Newsdesk – General Aviation

The Opposition, citing the sale in parliament, estimates that the sale could have cost Queensland taxpayers $4. 5m after the Government spent $2m on a vastly inferior aircraft. To avoid political fallout, the 125 was sold at a reduced price to remove it from the then media spotlight.

Smithy’s Hangar Part of Proposed Bankstown Redevelopment:

A new development proposal for Bankstown airport would see Sir Charles Kingsford Smiths’s original Mascot hangar restored.

The restored hangar would form the ba- sis of an aviation museum, complete with a visitors centre, static aircraft park and an area for visiting warbird aircraft. The Australian Warbird Association also hopes to secure an area in the hangar as a dedicated meeting place for the movement.

The Bankstown Council has expressed an interest in the museum and hangar as a possible project for the Bicentenary of Bankstown in 1995. Hopes are also held to hold an airshow in conjunction with the celebrations, hopefully later in the year so as not to clash with Avalon in late March.

Other developments for the area of Bankstown airport concerned (bordered by Milperra Rd and Henry Lawson Dr) include a 70 room motel, a family restaurant, two fast food outlets and a service station.

For Sale: Melbourne Jet Base:

Australia’s largest fixed base operation, the Melbourne Jet Base has been placed on the market.

The Jet Base facility includes commercial and corporate suite office buildings, a passenger terminal, two hangars capable of storing aircraft up to 727 size, a workshop area capable of carrying out deeper maintenance, a fuel depot, and a tarmac area used for parking up to 707 and DC-8 sized transports. The facility also holds a number of ongoing civil and military contracts for aircraft handling, maintenance and refuelling, and indeed carried out maintenance work on Compass Airlines’ MD-80s.

The sale is being handled by BDW Aviation Services. Interested parties should contact BDW on (02) 258 6790, or fax (02) 258 6791.

Calendar of Aviation Events:

Courtesy AOPA Sept 11-12: Sun ‘n Fun Flyin, Qld Division, SAAA, Caloundra. Contact (07) 286 2992. Sept 19: Oakey Airshow ’93 Hosted by the Australian Army Aviation Corps. Military, Warbirds, Vintage and GA aircraft participating. Ian Jesser (076) 91 7211.

Sept 25-26: Horsham Aero Club Annual Flyin. (053) 81 1727.

Sept 25: Flight Forum, Adelaide. Contact CAA Industry Support Branch (008) 676063. Oct 2-4: Port Macquarie, NSW Flyin. Homebuilts, GA, Ultralights, Vintage, Warbirds, etc. Hastings District Flying Club. Ph (065) 85 1720, Fax (065) 85 1704.

Oct 10-13: “Aviation 1993”. 12th Annual Conference of the Aviation Law Association of Australia and NZ. Sheraton Hobart Hotel, Tas. Cindy Last (008) 33 4143. Oct 17: Strathalbyn SA Spring Flyin. 1993 Southern Districts Flying Club. Contact Don Dewar (085) 36 2070.

Oct 17: Australian Air League, Bundaberg Squadron 10th Anniversary/4BU Airshow, Bundaberg Airport. Contact (07) 262 3478. Oct 23-29: Eighth World Flight Championship Rally. Chillan, Chile, Sth America. Graham Strahan, Destination Holidays, (008) 33 7050 or Fax (03) 725 6700. Dec 31-Jan 2: The Great Eastern Flyin, Evans Head, NSW. (066) 86 3203.

Feb 19-20: Casino Second Annual Flyin. Hosted by Casino Aero Club. Contact John Temple-Watts (066) 62 4533.

Feb 22: Asian Aerospace, Singapore.

Feb 27-Mar 6: Skyrace Tasmania. Three day round Tasmania Navex followed by four days Reno style pylon racing. Contact Australian National Air Races (003) 91 8380 or Fax (003) 91 8662.

Mar 5: Round 1 NSW Interclub Flying Competition. Hastings District Flying Club, Port Macquarie. (045) 72 5724.

April 1: Annual Mangalore Airshow. SAAA, (03) 481 7912.

April 1: Warbirds Over Wanaka NZ. Toril Tours (02) 233 8500.

April 30: Mudgee Airshow. Contact Mudgee Aero Club (063) 72 2329.

July 9: Round 2 NSW Interclub Flying Competition. Camden Aero Club, Camden. Contact John Clardi (045) 72 5724.

July 30: Annual Oshkosh EAA Convention. Torii Tours (02) 233 8500.

Sept 6: Farnborough Airshow. SBAC London. (071) 839 3231.

Reims’ Cessna Refurbishment:

Reims Aviation could begin refurbishment of used Cessnas in the near future, ifa market study proves successful.

Reims has had a long association with Cessna, having built more than 600 aircraft between the 1960s and late 1980s, holding exclusive manufacturing rights for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Cessnas, which would be revamped for resale, would feature upgraded avionics and instrument panels, with initial work focusing on the 172 and 182 singles.

Until 1989 Cessna owned a 49% shareholding in Reims, while the company remains the sole manufacturer of the twin engined F406 Caravan II.

First Caa Authorised Person Approved:

Alan Currie, a Licensed Aircraft Engineer and pilot has become the first person to be given official CAA approval to allow the movement of aircraft for maintenance purposes.

Mr Currie, Managing Director of Arcav Ltd in Albury, is now allowed to issue limited Permits to Fly to aircraft, without the new newAustralian Aviation Civil Aircraft Register for 1993/94 is now available.

This year the register has been expanded to include ultralights and powered hang gliders (trikes), but even with the increase in the number of pages we have been able to maintain the same price as last year.

This is the only publication available that lists registration, aircraft type, construction number and owner/operator’s full name and address in an easy to read tabulated format. Nearly 10,000 aircraft are listed including those registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, the Ultralight Federation and the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia.

The Register is only available from AustAirData, PO Box 1142, Toombul, 4012 (074) 95 8496 at a cost of just $10. 95 which includes postage within Australia (add 50% for overseas air mail).

Details are also available on IBM compatible disk in DBASE IV or ASCII format at a cost of $50 and credit card facilities are also available.

Nov 6: Round 3 NSW Interclub Flying Competition and Presentation Dinner hosted by Royal Newcastle Aero Club at Maitland. (045) 72 5724AH.

Nov 13-14: Desert Trek ’93 Mildura Aero Club. Contact John Mock (050) 23 6717AH. Nov 20: Lake Keepit Airshow in associa- tion with National Gliding Championships. (067) 69 7605 or Fax (067) 69 7547. required maintenance release, allowing them to be flown between two points for maintenance and repair work.

The authorisation is part of an ongoing effort by the CAA to devolve certain functions to the aviation industry. Mr Currie has 40 years experience in the industry.