Newsdesk – General Aviation

Under the chairmanship of the CAA’s chief executive, Doug Roser, the team includes specialists from the US Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada and experts from the CAA’s Air Traffic Services Division and the Directorate of Aviation Safety Regulation. The Americans and have already advised the review team on how the airspace management systems work in their own countries and have assisted in the development of options in response to the concerns expressed by the industry.

The team has several options to consider, some of which are based on elements of the North American systems. The team should have completed its analysis of the alternatives by the end of November at which time it will reconvene to determine preferences. Members of the CAA team travelled to the US and Canada during November to have a first hand look at how things work over there.

A Cautionary Tale:

We’ve all heard (and probably seen) it before. . . take a few friends on a flight in a light aircraft, fill up all the seats, throw a few bags and bits and pieces in the luggage compartment, top up the tanks. It doesn’t matter if the aircraft’s a few kilos over gross. Centre of gravity? No worries, she’ll be right! That’s probably what the pilot of a Beechcraft Baron which crashed near Canberra on its way to the snowfields last year thought, killing himself and five friends in the process.

The BASI accident investigation has revealed the Barondeparted Bankstown 182kg (400lb) over maximum takeoff weight and with the centre of gravity at least at the aft limit and probably well beyond it. As the Baron’s flight progressed and its main tanks emptied, the centre of gravity moved even further aft until a point was reached where the aircraft became uncontrollable.

Wild fluctuations in altitude followed as a result of “relatively high rates of climb and descent” as the pilot struggled to control his tall heavy aircraft. One departure from the reference altitude exceeded 1000ft/min and another reached 2000ft/min before the Baron finally went out of control and crashed. No distress calls were received from the aircraft at any stage.

Just thought we’d include this to remind you. . . . .

Pilot Shortage Predicted:

A United States federal advisory committee has warned that despite the current surplus of airline pilots, there could well be a shortage in the next three to five years.

The Pilotand Aviation Maintenance Technicians Panel has noted that as most American pilots and maintenance staff in the private sector received their initial training in the armed forces, it is reasonable to assume the cutting back of the US military will eventually lead to a shortage.

The panel acknowledges defence cuts are for the moment adding to the surplus of pilots, but counters that by noting that economic forecasts indicate the labour needs of the industry will increase by at least 18% over the next ten years. It suggests that as a result, civilian training will need to fill the void.

Hushkitted Gulfstream Certificated:

The ‘Quiet Spey’ hushkitting programme for the Gulfstream II and III corporate jet has been certificated by the US Federal Aviation Administration.

The conversion meets FAR 36 Stage 3 noise requirements and can be applied to any of the more than 420 Rolls-Royce Spey powered Gulfstreams operating around the world. The kit has been developed by the Quiet Nacelle Corporation.

The decision to go ahead or not with another Spey hushkitting programme should also be made by the end of the year. This applies to the Fokker F28, a system for which has been developed in conjunction with Nordam. An initial order for ten units is required to proceed and French airline TATI is the most likely launch customer with its fleet of 19 F28s. If TAT decides not to order hushkits, then it is probable the programme will not proceed. If it does, kits will be available from late 1995.

Socata Clinches Big China Deal:

Aerospatiale’s general aviation subsidiary Socata has secured the largest single order for its TB range of single engined light aircraft.

The Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) has ordered 38 TB200 Tobago XLS and four TB20 Trinidads for use by its pilot training college at Chengdu. The aircraft will be delivered over the first seven months of next year and join 28 Trinidads delivered to the CAAC in 1989. The Chengdu college is the only ab initio school in China and currently turns out 250 pilots each year.

The TB series has been sold to many training organisations over the years. Australian customers include the Australian Flying Training School (three Tampicos, seven Tobagos, six Trinidads), the Australian Aviation College (19 Tobagos and six Trinidads with the latter recently sold and replaced by eight Tobagos) and the Ansett/ BAe Flying College (24 Tobagos by year end). Overseas flying school customers include the Italian Aero Club (110 Tampico Clubs), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (14 Tampico Clubs) and the French SFACT (eight Tobagos and 42 Trinidads).

Starship’s Days Numbered:

Production of the Beechcraft Starship all composite, canard, twin turboprop pusher corporate aircraft will end in the middle of next year unless substantial additional orders are received.

Production is approved up to the 50th production airframe of which 40 have already been built. Sales have been at best sluggish since the prototype first flew in 1986, and of the 40 built so far (plus three prototypes) only 23 have been delivered to customers. Of those, half are leased and only three have been exported.

Although Beechcraft says it remains committed to the programme, it has been reported that long lead items for production after the 50th aircraft have not been purchased. The manufacturer is offering various incentives to potential customers, including a trade-in guarantee against the Beechjet or Hawker (BAe 125) models.

Aopa Membership Record:

The US Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has reached a record level of membership with the 310,000th member joining the organisation last June.

Formed in 1939, the AOPA is by far general aviation’s greatest advocate in the USA and its growth in membership comes at a time when GA is hard pressed both politically and economically. The AOPA’s membership level has steadily risen over the last few years. It was 255,000 in 1987 and despite the recession 296,000 in 1992.

The 310,000th member, a 24 year old private pilot from Texas, had his record membership recognised by being awarded an all expenses paid trip to Florida to attend AOPA’s Expo ’93 at Disney World. Overall, he is the AOPA’s 1,172,237th member in the organisation’s 54 year history.

Closer to home, Australia’s AOPA has been able to hold its membership steady at around 10,000 despite what now seems as years of ongoing recession and general bad news for anything even remotely aligned with general aviation. Well done AOPA.

 Jetstream J41 Tour:

Nick Godwin, Marketing Director for Prestwick-based Jetstream Aircraft, recently visited Australia as a prelude to the arrival of the company’s Ji demonstrator here in December.

At a press briefing in Sydney, Mr Godwin said that the tour, which will cost in the vicinity of $400,000, shows “the Jetstream has to the region. ” The J41 will tour to ‘current active markets’ in the Asia Pacific region, Saudi Arabia and also the US where recent discussions have identified a potential market of some 350 aircraft to new and existing customers.

Jetstream, like many other manufacturers, is aiming at providing a family of aircraft, a concept which is becoming increasingly attractive to airlines as they rationalise equipment in the face of rising costs. The BAe owned subsidiary will be the only manufacturer offering aircraft in the 19 to 68 seat range, and will thus be in a strong position to hopefully place turboprop aircraft in regional markets.

Mr Godwin also confirmed that the J51 and J71 family of high speed turboprops would be available in 1998/99 to coincide with an expected upturn in the key jet replacement markets. He said that Jetstream’s ability to offer the right products in the key areas of greater cost efficiency and the family concept of airliners will enable the company to remain the market leader in its segment.

Western Australian operator Skywest is also a Jetstream leader, with its J31 VH-JSW the highest timed ofits type at 25,000 hours. An update on the Jetstream 41 will be published in AA during 1994.

Starting a Trend:

Queensland company Global Aviation Support Pty Ltd has sold and installed the first two fully automatic Engine Trend Monitors in agricultural aircraft in Australia and the world.

The monitors, which are manufactured by the Shadin Co in the USA, have been extensively used in turbine powered hellcopters and corporate aircraft but it is only recently that the benefits to be derived from automatic engine monitoring have been made available to operators of turbine agricultural aircraft.

Installations have been completed in an Air Tractor 402 belonging to Fieldair of Ballarat Vic, and an Ayres Turbo Thrush operated by Gwydir Air of Moree NSW. Both aircraft are powered by P&WC PT6 turboprop variants.

Installation of the system allows operators to substantially extend the overhaul lives of their engines by providing accurate and substantial trend data to satisfy CAA requirements. This translates to lower operating costs and has the added benefit of highlighting any existing or potential

We Need Your Help

It is important to us at AA what you, our valued reader, thinks.

Therefore, every few years we run a readership survey where you get to tell us exactly what you like, and don’t like about AA. With this valuable information we can then plan ahead to bring you the magazine that best suits your needs.

Consequently on page 38 of this issue you will find our 1993/94 reader survey which should only take a few minutes to complete but will help us considerably in being able to in turn help you.

If you don’t want to deface your mag then simply send us a photocopy in the mail or fax it to us on (06) 288 2021.

Thank you for your assistance.

lems with an engine before they become expensive ones.

Balloon Pilot Acquitted:

The pilot of a hot air balloon which collided with another near Alice Springs in August 1989 with the death of 13 people has been acquitted of all charges relating to the incident.

Michael Sanby was found guilty by a jury last December of committing a dangerous act and was given a jail sentence, but this has since been overturned by the Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal which found there was no evidence of negligence and that Mr Sanby’s defence – the collision was the result of a tragic but unavoidable accident – was in fact the case.

 Plm Joins Aeromil:

US transpotation leasing company PLM International will purchase a “substantial” interest in Australian aircraft dealer, consultant, lessor and marketeer Aeromil and its associate companies.

The move is designed to give Aeromil the capital it needs to operate successfully on the international stage and the new association with PLM provides both that and a useful direct connection to world markets.

In addition to its extensive and varied local aviation activities, Aeromil is also the senior partner in the consortium which purchased Texas fixed based operator Austin Aero in 1991.

 Caa’s Morale Troubles:

A leaked confidential Civil Aviation Authority minute paper has revealed that the Authority’s middle managers regard the hierarchy as “a contract club and the executive as “a bunch of yes men”.

According to reports, the middle managers believe many executives would and should have lost their jobs but for the unexpected federal election result and question the CAA system of contract employment at the top levels. The leaked document reportedly gives the example of a recent vacancy which was advertised in house but filled without interview despite five applications.

The CAA’s problems – at least in the public’s perception – have been exacerbated by the Bureau of Air Safety Investiga- tion (BASI) interim report on the crash of a Monarch Airlines Piper Navajo at Young last June. BASI has found the CAA allowed the aircraft to operate at a “significantly reduced” safety level and “unintentionally appeared to permit” the Navajo to fly.

The aircraft’s autopilot controller and computer amplifier were removed at the time of the crash, these actions resulting in the flight director command bars and the heading functions of the HSI and RMI being inoperative.

The words “unintentionally appeared”are important here, as although the CAA did approve the aircraft to fly with a “permissible unserviceability”-an inoperative autopilot-it only did so with the imposition of certain conditions, specifically two instrument rated pilots in the cockpit and fully functional dual flight controls.

Following the CAA giving approval for the aircraft to fly with its autopilot disconnected, it was inspected and at that time the autopilot was still installed and correctly marked inoperative.

 Skyrace Moves:

Next March’s Skyrace ’94 pylon racing event in Tasmania has been moved from Launceston airport to Valley Field, a former WW2 airfield near Epping Forest.

The move has become necessary because the event has become bigger than planned and difficulties have been anticipated with integrating the racing with Launceston’s normal and visiting traffic.

Meanwhile, the show continues to attract much interest with at about 25 of the 40 flying slots filled with aircraft ranging from Pitt Specials to Guido Zuccoli’s Sea Fury and Flat C. 50 warbirds. The T-28 class has been dropped and included in the unlimited class and a new cabin class twin engined class has been introduced which will includes the likes of Aerostars, Barons and Cessna 400 series aircraft. Perhaps the ultimate bank run! It is also hoped that Bob Hoover will still be able to accept the role of race starter though this will largely depend upon his being able to successfully contest a legal battle with the FAA over medical limitations on his pilots licence. If he is able to fly Down Under, his steed will ironically be Commander VH-UJM, which for many years was also his personal aerobatic demonstra- tion aircraft throughout NorthAmerica and is now resident in Australia.

Readers wishing to enjoy what should be a considerable spectacle (and something very different to say the least) in addition to