Week in brief June 24 2011

The Latrobe Valley Express reports that Latrobe Regional Airport, home of Airvan manufacturer GippsAero, is chasing $3 million from the federal government’s new Regional Development Australia Fund to expand the airport. Stage one is currently underway and includes the construction of a new production hangar and works to accommodate the production of GippsAero’s GA10, with the manufacturer likely to increase its workforce by 180-300 employees once completed. The expansion also includes additional car parking; extending aprons, taxiways and roadways; installing runway lighting and aircraft landing assistance mechanisms; and relocation of the existing NDB. A total of $6.2 million is required to complete the upgrade, and application has been made to the Victorian state government for the remaining funding.


US AOPA reports that 20-year-old Colton Harris-Moore, aka the ‘Barefoot Bandit’, has pleaded guilty to a raft of charges that include the alleged theft of three aircraft. The Washington native was captured on July 11, 2010 after the Cessna 400 Corvalis TT he stole in Indiana, and flew out of the US, ran out of fuel in the Bahamas. It marked the end of a multi-year crime spree that stretched from Washington state to Canada to Indiana to the Bahamas and saw Harris-Moore steal an aircraft in September 2009 and then again in February and July 2010, one of which was a C182. The Barefoot Bandit’s seven felony charges include ‘piloting an aircraft without a valid airman’s certificate’ and he’s likely to spend between 63 to 78 months in the slammer. From what we understand, Harris-Moore had no actual flying instruction, but taught himself how to fly by reading aircraft manuals and playing flight sims. So for what it's worth, we think that's pretty awesome. And, naturally, a Hollywood studio has already expressed interest in making a film based on his exploits.


Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese this week approved Townsville Airport’s Master Plan, which sets out its strategic direction for the next 20 years. Amongst other intentions, the Master Plan includes the progressive upgrade and expansion of the airport’s GA facilities. Here’s hoping that part of the plan doesn’t end up getting shelved in favour of the bigger end of town. The airport has 50 business days to make its Master Plan public.


The Experimental Aircraft Association in the US reports that members of the Rutan family have designed and built 65 models of both Rutan Aircraft Factory and Scaled Composites aircraft out of LEGO in honour of highly respected and original US aerospace engineer and aircraft designer Burt Rutan. Jeff Rutan, son of Burt, and Jeff’s nephew and Burt’s grandson, Cole Zellner, are the brains behind this interesting project, and their collection includes LEGO versions of, amongst others, the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. We hear that the 1/30, 1/45, and 1/100-scale models are “impressive”, and that Jeff hopes to offer the plans for the entire 1/30-scale collection for sale in 2012. So race down to your local Toys 'R' Us and raid their LEGO stash in anticipation of building your own next year. To read the full story and view more photos click here. 


TVNZ reports that a Kiwi-designed jetpack is one step closer to becoming a commercial reality after its designer, Christchurch-based Martin Aircraft Company, forged an agreement with India’s M2K Group in the hope of creating a $US100 million joint venture within five years. The joint venture would see the Jetpack sold to the Indian, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan governments for military use, search and rescue and emergency services. The company would also sell Jetpacks to the GA sector for recreational and other usage within these countries. The announcement of the India deal follows the recent 5000 feet test flight in New Zealand of an unmanned Martin Jetpack, including the safe deployment of the first ballistic jetpack parachute, which gained global attention.


If you’re up to speed on smartphones and touch pads, you may be interested to hear that Breitling has released a free Reno Air Races APP for IPhone, IPod touch and Ipad users. The Swiss watchmaker is a major sponsor of the actual National Championship Air Races, the legendary pylon race in Reno, Nevada that’s staged in September. While we’ve not much hope of taking part in the actual races, in which some of the most talented pilots in the world scorch the track in excess of 500mph, this APP offers us the chance to dream. For more info, including how to download the game and a video preview of it in action, click here.


The ATSB has an employment opportunity in the position of Senior Transport Safety Investigator, Air Traffic Controller. Interested candidates for the ongoing/full-time position, which is based in either Perth or Canberra, must have relevant qualifications as an Air Traffic Controller. In addition, all ATSB investigators must have an established industry based safety awareness and proven leadership, communication, analytical and technical written skills. Applications close July 15; for more info click here.