AirSport_Jan15

CHAPTER CHATTERCHAPTER CHATTERWESTERN AUSTRALIAMEBOURNECHAPTER 16 : SERPENTINEA number of SABC members attended a two-day Rotax maintenancecourse held at Serpentine over the weekend of November 1-2. Althoughthe course was hosted by SABC, it was a multi-cultural affair as thenine attendees included representatives from the Superlight AircraftClub (SLACWA) based at Bindoon, RA-Aus, SAAA Chpt 16 and SABC.The course was run by Kev and Carole MacNally, who are basedin SE Queensland. Kev is a former RAF, Saudi Air Force , and RAAFHornet AME as well as a keen P&M Quik trike pilot. He is also an iRMT(Independent Rotax Maintenance Technician), LSRM (Light SportRepairman Maintenance) and the HGFA WM (Weightshift Microlight)Technical Officer, specialising in the popular Rotax two and four-strokeengines. Carole is also a former aircraft maintenance technician, havingpreviously worked on Jaguar aircraft in the RAF.cross-section of HGFA, RA-Aus and SAAA members with their diverserange of interests and aircraft to get together informally over the twodays and compare notes, as well as gain a better understanding of theirrespective organisation’s differing rules and regulations. Kev and Carolealready have a number of people from southwest WA on their waitinglist, so it is quite likely that they will be visiting this part of WA againnext year.. Rob MelisCHAPTER 21 : Hosts National Council andAGMsHON. NATIONAL SECRETARYOn December 6 National Council descended on Melbourne forthe first of our chapter-hosted meetings. This is a new initiative todevelop a closer relationship between National Council and theChapters, and ultimately the members of SAAA.President Jarrod Clowes had floated the idea at a Chapter Presidents’meeting in September. Stuart Trist was brave enough to offer to bethe first to try the experiment, and Chapter 21 took on the task.Many thanks to everyone who welcomed us into their homes anddrove us around. Thanks to Bruce Towns for providing the meetingvenue. Well done Stuart for organising it all!comply with the 2012 Act governing incorporated associations. Themembers voted to accept this.There was also discussion regarding the purchase of property atNarromine. That idea was rejected in favour of leasing.Ausfly AGM: the main business of this meeting was to propose tomembers that we wind up the association. It was formed originallywith the idea that other groups would join with SAAA to run theevent and invest in it. That didn’t happen, and there was a lot ofunnecessary accounting for funds transferred between SAAA and SAF.Since SAF has not made any money and is becoming an administrativeburden, it was decided to wind up the association and make the Ausflyevent a cost centre of SAAA. Members voted to accept this. Despiterumours, please be assured that it is only the incorporated associationthat is being dissolved – NOT the Ausfly event!Since retiring a few years ago, the husband and wife team have travelledacross Australia, delivering their HGFA endorsed courses. So far theyhave delivered 20 courses in the various States. This time in WA theyheld courses at Exmouth, Bunbury (2) and Serpentine. They will travelto wherever there is sufficient interest plus a suitable venue in returnfor payment of their expenses, so consequently course costs varydepending on location and the number of attendees (limited to eightper course). Awareness of the availability of the courses has beenspreading slowly, mainly by word-of-mouth, so although officiallyretired, the demand on their spare time has been steadily increasing.The Serpentine course was arranged as a last minute addition to theirrecent Exmouth and Bunbury tour, so the cost per person was a veryreasonable $180. They even supplied the tea, coffee and biscuits.The 16 hour course was a mix of comprehensive classroom lectures andaudio-visual presentations, covering the correct care, operation andmaintenance of the engines, combined with hands-on practical sessionsto give participants the opportunity to both observe and practice theirskills at lock-wiring, leak-down testing and carburettor adjustment andpneumatic balancing. Kim Burge trailered his 1996 Rotax 503 poweredEdge trike down for the occasion, and Bo Hannington and Rob Melismade their Foxbat and RV-12 aircraft available for classroom practice.Both are powered by the ubiquitous 912 ULS. Bo’s aircraft is the only VHregistered homebuilt Foxbat in Australia, and SABC president and SAAANational Secretary, Shirley Harding , is currently building an RV-12.At the conclusion of the 16 hour course all nine participants werepresented with HGFA WM/Rotax Maintenance Course CompletionCertificates. Although each person came to the course with widelydiffering degrees of previous Rotax experience, all came away with amuch better understanding of the correct and (sometimes previouslyincorrect) engine operation and maintenance tools, techniques andmanufacturer’s requirements. It was also a good opportunity for aThe Serpentine crewShIrley and BoStuart and his team provided transport from the airport, hosts whoprovided accommodation in their homes, and a meeting venue. Thisnot only saved the association a considerable amount of money,but allowed National Council members to form new friendships andnetwork with members.This worked very well, so we are planning to do the same for ourNational Council meeting in March, hosted by the Sydney Chapters.I’m really looking forward to meeting as many members as possible inthe Sydney area.As for the meetings in Melbourne – I have sent everyone an emailwith the results, but I will recap briefly.SAF AGM: the main business at this meeting was to adopt a new setof Rules in place of our old and outdated Constitution. The new RulesDOHADOHA CHAPTER : Doha DaffodilsAt the end of November 2014 the Doha Chapter had a small gatheringto say farewell to their resident TC. After two years in Qatar, I’mmoving to a new life in Singapore, which will hopefully allow memuch more time back in Perth to complete my RV 12.I did a TC inspection on John Sinclair’s RV 7 wings. John has madegreat progress and displays a very high level of workmanship. John’snegotiations with the local authorities have resulted in probably thefirst RV on the Qatari register.I also had the opportunity to look at the rudder of a Fokker DR 1Triplane being built by Dave Limmer and Steve Jenkins. This is a kit fromAirdrome Aeroplanes. Dave and Steve are making some modificationsSAAA SGM: the business of this meeting was to adopt a new set ofRules to replace the existing Constitution, matching the rules adoptedby SAF. This brings the two associations into alignment with the samerequirements for notices of meetings etc. and will make administrationmuch easier. It also ensures that SAAA Rules are compliant with theAct. Members voted to accept this.National Council meeting: NC invited members to sit in on themeeting, enabling them to observe the way we do business, andcontribute to the discussion.I hope this transparent and inclusive way of running the Associationwill help to assure members that the current National Council has thebest interests of members in mind, and members are encouraged tointeract with us and help us achieve our goals. Shirley Hardingfrom the original plan,beefing up the waysome of the joints areconstructed. Wouldn’tit be an amazingsight to see a vintageTriplane flying overthe ultra-modernskyline of Doha?!I am sad to leave the Sandy Chapter andthe wonderful people who seem to be able to make almost anythinghappen. We will keep in touch.Looking ahead – is anyone building in Singapore and in need of anSAAA TC? Shirley Harding36 AIRSPORT SAAA – THE HOME OF AUSTRALIAN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT AIRSPORT 37