Narromine News reports that the future success and attraction of Narromine Aerodrome has come under question with a proposed ‘Events Fee’ in the local council’s 2011/2012 Management Plan and Operating Budget. The fee entails a cost of $55 to be charged to aircraft that are using the facility, particularly for shows and competitions. Narromine Aviation Museum Secretary Ted Davies vents: “I believe the Aviation Museum is the premier tourist attraction in the Narromine shire, bringing some 2500 visitors per annum with numbers increasing by 20 per cent each year. Charging $55 per plane has the effect of putting up a barrier to those organisations fighting to attract or bring events to Narromine Aerodrome. Not only do we have to make Narromine’s case for attracting major events such as Natfly, the Antique Aircraft Association fly-in, the Sports Aircraft Association of Australia fly-in, airshows and others, but we have to include an addendum to our submission, ‘by the way, for each participant involved our council is going to levy you a fee of $55’? This proposed fee shows just how short-sighted the council here is.” We couldn’t agree more.
Flightglobal reports that the FAA has mandated the inspection of seat fixtures on 36,000 single and twin-engined Cessna aircraft in the US at an estimated overall cost of more than US$3 million. The affected designs are Cessna models 150, 152, 170, 172, 175, 177, 180, 182, 185, 188, 190, 195, 206, 207, 210, T303, 336, and 337. The new airworthiness directive has been prompted by reports of crew seats slipping when the primary latch pin was not properly engaged in the seat rail (or track) and reports of seat roller housings departing from the rail. The directive aims to prevent such slippage or departure, which can prevent a crew member from reaching all the controls and could lead to loss of control. The FAA estimates that the checks will cost US$85 per aircraft, while
replacement of seat rails, seat-roller kits, and miscellaneous parts
could cost up to US$775 per aircraft. Seats on all examples of more than 220 variants of 18 different piston-powered Cessna models must be checked within 100 flying hours (or 12 months, whichever comes first).
Noise complaints are rearing their ugly head at Jaspers Brush Airfield on the NSW south coast, north of Nowra, with local residents urging the council to close down the airfield. To stop the rot, Andrew Campbell, CFI at Jaspers Brush, has set up a petition that pilots can add their name to in the hope that the airfield will remain. Here’s a message from Campbell, and be sure to click on the link below to add your name to the petition: As is normally the case, our airfield comes under a fair bit of fire from a few locals making complaints. Long story short, there’s an action group of locals, most of which live nowhere near the airfield, who keep complaining to the council to try and get us shut down. Over the last few months they have ramped up their complaints, even though we have reduced flying hours. We now have some nasty letters saying we may have to close up shop and end a long tradition of flying at Jaspers Brush, which dates back to the 60s. So I’m asking for help from our fellow aviators: if you can spare two minutes to rally some support and sign our petition to keep the airfield open, please do so by clicking here.
As part of its profile at the Paris Airshow, Airbus has released details of a commercial airline cabin of the future. The Concept Cabin, which Airbus describes as, “a whole new flying experience inspired by nature”, is on the 2050 tag on the manufacturer’s timeline. And the details? Brace yourself. The aircraft’s bionic structure mimics the efficiency of bird bone, which is optimised to provide strength where needed, and allows for an intelligent cabin wall membrane which controls air temperature and can become transparent to give passengers open panoramic views. Personalised zones replace traditional cabin classes to offer tailored levels of experience. While taking a hop between destinations, according to Airbus, passengers in 2050 could join an interactive conference; enjoy a game of virtual golf; read the kids back home a bedtime story; and recharge in a ‘vitalising seat’ whilst watching the planet spread out beneath their feet. To read the full story click here.
Yesterday Piper Aircraft conducted a global Piper Jet Altaire Supplier Symposium at its Vero Beach headquarters as it moves forward with certification of its new single-engine light jet program. Castle Metals, Garmin International, Kollsman, L-3 Communications, Milennium Concepts, PCI-Goodrich Cabin Systems, PPG Aerospace, Triumph Aerospace, and Williams International had representatives at the event. Conforming flights are scheduled to take place next year, with first deliveries scheduled for 2014.
The Timaru Herald reports that Kiwi private pilots are up in arms after the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority announced it will cease to sponsor MetFlight GA, a MetService program that provides weather information for the country’s GA pilots for free. From August, private pilots will have to pay either a monthly, six-monthly or yearly subscription to receive the information – a move that some pilots believe could create safety problems. A CAA spokesman said it had worked with MetService to develop the service about seven years ago and had agreed to initially sponsor it for three years. It then extended its funding through to 2010, and then again for another six months. The CAA says it has spent NZ$650,000 sponsoring MetFlight GA.
A southwest Sydney man has been arrested and charged this week with forging as many as 100 fake ASICs. Domingo Antonio Urrozsotomayor, 44, is accused of using a computer and printer to forge the aviation security ID cards after representing himself to several airport cleaning companies at Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane airports as a legitimate card supplier. Make sure you’re keeping a firm grasp on your ASIC…
Idaho-based Quest Aircraft, manufacturer of the rugged 10-place single-engine turboprop Kodiak, has announced that CEO Paul Schaller will leave the position to serve as a consultant. Schaller has been Quest’s CEO since November 2004, and the search is now on for a replacement. The first Kodiak was delivered in December 2007, and Quest aircraft are now flying in 10 countries.
The single-engine turboprop Quest Kodiak.
