January 20 2006
The Darwin based aircraft charter company Hardy Aviation's Beechcraft B58 Baron impacted the ground approaching the McArthur River Mine airstrip 700 kilometres south-east of Darwin around 0930hrs Thursday
 
On board the light-twin along with the pilot was a Perth based North Australian Diamond's 47-year-old field officer - an air search located the overturned aircraft 2km from the airstrip - all on board were deceased

 

News Desk Comment

Dick Smith went on national TV recently to alert the general public that there was something amiss with the safety aspects of professional aircraft pilots and training that focussed on procedural issues rather than aircraft systems management - for previous reports start HERE
 
This accident and even the recent "Skydive" incident only adds fuel to Dick's debate on the current standard of training for commercial pilots - especially in the area of aircraft and engine handling management

January 16 2006
A Piper Cherokee en-route from Coolangatta to Warnervale late Sunday ran into bad weather only a few miles short of the destination - the pilot the only person on board - considered it necessary to force land rather than risk returning to an airport in deteriorating weather and fading-light conditions
 
The PA-28-180 landed on the beach near Noraville north of Sydney - the pilot was helped by local fishermen in rescuing his machine from the water

 
The Gold Coast based aircraft sustained minor salt-water damage - the 49-year-old pilot emerged unscathed
 

News Desk Comment

A familiar and classic case of a VFR aircraft low on fuel and remaining light running into bad weather only a few miles short of the destination
 
The pilot made a wise decision based on the fact that light would have been fading fast and any other choice was a gamble for survival

January 15 2006
Overseas media make mention that "AOPA Australia believes that up to 1,500 pilots will be grounded by the new regulations and the government has already warned members that anyone who flies without going through the recently mandated background checks is breaking the law"

"...some pilots contend the bureaucratic nightmare is also a waste of time and effort - the security checks done for the ASIC pass are the same as those done for the existing AVID (Aviation Identification) pass which you need when you get your (general aviation) pilot's license so it's doubling up"