Challenging times ahead for our Recreational Aviation Administration Organisations (RAAO); they are all about to start work on becoming Approved Self-administering Aviation Organisations (ASAO). There's very little difference in operations between the two, except the ASAO is a higher status than RAAO and requires a Manual of Standards, exposition and all those things. RA-Aus is in a good position to take this on, but some of the smaller RAAOs, such as the GFA, SAAA, APF and HGFA will certainly have to grown in their capabilities to get ASAO approval. But as it's not compulsory, why do it? Simple, to maintain their position as the premier authority in their aviation sector. If, say, the SAAA, decided to stay as an RAAO, another group could apply for and be approved as an ASAO in the sport aircraft sector, effectively gazumping the SAAA. Realistically, the changes under the new CASR Part 149 won't happen this year because CASA has granted a transition period. However, there is a heap of work ahead of a lot of volunteers.
CASA DAS Mark Skidmore reiterated his call for industry feedback this week. A letter went out to all pilots asking for ideas and issues about the CASR Part 61 regulations; what was working and what was not. It was heartening to hear that much of the feedback had been constructive and logical, even if some of it was not specifically relevant to Part 61. There was, I believe, a noticable absence of the spleen-venting rants the regulator is so often subjected to. The problem with rants is, even though the base sentiment is valid, it has to be set aside. Emotive language and finger-pointing does nothing to add power to an argument, and actually obliterates the logic so the reader often doesn't get the point. I'm going to take the lack of brickbat flinging as a sign that the aviation community is now willing to do its part in bringing real change to aviation safety regulation. We asked for it, the Forsyth Report recommended it, the government directed it ... now we have to participate in it.
You just feeling like crying for Bright Events don't you? The organisers of Wings over Illawarra were forced to cancel the air show because of the deluges of rain that the Sydney basin has copped in the last month or so. Last year it was high winds that ruined the chances of a great flying display, and this year there was simply too much water. A lot of people put in a lot of hours to make sure Sydney had a first-class air show on its doorstep, and it is they that I feel for the most. No doubt they'll be back to give it another crack in 2016, and let's hope the crowds have the resilience to front up again.
Our sister publication Flightpath has a new issue out! If warbirds and antiques grab your fancy, you'll want to get a copy of this one. Editor Rob Fox breaks the exclusive of the RAAFM buying a flying RE8 replica and looks back at the history of the type. There's also a focus on Lockheed's big piston twins as well as the usual news and feature of warbirds and flying in the golden era. All good reading.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch