Changes to the system

[runway16]

For those that have been around for a while:

When did the Restricted PPL (later to called GFPT and later gain the RPL) come into being? Year?
&
What year did ASA change aerodrome prefixes from e.g. ABDV to YBDV.

I recall it went from A to Y almost overnight with little advance notice.

[GoNorth]

I have A in late 1993 and Y in 1994 in my logbook.

Exactly what month it changed is a little unclear.

[Vag277]

Airservices did not exist in 1993. Change TO COUNTRY CODE would have been instigated by ICAO, not AUSTRALIA

[topdrop]

I was still in Flight Service and instructed on the changes, so it would have to have been 1988 or earlier. The change was made as part of the change from 6 to 8 letter identifiers for aviation facilities on the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network). Sydney Tower went from ASSYZT to YSSYZTZX.

[Lead Balloon]

I don't think the location codes for aerodromes changed as early as 1988. (It might have for international flights...).

For example, the Autumn 1990 Aviation Safety Diges (https://collections.heritageoftheair.org.au/files/original/8df737a2bec8be843e12d98a38f2ed12)t quiz question 7 opens with: "You are planning a flight to Melbourne (AMML) with an ETA of 0500UTC."

I think the changes (at least for pilots filling out flight plans and getting forecasts and NOTAMS through the system) changed in around December 91?

[le Pingouin]

Definitely post 1989 as it was still "A" when I commenced FS training that year and the change was several years later - I'm plugging for 93. The AFTN changes must be what you're thinking about as they were already through in 89.

[CaptainMidnight]

Definitely post 1989 as it was still "A" when I commenced FS training that year and the change was several years later - I'm plugging for 93.
I agree with 1993 or 94.

A lady with the initials SS in the then CAA HO had the task to implement it I recall.

[Geoff Fairless]

Papua New Guinea had a sub-ICAO code of AY when it was administered by Australia. We used A followed by the FIR code such as S=Sydney, B=Brisbane. (eg Brisbane = ABBN, Sydney = ASSY)
PNG became independent on 16 Sep 1975 and retained the sub-FIR code AY (see Jackson Field, Port Moresby which is still AYPY)

I do not know when Australia decided it needed a separate code, the FS guys would have a better idea, being involved in message addressing. I would guess that it would have occurred when we updated our AFTN machinery.
I imagine that there were not many letters left so we chose Y.

[Capt Fathom]

When did the Restricted PPL (later to called GFPT and later gain the RPL) come into being? Year?


I did mine in ‘75 so it was before then.

[On Track]

I got my restricted PPL in 1991 so the GFPT must have been some time after that.

[CoodaShooda]

The Restricted PPL was the first step in 1972. Need to go further back, I guess.

[By George]

I was issued a Restricted PPL in February 1967 with the list of restrictions on page 7. (subsequently followed some months later with a large stamp across the entire page, 'RESTRICTION LIFTED').

[triadic]

What year did ASA change aerodrome prefixes from e.g. ABDV to YBDV.

I recall it went from A to Y almost overnight with little advance notice.

As above it would have been in the early 90's. There was no consultation whatsoever including the then RAPACs. The AOPA president of the day was Peter Patroni who wrote a letter to the Dept of many names setting out the situation and objecting to the way it was introduced without any consultation etc. Every word of the letter started with a "Y". I wish I still had a copy, it was a classic! From what I recall the change was instigated by Australia. By the time everyone found out about it, it was already on the books internationally and could not be changed. It was managed by a team of two, one of which was a lady and consulation was not in their manual at that time!

For info:
On 30 November 1973 the DCA merged with the Department of Shipping and Transport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Shipping_and_Transport) and became the Department of Transport (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Transport_(1972%E2%80%9382)), Air Transport Group. This group was again reformed as its own Department on 7 May 1982, the Department of Aviation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Aviation_(Australia)) (DOA). Another merger took place on 24 July 1987 when the DOA was absorbed by the Department of Transport and Communications (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Transport_and_Communications). On 1 July 1988 the Civil Aviation Authority (https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Civil_Aviation_Authority_(Australia)&action=edit&redlink=1) (CAA) was formed to control aviation safety regulation and provide air traffic services.

[Checkboard]

That's the progression of goverment attitude right there as well. :(

A "Department of ..." sees their role as promoting whatever they're department of.

An "Authority" sees their role as Ordering people working in the industry about.

A "Safety Authority" sees their role as defending public safety from those reckless arseholes in the industry, preferrably by stopping them from working at all.

[The Banjo]

I think Perth used to have it's own FIR. Thus
APDN for Darwin
APMR was Meekatharra
APGN Geraldton
APKG Kalgoorlie
APCR Carnarvon
YPAD is a throwback to those days.

etc etc

[Lead Balloon]

Yep. And YPPF

Sydney had its own FIR. Thus
YSDU
YSWG
YSBK
etc
and of course YSSY

[aroa]

The change from Department of Aviation (DOA) has certainly worked it’s way thru DOTC And CAA to the penultimate Authority CAsA…which has in fact achieved its original acronym…
DOA.. Death of Aviation.

[Ascend Charlie]

And before that it was the Dept of Civil Aviation (DCA) and now it is Dept of Uncivil "Experts", or DUNCE.

[CaptainMidnight]

I imagine that there were not many letters left so we chose Y.

True. And the reason for having to change from the "A" to "Y" (or something else) was because of the increase in ALAs & HLSs here wanting their own 4 letter code for electronic flight planning etc. There weren't enough available 3 letter suffixes remaining in the "A" series.

[Vag277]

For more background https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICAO_airport_code

[Seagull V]

To answer the first question the RPPL came into being on December 1st 1962.



While in print I will bore you all with the following story if I may.

I was training for my CPL and Instructor rating at the time. Our Club had two worthies who were rushing to get through under the old system. To avoid the new system they needed to pass their PPL flight test by November 30th and the Examiner was scheduled to visit on November 28th.

They had done all of the training required for the old system, except for the three hour solo cross country, which they were booked to fly on the Sunday 25th. However, on that day the weather really foul, so our worthy CFI, who always had an “interpretive” approach to the Regulations, decided that they should fly in company and that I should fly with one of them to keep an eye on them both.

The CFI’s rationale was that I was not yet an instructor, so it wasn’t really dual, nor could I be considered to be a passenger, so it was all perfectly legit. Right! I guess if my pilot had crashed I would have been deemed to be the PIC and would have taken the blame. Anyway we flew at very low level in poor visibility along the coast to a prominent headland and back, so effectively nil navigation value to any of us.

At one point I asked my pilot the name of the town we were approaching. He correctly identified it and when I asked him the basis of his identification, expecting a learned answer, He allowed that he recognised the Pub as it was a favourite watering hole of his.

I guess we were just pioneering ICUS (In Command Under Supervision) although in the case of the soloist’s it was more like “In Command Under Surveillance”.

[CaptainMidnight]

Great story - thank you.