– Steve Hitchen
The ATSB has zeroed-in on the decisions made by the pilot of VH-VIK, but when I put myself in that cockpit, I am not sure I would have called an early diversion to Canberra either. When the donk splutters a bit, the first thought is how do I get down safely, and flying over a built-up area or Lake Burley Griffin wouldn't seem palatable at the time. Given that, carrying a dodgy engine over high ground is also not a stress-free option. If you examine the VTC, the best option is the ALA at Hall. Yes, it's PPR, but staying alive to beg forgiveness is better than not. There's more opportunity for second-guessing about this incident than the day after a Grand Final, all of it done without the pressure of a flagging engine out the front. ATSB investigators couldn't trace the reason the oil pressure went south and so concentrated on the lessons to be learnt from how the situation was handled. I have also no doubt that the silent partner in this investigation was cost; a constant in all ATSB investigations. I am also not so sure about issue of the powered descent into Tumut. Yes, the pilot gave away altitude, but it would have taken more power to stay high, which may have resulted in the engine quitting sooner than it did, and further away from the airport. With all of these variables, any lessons learnt may not be suitable for the next pilot who finds themselves in this situation. And we'll probably second-guess them too.
Whenever the GA community embarks on a lobbying exercise, we generally arm ourselves with the unacknowledged value of our industry to the wider economy of Australia. The big dampener on that weapon is that we've never been able to quantify it with any integrity. With encouragement from the General Aviation Advisory Network (GAAN), BITRE finally decided to pin down the economic value of GA and tabled their report earlier this month. The answer? We still can't quantify the value of GA with any integrity! The numbers placing the economic benefit of between $3.6 and $10.2 billion are wide enough to land a B748 in, caused by two existing definitions of GA, which has clearly caused BITRE some frustration. But even if we take the higher figure, which includes passenger charter, it still isn't close because it doesn't include private and recreational flying. As a consequence, BITRE's numbers are more rubbery than a new Rotax hose. To give them their due, BITRE hints at exactly that in their report, outlining also the difficulty in getting the figures straight. Oddly, that doesn't diminish the value of this report. Although the numbers aren't a reliable reflection of value, this report is a blueprint of our industry and how it intermeshes with the wider Australian economy. It demonstrates how so many other industries and communities rely on GA even though they may not even realise it. The report also shows quite clearly the knock-on effect of a diminished GA and why it is so important to support it before it loses too much mass and momentum.
I am encouraged–but not surprised–by CASA's initial thoughts on the MOSAIC regulations. The regulator revealed in the September CASA Briefing newsletter that they are looking at what regulations would need to be amended to implement it here. That's the encouraging bit; their response could have been "sorry, regulations don't permit". But from the outset, CASA always said they were excited about the new LSA standard, so their first thoughts are not surprising. They've also come out and said the sticking point remains RAAus and their approval limits. This is a hurdle not so easily cleared, because it take RAAus' well away from their original province of administering recreational aeroplanes. MOSAIC, or more correctly FAR Part 22, is about removing burdens from manufacturers and encouraging technology without needing gold bullion to get it certified. Whilst the FAA will permit their Sport Pilots to fly the new LSAs, they will remain FAA-administered. CASA, however, will need to evaluate their level of comfort with RAAus' processes and procedures, which generally mean copious consideration and consultation. Whatever they decide will be transforming one way or the other for GA in Australia.
May your gauges always be in the green,
Hitch