DavidJPilkington

Last year I developed some rule change proposals for discussion and I believe that some-one submitted them so time to compare those with the last round of rule changes. Rule #1.8 still has liability insurance at $1M. That doesn't cover much damage if you think about it. They'll go after the event organisers for the rest (the event insurance policy excludes aircraft accidents). Also, insurance policies have contests as a general exclusion so perhaps the aircraft's policy isn't even valid. Personally, I would not get involved with running a contest with that approach to risk management. Rule #2.2 still does not clarify the responsibilities and authority of a safety pilot. Furthermore it allows a member of the AAC with a low level permission to be a safety pilot. The current conditions on permissions per the CAAP would seem to be contrary to this. There is nothing in the assessment for an individual's low level permission which considers riding along as safety pilot – ...

I was fortunate to be able to attend this seminar by Tony Kern today. I believe that CASA has done something extremely significant by organising this. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of pilots and engineers are able to attend. Even more unfortunately, only pilots and engineers knew about it - everyone in this country should undergo the general version of this and it must become part of secondary education. "Internationally recognised error management expert, Tony Kern will be presenting practically–focused seminars nationwide. The full-day seminars will cover: background to human error: physiology and psychology violation and error-producing conditions & countermeasures for LAMEs & pilots developing a personal safety management system (PSMS) to integrate seamlessly with organisational safety management systems flight discipline & compliance: the cornerstone of professionalism practical error management – tips & strategies for individuals. Each seminar partic...

There was plenty of free time at the National Championships at Parkes so I filled in some time by knocking up some proposed Known Sequences for Sportsman and Intermediate. There wasn't a lot of time to submit them so grabbed some Knowns from the IAC and BAeA and set to work. I have just heard that I was severely criticised for putting a downwind loop in one of those sequences. I was also told that one of the persons who criticised me actually had a downwind loop in his proposal. Furthermore, neither of my sequences had a downwind loop. Loopy!

I've watched very many memorable aerobatic displays over the years. As a kid I used to go to the RAAF Laverton displays; only much later did I meet the pilot of many of the displays I'd been watching and had an opportunity to work with Gil. Then there was Aub, who taught me aerobatics, and his displays in the Cessna Aerobat. A year in the UK in the '70s gave me the opportunity to see the Rothmans Team plus Barry and Neil. Then living in the USA (pilots' paradise) there was Greg, Patty, Sean and Bob. At local displays: Chris and Pip. Back in the eighties there was the Philips World Aerobatic Challenge with Geoff, Frank, Kermit and Eric. Can't forget Xavier or Yurgis. Who have I forgotten? I won't venture into any judgement on their relative abilities. All memorable displays. Not taking anything away from the skills that these people have demonstrated but last March, at Redcliffe in Queensland, I saw a display and just had to comment to the pilot afterwards that ...

My last blog at http://davidjpilkington.blogspot.com/ was about preparation for the National Aerobatic Championships at Easter. I've also sent some emails to a few people to start discussion about the logistics of getting there. Taking a Pitts or Decathlon with two people doesn't leave a lot of room to take luggage plus some useful stuff for the aeroplane. As usual, diddly squat response to my emails so I'll proceed with my own plans to suit myself – perhaps I'll even drive up with my wife (if the Airtourer option doesn't work out) and see what options I have for flying when I get to Parkes. My Decathlon, JIR, probably won't be going but that's another option for my wife and myself. If it does go it will, of course, be available for others to fly at the standard rate at Moorabbin. However, it would be good to get our “new” Pitts S-2A, MCR, there instead. Oxford's Pitts, SZE, will definitely be there with Rob and David taking it up. I expect that a stand...

Well, I just managed to get to the Victorian Aerobatic Championships with our “new” 1974 model Pitts S-2A. VH-MCR was formerly N20MC and was imported to Australia at the end of 2008. We did quite a bit of work on it including rebuilding much of firewall forward and tarting up the paintwork. It flew for the first time in Australia on 18/2/09 and took a few flights to get the rigging just right. I arrived at Tocumwal on Thursday, the day before the contest started so my first contest flight was also my first aerobatics in MCR as well as my first sequence in a Pitts for some time. Consequently I stayed high which, combined with the smoke from the bushfires, displeased the judges. Pitot-static problems aggravated the situation and resulted in some breaks, unnecessary in retrospect. After the contest a formation sortie with Rob in the other S-2A from Moorabbin, VH-SZE. You should see the photos from this in a future issue of the AOPA magazine. Then departed for Moorabbin with Rob and Bart i...

I've been on holidays here on the surfcoast at Torquay so plenty of time to relax and ponder. Earlier I had anounced my new year resolution: To lay low! The intent is to become less involved in organisations in which I've been active in recent years; fewer emails on the few lists that I've posted on; fewer meetings and committees. i.e. to slow down. That should make some time available for other things and near the top of my list is more flying. 2008 was the first time that I competed in all but one aerobatic contest in Australia. The one I missed was the aerobatic event at the Australian Light Aircraft Championships - they don't allow professionals so I'm not eligible. Victorian Championships in February, Nationals in April, Queensland in June and New South Wales in October. Perhaps this year there will be a contest in Western Australia - plenty of help available from some of us if need be. The Avalon Airshow is in there somewhere but I'm not interested in see...