Still outstanding from last month and "absent without leave" is the Archerfield based DC4

Also from February was the AAC meeting on the "Airport Master Plan" which was held towards the end of last month and proved very fruitful for all, including the "new" airport owner

. . . . . . trying to keep the happy balance between income and expenses has always been a "juggling act" carried out by almost everyone involved in the aviation scene

To make airport charges fair to all concerned who use it, will require well above the normal "par excellence" commitment from management and the consultation process if it has any chance at all of succeeding

The new airport owner now has a real battle on his hands attempting to correct all the "charging abnormalities" that have crept in under the many past years of this airfield's gross mismanagement and the insidious "user pays" concept!

As a matter of interest, out of all the other major transport mediums here in OZ ie, Shipping, Trains, and Public Transport (Buses), Aviation is the only one required by the Government to "pay it's way"...!!!

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association held their quarterly Committee meeting yesterday at the Royal Queensland Aero Club which included an "Open Forum" where various members voiced their opinion on a variety of topics

There was a strong message sent to the committee from the members on the "floor" for AOPA to push a little harder when dealing with the bureaucracy and politicians to try to achieve a better and quicker result for the benefit of all who fly

AOPA President Bill Hamilton (centre) in "deep discussion" with Archerfield's owner Gavin Bird (on right)

An enjoyable Aussie Bar-B-Q was held in the evening after the meeting with the Aero Club playing host to a congenial group of members and friends

It's ironic that all the commercial operators on Archerfield now want the support of the "private sector" of aviation after refusing to assist the private aircraft owner(s) when the FAC commenced occupation of the 'field eleven years ago, forcing a large number of privately owned aircraft (and pilots) to depart

Refer to the April 1997 issue of the AirCentre News for further details

Just in case you were wondering what went on beneath the cover attached to the "old" Hawker Pacific maintenance (and later paint) shop

Douglas Aviation now operates this hangar, and are this week in the throws of repainting a Sunstate/QANTAS Airline owned Short SD3-60

Douglas recently refurbished 3 of Sunstate's Dash 8 aircraft and when finished these Short aircraft will make 7 "big planes" to come onto the 'field in recent times to be paint-stripped, repainted and depart again after only 10 working days

Refer Jan. '99 for more of the story on the "QANTAS Tales"!

Another quiet week passes at the airfield

Of concern still for the private aircraft owner who has his/her aircraft on the 'field and/or aircraft "parked" in one of the privately owned hangers, is the "Master Plan" upgrade for Archerfield

Local newspaper reports along with the new "plan", which is now available for public comment, mentions the "heritage, noise pollution and industrial redevelopment" being the main focus of the future

It appears that the "real life" main issue with the airfields new owner will be "Industrial Development"

This "development" includes the "unused" (as in not rented) "taxiway" land handy to the main road to be set aside for the "booming" industrial buildings market appearing on the eastern side of the main road passing the airport (AF is on the west)

This means that a number of the smaller east/west aligned "private" hangers that have their taxiways adjacent to the north/south main road, are in line for this planned "redevelopment"

To be a little more specific, if you happen to be one of those "lucky" hangar owners, plan to "expire" the building from your balance sheet within the next two years!

If you have about $30,000.00 to spare, why not invest it in a private hangar at Archerfield, like so many aircraft owners did in the past to protect their other "investment", the aircraft!

After all, it is only money and aircraft owners have plenty of that, they must have just to survive not only with the ongoing (money) battles with the regulators, but now also with the new "owners" of these previously government owned "public" airports

While Archerfield remains "quiet", the real world situation "outside" is very different

Earlier in the week, champion fighter for the "Fly for Fun and Pleasure" pilots and aircraft owners, CASA's chairman, Dick Smith, "retired" from the Board after encountering strong resistance in trying to reform Australia's airspace

Boyd Munro, another champion for private aviation and recipient of the "ORDER of the BLOCK", has released his version of events that occurred

Click HERE to view a OCR'd text view of his broadcast fax sent to this News Desk