Warbird Information Exchange

Seems CASA our FAA has - after a crash of a warbird jet with a passenger recently - decided to stop certain warbird operating with passengers more news to hand soon....

Keep us all posted on this topic.


Cheers,

David

I heard a couple of years ago that they were looking to ban single engined warbird jets.

The threat isn't just for warbird operations with commercial passengers but indeed for all Limited registered aircraft on the Australian register. Time will answer all queries and concerns however I'm feeling a lot more comfortable about Limited category flying being largely unaffected after talking to the right people today. Yes, I am being vague but this is because of the interesting times that I suspect will come out of this.

Cheers,
Matt

The whole affair is a typical over-reaction by CASA. My spies in high places tell me that the Strikemaster that crashed did so after a catastrophic structural failure (no secrets there, it was in the newspapers). The problem has been known about for some time and many Strikemasters were fitted with g-meters to record the value of g-units. However, other airframes were modified to solve the problem and didn't need the g-meters.

CASA has threatened to ban not only all Strikemasters - modified or not - but also all warbird joyflights.

Funny, though, it came to light in the newspapers here the other day that CASA knew about a problem with the Bathurst Strikemaster a few years ago and did nothing. Seems to be some serious backside-covering going on in Canberra at the moment.

"There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action." - Bertrand Russell

Matt, as you have NZ6361 in your backyard, it certainly effects you greatly. I contacted CS after the Bathurst crash and she wasn't concerned. I wonder if she still feels that way now?

Walrus

_________________
One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name

Walrus,

The problems with the Strikemaster operations by the particular company who had the crash are indeed alarming and having read the full report that the papers would have been referencing, you're most likely correct about your thoughts on current happenings in Canberra right now. I'll keep my thoughts on the matter private as it isn't the time or the place to discuss them just now. Nothing personal to you at all mate.

I'm good friends with CS and spent some time with her yesterday discussing the threat to all operations (not just commercial joyflights) under the Limited category. Based on our investigation and findings, I'm confident she's no more concerned now than immediately after the Bathurst crash.

Thankfully I don't have an aeroplane in the Limited category at the moment although I plan for my project machine to be registered as such in time. Operations will continue relatively unchanged to the current time....that's my opinion and expectation.

As an aside, I think I saw you up here in Ballarat when you were doing the report/photos for AF last year. Went to catch up with the AJA crew while you were there.

Cheers,
Matt

Matt,

You're absolutely right, that was me. The Bathurst crash caused us to delay the feature for one issue so that it didn't serve as a reminder too early. It's locked-in for March and now CASA has come up with this load of tripe to drag the whole thing back into the public focus.

Bless their little cotton socks.

Walrus

PS: Say g'day to CS and DDR for me.

_________________
One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name