The Northern Star reported last weekend that private pilots have been “sneaking in” to the Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport to avoid paying landing fees. Apparently an anonymous local pilot told the Northern NSW daily that it’s “fairly common” for pilots of light planes not to make the appropriate radio calls on approach to avoid landing fees at the airport. “Light aircraft shouldn’t be charged landing fees anyway, then everyone would use their radios and it would be a lot safer in the air,” the anonymous pilot was quoted as saying. Dare we need to mention that we couldn’t agree more with that sentiment? Here’s hoping…
The ABC reports that the builders of Narromine’s Wright Flyer want it placed under the management of the local Aviation Museum. The only flying replica of a Model A Flyer, which was launched in 2005, is currently grounded after CASA found modifications made to the aircraft’s engine and suspension by the new Wright Flyer managing committee to be unsafe. Eric Hayden, one of the builders of the aircraft, believes that it should take its rightful place in the museum as it’s already been proven that it flies. Hayden says the plane could be held in trust by the Narromine Shire Council and managed by the Aviation Museum where it’s housed.
A US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study has concluded that GA aircraft equipped with airbags provide additional protection to occupants in accidents involving survivable forward impacts. First approved for use in the pilot and co-pilot seats in GA aircraft 2003, such airbags are installed in the lap belt or shoulder harness portions of the restraint system. The study, which examined 88 accidents involving airbag-equipped airplanes that occurred between 2006 and 2009, found no instances where the airbag caused harm in properly restrained occupants. In addition, the study found 10 survivable accidents in which the crash forces were severe enough to cause injury and/or to deploy the airbag. The study also noted that there were no negative consequences as a result of airbag deployments. While airbags aren’t a mandatory requirement, the NTSB says over 30 GA aircraft manufacturers now offer them as either standard or optional equipment. Currently there are nearly 18,000 airbag-equipped seats in over 7000 of the 224,000 GA aircraft in the US.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced yesterday that in 2010 nationwide reports of lasers pointed at aircraft in the US almost doubled from the previous year to more than 2800. This is the highest number of laser events recorded since the FAA began keeping track in 2005. While these numbers for the most part are likely to concern commercial passenger carrying heavies, the dangers of nitwits with lasers is equally worrying for private pilots. To hear more about a real-life laser incident involving a private pilot at Moorabbin Airport, be sure to read the ‘My Story’ section of our forthcoming Mar/Apr print issue.
Piper Aircraft has named Michael C. Hinderberger as its new Vice President of Engineering. Hinderberger has 25 years experience in engineering and program management with a variety of aircraft development programs for manufacturers including Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Hawker Beechcraft, Bombardier and Gulfstream Aerospace. Piper says Hinderberger will be responsible for all Piper engineering and new product development activities; we can’t help but wonder what direction Hinderberger will pursue at the lighter end of the scale following that PiperSport LSA decision…
Texan aerospace R&D company Carter Aviation Technologies has completed the first phase of flight testing for its Personal Air Vehicle (PAV), a four-seat aircraft that combines fixed-wing and rotary components. On January 5 the PAV completed a 36-minute flight while testing the installation of new sensors on the aircraft. The initial phase of the PAV’s flight-test regimen is focused on refining the flight control systems of the gyro performance segment including its vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. The PAV features automated computer controls that are said to greatly reduce pilot workload, and according to test pilot Larry Neal the aircraft is, “unbelievably fun to fly”. Carter now plans to add a 45-foot wing section to the aircraft and continue testing the PAV’s performance. To read more on the project click here.
Airservices Australia’s Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) service has pitched in this week to help with the clean-up effort around Brisbane’s CBD following last week’s devastating flood disaster. The ARFF deployed two teams, each consisting of six or seven specialised aviation fire fighters, an ultra-large fire vehicle, plus an additional 4WD and cleaning equipment to the Queensland capital to clean mud from streets and arterial roads in the Hamilton and Yeronga areas. They’ve also been assisting with clean-up efforts at the Rocklea Fresh Foods Market and at Virgin Blue’s Corporate Headquarters.
The PAV prototype. (Carter Aviation Technologies)
