

 1974 Memorial Grant:

Applications are open for the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (AWPA) “1974 Memorial Grant. ” The grant, in memory of five AWPA private pilots killed in accidents during 1974, is intended to assist a female private pilot to obtain a commercial license. $600 is offered towards a Night VFR Endorsement course. Membership of AWPA is not essential. Applications close 1st November. For further details contact: Mrs A Bithel, 15 The Ridge, Glen Waverley 3150.

People

General Peter Gration has had his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force extended to 1993. Dr Malcolm McIntosh has been appointed Secretary Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce. Mr Peter Ryan has been appointed General Manager of Townsville based Australian Regional Airlines (Queensland). Mr Ian Webber, Managing Director of Mayne Nickless Ltd, has been appointed a Director of Qantas.

Bottom Line

British Airways has announced a pre-tax profit of £345m ($A763m), a 28. 7% increase on the previous year’s figure of £268m ($A592m). This is despite a 14% rise in overall costs, including a 30% increase in fuel and oil costs and a 44% increase in aircraft lease costs. Lufthansa has reported a net 1989 income of DM124m ($A97. 2m), up 25% on the previous year. Costs of delays, currency losses and increased fuel prices have been put at DM400m ($A313. 6m).

Videos

Great Planes B-24 Liberator:

Hoyts PolyGram. Returning in full strength after a brief absence is the Great Planes series which is now marketed direct by Hoyts PolyGram rather than through this magazine and AVI.

The latest Great Planes tape concerns that often overlooked but immensely useful bomber of WW2, the Consolidated B-24 Lib- erator. Though lacking the romantic genre of the B-17, the Liberator served in far greater numbers (18,000+) than its more famous Boeing cousin and was flown by the RAAF from 1944 onwards. This one hour tape traces the development history of the aircraft, its competition with the B-17 and the type’s achievements through WW2. An interesting tape and one that is well recommended.

Available from all Myer stores and special- ist outlets including Hawker Pacific Sky-shops for an RRP of $29. 95.