Those with a keen memory will remember the very inspiring subject of Editor Justin Grey’s editorial column in our November/December 2010 print issue (page 4). For those that don’t, it discussed disabled pilots, in particular Deniliquin-based paraplegic David McPherson and his efforts to organise a disabled pilots fly-in. Well, that event took place last weekend, and we’re told it was a roaring success. 15 disabled pilots convened for the event at Deniliquin Aero Club, arriving in creatively modified versions of everything from a Beechcraft Bonanza to a Jabiru whose throttle could be adjusted by blowing or sucking on a tube. Stemming from the event, the Disabled Pilots Association of Australia has been formed to create a contact group that disabled persons with a love of flying can use to share friendship, ideas, and knowledge. A photo gallery from the event can be viewed by clicking here, and anyone after more information can email David at dmcpherson@skymesh.com.au or Rob Rickards at rob.rickards@gmail.com. It goes without saying that we think very, very highly of these pilots who aren’t letting their unfortunate circumstances stop them from taking to the skies.
Australian Flying reader Errol Chopping has launched an interesting new website that all active GA pilots will undoubtedly find a useful resource. Chopping’s ‘Australian Airfield Photographs’ website features aerial approach and situational photographs of various Australian airports, in the hope that such photos will prove handy for pilots. In order to help populate the website, Chopping is seeking further airport photos, especially those which could help pilots find and identify an airfield from the air and orient themselves in and around it. To check out the website click here, and click here to email Chopping your photos.
US Flying mag reports that Cessna will cease production of its CJ1+ biz jet, saying the program has “run its course”. First introduced in 1998 as the CJ1 with an updated Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 instrument panel, the model is a direct descendant of the CitationJet, which first flew in 1991. Cessna delivered three CJ1+ jets in 2010 and has two further deliveries scheduled for this year, and there’s around 100 flying globally. Cessna isn't at this stage announcing a replacement model to fill the gap in its line between the US$3.2 million Citation Mustang and the US$7 million CJ2+, however we do understand Cessna will be announcing a few new models this year… .
Here’s a timely reminder – The Courier Mail reports that green caterpillars forced a 20-seat Dornier-Werke to make an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Brisbane Airport in January. An ATSB report says the pilots experienced problems with onboard equipment, and after returning to the airport an engineer found several green caterpillars in the pressure-sensitive instruments. Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Jim Carden said he could not recall a similar incident, however, as Jim Davis wisely advised in his ‘Tips & Traps’ feature in our May/June 2010 print issue, it pays to check every “tiny orifice” on the aircraft during the pre-flight for things like mud-bugs and other assorted creepy crawlies that tend to favour such places. That’s clearly advice you can take to the bank.
Prince William dropped into the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Cairns this week as part of his tour of cyclone-affected North Queensland. While we normally wouldn’t report on something this seemingly trivial, this warrants it – continuing the Royal Family’s interest in the work of the RFDS (which dates back to a 1954 tour by the Queen) the good William and his bride-to-be Catherine Middleton have nominated the RFDS as one of only three non-United Kingdom charities to benefit from a gift fund established for their upcoming Royal wedding. The fund has been established to enable people wanting to extend their best wishes to the couple to do so through a charitable donation in lieu of a wedding gift. And we couldn’t think of a more deserving bunch to be honest. If you’d like to slip the RFDS some cash this way, you can do so by clicking here.
Many of you may have already heard the true story – although it sounds like something right out of Hollywood – about Aussie pilot Captain Kevin Joseph Pearce who, in 1997 had his float-equipped Cessna Caravan 208 grounded in Fiji due to maintenance issues concerning a crease in the aircraft’s firewall. The aircraft was to be based at Nadi Airport and operate as part of a fleet of a local airline company. Pearce wanted to bring the aircraft back to Sydney to fix the firewall, but the lessee saw the damage as minor and steadfastly refused to let Pearce and his aircraft leave. Like any self-respecting Aussie unjustly backed into a corner, Pearce thought to hell with that – he busted into the airport under cover of darkness, seized his Caravan and took off for Sydney. It’s a great slice of aviation non-fiction, and you can read more in a recent Fiji Times story by clicking here.
A mighty RAAF C-17 Globemaster III has been clocking up some serious flight hours ferrying personnel and supplies from Okinawa to the natural disaster zone on Japan’s northeast coast following that heartbreaking earthquake and tsunami. “The mission requires loading the C-17 with whatever the [Japanese Ground Self Defence Force’s] 15th Brigade deems necessary for the relief effort, such as trucks, trailers and personnel,” Commander of the Australian contingent, Wing Commander David Howard, said. “The C-17 gives us the opportunity to lift quite a large payload a long way in a fairly short time, so it’s crucial in moving those forces around.” Sounds like rewarding flying. The RAAF C-17 Globemaster III is flying home today after nearly two weeks serving in Japan.
Now this is cool. Like an episode of Cops, a Cessna 172 pilot in southern California has helped the local police round up a father-son shoplifting duo. When a loss prevention officer couldn’t keep up with the father as he bolted across a department store parking lot with his loot, the Air Support Unit pilot watched him jump in the getaway car, driven by his son, and high tail it. The pilot tracked the pair and the fuzz stopped the vehicle at gunpoint as they were speeding towards an interstate highway on ramp. This pilot is our new hero.
Thales Australia has completed construction of a new air traffic management research and development centre in Melbourne. The Centre for Advanced Studies in Air Traffic Management (CASIA) will initially focus on three projects including improving the civil/military integration of ATM, flow management as air movement volumes increase throughout the region and human factors in ATM.