August 2015 Short Approach

Presidents report

1st August 2015 ushers in some significant changes in the Aviation sector and all good ones. Let’s start with the introduction of graphical sigmets on the Metflight GA free weather site. Effectively a sigmet cartoon but one that identifies the area affected by graphical view. Congratulations to Metservice for this initiative and while it is not in plain English they have the symbols index on the same page. Access this site either direct at or through Airways IFIS site. In case you have forgotten, it is your CAA client number (licence number) and the password is the date of first issue of your licence using forward slashes between the dates.That is complicated and a pain in the butt but we are working on getting that changed.

1st August is also the date of changes in the Aviation Federation (NZAF) shareholding in Aspeq Ltd which owns ASL the examination company doing the aviation exams. I gave more detail last month but it is now a reality.  NZAF and Aviation NZ (AvNZ) own the company with NZAF now holding 70%. This move will allow NZAF to be fully funded and build up a war chest so that we can effectively stand up for our right to fly.

It also heralds in a new era of cooperation within the aviation community. The President of AvNZ, Don McCracken and I met last week and agreed to work together for the benefit of all sectors of aviation. Together we cover all general aviation (GA) and by working as one we will have more impact at regulator level. Up until today AOPA has been the only GA advocate on the New Southern Sky working group (NSSWG) which is tasked with implementing the air navigation plan. Now AvNZ representative, Ashok Poduval, is also attending these meetings and his involvement with Massey School of Aviation brings a view from the training perspective.

I see this agreement with Don to work together as a major step forward in our goal to be seen as a credible force speaking for all GA, from microlights to commercial. It has been a long time coming but now that it is here it is up to all of us to see it work as intended. The aim is for all the member organisations of NZAF and AvNZ to retain their independence but to bring issues to the combined table so we are all on the same page.  We don’t have to agree all the time but at least we will know what we are individually thinking.

The work being done by CAA on the NSS Plan is enormous and there are some dedicated guys and gals doing some extraordinary work. I cannot be specific because we have all agreed that rather than putting out information that is always changing we will issue reports when they have been fully reviewed and approved at the highest level. Just believe me when I say that AOPA is pulling its weight for GA. I never forget the basic GA VFR “down low and slow” members, who don’t really need to take an interest in what is happening “up high and fast”. I have also said this before but it is worth repeating that at these meetings Air New Zealand stands up for you as well. There are many issues raised where we speak with one voice and having the support and respect of Air NZ is a real bonus.

Our next AOPA Executive meeting is scheduled for 9th & 10th October at Mercer and the Tuakau hotel. This would be a good time for local North Islanders to come along, meet the executive and find out what we do. Log the date in your diary and we will send out more information closer to the time. Phil Pacey, Graeme Weck and Steve Horne (who doesn’t know it yet) will be organising it.

Finally for this month. What a great winter fly-in we had at Omarama. It will be well reported in the next magazine and we have lots of photos on the web. Many thanks to all those that organised the event, Guy, Shaun, Kevin and co. This really is a signature event for AOPA and as long as we have the facilities of the hotel and airfield it will be hard to beat. We always learn something from these events and this one with over 70 planes, fantastic weather and all the strips available, the exuberance probably resulted in a bit much chatter on the CFZ frequency. It was great to have so many younger members and families along and shows that we have a secure future in AOPA.

Happy days and safe flying.

Ian Andrews

Living in the age of Airplanes

The documentary "Living in the Age of Airplanes" offers an education in the history of flight, especially for non-pilots. "Since we were all born into a world with airplanes, it's hard to imagine that jet travel itself is only 60 years old, just a tick on the timeline of human history," said director Brian Terwilliger. "But our perception of crossing continents and oceans at 500 mph has turned from fascination to frustration. I want to reignite people's wonder for one of the most extraordinary aspects of the modern world." General Aviation News (7/27)

AirVenture 2015

This year's AirVenture air show "will go down in the record books for its fine weather, full exhibit halls and packed flightlines," writes Amy Laboda. "It will be remembered as the summer of relatively low avgas and jet A pricing, which seems to be moving people to fly a little more, or a little farther. That is certainly the case for me, personally. It was a treat to see so many of my aviation friends in one place. Here’s hoping we can all return safely same time next year," she writes. AOPA Online/Opinion Leaders Blog (7/27)

Airbus A350 at Oshkosh

Airbus showed off its new widebody A350 passenger plane this week at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2015 in Oshkosh, Wis. The plane has many new features for passengers including larger, panoramic windows, more overhead storage and noise reduction technology. American City Business Journals/Milwaukee (7/24)

I can add that the A350 is the first Airbus to have SBAS avionics installed. This is a major step forward in getting SBAS LPV approaches accepted by the major airlines and IATA. An LPV approach is equivalent to an ILS Cat 1 approach but is satellite based.  Ed. 

CAA introduces new rule for UAV's

Unmanned aerial vehicle pilots in New Zealand must obtain permission before flying their craft over private or public land, under new Civil Aviation Authority rules that go into effect next month. If permission to fly is denied by public or private authorities, pilots can still file for an operating certificate from the CAA. Stuff (New Zealand) (7/23)

NZ AVIATION EVENTS CALENDAR: 2015

1st – 2nd August. SAANZ course; Introduction to Homebuilt Aircraft Construction. Hastings Aerodrome. Details/registration – Contact SAANZ Administrator. admin@saa.org.nz

16 August. Hawera Dawn-Fly-in. Hawera Aerodrome. Contact: Julie Ingram: 021 150 2351. E: ja.ingram@gmail.com

28-30 August. 26th Brass Monkey Fly-In.  Tapawera Airstrip. Nelson Province. Further Information/ registration: Contact Kevin Allport:   027 2345 961/ 03 548 5387. E : Allport@actrix.co.nz

16-18 October. Tiger Moth Club Spring Fly-in.  Taumaranui. Contact: Graeme Wood. 09 418 3044. E: woodsy@clear.net.nz

15 November. AOPA(NZ) North Island Christmas BBQ and Richard Primrose Memorial Landing Competition. Turangi. Contact: Phil pacey 09 294 8796.

2016

6-7 February. Healthy Bastards  Bush Pilot Championships. Omaka. Contact: Craig Anderson. 029 89049101. Email: craig@soundsaero.co.nz

17-21 February. Art Deco : Napier.  Vintage aircraft component. Contach: Murray Bond. E: murraybond@nowmail.co.nz

19-21 February. SAA SportAvex Fly-in.  Bridge Pa Aerodrome-Hastings. Contact SAA Administrator. Gavin Magill. E: admin@saa.org.nz

4-6 March. Tiger Moth Club AGM and Fly-in. Dannevirke.  Contact : Graeme Wood 09 418 3044. E: woodsy@clear.net.nz

13 -27 March. Air Safari 2016. Further info see: www.flyingnz.co.nz/new-zealand-air-safari

25-28 March. Warbirds Over Wanaka. Wanaka. Info: www.warbirdsoverwanaka.com.

Dr Ross St.George, School of Aviation, Massey University.

 (E&OE – If there are local/NZ events you know of that I’ve missed or not heard of, or a correction/addition to information please just let me know for next time. Thanks- Ross)

Bugger !! I've gotta land gear up

You're approaching the end of an excellent flight on a lovely day; life is good. Now, on downwind with the speed down into the gear extension range, you move the gear handle to the down position, keeping your hand on it until you get a solid gear down indication — as you've done scores of times. Except ... nothing happens. There's no thunk as the gear doors cycle open and the uplocks disengage. There's no deceleration as drag increases when the gear drops into the wind. Nothing changes.

I had to prepare for a wheels up a short while ago and after reading this I made several bad assumptions. Fortunately on short final the nose gear locked in. ED

From "Denial" to "Acceptance"

Last August Mike Busch wrote about Champion vs Tempest "Spark Plug Wars".. it now appears that sometime in late 2014 Champion Aerospace very quietly changed the internal design of their aviation spark plugs to use a sealed, fired-in resistor similar to the Tempest design. Get the full story in the latest instalment of Mike's AOPA Opinion Leaders Blog.   

Mike Busch has kindly allowed us to reprint his articles and provide links to his Savvy Aviator site. One day we hope to bring him to NZ for some seminars on common sense maintenance. ED