[Gobbledock]

Is Hoody investigating the sausage breach?

Brings back memories of poor Milton - 'Regulation by Poohtube', inspectors sitting around watching clips of plane crashes, dancing cats and fat Russian models twerking. And of course naughty Aussies breaching aviation rules. Wankers.

"Safe $2 sausage treats for all"

[Peetwo]

Latest on CASA CASR 101 UAV issues -  

Pinocchio Gobson gets his snag in a knot...

Read how PG tries desperately to spin the light fantastic and get the RPA/UAV genie back in the bottle..

Via Junkee:

An Aussie Hero Is Facing A Huge Fine For Using A Drone To Order A Bunnings Sausage
By Matilda Dixon-Smith, 9/11/2016

Let’s talk about our justice system, folks. Specifically: what is happening to the world if a bonafide Aussie Legend is fined $9,000 just for being the first genius to collect a Bunnings sausage using a drone instead of his own two feet? Has the world gone mad?

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is investigating after a video was uploaded to YouTube of a man piloting a drone from his home to the Sunbury Bunnings carpark to pick up a sanga from the weekend sausage sizzle. The CASA has said the drone trip violates a bunch of drone regulations, including use out of line of sight and use over a populated area.

CASA spokesperson Peter Gibson has said the drone can be seen in the video (which has since been deleted from YouTube) travelling over a housing estate, over a four-lane road and then hovering over the sausage sizzle. “You can clearly see people walking to and from their cars,” he told The Age. “You can clearly see people around the sausage sizzle.”

In an anonymous interview with tech mag EFTM, the drone operator defended the video, saying, “we shot it in parts, never going over homes or people”. The operator also claimed to have permission from those running the sausage sizzle.

The Bunnings sausage is, of course, an age-old Australian tradition. It’s at least as sacred as the Democracy Sausage on election day. So vital to Australian life is the Bunnings sausage that there is an entire Facebook page of memes devoted to it: the disturbingly entertaining Bunnings Memes. The page has just responded to the news, calling it “fucking bullshit”. “$9000 snag probably worth it though.”

Know this: we love a sausage, with onion and sauce, in white bread. We love it a whole lot.

Let’s be honest for a second here: would you like a Bunnings snag delivered to you via drone while you sit in a hot tub in your backyard? Yes. Of course you would. However, take this as a hefty warning: despite claims they did nothing wrong, the drone operator now faces a fine of $9,000 for the illegal flight.

That’s a heck of a lot of dosh to lay down for a Woolies sausage in bread.
–

Read more at http://junkee.com/aussie-hero-facing-hug...3Oro8qQ.99

Is Hoody investigating the sausage breach?

Brings back memories of poor Milton - 'Regulation by Poohtube', inspectors sitting around watching clips of plane crashed and fat Russian models tweeting, plus naughty Aussies breaching aviation rules. Wankers.

"Safe $2 sausage treats for all"

Update: Drone sausage sizzle legend goes viral -

&..via 9news.com.au

'Aussie legend's' drone video receives international acclaim

By
nine.com.au staff

Melbourne man has been described a “God damn Australian legend” after flying a drone to pick up a sausage sandwich from Bunnings.

Tim from Melbourne, who posted the video of the stunt to Facebook yesterday, told the TODAY Show he got the idea to send a drone shopping after a few beers with mates.

“It was between a couple of us, we bought a drone just having a bit of a muck around and an afternoon beer and we could smell a barbecue a couple of doors down…and we thought we’ll go to Bunnings, get one of their snags, and then one of the blokes said we should send the drone,” he said.

Tim said he and his mates contemplated several different methods of safely transporting the snack almost 2 kilometres back to his house on the drone, but in the end settled on a simple sandwich bag and string.

“I can’t decide if you’re extremely lazy or extremely innovative, or perhaps both,” host Sylvia Jeffreys said after watching the video.

Karl Stefanovic chimed in on the conversation from New York, labelling the Melbourne man a “God damn Australian legend”.

“You’ll be gainfully employed over here when Donald Trump builds that wall, you’ll be able to get all sorts of things in and out of Tijuana,” Karl said as he impersonated a drone lowering a hotdog into his hands.

While the video proved hugely popular, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority said they would be investigating the flight for breach of drone regulations.

However, Tim insisted he didn’t break any laws filming the stunt.

“We made sure the area was clear, we made sure it didn’t fly over any houses… we considered it safe at the time.

Read more at http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/11...SGYoAeT.99

MTF...P2

[P7_TOM]

Star Wars had the ‘clone-wars’; CASA is now embroiled, like it or not, in the ‘drone –wars’. Now the FAA decided, wisely, that there would be ‘trouble at mill’ if they did not get a rope on the drones – from the off. DDDD Chester will have another hissy-fit’ and proably bitch slap his advisor for allowing the situation to escalate ‘out of parental control’.

Dear Darren, tosser; please do enjoy the embarrassing situation your ‘expert’, all seeing aviation advisors have created for you to deal with. Get control, take responsibility; or, bugger off. Muppet.

[Peetwo]

This week off the Yaffa - 'Lest we forget'

1st Agent 96 on Trump and the possible effect on the Aviation & Aerospace industry:

Editor's Insights
10 November 2016

And now, we wait.

If you're one of the millions who didn't see President-elect Donald Trump's win coming, you're probably wondering what it means for Australia and the aviation and aerospace industries. We may need to wait to find out how closely the post-election reality mirrors the pre-election rhetoric, or whether we can expect any change at all.

Trump has been bullish and provocative in campaigning, but has already tried to project a softer approach in victory, starting with an acceptance speech that all but reversed the downward spiral in major world markets reacting to his perceived unpredictability and maverick views. We will all now need to sit and wait to see how different Trump As President will be from Trump As Campaigner.

Civil aviation pundits are already wondering how a Trump administration's protectionist approach may affect international business travel and how his potentially more aggressive stance on China may slow growth for the airlines, equipment manufacturers and aviation support companies of the US and its international friends in that critical market.
Trump's approach to China and the Asian sphere may force a rethink on Australia's own position in the region, but it won't affect our dependence on the US for military materiel, training and interoperability. The vast majority of our major air assets are at or near the beginning of their useful life. And most are stamped "Made In The US".

Former Australian Ambassador to the United States, Kim Beazley, writing for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's "The Strategist" on-line publication in August this year, offered a reminder of the importance of the relationship, particularly to Australia's military aviation forces, their through-life support security and the companies that support and sustain them.

"I have mentioned here before the essential American origin character of our air defences," Beazley wrote.

"We start with the strategic and tactical contribution of US satellite surveillance, over-the-horizon radar (an Australian-developed joint research product), airborne early warning, ASW and broader surveillance US origin aircraft. Strike and interdiction comes from our Classic Hornets, Super Hornets and Growlers (ours is the only other air force deploying the latter). The F-35s constitute the next phase. Equipment foreshadowed to enter service over the next thirty years will need the enhancements of capability coming through emerging technologies developed under the rubric of Washington’s "third offset strategy". Our DSTG (Defence Science and Technology Group) is heavily engaged in associated research programmes."

As a former Australian Ambassador Beazley is in a better position than most to understand the workings of the US Government and the real and imagined powers of a President. As a Board member for Lockheed Martin Australia and President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs think tank, it's a fair guess the question he is being asked most today is along the lines of "so what happens now?".

Read more at http://www.aviationbusiness.com.au/opini...oXQVTK7.99

Next Hitch with his weekly wrap...

The Last Minute Hitch: 11 November 2016
11 November 2016

Before getting into this week's news, I would like to acknowledge the sacrifice made by Australia's aviators who died in the service of their country in every war and conflict since 1914. They will never be forgotten. It's timely also, to recognise the efforts of all those who have flown in the Australian Defence Force, and those who continue to fly today. Their contribution to the security of Australia and the advancement of aviation is significant.

The Office of Airspace Regulation controls the classification of airspace throughout Australia.

CASA releases Office of Airspace Regulation Report
11 November 2016

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has released a KPMG report detailing the findings from a review of the Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR).

The OAR sits with CASA and regulates the status and procedures of airspace classification in Australia. Formerly an Airservices Australia function, the OAR was transferred to CASA in July 2007.

The report, presented to CASA in May and made public on 8 November, follows an extensive review of the OAR, including public submissions and KPMG's own examinations and both internal and external interviews.

KPMG found that "the current structure and the corresponding allocation of responsibilities and tasks to team is structurally sound", but made ten recommendations where processes could be improved.

1. OAR should develop a public strategic plan to provide advice on major initiative and priorities
   
2. Airspace reviews and aeronautical studies should have standard formats and material have greater transparency and defensibility
   
3. Conduct an investigation into whether or not posting Airspace Change Proponent (ACP) details on CASA's website would breach commercial interests
   
4. Create a consolidated database of airspace classifications, current and former, including prior reviews
   
5. Consider amending regulations to extend CASA's powers to gather information
   
6. Re-word Key Performance Indicators to strengthen the link between the activity and the ACP outcome
   
7. CASA should investigate creating an integrated database to improve OAR accuracy and efficiency
   
8. Stakeholder Engagement Group (SEG) to investigate the use of a self-guided on-line portal to direct stakeholders to the correct forum to raise a given issue
   
9. CASA to consider a national representative for RAPACs as permanent member of CASA's national consultative forums
   
10. Recommended strategic plan for the OAR to identify and quantify the likely impact of future challenges.
    

 The full report is available on the CASA website.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...sqolHCm.99

CASA will be happy to be dealing with a review that has come up a lovely shade of beige

If there is one phrase that could be used to sum up the KPMG report into the Office of Airspace Regulation (OAR) it would be "move along ... nothing to see here." Other than some administrative tweaks and the recommendation of a national representative for the RAPACs, the report has not uncovered any earth-shattering defects in structure or operation. It has completely managed to side-step any controversy, surprising given that former Minister Warren Truss included the requirement to review in his last Statement of Expectations presented to CASA. I would have thought that there was some trigger that prompted Truss to include that, so have to wonder if the trigger has been addressed in this report. For example, did KPMG consider how the OAR deals with undue pressure from the Airspace Change Proponent, especially when the proponent may stand to make commercial gains from the change. Anyway, CASA will be happy to be dealing with a review that has come up a lovely shade of beige instead of the usual fire-engine red.

AMROBA's Ken Cannane makes an excellent point about the impending GA study: it's a waste of time unless action results from it. I have no doubt that BITRE will weavil into the economic intricacies of the industry and present the department with a glory box of numbers, charts, statistics and trend lines. That's OK, and to be expected of a bureaucracy, but for general aviation it's paramount that the department is able to interpret those numbers and blend them in with feedback from the industry itself to recognise the issues and act. But this time, we need real action, not White-Paper-style action where "do-nothing" seemed to be the government's default preferred option.

What a big weekend there is coming up in aviation! On Saturday night the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame (AAHOF) holds the 2016 induction ceremony. This year, the function is at the Temora Aviation Museum, a very appropriate setting given the town's aviation heritage and that TAM itself won the AAHOF's Southern Cross Award for its contribution to aviation in 2015. This year's inductees represent some of the great pioneers of civil aviation in Australia, in particular the airline industry. Alongside them will be a true giant of the industry: the late Mac Job. Mac deserves to be the first aviation writer inducted into AAHOF; his contribution to aviation safety is profound and his career marked him as one of the most respected people in aviation.

And on Sunday, it's FunFlight Day! Having done several of these myself over the years, I can guarantee you that it is one of the most rewarding things you will ever do with your pilot's licence. Having a stream of happy, smiling kids flowing through the back seat of your aeroplane will light up your day as much as it will theirs. Some of these children don't have as much light in their lives as we all wished they had, so anything we can do it brighten their smiles is well worth it. If you've never done FunFlight, think about it; you'll always be pleased you did.

May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...xBJCG9o.99

IMHO: That KPMG is very suss, got their fingers in way too many Govt pies to suggest anything else but a major COI...

KPMG - "Hey Wingnut what do you want this report to say??" 
WN - "Err...nothing to see here, move along.."

MTF...P2  

[Kharon]

The old Soft shoe shuffle.

Hitch – “[It] has completely managed to side-step any controversy, surprising given that former Minister Warren Truss included the requirement to review in his last Statement of Expectations presented to CASA. I would have thought that there was some trigger that prompted Truss to include that, so have to wonder if the trigger has been addressed in this report.”

I reckon ‘Hitch’ is being just a little tongue in cheek saying he’s ‘surprised’. How many ministerial’ requirements now have been given ‘the treatment’?  If you take that a step further and include any and all form of ‘requirement’, directive, edict or recommendation, made in the just the last decade, there emerges a clear, distinctive, entirely predictable pattern.  A little smoke, the mirrors polished and some fairly clever window dressing fool a minister into believing that the ‘Requirement’ has been met. There is no retrospective check to make sure that this is so; the cover story believed and the ‘requirement’ safely filed away in the basement – done and dusted.  All, except for the parts which please CASA. For example:-

5. Consider amending regulations to extend CASA's powers to gather information.

Not a single item on the KPMG shopping list will ever make through to a meaningful reality, except item 5. This will be exploited to the maximum extent, through the extremes of ‘legal’ interpretation and morph into something quite sinister and quietly exploited to become a thing so far removed from the spirit and intent of the recommendation as to be unrecognisable. Not that anyone will check - . However, if you do the research and carefully follow the ‘development’ of previous juicy morsels which have excited the regulator, you will find that anything, any small thing which adds to the incredible ‘power base’, carefully grown and nurtured over the years, will be fully embraced and implemented, with maximum stealth, at an almost indecent speed.

This careful, highly selective picking of fruits ensures that for CASA, no matter what, life is always just a bowl of cherries.

Toot toot,

[Peetwo]

Hitch on ADS-B or not 2B etc.. -

Via Oz Flying:

A schematic showing how ADS-B technology will revolutionise navigation. (Honeywell)

ADS-B IFR Deadline extension on the Cards
17 November 2016

It is believed that Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority will announce as early as next week that the deadline for ADS-B fitment in private IFR aircraft will be pushed out to match the US date of 2020.

The deadline was set to be 2 February 2017, which has been the subject of intense lobbying in Canberra, particularly by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and high-profile activist Dick Smith because it was thought Australian owners would be paying too much for the equipment.

It was also considered that Australia's avionics engineers would be unable to equip the entire IFR fleet in time to meet the February deadline.

The new deadline will likely come with some restrictions. Sources indicate that it will apply only to aircraft not in commercial operations, but it is unclear if that will include aircraft with flying schools. Most probably, aircraft operating on the extended deadline will not be able to fly in Class C airspace, but may be able to use Class D to make regional towers and capital city secondary airports available to them.

Should the new deadline be brought in, CASA is likely to issue exemptions to current regulations rather than try to amend the existing legislation.

Industry experts are divided on what the impact of the impending announcement.

Whereas AOPA is hailing the news as a major victory, avionics manufacturers have indicated that they don't expect to be dropping prices as the USA mandate gets closer, as has been thought by many in the Australian general aviation community.

As late as this week, manufacturers have also expressed to Australian Flying that they believed Australian owners would be better off fitting ADS-B sooner rather than later to avoid an expected rush of demand in 2020.

Until this week, CASA has strenously resisted any form of deadline rollback, most recently in Senate estimates when Senator Nick Xenophon challenged Acting Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody on the matter. Carmody replied that there was no indication ADS-B units would be cheaper as the US mandate approached

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...W0ZoQ5M.99

& on LMH:

The Last Minute Hitch: 18 November 2016
18 November 2016

If the jungle drums in Canberra are on song, we're about to get an extension to the deadline to fit ADS-B Out to private IFR aircraft. CASA has been clinging strenuously to the 2 February 2017 mandate deadline like the world would come crashing down if they didn't, and it's been the subject of vigorous lobbying by general aviation, in particular AOPA and Dick Smith. No matter how you dissect this, it's a big feather in the cap of AOPA and General Manager Ben Morgan. With some help from Nick Xenophon, they've managed to make a change to the GA landscape. Not too many have done that in the past 20-odd years.

The largest question mark lies over aircraft on flying school lines

But let's not start the ticker-tape parade just yet; we don't know the details of the extension deal, but you can guarantee there will be restrictions on how it works. My guess is that it will be for private aircraft only and will not allow you into C Class airspace. The largest question mark lies over aircraft on flying school lines. They're not considered private aircraft, and we'll have to wait to see if they are included in the forthcoming exemptions.

So, what have we actually won? If the lobbyists have got this right, Australians will now get cheaper ADS-B units because our deadline matches that of the USA, meaning we can take advantage of lower prices driven by higher production rates. It always happens, doesn't it? Nick Xenophon used the example of flat-screen TVs when he tackled CASA boss Shane Carmody in Senate Estimates. Last Monday I crashed the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) conference in Melbourne just in time for afternoon drinks, and whilst I was there, canvassed the thoughts of the major ADS-B manufacturers. Not one of them agreed that unit prices would come down. Yes, they have a vested interest in us buying their product right now, especially if prices will indeed come down, influenced also by an increase in competition when the 2020 deadline nears.
Some manufacturers stated that Australia did the right thing by going early on ADS-B, because it gave them the chance to make to our orders before the crushing last-minute demand from the 200,000 US aircraft to be fitted falls on them. If Australian owners wait until the 2020 deadline to fit, they may find themselves in trouble; sort of like being at the back of the queue at a Boxing Day sale. Has anyone noted the Kiwis have their deadline at 2021, one year after the US and at a time when the US demand will have abated?

Enough said about that ... for today.

Sonya the Magnificent and I were lucky enough to attend the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremonies in Temora last Saturday night. It was a gala evening and a fitting one to honour the five inductees and Bush Pilots Airways. AAHOF is gathering momentum and becoming more and more important to aviation in Australia with every induction they have. Although the stories of each inductee are separate and of their own, AAHOF brings them to one place to tell the story of this country's contribution to aviation at a global level. Lawrence Hargrave, Smithy, Bert Hinkler, Harry Hawker, Edgar Percival, Wackett, Warren, Ansett, Bonney ... their stories make up the narrative of a nation that embraced the capability and potential of aviation. AAHOF is not only their story, it's ours also.

And so the Australian Defence Force has said they will do flight screening via flight simulators nowadays rather than using real aeroplanes. Prior to the introduction of the PC-21 and re-location of basic flight training to East Sale, the ADF used CT4s out of Tamworth to put civilian candiates through the wringer to see if they're capable of taking instruction under pressure. Now it's all going to be sims. For sure it will be cheaper, but will it do the job? The image quality and fidelity of simulators has reached such a point that they can replicate just about anything, so on face value you'd have to say "yes". With rumble seats and g suits to simulate the effects normally experienced in flight screening, they've got all the bases covered. It will be interesting to see if it actually works for them!

 May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...MxtuZYR.99

MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

Hitch on ADS-B or not 2B etc.. -

Via Oz Flying:

A schematic showing how ADS-B technology will revolutionise navigation. (Honeywell)

ADS-B IFR Deadline extension on the Cards
17 November 2016


Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/lates...W0ZoQ5M.99

& on LMH:

The Last Minute Hitch: 18 November 2016
18 November 2016

If the jungle drums in Canberra are on song, we're about to get an extension to the deadline to fit ADS-B Out to private IFR aircraft. CASA has been clinging strenuously to the 2 February 2017 mandate deadline like the world would come crashing down if they didn't, and it's been the subject of vigorous lobbying by general aviation, in particular AOPA and Dick Smith. No matter how you dissect this, it's a big feather in the cap of AOPA and General Manager Ben Morgan. With some help from Nick Xenophon, they've managed to make a change to the GA landscape. Not too many have done that in the past 20-odd years.

The largest question mark lies over aircraft on flying school lines

But let's not start the ticker-tape parade just yet; we don't know the details of the extension deal, but you can guarantee there will be restrictions on how it works. My guess is that it will be for private aircraft only and will not allow you into C Class airspace. The largest question mark lies over aircraft on flying school lines. They're not considered private aircraft, and we'll have to wait to see if they are included in the forthcoming exemptions.

So, what have we actually won? If the lobbyists have got this right, Australians will now get cheaper ADS-B units because our deadline matches that of the USA, meaning we can take advantage of lower prices driven by higher production rates. It always happens, doesn't it? Nick Xenophon used the example of flat-screen TVs when he tackled CASA boss Shane Carmody in Senate Estimates. Last Monday I crashed the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) conference in Melbourne just in time for afternoon drinks, and whilst I was there, canvassed the thoughts of the major ADS-B manufacturers. Not one of them agreed that unit prices would come down. Yes, they have a vested interest in us buying their product right now, especially if prices will indeed come down, influenced also by an increase in competition when the 2020 deadline nears.
Some manufacturers stated that Australia did the right thing by going early on ADS-B, because it gave them the chance to make to our orders before the crushing last-minute demand from the 200,000 US aircraft to be fitted falls on them. If Australian owners wait until the 2020 deadline to fit, they may find themselves in trouble; sort of like being at the back of the queue at a Boxing Day sale. Has anyone noted the Kiwis have their deadline at 2021, one year after the US and at a time when the US demand will have abated?

Enough said about that ... for today.

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...MxtuZYR.99

Update: ADS-B extension confirmed.

Via AA today:

CASA extends ADS-B deadline for private aircraft

November 23, 2016 by australianaviation.com.au

An ADS-B ground station at Broome. (Airservices)

Australia’s aviation safety regulator has extended by almost three years the deadline for private aircraft to be fitted with Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) technology.

Under the new timeline, announced in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) monthly CASA Briefing note, private aircraft registered before February 6 2014 flying under instrument flight rules (IFR) will now have until January 1 2020 to be fitted with ABS-B transponders, the satellite-based technology that enables aircraft to be accurately tracked by air traffic controllers and other pilots without the need for conventional radar.

The new deadline gives operators of those aircraft about three more years to make the switch, given the previous deadline was February 2 2017.

“The new ADS-B deadline for private operations will mean the remaining aircraft can be fitted with the equipment in an orderly manner – reducing the burden on owners, operators and avionics suppliers,” CASA said on Wednesday.

CASA said the change meant Australia’s ADS-B deadline would be aligned with the United States’ and would benefit a “small number of private aircraft operators who have not yet been able to fit the equipment while ensuring safety”.

“CASA continues to strongly encourage all aircraft owners and operators to fit ADS-B equipment due to the many safety benefits this technology provides,” acting CASA director of aviation safety and chief executive Shane Carmody said in a statement.

“ADS-B provides better air traffic information outside controlled airspace, greater ability to avoid bad weather, more accurate and faster search and rescue and more direct flightpaths.”

Although the deadline has been extended, CASA said aircraft conducting private operations under IFR without ADS-B would be subject to a number of conditions.

Non ADS-B IFR flights would be required to operate below 10,000ft in uncontrolled class G airspace, while they would be subject to air traffic control clearance in class D airspace, CASA said.

Further, they would only be operate in class C and E airspace “to facilitate arrival or departure from a class D aerodrome, with prior clearance from air traffic control and only if fitted with a secondary surveillance radar transponder”.

“Safety will not be compromised due to the range of conditions that will apply to the non-ADS-B flights,” Carmody said.

There were also CASA provisions for a “very small number” of foreign-registered aircraft to continue operating without ADS-B until the European deadline of June 6 2020, subject to air traffic control clearances and flying under 29,000 feet in continental airspace.

The current mandates require all Australian regular public transport, charter and aerial work aircraft to be fitted with ADS-B by February 2 2017.

Figures from Airservices showed about 89 per cent of all Australia-based IFR flights were fitted with ADS-B transponders at October 25 2016, including 62 per cent of IFR aircraft operating below 10,000ft.

However, separately the Airservices website notes that “no fewer” than 880 IFR-capable aircraft had yet to be fitted with ADS-B, “of which a vast majority have indicated they are intending to fit before the [February 2 2017] mandate”.

Airservices cites the Aircraft Electronics Association as saying the cost of a “simple” ADS-B installation “can be as low as $6,500”.

MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

Catching up with the Yaffa -

First (via Avbiz) from agent 86 in his weekly wrap, on the triple-A conference:

Airports Association conference provides snapshot of industry

This week’s 2016 Australian Airports Association national conference in Canberra was well organised and attended, with more than 500 people at the National Airport Industry Awards night at Parliament House alone.

The conference made appropriate use of a beautiful city’s attractions, with networking events at the National Museum, Australian War Memorial and Parliament House.

It was another lesson in the sheer diversity of the industry and the elements to be managed in making a successful and efficient airport.

This was neatly illustrated by awards night master of ceremonies and comedian Vince Sorrenti, who made hay from the fact that Hobart Airport’s echidna tracking and relocation project was nominated for a national award. I’m sure the Hobart team was quick to educate Vince about the industry’s focus on the balance between tarmac safety and environmental sustainability.

Other entrants in the awards illustrated that airports are working on ways to make many more pieces of the puzzle more efficient and sustainable, from Sydney’s electric vehicles to Emerald’s LED lighting and Brisbane Airport’s reconciliation action plan, devised by working with traditional owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees.

The conference themes echoed those of other aviation industry events of late. Many speakers touched on a new focus on customer service, usually underlined by new digital systems and data collection as enablers offering new insight in to the minds of customers.

The inexorable rise of unmanned aerial vehicles also gained plenty of air time, both from the perspective of safety risks to existing operations and, as alluded to by Department of Infrastructure secretary Mike Mrdak, their potential to create new business models and methods of service delivery in a slew of industries.

Growth and investment were also hot topics, including airports investing and innovating to meet the expected influx of visitors as Asia grows and China overtakes New Zealand as Australia’s largest single source of inbound passengers.

The projected boom in Asia, coupled with the perception that the Asian market may be about point to point airline services rather than simply hub to hub, means more Australian airports are working up a business case to add “international” to their titles.

Congratulations to AAA CEO Caroline Wilkie and her team on a successful conference, and we look forward to the 2017 event.

Read more at http://www.aviationbusiness.com.au/opini...MgdDD1p.99

Next the latest from Hitch in the 25 November LMH...

As predicted, CASA has pushed out the ADS-B deadline for private aircraft flying IFR to 2020 to match the USA and EASA dates. There is still some doubt that doing so will have the effect of making units and installations cheaper, but it will ease a bit of the burden on avionics engineers and owners by giving them more time to get it done. By that scoreboard, we can probably call this a win, but only if everyone doesn't wait until the drop-dead date to get their aircraft fitted. Doing that would only delay the crush by three years, not alleviate it, which is what I suspect this deadline change is really intended to do.

Airservices Australia has proposed that the Class E airspace overhead Avalon be removed and the Class D be extended all the way to the bottom of the Class C. A quick refresher: VFR aircraft don't need a clearance to transit Class E, but IFR aircraft do. At Avalon, the convention has been to call Avalon Approach and let them know when you're entering the Class E and what you're doing. It was not a request for a clearance.

"..This is airspace design going backwards..."

The system worked well as it removed a massive block of CTA for VFR flights transiting from Melbourne to points east and vice-versa. Now it seems Airservices want control back, reinstating and even extending the CTA block. This is airspace design going backwards. Class E was the correct classification and having it there didn't cause a rash of accidents or near collisions. There once was a time when several Class D towers were covered with Class E, but after a trial period Airservices got scared and wiped them all out. The Class E at Avalon was put in place only after the Class D tower was established. And so it should have been; it was the right thing to do. It's telling that in their proposal, Airservices has not included an increase in safety as one of the benefits. Given that, should the change be made at all?

Congratulations to the general aviation and regional airports that took honours at the National Airport Industry Awards. It's good to see smaller airports getting some recognition when efforts are being put it to upgrade them. Special kudos, I reckon, for Hamilton and Southern Grampians Shire Council, they've shelled out quite a bit on an airport that has no RPT. The awards are run by the Australian Airports Association (AAA), which also commissioned a report into the economic effects of regional airports. It was completed and tabled earlier this year, so I'll go through all that soon and give you the basics of it.

In more good news for regional airports, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has committed the Federal Goverment to funding upgrades. Just as well, because a there is a lot of work needed at regional airports, and the current owners – generally the municipalities – often aren't up to the task, most often because they don't want to be. This is probably one of the many challenges Chester referred to in his speech to the AAA on Wednesday. With the release of the economic report, AAA might have a weapon in their hands to show some councils that their airports can be valuable assets rather than the millstones that so many councils treat them as.

May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...tST9SXA.99

 
MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

That's a great update on Airports. Even with the opposition they face as part of a pineappled aviation section, they can still pull together and work hard to put some 'runs on the board' well done.

Vince Sorrenti ey? Funny guy that one. Saw him in a pub around 15 years ago and I hadn't laughed so much in years good to hear that he is still kicking goals.

[Peetwo]

This week on the LMH...

  Read more
The Last Minute Hitch: 2 December 2016
2 Dec 2016
CASA and AOPA rattle sabres, whilst Greens push for a Bandt on MCTY flights, AOPA tackles Chester on ASICs and Tecnam's Sierra goes Gen II. Read more

Tecnam's new P2002 Sierra MkII has turned out to be a diamond amongst a week of coal. This beautiful new LSA gives us something to think about other than the political storm that has beset general aviation over the last few days. It's the sort of thing I look for when selecting news for the weekly newsletter: a story that reminds us of the good things about general aviation and makes us look forward to going flying at the next available opportunity. Unfortunately, I don't always get one.

The fire-fight this week pits AOPA against CASA in an argument over the ADS-B extension and whether or not CASA has properly consulted over the issue. AOPA CEO Ben Morgan says there has been "NO genuine discussion, NO genuine consideration and NO genuine consultation by CASA." CASA sees it differently, and has referred to the original consultation over ADS-B and AOPA's initial support for the deadlines. Interestingly, those involved in the original ADS-B project are getting behind CASA, and saying there was consultation aplenty, and that includes the AOPA team of the day. Now, if we were to refocus the argument on consultation over the deadline extension only, the AOPA bucket suddenly carries a lot more water.

 There, I think, is the government's answer given before the question was even asked.

Morgan also widened the AOPA warpath with a letter to Minister Darren Chester calling on him to take action over the Forsyth recommendation to restrict the ASIC requirement to secure areas of airports only. This recommendation was actually outside the scope of the review, and was not agreed to in the government response. They noted it, and promised a review. As late as yesterday, the minister himself introduced legislation to the House of Representatives that tightened security at major airports, and back in August, did something similar to strengthen the ASIC requirements. There, I think, is the government's answer given before the question was even asked.

And now the inner suburbs of Melbourne have jumped on the GA-bashing Bandtwagon with Greens MP Adam Bandt wanting flights within 5 km of MCTY restricted to above 6500 feet. No, this is genuine, it's in the draft legislation. That  means a ban on joy flights, city orbits and pretty much anything Mr Bandt thinks is not in the best interests of his constituents. Of course, this is all about noise, in particular the bone-shattering roar of 180-hp engines at 1000-1500 ft drowing out the soothing whale-sound hum of traffic up Punt Road. But that's not all: if you read the draft legislation, Mr Bandt also wants Airservices to review any flight path at the demand of any and every member of the public who is affected by it.That's effectively giving residents the power to direct Airservices resources at a whim and canceling out any benefits of track-shortening and Performance-based Navigation (PBN). In reality, this legislation is as big a mutt as it gets, and if it scrapes through the House of Reps, is likely to get X'd in the Senate anyway.

May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...H2yxzwQ.99

MTF...P2  

[Peetwo]

Hitch off the Yaffa in LMH 09/12/16:

The loss of John Glenn last night has severed the last connection to a time of great heroism and exploration. Glenn was the sole surviving member of seven Project Mercury astronauts that pioneered space flight in the USA and laid a solid foundation for a trip to the moon. Whilst their great rival, the Soviet Union, was taking risky short-cuts to beat NASA to milestones, Project Mercury was following the time-honoured path of progressive development and learning. Even so, when NASA put John Glenn into space in 1962, they had a total of 30 minutes of manned space flight experience, and 40% of the Atlas boosters had exploded on the pad up to that point. Still, each one of the Mercury Seven would have climbed over the others to get into the command seat. Test pilots all, they knew the risks and it was probably that very risk that fueled their desires to go higher, faster and further. But there was something different about Glenn: despite his A-type personality, history has recorded him as one of the nice guys; loyal and honest with a heavy work ethic. Whilst several of the other Mercury astronauts adopted the playboy lifestyle of Corvettes and young women, Glenn was devoted to his stuttering wife Annie for his entire life. His childhood sweetheart was beside his bed when he died last night. If you were to draw up a set of criteria to define the great American hero, John Glenn's checklist would be covered in green ticks to the point where it makes you wonder what came first: the stereotypical hero character or John Glenn. In the words of his capsule communicator Scott Carpenter, "Godspeed, John Glenn."

AOPA this week confirmed they would work with Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party to develop an aviation reform policy. This came at the same time that Dick Smith aired his public support for Hanson, predicting she would ride a "Trump-like" wave of support. AOPA CEO Ben Morgan justified their statement by saying they would work with all sides of politics to get a GA policy that revitalises the industry. Any lobby group worth their spot at the negotiating table knows how important it is to get on-side with just about everyone in Canberra, but there is a greater risk in an open connection to such a divisive character as Senator Hanson. Although she may soon ride a "Trump-like" wave, that particular wave is yet to demonstrate any level of stamina. People like Trump and Hanson tend to be "crash through or crash" types, whose fall is often as spectacular as their rise. The problem is that their crash is often their associates' crash as well, so AOPA needs to make sure any mud she may land in doesn't stick to them.

Whereas many people will be quick to question Dick Smith's support of Pauline Hanson, it would be a hard-nosed Scrooge who didn't stand up and applaud his decision to donate over $4 million to charity after the sale of his Citation. Such people may label this a "stunt" (to steal the hackneyed political jibe) because it is connected to the ADS-B requirement and onerous regulation; however, most stunts don't result in such a windfall for charities such as this one. Had Dick and Pippa sold the plane and kept the money for themselves, no-one would have given it any thought. The same can be said of Dick's move to finance a network of weather cameras by giving Airservices Australia a cheque for $160,000. This is a fantastic idea, one that Airservices and the Federal Government should bulldoze through the bureaucracy and just get done. Why would they not? It's a fully-financed project that has a direct nexus to aviation safety. Yes, politics may get in the way, but I have been told that at the moment Airservices is "considering this in a positive light" and plans to consult the industry to ensure any cameras installed will deliver a real improvement in safety.

One thing that stood out from my first pass through the ACIL Allen report on regional airports is that we may have a lot fewer of them in 10 years than we do now. Local councils that inherited them via the Aerodrome Local Ownership Program (ALOP) are struggling to find the money to maintain them, and the constant pressure applied by housing developers may soon see several regional airports go under the bulldozer. Even though the federal and state governments have given out grants to many regional airports for infrastructure upgrades, there is still a lot of work to do to reverse decades of under-funding and neglect. A collegue said to me during the week that he thought the problem was that handing over the airports to the councils caused the federal government to no longer consider them important national assets and part of our critical infrastructure. If he's right, then ALOP has been a massive failure that was likely designed solely to hand-ball costs onto councils that could never afford it.

The table tennis match between AOPA and CASA over industry consultation continued this week with AOPA CEO Ben Morgan launching another blistering serve into the court of CASA Director of Aviation Safety Shane Carmody. Replying to Carmody's last note, which effectively said "we did so consult!", Morgan accused CASA of playing politics and again issued a call to meet with AOPA to talk about the ADS-B issue. One of the things Morgan has placed on the table is compensation for aircraft owners who have been forced to install ADS-B under new regulations. This goes all the way back to the original project, which included subsidies to be funded by not upgrading the en route radars, although no promises were ever made. Once the en route radars had to be done anyway, the subsidy idea went the way of the dodo. Now AOPA is trying to resurrect the idea post-mandate. If they get this done, I will be happy to laud this as AOPA Australia's greatest ever achievement; however, I am not polishing my soapbox just yet.

May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...yFToFXs.99

MTF...P2

[Kharon]

P2 – a word mate.

We could save some time P2 – just let Hitch know where the Choc Frogs are kept, that way he can just help himself whenever it pleases; got my vote. Good piece on Dick and the airport paragraph was first class.

Had to smile though – “the table tennis match” etc. line from Hitch the cause. What a polite, neat, way of downgrading from “fire fight” to a much more accurate synopsis.  There is at least one good thing emerging from the ‘he said- she said’ dialogue; and its actually a handy thing for the government and the minister to study…

The introduction and management of the ADS-B system reminds one of the ‘Pink Bats’ debacle – an absolute shambles from conception to funeral, with lots of house cleaning required after the wake. This total ADS-Balls up was managed by the same outfits that wants to bring you – the mega bucks One Sky miracle.

ADS-Bats is a mere bagatelle in cost terms compared to the very serious money One Sky will cost, despite the empirical evidence that ASA and CASA, between them, could not run a stall in the market place, yet this minister is quite happy to let them have a whack at One-Sky. It defies logic, clearly frames the lack of cogent governmental thought and the complete lack of responsibility the government feels toward matters aeronautical. It would help if the minister was made aware that the earth is no longer flat, not since it was inflated a few years back; about the same time he bought 'that bridge' (on advice) from a fellah he met at the hairdressers.

So, no worries; he’s quite prepared to believe any other fool notion his expert advice feeds him and will have forgotten about it by the tea time selfie opportunity.

Toot toot.

[Peetwo]

Final LMH for 2016 -

Hitch on 'storms in teacups' & TAAAF (magnificent 15) not mugs...


Via the Yaffa:

The Last Minute Hitch: 16 December 2016
16 December 2016

As you read this, you should have within reach the January-February 2017 print issue of Australian Flying. If not, go get as soon as you can before the Christmas readers buy them all. Our first mag for the 2017 year takes a look at the condition of the second-hand aircraft market, finds out what the World Gliding Championships are all about, and asks whether or not you are a gun at doing pre-flights. The hard-working Shelley Ross tells tales about doing her instructor rating (a yarn that will have you alternating between tears and laughter) and we present our flight bag guide, which should give you some Christmas gift ideas.

CASA has been very harsh on GA companies over paperwork issues that amount to storms in teacups

Before hitting the first keys to write this final Last Minute Hitch of the year, I sat and tried to come up with a better analogy than "storm in a teacup" to describe the kefuffle over the pages missing from the last issue of ERSA. It seems that some (not all) of the books are affected, which points at a printing or binding defect. I rang around some of Australia's pilot supply shops, and most of them indicated a small amount with errors. Most interestingly, some reported that this is not unusual; most print runs of ERSA have some books with pages missing. So, was it worth AOPA asking CASA for a full investigation and a "Friday 5.00 pm Show Cause Notice (SCN)" to be issued? After all, this ERSA problem is just ops normal and the missing pages are on the Airservices website anyway. Oddly enough, the answer is probably "yes". CASA has been very harsh on GA companies over paperwork issues that amount to storms in teacups, so it's very fair for AOPA to ask that a service provider be treated in the same way. But let's get real: there will be no SCN. What's keeping me on the edge of my seat is the explanation from CASA as to why, and whether or not it provides AOPA with a weapon to beat them with if CASA doesn't apply the same principle to GA operators in the future.

And if anyone has a better analogy than "storm in a teacup" I'd like to hear it!

P2 comment - Not a better analogy but, via P9...

Straws, and the grasping thereof.

Hitch calls it (for wont of better) a storm in a teacup, which is probably more consideration than it merits. So what, there are a few blank pages in the ERSA, which is, in all probability, a printers error and has SFA to do with ASA. Blast the printers if you must, but how, realistically, can the printer check every single page, of every single manual made?

TAAAF this week expressed disappointment in the standard of Minister Chester's response to their aviation policy paper released in April. It's hard to be anything but disappointed when the response was really nothing more than fresh air. Although the government has taken some steps (pushed through the ADS-B extension, extended the CAO 48.1 fatigue rules deadline, announced a GA study and issued a discussion paper about airspace protection), these are but baby steps to an industry looking for great strides. TAAAF is not a bunch of mugs pushing barrows with their own names on them; they are the single united voice for aviation that Darren Chester himself lamented the lack of at the Tamworth rally in May. They are gaining strength with numbers and together have the industry experience and street cred that the government lacks at most levels. So, their call for a national aviation policy is far from a cry in the wilderness; it's a roar from the bleachers that should not be ignored.

You may notice a change in the menu on the Australian Flying website. We've added a RECREATIONAL item to the menu bar. This is in response to the growing demand for recreational news and the ever-greying boundaries between GA and RAAus aircraft and operations. In 2017, I believe those boundaries will become every blurrier to the point where in many cases it will be hard to tell the difference were it not for the rego numbers. Our plan is to build the recreational content over time to bring you everything you need to know about this burgeoning sector. As they say: watch this space.

And as we approach the season of holidays, many of us will be plotting how we can spend large portions if it some distance above the surface of the earth. In the Sydney offices of Yaffa Media, the team that puts together the weekly Australian Flying newsletter will be taking a break for a month. This is the team that actually makes the newsletter happen, and they do a great job every week, in spite of the editor's propensity for making stuff-ups large and small. To Eric, Janusz, Joanna, Anthony and Andrew, thanks on behalf of the general aviation industry for your part in producing such a vibrant voice for aviation. See you next year; our first newsletter back is on Friday 20 January.

May your gauges always be in the green and your reindeer's nose always red,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...By28zBQ.99

Catch you next year Hitch & don't get too fat on the choccy frogs...


MTF...P2

[Gobbledock]

More CAsA chess moves....

Roger Weeks gone. Heading to NSW Government. Not sure if Wingnut pushed him or if he read his tea leaves.

Don't bang the door on the way out jerkoff.

[Kharon]

On the first day of Christmas.

That, GD is good news. One of several semi-professional ‘pilots’’ employed by CASA relieved of duties; no matter why; what matters is he’s is gone. Anyone who ever suffered through one of the ‘Weeks’ professional development class for ATO will be glad not to have to endure more of the same. What business a pompous, jumped up, junior grade instructor ever had being involved in ‘professional' development or, Part 61 even I will never, ever, know or understand.  Thank you Mr Carmody.

Personally; (while Carmody has the axe out), I’d like to see a cull of clan Campbell happening, real soon; there are a couple of others who could be ‘done’ as part of a job lot. We may have to wait until the New Year to see that; but I can wait. We have always said that the carnage would never be seen; not by us, it simply ain’t the way things happen - for obvious reasons.

You know, if Carmody played his cards right; and, the new DAS is the ‘real-deal’ CASA could possibly attract some professionals to help with the heavy lifting; what a difference that would make and how quickly.

Aye well; I’ll tack my wishes on the bottom of my letter to Santa – you never know.

Toot – fare thee well Fuckwit – toot.

[Peetwo]

Max & Hitch back from hols...

1st from Avbiz:

  Read more
Editor's Insights
20 Jan 2017
Airport investment, Asian growth and a new CASA head will all be major factors for the industry this year. Read more

...Increasing point to point routes between Australia and Asia will open opportunities for secondary cities and regions at both ends of the flight, offering local industry unprecedented access to the huge Asian market, as already demonstrated by Cathay’s dedicated freight service through Brisbane West Wellcamp.


But there are challenges in infrastructure and in the regional and general aviation industries that feed both their own communities and passengers and personnel for the majors. Australian regional airports, particularly those not blessed with scheduled passenger services, face a future of widening gaps between revenue and funding, with a recent Australian Airports Association report suggesting some councils may simply give up and close their airports.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority will gain a new permanent Chief Executive Officer in 2017. The aviation community is hoping it will be someone who can finally start putting issues to bed and let industry get on with it... 

Perhaps a little bit more relevant to the plight of the mainstream industry, here is Hitch with the 1st LMH for 2017... :

The Last Minute Hitch: 20 January 2017

One month later ...CASA prides itself on leading the world over several issues, even though the rest of the world might not agree. One area that it can't claim leadership (though it may try) is medical reform. At a time when the UK and USA are embracing and encouraging change, CASA seems to be stubbornly folding its arms and turning its back on general aviation. In late December, they released a discussion paper on medical reform, which contained six ideas it wants to canvass. Alarmingly, general aviation seems to be on the outer, as the topics specifically mention the recreational and sport aviation sectors (both self-administering), but not the balance of GA, made up of PPLs flying certified four-seat planes with an MTOW over 600 kg.Then, bang on an inconvenient cue, the FAA tells the world of BasicMed, which relieves US pilots of the medical burden over a range of operations.

 ..If you read deeply into the DP, you will find some skerricks of hope that a US-style system could be adopted..

CASA's DP suddenly looks not only wishy-washy, but also more like the desperate measure of an Avmed department that wants to be seen to be doing something whilst simultaneously protecting its own role and position. If you read deeply into the DP, you will find some skerricks of hope that as US-style system could be adopted, but not without a wave of industry support that swamps the objections of the reform detractors entrenched within Avmed. And even that might not be enough ... it hasn't been in the past.

In late November last year, Greens MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt introduced a private members bill to parliament that effectively banned flights over Melbourne CBD and gave residents all over Australia the ability to force mandatory reviews of flight paths. It is legislation that should never have existed, and with some commonsense applied, will hopefully cease to exist soon. Bandt's proposal was a classic example of something we'll have to battle more the near future: populist laws presented by politicians who haven't prepared themselves well enough to understand the realities behind issues. In this case the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Regional Aviation Association of Australia have taken on the task of getting this straightened out. Hopefully one or both of these groups can address the issue properly without the need for an act of parliament, especially one that would significantly damage general aviation in the Melbourne basin and have negative knock-on effects right around the country. There are at least positive views that Bandt has come to understand how much he doesn't understand, and that something we have to take into account with so many politicians.

Cirrus Aircraft has been trumpeting the new G6 range of SR20 and 22, but with most of the fanfare directed at the SR22 and 22T. What's got me most excited is the new IO-390 fitted to the SR20 that will turn out 215 ponies instead of the traditional 200. That's given the SR20 a MTOW increase of 68 kg; a big leap by anyone's measure. That means with three hours of fuel and 45 mins reserve, you can still carry four 77-kg people and have 44 kg left over for bags. It's an all new aeroplane, effectively. The useful load of 467 kg is still short of the Cessna 182T's 518 kg, but the gap between the two is now significantly reduced.

The death last year of aviation legend John Glenn has been quickly followed by the loss of the last person to walk on the moon: Gene Cernan. Cernan, the subject of the documentary The Last Man on the Moon, died this week at age 82. Cernan was the lunar module pilot on Apollo 10 and commander of Apollo 17. As the last person to speak on another celestial body, he used the occasion to express hope that mankind would soon be back. It has been 45 years, and Cernan will now never see his wish fulfilled. With his death, there are now only six left of the original 12 astronauts to have walked on the moon.

May your gauges always be in the green,

Hitch

Read more at http://www.australianflying.com.au/the-l...45sBgkf.99

MTF...P2

[Cap'n Wannabe]

An interesting article here..

Chief Pilot of Hoch Air Josh Hoch is starting flights to Lake Eyre.


Police claim Mount Isa pilot put contaminant in fuel tanks

[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0cb77693ceb1901be3344aea45c37c32?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storyheader/index&t_product=TownsvilleBulletin&td_device=desktop[/img]CHRIS McMAHON, exclusive, Townsville Bulletin
January 25, 2017 8:39am
[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0cb77693ceb1901be3344aea45c37c32?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storymeta/index&t_product=TownsvilleBulletin&td_device=desktop[/img]
A NORTH Queensland pilot allegedly poured contaminants into commercial rivals’ fuel tanks, faked crashes for insurance and flew charters without a licence for years before his dramatic arrest in Mount Isa yesterday.

Josh Hoch, 31, was intercepted by police about 2.30pm yesterday on a highway east of the town and last night charged with more than 300 offences going back several years.
The company is a significant player in the western commercial travel market and it is believed VIPs, including politicians, may have flown with Hoch at times from 2012 to 2016 when he is alleged to have been unlicensed.

The arrest poses serious questions about rural airport security and will plunge the Civil Aviation Safety Authority into crisis as police and officials probe what the authority knew or should have known about the claims against Hoch.

Last night senior police told the Bulletin the arrest was the culmination of several months of investigative work.

Hoch was questioned for seven hours before being charged with 342 counts of 14 different offences late last night.

Detective Inspector Chris Hodgman said it was only by sheer luck that no one had died when one of the allegedly sabotaged planes took to the sky.

“We are lucky over a number of years that an alleged rogue operator like this wasn’t responsible for a disaster,” Insp Hodgman said.

“Two engine failures and the forced landing of the aircraft has happened — the pilots … were lucky to walk away.”

Insp Hodgman said safety measures were put in place as soon as police became aware of the alleged offending.

“The safety aspect was considered right from the start of the investigation. We had methodologies in place to ensure the continued safety of aircraft on that apron,” he said.

“At no stage was there any chance for tampering on any commercial aircraft at the Mount Isa Airport.”

Insp Hodgman said it was one of the most in-depth and unique investigations he had been part of in 30 years.

“There was a dedicated bunch of detectives who put in a lot of long hours to pull this investigation off,” he said.

Detectives working under Operation Oscar-Demotic allegedly uncovered evidence of fraud, tampering with aircraft, dangerous operation of aircraft and numerous aircraft safety breaches.

Police will allege they became aware of Hoch’s alleged offending in October last year when another pilot reported damage to his plane for the second time that year.

It is understood detectives are investigating four such claims of tampering on three planes in 2016 alone.

It will be alleged each case was the same, with a contaminant poured into the fuel tanks of the aircraft, under the cover of darkness at Mount Isa Airport.

When the engines fired, the contaminant caused “catastrophic” damage to the aircraft, grounding the planes for months, it is alleged.

Hoch has also been charged with insurance fraud relating to the alleged staged crash landing of two planes in 2014 and 2015.

It is understood Hoch had flown Katter’s Australian Party politicians Bob Katter, Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth around the North and it is believed he has been chartered by other politicians and clients as well.

It will also be alleged Hoch was masking those commercial flights as private trips and would not log flight hours in order to bypass crucial maintenance checks.

Hoch is set to face Mount Isa Magistrates Court this morning.

So what did CAsA know?  Or did he not fart in the cockpit loud enough for them to hear?

P2 - Excellent catch Wannabe, although a very disturbing tale and like you say where the hell was CASA..  

[Peetwo]

An interesting article here..

Chief Pilot of Hoch Air Josh Hoch is starting flights to Lake Eyre.


Police claim Mount Isa pilot put contaminant in fuel tanks

[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0cb77693ceb1901be3344aea45c37c32?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storyheader/index&t_product=TownsvilleBulletin&td_device=desktop[/img]CHRIS McMAHON, exclusive, Townsville Bulletin
January 25, 2017 8:39am
[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0cb77693ceb1901be3344aea45c37c32?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storymeta/index&t_product=TownsvilleBulletin&td_device=desktop[/img]
A NORTH Queensland pilot allegedly poured contaminants into commercial rivals’ fuel tanks, faked crashes for insurance and flew charters without a licence for years before his dramatic arrest in Mount Isa yesterday.

Josh Hoch, 31, was intercepted by police about 2.30pm yesterday on a highway east of the town and last night charged with more than 300 offences going back several years.
The company is a significant player in the western commercial travel market and it is believed VIPs, including politicians, may have flown with Hoch at times from 2012 to 2016 when he is alleged to have been unlicensed.

The arrest poses serious questions about rural airport security and will plunge the Civil Aviation Safety Authority into crisis as police and officials probe what the authority knew or should have known about the claims against Hoch.

Last night senior police told the Bulletin the arrest was the culmination of several months of investigative work.

Hoch was questioned for seven hours before being charged with 342 counts of 14 different offences late last night.

Detective Inspector Chris Hodgman said it was only by sheer luck that no one had died when one of the allegedly sabotaged planes took to the sky.

“We are lucky over a number of years that an alleged rogue operator like this wasn’t responsible for a disaster,” Insp Hodgman said.

“Two engine failures and the forced landing of the aircraft has happened — the pilots … were lucky to walk away.”

Insp Hodgman said safety measures were put in place as soon as police became aware of the alleged offending.

“The safety aspect was considered right from the start of the investigation. We had methodologies in place to ensure the continued safety of aircraft on that apron,” he said.

“At no stage was there any chance for tampering on any commercial aircraft at the Mount Isa Airport.”

Insp Hodgman said it was one of the most in-depth and unique investigations he had been part of in 30 years.

“There was a dedicated bunch of detectives who put in a lot of long hours to pull this investigation off,” he said.

Detectives working under Operation Oscar-Demotic allegedly uncovered evidence of fraud, tampering with aircraft, dangerous operation of aircraft and numerous aircraft safety breaches.

Police will allege they became aware of Hoch’s alleged offending in October last year when another pilot reported damage to his plane for the second time that year.

It is understood detectives are investigating four such claims of tampering on three planes in 2016 alone.

It will be alleged each case was the same, with a contaminant poured into the fuel tanks of the aircraft, under the cover of darkness at Mount Isa Airport.

When the engines fired, the contaminant caused “catastrophic” damage to the aircraft, grounding the planes for months, it is alleged.

Hoch has also been charged with insurance fraud relating to the alleged staged crash landing of two planes in 2014 and 2015.

It is understood Hoch had flown Katter’s Australian Party politicians Bob Katter, Robbie Katter and Shane Knuth around the North and it is believed he has been chartered by other politicians and clients as well.

It will also be alleged Hoch was masking those commercial flights as private trips and would not log flight hours in order to bypass crucial maintenance checks.

Hoch is set to face Mount Isa Magistrates Court this morning.

So what did CAsA know?  Or did he not fart in the cockpit loud enough for them to hear?

P2 - Excellent catch Wannabe, although a very disturbing tale and like you say where the hell was CASA..  

More here Wannabe, via the NQ Register... :

Charter operator to appear before Mount Isa Magistrates Court


Chris Burns@fatburns10

25 Jan 2017, 1:30 p.m.



Mount Isa Detective-Inspector Chris Hodgman speaks on a 31-year-old pilot being charged with 342 offences connected to interfering with charter planes. Photo: Chris Burns.

A charter operator based at Mount Isa Airport has been charged with 342 offences from 14 sections of Queensland and Commonwealth legislation.

IN OCTOBER last year a man visited the Mount Isa Police Station to complain about how his light aircraft nearly crashed. 

This was the latest of several incidents that appeared to target two charter companies based in Mount Isa, Detective-Inspector Chris Hodgman said. 

The complaint triggered investigation Oscar-Demotic which was completed on Tuesday when police arrested a 31-year-old charter operator. 

The operator based at Mount Isa Airport has been charged with 342 offences from 14 sections of Queensland and Commonwealth legislation. 

These charges include tampering with airplanes, unlicensed flying, and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Detective Inspector Hodgman said these offences had nothing to do with commercial airlines. 

Police would not identify the man who is scheduled to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court at 2pm, Wednesday, or even to confirm the name of the accused is Josh Hoch, published elsewhere. 

Police are opposing bail due to the “serious nature of offences”. 

“As soon as we found out about the offence we put methodologies in place to make sure the safety of the public was not compromised,” Detective Inspector Hodgman said. 

The story The operation against a 31-year-old charter operator  | Video first appeared on The North West Star.

 
MTF...P2

[Peetwo]

An interesting article here..

Chief Pilot of Hoch Air Josh Hoch is starting flights to Lake Eyre.


Police claim Mount Isa pilot put contaminant in fuel tanks

[img=0x0]http://pixel.tcog.cp1.news.com.au/track/component/article/0cb77693ceb1901be3344aea45c37c32?esi=true&t_template=s3/chronicle-tg_tlc_storyheader/index&t_product=TownsvilleBulletin&td_device=desktop[/img]

More here Wannabe, via the NQ Register... :

Charter operator to appear before Mount Isa Magistrates Court


Chris Burns@fatburns10

25 Jan 2017, 1:30 p.m.

The complaint triggered investigation Oscar-Demotic which was completed on Tuesday when police arrested a 31-year-old charter operator. 

The operator based at Mount Isa Airport has been charged with 342 offences from 14 sections of Queensland and Commonwealth legislation. 

These charges include tampering with airplanes, unlicensed flying, and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Detective Inspector Hodgman said these offences had nothing to do with commercial airlines. 

Police would not identify the man who is scheduled to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court at 2pm, Wednesday, or even to confirm the name of the accused is Josh Hoch, published elsewhere. 

Police are opposing bail due to the “serious nature of offences”. 

“As soon as we found out about the offence we put methodologies in place to make sure the safety of the public was not compromised,” Detective Inspector Hodgman said. 

The story The operation against a 31-year-old charter operator  | Video first appeared on The North West Star.

 

Update: Via Brissie Times...

January 25 2017 - 6:32PM

Queensland pilot Josh Hoch granted bail once he supplies surety

Chris Burns

The Mount Isa charter pilot alleged to have put glass beads in his rivals' planes is to be granted bail from the Mount Isa Magistrates Court. 

However, Josh Hoch will likely be in the Mount Isa Police Station watch house on Australia Day. Part of his conditions set by Magistrate Stephen Guttridge is that Mr Hoch supply $50,000 surety before release. 
  
Josh Hoch's solicitor Michael Spearman leaves the Mount Isa Police Station watch house on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Chris Burns

The Mount Isa Court House had not received the surety or approved the paperwork by its closing time of 4.30pm, Wednesday. The court opens again at 8.30am on Friday. Thursday is the Australia Day public holiday.  

Mr Hoch is to appear again before the Mount Isa Magistrates Court on February 22. He is charged with 342 offences. 

Police prosecutor Sergeant Vaughan Cooper opposed bail and said five of the charges had a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, Mt Isa's North West Star reported today.
 
"He is at risk of flight, quite literally," Sergeant Cooper said. 

"His capacity not just to leave Queensland, but Australia." 

Sergeant Cooper said one of the charges related to a Piper Chieftain plane that lost power flying from the Northern Territory to Mount Isa. There were three people on board.

Sergeant Cooper alleged that an inspection of the plane revealed glass beads in the oil filter. 

Sergeant Cooper alleged also that oil had been removed from a Cessna plane kept at the Mount Isa Airport. This was discovered during a daily inspection on August 18, 2016. 

On September, 2016, a Piper Chieftain about to fly from Mount Isa to Burketown experienced loss of oil pressure, the court heard. The flight was aborted. An oil sample allegedly showed glass beads, metals and dirt mixed in with it, Sergeant Cooper said.
 
On October 6 to 7 a Cessna belonging to the Northern Territory Air Services, travelling between Alice Springs and Mount Isa, experienced low pressure. Glass beads were allegedly found in the engines, Sergeant Cooper said. 

On October 18 a pilot on another plane noticed a drop in pressure. The plane arrived in Mount Isa safely. It is alleged that an inspection found paste in the oil system. 

Sergeant Cooper said other offences included fraud. Mr Hoch is alleged to have supplied two fraudulent insurance claims. 

Mr Hoch did not have proper accreditation of an aircraft, the prosecutor alleges. 

The court heard that Mr Hoch has flown Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and Katters Australian Party State MPs Rob Katter and Shane Knuth through his charter service. The Federal MP has paid $275,000 in total to Mr Hoch for his charter services. 

The prosecutor alleges further that the defendant has flown an aircraft to hide it from police. 

Mr Hoch's solicitor Michael Spearman, Resolute Legal's principal lawyer,  said the charges were "quite circumstantial" and said many of the charges "doubled-up". 

Mr Spearman said that Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has known of Mr Hoch's flights since 2013. They could have grounded him immediately if they had concerns with the pilot and audited the company, he said. 

"Despite knowing of the allegations for months they could have grounded him." 
Mr Hoch has already suffered a "trial by jury" and it has affected his business. He also has two young children and a long-term partner. 

"There are significant stresses in the family right at this point," Mr Spearman said. 
Other bail conditions is that Mr Hoch not apply for a passport. If he has one he must surrender it. 

Mr Hoch cannot pilot a plane or enter an airport. He must also report to the Mount Isa Police Station on specific days twice a week. He also must not contact witnesses. 
For more Mt Isa news see the North West Star. 

 

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[Kharon]

Shades of inaction - revisited.

It seems we must once again say a thank you to the Queensland police. They have, very effectively stepped in again, to assist with an aviation matter; their track record impressive. So thank you, your very professional efforts are appreciated.

There was a similar case several years ago at Bankstown; where complaints of ‘interference’ and even theft were made. All of which fell on deaf ears – ‘you get the evidence and we may take a look’ were the essentials of response. I am told that video evidence was provided, but this too was not deemed enough to kick start any form of investigation, from Federal or State police or even CASA, who could have asked for such assistance. Unsubstantiated, but on fairly good authority, it is said that the repair bills were substantial and some of the CASA fall out, created through a stolen document landed back on the complainant. Go figure. But that part of the tale is in the realm of pub hearsay, from a gentleman wearing a lampshade.

Anyway, the point is why were CASA not leading the Qld investigation – surely there would have been investigation into ‘engine failures’ and the like; why then were alarm the bells not ringing. Same same Hempel – hells bells, the Qld police did a mighty job there; stopped again by CASA and ATSB; same –same Lockhart River and other incidents which seem to slip past the ‘regulator’ unscathed. Gods help any poor sod 10 Kg overweight or with a time expired WAC chart; or, even a log book error; but when it come to serious policing of anything else associated with ‘safety’ – like multiple engine failures; then it seems that the professionals must be called in.

Enough – well done Queensland, well done Mt Isa – thanks again.

Toot toot.