Newsdesk – General Aviation

The annual Easter pilgrimage to Wanaka, amidst a most picturesque setting in New Zealand’s South Island, is rapidly becoming a must for true warbird enthusiasts and 1992 will see the show bigger and better than ever with an expected large contingent of NZ war- birds (of which there are many) plus visi- tors from Australia and the US.

If you can’t make Oshkosh or Farm- borough next year and lucked out on this year’s Paris Salon – then don’t despair, save your pennies and join our fun filled group of fellow aviation enthusiasts destined for next Easter’s Wanaka air spectacular.

For full details please refer to the full page colour advert elsewhere in this issue or contact Torii Tours direct on (02) 233 8500 or fax (02) 231 2758.

“Should Coburg Council support the Essendon City Council’s plans to relocate Essendon Airport operations to other airports and redevelop the site for other purposes?” The vote is going ahead despite efforts by independent councilors to stop it.

Aopa Attacks Fac Policy:

The president of the Australian Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Peter Patroni, has attacked the Federal Airports Corporation for its policy of attempting to force regional airlines out of Sydney Airport at peak times by charging a flat rate of $250 per landing or takeoff during the designated periods. Obviously, a commuter operator has fewer passengers per aircraft over which to spread such a charge, compared with an airliner carrying 100, 200 or more.

Patroni points out that the forcing of commuter flights out of Sydney during peak periods has done nothing to reduce congestion- the original intent of the idea and heavily penalises the smaller carriers and their passengers. Sydney is not just the gateway to Australia for international visitors but also the gateway to Sydney for country NSW resi dents travelling to their capital city. The inability to use Sydney Airport at peak times means that it is often impossible to schedule a one day round trip to Sydney, with the accompanying inconvenience to the traveller.

Additionally, it has resulted in reduced air services to many country areas and the complete withdrawal of services to some. Some regionals have reported a loss of up to 40% of their business as a result of all this.

Royal Aero Club Not Dead Yet:

Our July issue report on the winding up of the NSW Royal Aero Club at Bankstown may have inadvertently led to some confusion, What was wound up was the franchised flying training operation and not the club itself. AA is happy to report that the social side of the RAC, which was established in 1919 by returning WWI flyers, has never been stronger under the guidance of club manager Mr Ken Weldon.

At press time, management were still planning a return of the RAC’s flying activities and a decision on whether or not they would get back into flying training on a long term basis was expected by year end.

Readers living in the Sydney area and wishing to join the RAC can find out more by phoning 708 6327.

Secondary Airports Fire Services Cut:

The Civil Aviation Authority has shut down its fire fighting services at Essendon and Moorabbin (Vic). Bankstown NSW, Archerfield Old, Parafield SA and Perth WA.

The shutting down of these facilities came as a result of CAA cost cutting measures, and also the questioning of both the need for and the effectiveness of the fire fighting units at these airports, where they are little used and not required as at major airports such as Sydney where IATA regulations require a fire fighting service to be based. The secondary airports no longer with their own fire fighting services will now have to rely on local fire fighting units. Thirty-six firemen were affected by the units’ closures, however all were offered transfers or redundancy packages.

Changes to Ad System:

A streamlined version of the Australian Airworthiness Directive (AD) system is be introduced by the CAA.

In February this year the CAA proposed a change to the AD procedures which would require operators to comply with ADs issued by the authorities in the country of origin of their aircraft and with relevant ADs issued by the CAA. The consideration of manufacturer’s service bulletins would be the responsibility of the operator.

Following industry comment on the proposal and after further consideration, it was decided that the CAA would review country of origin ADs, consult with industry on major work and issue ADs as necessary. ADs from countries other than that of the aircraft’s origin will be examined but issued as Australian ADs only if necessary for safety. Manufacturer’s service bulletins will remain as originally proposed as the responsibility of owners and/or maintenance organisations.

Aaup Sponsors Airspace Workshops:

The Australian Aviation Underwriting Pool Pty Ltd (AAUP) has contributed $10,000 to the cost of running a series of Australia wide workshops which will explain the changes to airspace management shortly to come into force.

Organised by the CAA, the workshops will be held in the following places and dates: Coffs Harbour 2 September, Sydney 3 September; Dubbo 4 September; Albury 5 September; Hamilton (Vic) 6 September, Melb- ourne 7 September, Port Hedland 30 September; Perth 1 October; Albany 2 October; Hobart 8 October; Port Pirie 9 October and Adelaide 10 October. Darwin, Alice Springs, Cairns, Mt Isa and Brisbane were dovered during August.

The workshops will be conducted between 7. 00 and 9. 30pm at venues which will be settled by the time this issue is published. For further details of this good idea, contact your regional CAA office.

Learjet Announces Surge in New Orders:

A strong upsurge in aircraft orders has resulted in Learjet announcing. increases in production, employment and facilities.

Learjet now has an order backlog of $US350m with orders for more than a year and a half’s production of the new Learjet 60. The company is scheduled to deliver 28 aircraft in the current US financial year though a planned increase to 36 aircraft (including an extra six Model 60s) is proposed for the final quarter, with over 40 aircraft to be built (including 15 Model 60s) in the 1992/93 financial year.

With the increase in production, Learjet will also increase its workforce by 15% (300 people), while production facilities will be expanded by about 200,000sq ft.

In addition to strong civil orders, Learjet is also optimistic that it will receive a contract for 16 Learjet 35 As for the US Navy’s Under-graduate Naval Flight Officer program.

For Hannover, Read Berlin:

The long running Hannover Air Show in what was West Germany will be replaced from next year by Germany’s first international aerospace exhibition since reunification at East Berlin’s Schoenefeld Airport.

The show’s dates are 15-21 June 1992, only 10 weeks before Britain’s Famborough Air Show. The Soviet Ministry of Aviation will be a major exhibitor in Berlin, the city where German aerospace exhibitions began in 1928.

Falcon

900B SETS Dassault’s Falcon 900B corporate trijet (a more powerful update of the original Falcon 900 as operated by the RAAF) has established two world and US national records for aircraft in its class by flying nonstop from Paris’ Le Bourget Airport to Houston, Texas, a distance of 4,352 nautical miles (8,060km). The two records are for great circle distance without refuelling and speed between Paris and Houston. The Falcon averaged 407. 3kt (755. 14km/h) for the trip (there was no previous record) while the previous distance record for this class of aircraft was set in 1987 when a Falcon 900 flew from Bordeaux to Little Rock, a journey of 4,040nm (7,490km).

Women Pilots Upgrade With a Night Vfr Endorsement:

The Victorian branch of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association invites you to apply for the “1974 Memorial Grant” to be awarded early next

year.

This grant is in memory of five Private Pilots, all keen members of AWPA, who lost their lives in accidents in 1974. The aim of the grant is to enable a private pilot to increase her knowledge and skill. It is not intended that the grant be used to obtain a Commercial Licence.

Six hundred dollars is offered towards obtaining a Night VFR Endorsement, to be paid to the Flying School of your choice on a dollar for dollar basis. Membership of the Australian Women Pilots’ association is encouraged but not essential.

To qualify applicants must: (a) be permanent residents of Australia; (b) hold a current Private Licence (Unrestricted); (c) have a minimum of 100 hours flying experience, (d) submit a reference from a Flying Instructor with the application form; and (e) be not curently in training for a Night VFR Endorsement.

Successful applicants must be prepared to undergo a flight test at their own expense at a flying school nominated by the selection committee. Applications close 1 November 1991. Please forward requests for applications to Miss W Smales, PO Box 692, Ben- digo 3550.

 Airshow Boosts Jobs:

Following the Victorian government’s promise to underwrite next year’s Australian International Air Show and Aerospace Expo at Avalon to the tune of $1. 5m, Premier Joan Kimer has claimed that the 250,000 visitors will boost the state’s economy by $40m and create more than 1,000 jobs.

How she specifically arrived at those figures is not explained, but it will be particularly interesting to see how the show itself can create new jobs, particularly when the vast majority of its ‘helpers’ are unpaid volunteers. Perhaps she means it will help Victoria’s aerospace businesses in the longer term.

 Executive Airlines Moves:

Long established corporate charter and management operator Executive Airlines has moved from Melbourne’s Essendon Airport to the Melbourne Jet Base at nearby Tullamarine Airport.

According to the company’s managing director, Captain Geoff Hardinge, Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) represents the future. while Essendon “is dying”. The Melbourne Jet Base-which is a full American style FBO – offers complete facilities for an operation such as Executive’s, including maintenance, passenger lounges, fuel, security and office space.

 Ray Jay at Moorabbin:

Hawker Pacific’s decision to close down its facility at Melbourne’s Moorabbin Airport appeared to leave a large gap in the services offered there.

But the gap has been closed thanks to Ray Jay Aircraft Services Pty Ltd, which has taken over the facility in toto, including tooling, equipment and technical information. In addition, CAA approvals for component and engine overhauls have also been transferred to Ray Jay and the previous engineering staff remains intact. Ray Jay is a factory approved service facility for all Beechcraft models up to and including the King Air turboprops.

Skywest, Continental Cut Services:

West Australian operator Skywest has reduced services from Port Hedland to the small mining communities of Marble Bar and Telfer, leaving them with very little air transport.

The economic climate and low passenger numbers are blamed, and despite a WA subsidy of $80,000 per annum, the services are losing money. The airline has said it will continue to serve the towns on a reduced basis until new arrangements are implemented.

On the other side of the continent, US carrier Continental Airlines is suspending its twice weekly service to Caims in north Queensland. The airline says it is experiencing a continued downturn in passengers

since the Gulf War. Authorities in Cairns are talking to other operators in an attempt to plug the gap left by Continental.

 Indonesian Contract for AAC:

Hawker de Havilland’s Australian Aviation College at Adelaide’s Parafield airport has won a $1m contract to train 48 additional students from Indonesian domestic airline Mer- pati.

The college already has 30 Merpati students on its books as well as trainees from Qantas, the RAAF, Olympic Airways, Air Niugini and Air Mauritius. Less than three years after it was purchased by Hdh, the college is already facing a capacity problem at Parafield with 126 pupils in residence this year and some 300 provisionally booked for 1992. It is therefore examining possible expansion to a second site as about 160 per year is Parafield’s limit.

An in-depth analysis of the future RAAF training syllabus is featured in our next edition, HdH’s Australian Aviation College being one of the front runners in gaining a share of the important fight screening contract. Don’t miss it!