Table of contents for September-October 2025 in Australian Flying

The CASA Wings Awards celebrate the achievements of outstanding individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to make general aviation (GA) better for all. Nominating only takes a few minutes and this year our winners will share in prizes valued at more than $5,500. Also, if your nomination leads to someone winning a CASA Wings Award, you’ll also receive a prize: a one-year subscription to Australian Flying magazine. NOMINATIONS CLOSE 16 NOVEMBER 2025 Winners will be announced in the March-April 2026 edition of Australian Flying. Learn more: australianflying.com.au/wings-awards PRESENTED BY SUPPORTING PARTNERS COL PAY AWARD FOR LIFETIME SERVICE TO GENERAL AVIATION This award recognises a person who has contributed significantly to general aviation over a long period. It is the highest accolade presented by The Wings Awards. Prize: Garmin…

It’s 6:00 AM in Bundaberg, and Mick Halloran, fresh off a flight from Sydney the night before, is already up, already moving. A quick pit stop for coffee and he’s en route to the heart of Australian aviation innovation: the Jabiru Aircraft factory. There are no slow starts here as Mick dives headfirst into the machine he’s helped power since taking over leadership of the company a few years ago. Jabiru didn’t begin with global ambition. It started with two men, a workshop, and a vision. In 1990, Rod Stiff and Phil Ainsworth recognised a gap in the market: Australia needed a tough, reliable light sport aircraft. What they created instead was something far greater: a global success story. From those humble beginnings in regional Queensland emerged an aircraft brand…

Of all the basic manoeuvres we perform in aeroplanes, our skill as an aviator is perhaps best measured by our ability to nail the perfect steep turn. It requires good hands, good timing and good control input to get right. At the end our reward is a little flick of the aeroplane’s tail as we cross back over our own slipstream, meaning we have arrived back at our start point in the air. All that should explain why I was so disappointed in recent my effort. Despite me rolling out on my reference point there was no little flick in the tail. My guilt was written all over the altimeter, which accused me of a 300-foot gain in altitude during the turn. Thirty minutes later the plane was back in…

To manage fuel intelligently you have to first understand the mechanics and idiosyncrasies of each aeroplane’s fuel system. If instructors don’t get it right – how the hell is everyone else going to? Cherokee instructors have a right–nay a duty–to grab the thigh of their pupils when they change tanks. You have to pull their leg away from the selector so you can see that they have done it properly. There was a recent case in the States when a Cherokee flew into a lamp pole at night. It crashed to the ground and burst into flames. Unbelievably everyone survived. It was a training flight and the pupe switched the fuel off instead of changing tanks. Methinks a sexual harassment charge for grabbing their leg is less stressful than sailing…

If you’re in Hamburg there are two must-see experiences well worth attending: the incredible Miniatur WunderLand and, for those interested in how airliners are built or aviation in general, the Airbus Factory Tour. Both experiences require booking well in advance, and both cost under 25 Euros per person, but the factory tour gives you a look behind the scenes of a modern airliner’s assembly process. The tour is not just for aviation tragics, but caters to anyone remotely interested in how airliners are built. My English language tour consisted mostly of tourists from Europe and Asia in addition to a couple of pilots and spotters, the latter being very busy noting registrations and serial numbers. Photography is, sadly, not allowed and they ask that mobile phones be turned off to…

This short article is about putting ourselves in harms way. Heard of the Swiss cheese model? Ifyouhaven’t, golook TL;DR : Humans are terrible at understanding risk. it up. It’s about layers of protection to prevent calamity. Then look at how we heat light aircraft. How many layers of metal are there between incompletely burned hydrocarbons and your blood? Potentially none. Is this one of the stupidest design decisions of all time? It’s up there. Look at aircraft that are designed in such a way that when getting close to critical angles, a pilot’s reflex to raise a dropped wing with the control they learned to use in their first ever flight, will do the opposite of expected. Look at all those avionics systems that don’t show the angle of attack.…

CASA said that it would not necessarily conduct further consultation on changes to Sydney airspace, but would consider the adequacy of the Airservices Australia consultation before implementing the proposal. Last month, Airservices Australia conducted industry engagement sessions at Bankstown Airport that revealed a lower overlying Class C level than that included in the original Airspace Change Proposal (ACP), further restricting Class G in the Sydney basin. Airservices opened consultation on the ACP via their Western Sydney International Airport engagement webpage on 20 June. A spokesperson for Airservices said the ACP would be presented to CASA by the end of this month, and detailed efforts to engage with the general aviation community. “Airservices Australia intends to submit an Airspace Change Proposal to CASA on 25 July 2025,” the spokesperson said. “Following…

The Federal Government is rethinking the project to create AusCheck as the only body able to issue Aviation Safety Identification Cards (ASIC). Almost since inception, ASICs have been issued by private sector bodies including airports, security companies and specialist organisations, with AusCheck conducting the background checks. In November 2022, the Federal Government launched a project to bring all ASIC and Maritime Security Identification Cards (MSIC) under the control of AusCheck, which was supposed to have been completed by 5 July 2025. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said last Friday that the government may not go ahead with the move. “Government is currently considering the approach to the Single Issuing Body for Aviation and Maritime Security Identification Cards (ASICs and MSICs),” the spokesperson said. “Industry will be…

As cliched as it may sound, the old expression, “Good things come in small packages”, sums up the Draco HyperSTOL aircraft to a T. Not only is the aircraft diminutive, but its take-off and landing performance is, quite simply, staggering. For a utility aircraft considered an exemplar of STOL (Short Take-off and Landing) performance, the Draco HyerSTOL aircraft provides something beyond it; hence, the prefix “hyper” before STOL, which we’ll come to. Interestingly, the Greco-Latin word for serpent or dragon is “Draco”, so the name certainly has a bite to it. And with an appearance that looks almost ungainly on the ground, with its incredibly large two forward main wheels mounted to conventional but tall fixed trailing link undercarriage struts, and accompanying toughasnails sprung tail wheel, the Draco hyperSTOL aircraft…

The motto of New York based EntireFlight is, “Aviation is a lifestyle.” The founder of the company, Brett Beachner says, “EntireFlight was created to bring the lifestyle of aviation in its entirety to the hands of pilots and enthusiasts alike. Whether it’s a weekend hobby or a lifetime career, EntireFlight is committed in providing the best products and resources, for all that love aviation. Inspired by pilots, and created for all that love aviation. We strive to be a leading aviation lifestyle brand.” This above mentioned approach is well and truly demonstrated by the “created by pilots, for pilots,” spot-on nature of the company’s products, which include: flight pads; pilot bags; kneeboards; flight computers, and the just launched children’s aviation themed game, “Aircraft Carrier Pursuit.” Beachner says “We’d like to…

Aircraft: De Havilland DHC-2 Mk.1 (Beaver), C-FZVP Site: Gold River Water, British Columbia Date: 28 July 2023 HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT The aircraft was conducting a VFR repositioning flight from Louie Bay on Nootka Island, British Columbia (BC), to Gold River Water Aerodrome (CAU6), BC with only the pilot on board. On arrival, the pilot noted a rough sea state in the company’s primary landing area and elected to land in the secondary area, a tree-lined river to the east of the base. The aircraft was seen overflying the dock to the north and then turning right, aligning with the southwest direction of the river. When descending on the alignment turn to the final approach, the aircraft experienced an uncommanded yaw and roll. It abruptly turned further right, heading west,…

Airservices Australia will submit an Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) that advocates lowering the base of the Sydney Class C steps from 2500 to 1500 feet. The change is contained in an industry briefing paper made public late last month detailing proposed changes to the airspace around Sydney triggered by the opening of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). The new Class C base was not included in the December 2023 briefing paper, and comes after Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, authorised the preliminary airspace and approach path designs for WSI in early June. “Airservices has revised the controlled airspace layout and where safety permits, proposed to reduce the volume of airspace to the minimum extent required to safely operate the Sydney Basin,” Airservices states in…

Australia’s leading aerobatic pilot, Paul Bennet, has been invited to perform at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in the United States, making him the first Australian to fly at the prestigious global aviation event. Recognised as a titan of the skies, Paul Bennet will showcase his gravity-defying precision in the Wolf Pitts Pro, the only aircraft of its kind flying in the world. The custom built biplane is capable of reaching speeds up to 414km/hr and withstanding +12/-10G forces, allowing Paul to perform manoeuvres no other pilot in Australia can match. The 51-year-old’s love of aeroplanes began as soon as he could walk, taking his first flight as a toddler with his pilot father and went on to get his pilot’s license at the age of 20 before winning prestigious aviation championships…

When “average” pilots fly with test pilots, or experienced instructors, they can be in awe. Doing something often, you tend to get good at it. Australian Flying asked several of the best fixed and rotary wing instructors in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA, for their top tips to help pilots go from good to great. Staying alive, returning to loved ones California based instructor Jason Miller, with over10,000 hours of instruction given, is a member of the FAA Safety Team, an instructor for AOPA’s Air Safety Institute and was named by the FAA as the Western Pacific CFI of the year in 2009 and 2016. His Finer Points Aviation Podcast, and Finer Points App, derived from real flight training experience, teach and elaborate on many of his secrets to…

Australian Flying last reviewed the Piper Seminole PA-44 in June 2013. John Absolon reported that a new one, with a Garmin G500 panel, cost around A$740,000. In our Jan-Feb 2023 issue, under the title “Keeping it Together”, Steve Hitchen wrote about asymmetric flight, using the Seminole as a test bed. Aircraft prices have near doubled in the last 12 years, but so has the quality of the standard avionics; the cost is now around A$1.1 m. The Seminole is now sold with the Garmin G1000 NXi system, including the integrated GFC 700 autopilot, making it timely to take a fresh look at this popular trainer. In 2024 Piper delivered 291 aircraft, a near 20% increase over 2023. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Shipment Report for 2024, reveals that Piper…

Have you ever left a pitot cover over a pitot tube and then attempted a take off? I have. “Oh, shit!”, are the first words uttered, while you contemplate how to get back to the runway and make a safe landing. I had put a newly acquired cover over the pitot tube to prevent it from getting blocked by insects, such as wasps building their dream home. Oh well, best laid plans, like good intentions, sometimes get misplaced. Regardless, on that day, I found myself in the air and flying. When I took a peek inside at the airspeed indicator and to my amazement, the indication was pointing vertically, or no hint of any airspeed. “Oh, Shit! Don’t panic”, I told myself. Because I was climbing to depart to 1,000…

Heliflite recently hosted a Leonardo AW09 marketing event, in conjunction with Italian company, Leonardo, for prospective Australian customers at its Bankstown Airport base. The event was organised to raise awareness of the new Leonardo AW09 single-engine, multi-role helicopter, which is being billed as the most versatile and advanced helicopter in its class when it enters service. Capable of seating up to eight passengers and featuring rear clamshell doors, a distinctive five-bladed main rotor and a shrouded tail rotor, the AW09 will be powered by a Safran Arriel 2K engine and come equipped with a state-of-the-art Garmin G3000H avionics suite. Prospective buyers were able to view a mock-up AW09 cabin in detail, which also appeared at the Avalon Airshow this year, as well as ask Heliflite staff detailed questions about the…

Each aircraft has a language and it will tell you when you are about to depart controlled flight. That insight was one of many delivered at a recent RAAA regional roadshow where loss of control was a hot topic of discussion. The essential issue is, of course, how pilots react when they are sent signals they are about to depart controlled flight. For the vast majority of people, the initial response will be to be startled and surprised. This basic human reaction to an unexpected and threatening event is a version of flight or fight and it comes from way back in our evolution. Understanding and managing startle and surprise is a key skill that every pilot should have, and falls under the heading of human factors training. Quite a…

General aviation safety comes second to the safety of commercial aviation and the non-participating public on the ground. Although that may sound like a cynical, provocative statement, it’s actually a fair overview of how safety regulation in Australia is prioritised. But that paradigm doesn’t contain a franchise for GA pilots to fly unsafely; there is still an expectation and a duty of care on us. All that it says is that CASA needs to put the resources where it will have the greatest impact on safety. In Australian aviation history, we have perhaps never seen a better example of commercial aviation safety taking a precedence over GA, with the redesign of Sydney’s airspace to oblige Western Sydney International. Bankstown has lost its very busy training area, much of the Class…