Newsdesk — General Aviation

The Avalon Air Show and Expo is the first of what will become a major aerospace event to be held every four years. To attract the maximum possible attendance, it is being held the week after the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and immediately prior to the Melbourne Cup and the Adelaide Grand Prix. The Richmond airshow is the first of a series of smaller scale events to be held in the between years, though it will still be the biggest Australian airshow since the unforgettable Bicentennial Air Show.

 Badgerys Creek Work Started:

Work has commenced on roads infrastructure at Badgerys Creek, Sydney’s second major airport.

The building of roads is the initial stage of work at the site, the Federal Government having allocated $20m to improve access to Badgerys Creek, which is 46km west of the Sydney CBD. Key roads will be constructed to cater for the initial GA airport, and will be upgraded and added to as the airport expands and demand increases. The biggest single part of the roads program will be the $6. 1m construction of exit ramps on the F4 Western Freeway. The roads upgrading program should be completed by June 1992. .

 Cost Sharing Under Threat:

The recent amendment to the Civil Aviation Regulations legalising cost sharing flights by private pilots is now under threat, with allegations that illegal charter fights are being conducted under the guise of “cost sharing” flights.

Before the amendment, cost sharing was legally considered a commercial flight, the pilot requiring a CPL and the operation having to be run under the auspices of an Air Operator’s Certificate. Under the amendment, which at last brought common sense to the situation whereby cost sharing was unofficially taking place anyway, cost sharing flights can be classified as private operations provided they are not advertised publicly and are not run on a profit making basis, and up to six people can be carried (including the flight crew) who must all share equally in the cost of the flight. Thus a group can legally and openly share costs when flying to a common venue.

The CAA is working hard to counter cost sharing cheats, hoping that the amendment will not have to be reviewed. Mr Paul Middleton of the CAA’s Standards Development Division noted: “The industry has been pressing for the cost sharing reform for many years. Now that they have finally won that reform, it is disappointing to see it threatened by a small minority of bandits. ”

 Caa & Atc Collaborate:

Air traffic control union members can now formally voice their opinions about Civil Aviation Authority projects which aim to modify the ATC system.

A Joint Technical Committee has been formed by the CAA’S Airways Operations Group, the Office of the Chief Technical Advisor and the Civil Air Operations Officers Association of Australia (CAOOAA), the aim being to provide a working medium of communication between the three parties. The Joint Technical Committee will not replace present mechanisms for CAA management to consult staff, but it will augment them, giving CAOOAA members a voice at CAA management meetings on the development and installation of air traffic systems.

 Dassault Records 34 Bizjet Orders:

Dassault recorded 34 firm orders for its family of Falcon business jets during 1990.

The 34 firm orders were mainly for the Falcon 50 and 900 business jets, and represent a record number of Dassault bizjets sold during any one year. This is particularly significant given the fact that sales of bizjets in North America-traditionally the prime bizjet market weakened considerably during 1990, though sales in Europe and Asia have experienced steady growth. Dassault intends to boost its business jet sales over the next five years to help compensate for the downturn in military spending worldwide.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 2000, which was launched in October 1990, has received ready acceptance, 25 options having already been taken by the end of December.

 Cost of 1988 Australian Aviation Accidents:

The Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics has released its figures for the cost of aviation accidents in Australia during 1988.

During 1988 some 328 aviation accidents were reported in the GA sector, costing Australia $45,286,000. Of the 328 accidents, over 70% were nil injury accidents. Just 37 proved fatal, yet these cost the community just over $30m, or $811,000 per accident, $353,000 per casualty. The costing of accidents takes into account direct costs such as aircraft damage ($13. 78m out of the total $45m), insurance and legal costs ($5. 8m). hospital ($564,000), accident investigation ($88,000), SAR ($328,000), medical ($198,000) and rehabilitation ($51,000). Related costs include the loss of earnings ($15m) and loss to families and community ($7. 1m).

Such is the monetary cost of aviation accidents to the community, though this perhaps pales into insignificance against the $6. 2bn estimated cost of road accidents for 1988.

 Cash Crisis Suspends Swiftfury:

LoPresti Piper, the company established to develop the SwiftFury aerobatic light aircraft, has been forced to suspend operations because of a cash flow crisis.

The three year old company reportedly has insufficient funds to pursue certification of the SwiftFury, despite claims that it holds over 550 orders (with deposits) for the $US118,900 aircraft. Certification procedures have been suspended until a suitable investor can be found or financing is obtained by alterative means, such as if LoPresti Piper were included in the Aero-spatiale/Piper investment deal currently being negotiated.

The SwiftFury, despite the financial woes of LoPresti Piper, is a promising aircraft which should have little problem attracting investors, particularly if the stated 550

orders is correct. The aircraft is a substantially upgraded version of the 1948 Globe Aircraft GC-1A Swift, powered by a Lycoming engine and with retractable undercarriage. It is also a candidate for the USAF Enhanced Flight Screening trainer contest, which has a requirement for 125 aircraft.

 Aeromil Expresses Confidence:

Local company Aeromil Australia is hopeful of following 1990’s record year up with continued growth and development, despite the threat posed by economic recession.

1990 was a very successful year for Aero- mill, its Managing Director, Mr Steve Padgett, stating that the company had brokered a record number of used corporate jets in addition to marketing commuter/regional airliners in the south west Pacific region. A highlight of the year was the delivery to Queensland based Flight West of the first two EMB-120 Brasilias to enter service in Australia, Aeromil being Embraer’s Australasian sales representative. Aeromil have also signed letters of intent for the CBA-123 Vec- tor and the EMB-145 regional jet.

Calendar of Aviation Events:

Courtesy AOPA & RFACA Mar 9: Round 1, Interclub Flying Competition at Bathurst. (045) 72 5724 AH.

Mar 9-10: Rainbow Coast Airshow, Albany WA. (098) 471 8600.

Mar 23 Pilot Awareness Seminar, Can- berra ACT, (06) 2804221.

Mar 23-24: RACWA/Manjimup Fly-in. (09) 332 7722.

Mar 29-Apr 1: SAAA Mangalore Air Spectacular. SAAA, 265 Queens Pde, Clifton Hill 3068. (03) 587 4000.

Mar 29-Apr 1: 1991 AGM & Conference of the Australian Women Pilot’s Association, Smithton, Tas. Ellen Warren, 333 Blaydon St. Kings Meadow, 7249.

Apr 4-5: “New Era in Australian Aviation” seminar. Hyatt Hotel, Canberra. Contact DTC, Brad Jennings, (06) 274 7111.

Apr 13: Tribute to Hinkler. Sydney to Bundaberg efficiency trial, Bundaberg Aero Club. (071) 72 8502.

Apr 14: Canberra Air Pageant, Alan Barr, PO Box 173, Civic Square 2608. (06) 249 1277. Apr 14-16: RFACA Annual Conference. Hunts Motel, Crossroads. (06) 280 6696.

Apr 18-19 Aust Light Aircraft Championships, Camden Aero Club. (06) 280 6696. Apr 20: Pilot Awareness Seminar, Sydney. (06) 280 4221.

Apr 20-21. Kalgoorlie Air Show and Fly-in. (090) 932 005.

Apr 25-28: 50th Anniversary 10 EFTS, Temora, NSW. (06) 231 3867, (069) 77 2982. May 12-16: International Aerospace Congress, World Congress Centre, Melbourne. (03) 654 7533.

May 25 Pilot Awareness Seminar, Melb- ourne, (06) 280 4221.

June 4-7: Second Townsville Aero Club Northern Safari Air Race. (077) 79 2069. June 13-23. Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France, GIFAS. Tel +33 1 47 23 55 26. June 15: Pilot Awareness Seminar, Bris- bane, (06) 280 4221.

July 13: Round 2 NSW Flying Competition, Taree. (045) 725724.

July 17-21: Dayton Air Show, Dayton, Ohio, USA. +1 513 898 5901.

July 20- Pilot Awareness Seminar, Darwin NT. (06) 280 4221.

July 24-Aug 1-Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) annual fly-in and convention at Oshkosh. +1 414 426 4800.

Aug 7-11: Airshow Canada 91, Abbots-ford, BC, Canada, +1 604 852 4600.

Sep 28. Pilot Awareness Seminar, Launceston Tas, (06) 280 4221.