[Peetwo]

 Breathless with anticipation the crowd awaits Terry’s departure.



 To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. - See more at: http://auntypru.com/#sthash.yssIMT5c.dpuf

Latest from Dougy & Hitchen:

DN 1st on AHIA meeting with Skates; RA-AUS & latest on RPA CASA rule changes.. : Editor's Insights 30 April 2015

You may be aware that AHIA President Peter Crook recently asked CASA’s Mark Skidmore for a face-to-face meeting in order to establish a more formal process for the review of CASR Part 61 – Flight Crew Licensing, in order to understand its effects on future draft legislation aimed at helicopter operators. Peter’s request followed several months of informal meetings and telecoms between the AHIA, industry and the regulator. Some involved CASA's DAS and the Deputy Prime Minister. 

Well Peter and his team have been invited by Mark Skidmore to a meeting on 6 May at CASA’s Sydney Office. 

This is exactly what we need to see more of in the industry generally. Less email chatter and more face-to-face talk. Congratulations to all for making it happen.
 
OK, I have now spent time with RA-AUS chief Michael Linke and am happy to confirm that he is indeed running a very professional operation in Canberra.And I’m persuaded that this is the likely future of ‘private’ aviation in this country, because it’s no longer a world of basic ultralights but one that encompasses some pretty sophisticated aircraft. It’s regulated, but with a lighter hand than the VH category, so overall costs are lower and hence it’s a less formidable access route to some enjoyable aviating. Michael was able to dispel any qualms I had about standards in the RA-AUS world. Undoubtedly it will always have its ‘cowboys’ but I’ve seen them in the VH sector too. CASA appears to be comfortable with the job Michael Linke and his team are doing in this space - and I can see why. Well done RA-AUS.
 
Important changes to the rules covering the commercial operation of small remotely piloted aircraft are being finalised. These changes will remove the requirement for commercial operations of remotely piloted aircraft weighing less than two kilograms to have approvals from CASA as long as the flights are conducted according to standard operating conditions. These conditions will allow flights in non-populous areas more than 30 metres from people, below 400 feet and only during the day time, with the remotely piloted aircraft in line of sight. In a recent speech CASA’s Director of Aviation Safety Mark Skidmore said changes to the regulations are expected to be made in the second half of 2015. Good progress in this challenging sector, but I can’t help feeling we’re dealing with the tip of the iceberg and that genuine control of the surging UAV phenomenon will only occur when access to the vehicles themselves is restricted - which it certainly isn’t right now.

Next Hitchen on ASA class D review & pending report; & follow-up on CASA proposed review of Part 61.. : The Last Minute Hitch: 1 May 2015

Five years ago the general aviation industry was predicting dire consequences of changing the old GAAP airports to Class D. There was even debate over what colour of Class D we should use: ICAO or FAA. The greatest mystery at the time was whether or not there was a need for change at all! We were told the change was to bring about an increase in safety, and there's not a lot of doubt that the whole thing was catalysed by one fatal accident at Moorabbin. At the time, some commented that the change would not prevent similar incidents happening again. Now, Airservices has reviewed the move and is compiling a report as you read this. They say research indicates an increase in safety has occured. It will be interesting to see how, given that, indeed, there has been very little operational difference in the two classifications. Airservices has made no promises about releasing the report to the public, but let's hope they do...

...The new CASR Part 61 licensing regulations continue to cause confusion and angst in the aviation community. There's no doubt the whole transition could have been handled a lot better. New CASA DAS Mark Skidmore is sending letters out to all pilots outlining what the issues are and what action they've taken. The letter is bound to please some and continue to antagonise others; that's the nature of the people in our industry.
Personally, I think it's good to see that something is being done rather than the traditional response of CASA dodging the questions, and in some cases going so far as to blame the aviation community for problems. Your letters should start arriving early next week. We're keen to hear what you think of the contents.

MTF...P2