Week in brief May 13 2011

The Queensland Times reports that the Lockyer Valley Regional Council has this week approved plans for a new multi-million airport at Lake Clarendon, north of Gatton. Developer VNE Aviation, which is headed by Randal McFarlane, the former owner of the now defunct Townsville-based MacAir Airlines, plans to have the new airport up and running by the end of the year. “We’ve got to do some more detailed engineering and design work for the actual structure of runways and roads which will take about a month or so, and then hopefully we can start physically working on the property after that,” McFarlane was quoted as saying. While the council has plans to eventually attract commercial flights to the airport and McFarlane says it has the potential to host regional and commuter turboprop aircraft, Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones says its primary purpose is for private aircraft and as a refuelling station for emergency services, as well as a base for rescue aircraft. Whatever the case, this is great news for the flood-devastated Lockyer Valley. We’ll report more on these exciting developments later this year in a print issue of Australian Flying.


At the Australian Women Pilots’ Association’s AGM and annual conference in Darwin last week, Australia’s first female helicopter pilot, Rosemary Arnold, was awarded the Nancy-Bird Award for, “the most noteworthy contribution to aviation by a woman in Australasia,”. As reported on pg 6 of the March/April 2011 print issue of Australian Flying, Arnold recently launched her new book First Females Above Australia, which celebrates the first 100 years of Australian women pilot firsts. If you’re after a copy of the book – and we highly recommend it – email Cinthia Del Grosso at cinthia@pdsaustralia.com.


The Caloundra Journal reports that the Queensland Air Museum (QAM) has this week lost the Spitfire LZ844 it has displayed for the past four years due to the Queensland State Government’s decision to sell off assets. The Spitfire’s owner, Aviation Australia, an aviation training organisation solely owned by the Queensland Government, sold the WWII aircraft to a private buyer in the UK. Acting QAM president Ron Cuskelly said he was disappointed the museum was never given the chance to buy the aircraft. “It’s not the sort of money we could afford, but with a Spitfire you would hope to attract a sponsor,” he said. QAM community relations manager Tony Iozzi added that, “People would line up for 20 minutes just to sit in the Spitfire’s cockpit. The Premier often refers to the museum as iconic, with some affection, but Aviation Australia has taken away one of the museum’s major exhibits.” To read the full story click here.


Here’s something all us pilots will get a laugh out of: Tasmania’s The Mercury reported earlier this week that police received reports that an aircraft had crashed in the Tamar River near the Batman Bridge near Kayena. The Fuzz apparently raced to the scene, only to find out that what was reported as a accident was actually RA-Aus President Eugene Reid teaching the owner of a SeaMax how to land the amphibian ultralight on water. “We landed and took off about 30 times in the river between Bell Bay and Dilston,” the paper quotes Reid as saying. “It wasn’t until I landed at George Town and the police were there that I realised there was any drama.”


Reports are that Kestrel Aircraft, the brainchild of Cirrus co-founder Alan Klapmeier, has started hiring engineers for the exciting new single-engine turboprop it’s got in the pipeline. The aircraft is based on the Kestrel JP10, an all-composite six-seat prototype that first flew in mid-2006, but the design will be further refined before the certification process begins. And with one half of the Klapmeier duo at the helm we’re keeping a watchful eye on this one. For more on Kestrel Aircraft click here.


Here’s something that’s a long way from home for us in Australia but is still concerning. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reports that the California-based Center for Environmental Health is suing 50 fuel retailers and suppliers for violating California’s drinking water and toxic enforcement law, based on the suppliers’ distribution of Avgas, which contains a lead additive. While all sorts of serious movements involving the FAA, Environmental Protection Agency and others have been happening in the US on this issue over the last year, GAMA reiterates that, “At the heart of the federal aviation gasoline fuel standard is safety of flight and ensuring that the engine of an aircraft in flight does not suffer a catastrophic failure,”.  For our previous reporting on this matter refer to our September/October 2010 print issue.


DAHER-SOCATA has announced Stephane Mayer will replace François Lépinoy as its new President and CEO, effective June 1. In advance preparation for the move, Myaer joined the DAHER Group in September 2010 as CEO of DAHER-SOCATA. He’s been an active private pilot for 20 years and is rated on the manufacturer’s TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft.