Newsdesk-General Aviation

It is planned that a new company will be formed from the existing Piper operation in Vero Beach, Florida. Piper has been operating in a limited manner under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since July 1991 and the Pilatus proposal is seen as a key part of a reorganisation plan the company will submit to the US bankruptcy court.

Previous attempts to rescue Piper (including one from Aerospatiale) have failed largely due to the company’s continued exposure to product liability for all the aircraft it has built over the years which are still flying. Pilatus’ proposal seeks to free the new company of that exposure.

Piper is one of four US companies being considered for final assembly of the Pilatus PC-12 utility aircraft for the North American market. It has already established a marketing centre for the new aircraft at Vero Beach and has indicated it wants to use Piper’s distribution and product support network. If approved by the court, the deal could be concluded by July or August this year.

 Aeromil Expands Leasing Operations:

Mascot-based Aeromil, mainly known for its new and used aircraft sales activities, has diversified into aircraft leasing with some success.

Over the past few months Aeromil has leased a second Metro III to Newcastle Aviation for its freight operations, placed another in Malaysia with prospects for more, placed a Bandeirante in the Philippines and leased another “Bandit’ to a New Zealand freight operator.

Aeromil’s lease portfolio features a wide variety of types including the Bandeirante, Brasilia, King Air, Citation, Metro and larger commercial aircraft. It has established a business relationship with US leasing firm PLM, giving access to many types of aircraft. Aeromil last year acquired Austin Aero in the USA and has recently established the specialised maintenance facility Aeromech at Maroochydore.

For the Diary:

The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators will hold its fourth Pilots’ Refresher Course in the clubrooms of the Royal Newcastle Aero Club, Rutherford Aerodrome, near Maitland, NSW on August 22.

Beginning at 9. 00am, presentations will be made on numerous topics, including emergency procedures, human factors, aviation medicine, ATC procedures and airspace changes, GPS for aircraft navigation and other topics of interest and relevance to pilots. Some social activities have been organised and the cost is a mere $20. For details contact Malcolm Mason on (02) 214 1111 or mobile (018) 22 9405.

MAS SUPPORTS RFDS: Malaysian Airlines (MAS) has become associated with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) through a programme of promotional support and assistance.

Part of the recent arrangement was a Malaysian holiday lucky draw prize which was offered as an incentive to donors to a nationwide $800,000 fund raising campaign by the RFDS last month. Later in the year, MAS will bring a number of aviation medicine specialists to Australia to attend the annual RFDS conference. The RFDS celebrated its 66th anniversary on May 15.

 Air North Flieson:

Northern Territory operator Air North has been purchased from the Henry and Walker Group bySkyport in conjunction with Hardy Aviation.

Renamed Air North Regional, the new company is the Territory’s largest aviation operator, operating more than 370 sectors each week to 109 destinations in the area. A new service has been introduced linking Alice Springs, King’s Canyon, and Ayers Rock in response to demand created by the opening of the King’s Canyon Resort in late 1991. The operator will fly Cessna 402s and Piper Chieftains on the route.

Air North Regional has also developed an operational affiliation with Ansett, the new service being connected to Ansett’s reservations system. Ansett will provide ground handling and check in facilities.

Aopa Saves Piper Owners Millions:

The US chapter of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has saved owners of high wing Piper aircraft (such as Cubs, Tripacers and so on) millions of dollars following successful efforts to alter a proposed wing strut airworthiness directive (AD).

The AD called for mandatory replacement of struts in some 22,000 aircraft following the discovery of corrosion as the cause of two accidents. The AOPA argued the point that the accidents were the result of poor maintenance rather than deficient inspections. The new arrangement allows for special periodic inspection of the struts rather than their replacement of them, bringing with that substantial savings.

Under the terms of the original AD, owners of the aircraft affected would have paid $US2275 per aircraft; under the new arrangement it will cost about $US455.

Pilot Maintenance Means Lower Costs:

Changes to pilot maintenance requirements under new regulations introduced last year in combination with training in aircraft operation management is reducing aircraft operating costs, according to a survey of aircraft operators.

Professional trainers at Adelaide’s Bruce Hartwig Training School claim the survey shows the school’s graduates are operating typical single engined light aircraft for many dollars per hour less than new commercial pilots from elsewhere. The school says that pilots who are trained to look after their aircraft and perform routine maintenance tasks save their employers money, and awareness of business and aircraft management, as well as aircraft operating costs and how to minimise them, is crucial to training.

It says that cost variations to tyres, props, brakes and general engine handling can mean the difference between survival in a tough industry and bankruptcy.

Reach for the Sky:

Every flyingmad teenager’s dreams have come true for Canberra school student David McMurdo following his winning of the national ‘Learn to Fly’ competition sponsored by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs in Australia (RFACA).

The competition entitles David to flying instruction valued at $5000 and was initiated at the Avalon Airshow last October. Entrants bought a trial instructional flight and were assessed during the flight by an instructor. Each instructor selected the top 10% of his or her students from their evaluation forms, the names went into a barrel and David’s was the one which was drawn. He soloed after 13 hours’ instruction and is learning through Canberra’s Airport Flying School.

Business Park for Perth Airport:

The Federal Airports Corporation (FAC) has revealed plans for a $200m busi- ness park near the international terminal at Perth Airport.

The complex will be named Perth Airport Central and will feature a 200 room resort hotel, an 18 hole golf course, retail outlets, office space, recreation facilities, food vendors, liquor shops, service stations, andmedical facilities.

Phase one (mainly seven days a week retail shops) should be completed by the end of next year and the whole project – covering 130ha (320 acres) is due to be finished within five years.

Award for Young Pilot:

Twenty year old Julie Dill, a first officer with Coast to Coast Airlines flying Cessna 421s between Williamtown and Brisbane, has been awarded the Civil Aviation Authority’s prestigious Sir Donald Anderson Trophy.

The annual Sir Donald Anderson Trophy was established in 1970 to encourage Australian women aviators and is presented each yearin conjunction withthe Australian Women Pilots’ Association. Over the past 12 months, Julie has successfully completed her CPL and ATP examinations with very high marks and finished a three year Bachelor of Science with Aviation course at Brisbane’s Griffith University.