JULY 1996
About 20 years ago, Snoopy was selling Light Aircraft for a living, married with three ankle
biters to support and barking hard
About this time keen interest was generated by the happenings in the Light Aircraft Industry,
and why it was not progressing as expected
It is very disappointing to find that things are still the same!!!
You would think the industry should have matured by now and gained valuable knowledge,
...but that's not the case!
General Aviation has not progressed over the last 20 to 30 years, compared to other sections
of our society.
For example "How old is your car"?
Snoopy was complaining 20 years ago about over-regulation, and it’s still the same
...again, nothing has changed ...Why?
Take for instance the IMC rating that AOPA tried to introduce a number of years back
The persons and/or management board/s who have control of the regulations should be honest
and at least consider themselves partly responsible for some of the Light Aircraft fatalities,
especially the one's that occurred recently
You will recall a few months back, two Light Aircraft breaking up in flight near Bundaberg
It may very well be that IF the Pilots of the aircraft that “did a Malibu”
(shed wings in flight),
were able to have an En-route IMC rating, these accidents may not have occurred?!
Snoopy’s interest is in saving lives. It should also be the aim of the regulators, without
having to resort to “Royal” airspace for themselves
If the “airspace controllers” don’t like the idea of an En-route IFR type “legal’ flight
because of.... (there is always a number of reasons), the only suggestion is to handle the
matter similar to how an Aircraft owners' problem is resolved when confronted with what may be
considered an unnecessary AD, ....fix it, or get out (sell the airplane/get out of the job)!
Give someone else a "go" who is prepared to solve the problem
With the modern technology of to-day, 'lighties’ should be able to roam the skies without a
care in the world. Modern radar (with or without transponders) must be capable of guiding the
‘heavy’ and/or IFR charter type aircraft as required
Remember, there is only a small number of aircraft on the Australian register, compared to
countries of similar proportion and standard
If this cannot be done, right now, with the current equipment, then don’t keep bashing at the
‘lightie’ pilot Bash he/she who is really responsible
Again, about 20 years ago, Snoopy paid a visit to a Air-traffic control centre in Western
USA and was intrigued by the fact that the controllers relied on the computers to alert
them to ‘conflicting traffic’
The question asked to an area controller recently, “do you have computer generated traffic
conflict warnings when operating your console”?
Guess what the answer was.? ... and remember this was as the USA system of 25 years ago
What is WRONG with this country???
To give you another similar comparison
Aircraft owners are required to renew the aircraft engine after a certain period of time,
otherwise it may become ‘unsafe’. It’s a pity this same ‘regulation’ is not applied to the
airspace guidance equipment. Yet again the ‘lightie’ aviator is forced to remain ‘safe’ at
his/her own expense
Why can’t the same be said of our airways' system, the public backbone of this country.?
In Snoopy’s’ opinion, the enviable ‘heavy’ safety record in Australia has only been achieved
at the ‘sacrifice’ of a large number of ‘lightie’ pilots and passengers, who were unable to
have all the benefits, as supplied to other members of the community, at a time when required
The ‘experts’ will argue that the pilot should not have done what he/she did, ....like fly
into cloud etc. We are all subject to error, including the weather person and forecaster.
It may very well be that at a time when the ‘system’ erred was also the time when the
‘lightie’ bought the farm, ...too afraid to ask, or refused a clearance (help) with words like:-
“clearance not available, remain outside controlled airspace”
Australia cannot afford to have anyone making decisions on aviation related matters, who are
inexperienced in aviation
This is a very “deadly” serious business
And Snoopy asks those of you who cannot comprehend all of the above, that you have the good
sense, and refrain from having a say in the management of this Aviation Industry.
Yours truly
It is Monday 12th. August 1996
The T.V. News just reported another Light Aircraft accident near Roma
The facts surrounding the accident are unknown, however the Roma area, for some strange
reason, keeps claiming aircraft by what appears to be 'low level steep turns' similar to a
steep turn onto final
Snoopy's plea ...
Don't pull 'G' close to the ground while turning ...use shallow turns only
Watch that 'G' pull ...don't roll, pull, and roll back, ....or you will be on your back
A deadly manoeuvre when you are "LOW and SLOW"!
Update
Tuesday 13, 1996
The Aircraft mentioned above did not appear to be involved in a "turn & pull" type accident.
Refer to AirCentre NEWS August'96
However the facts remain, far too many aircraft are involved in a manoeuvre resulting in a
"stall/spin" at low altitude
Stay within your (and the aircraft) limits!
Update November 27, 2003
NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM
As from November 27, 2003 the Australian airspace system has been changed based on the model now
in use in the USA
All the above mentioned problems mentioned (July 1996) with our airspace and associated procedures
that required rectification or attention have now been resolved (November 2003)
For private pilots flying VFR procedures here in OZ it has been long overdue - many lives have been
unnecessarily lost over the past 30+ years waiting for common sense to prevail from within our leaders
PLEASE NOTE
As from November 25 2004 Airservices rehashed the National Airspace System to suit their own
(and airlines) self-interest and in doing so continue to discriminate against pilots who choose to fly VFR
Aircraft operating under "Visual Flight Rules" return to the pre-November 2003 days where pilots may be advised by controllers
to "remain clear of controlled airspace" until the "Royal" IFR aircraft flying in VFR conditions clear that airspace
- Where is the common law "DUTY of CARE" (an obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing foreseeable
harm to another person or their property) for VFR aircraft operating in OZ within radar coverage!
Snoopy thanks you for taking the time to read this page
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