Light Twin down 60km north of MEL
Join Date: May 2003
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A sad day for aviation in Australia. I had the pleasure of working for Steve and knowing his family. My heart felt condolences go out to his family and friends and the team at GAM's. My condoleces also to the family and friends of the pilot.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/...tion=australia
"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Alex Hood says several parts of the plane were found some distance from the fuselage."
I know it's early days - but this is sounding a bit like the one in Tas a couple of years back.
Di
"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's Alex Hood says several parts of the plane were found some distance from the fuselage."
I know it's early days - but this is sounding a bit like the one in Tas a couple of years back.
Di
Interesting Web Site, Aero Commander History.
http://www.twincommander.com/historical_outline.htm
These aircraft have been flying for more than 50 years, it appears both aircraft i.e. the one in Tasmania and Victoria were lost in similar weather conditions, perhaps these aircraft are due for retirement and put to bed. When does CASA place restrictions on these ageing aircraft or do we have to loose a few more with more loss of life before something is done?
Why does CASA allow Aero Commanders and their ageing brother the PA31 to operate night freight down to Tasmania flying in atrocious weather conditions, with no radar, no de-icing equipment, auto-pilots rudimentary at best and a lot of the time at max operating weight?
My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.
http://www.twincommander.com/historical_outline.htm
These aircraft have been flying for more than 50 years, it appears both aircraft i.e. the one in Tasmania and Victoria were lost in similar weather conditions, perhaps these aircraft are due for retirement and put to bed. When does CASA place restrictions on these ageing aircraft or do we have to loose a few more with more loss of life before something is done?
Why does CASA allow Aero Commanders and their ageing brother the PA31 to operate night freight down to Tasmania flying in atrocious weather conditions, with no radar, no de-icing equipment, auto-pilots rudimentary at best and a lot of the time at max operating weight?
My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Lara, VIC.
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Stressed Aero Commanders
I was in Hobart a few years ago. The people from TASAIR were still very effected by the loss of their Aero Commander which they believed disintergrated in flight in very turbulent conditions
I heard that in their early life many Aero Commanders were overloaded unwittingly due to an error in their Weight and Balance Charts. Said error was later corrected but one wonders what damage was done to theses aircraft earlier in their lives.
I understand they are much loved by those who fly them. I think they look great too.
Really tragic to hear of the loss. I had that sick feeling in my gut last night when I heard that this AC was suspected to have crashed.
I heard that in their early life many Aero Commanders were overloaded unwittingly due to an error in their Weight and Balance Charts. Said error was later corrected but one wonders what damage was done to theses aircraft earlier in their lives.
I understand they are much loved by those who fly them. I think they look great too.
Really tragic to hear of the loss. I had that sick feeling in my gut last night when I heard that this AC was suspected to have crashed.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...647931749.html
"Safety authorities believe the plane was almost vertical when it hit the ground, spreading wreckage over 700 metres from the point of impact."
I agree about the media pushing the wind factor. We fly in wind every day, it's the difference between being a pilot and being a truckie.
"Safety authorities believe the plane was almost vertical when it hit the ground, spreading wreckage over 700 metres from the point of impact."
I agree about the media pushing the wind factor. We fly in wind every day, it's the difference between being a pilot and being a truckie.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Condolences to the families involved. Like trashie said he gave many people their first introduction into Aviation. Who would have thought it would have ended this way for him.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Adelaide
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Steve, You are a great figure in the Australian Aviation Industry.You have employed countless Pilots, Engineers and Ops staff in the industry and always conducted yourself in a professional manner. You worked bloody hard in a stressful environment for many years and its a real pity that you didnt get time to slow down and enjoy life after all the work you have done. My thoughts are with your family and I thank you for all you have done for myself and many others. You will be dearly missed as the "Shrike Guru", yesterday GA lost one of its most well known icons.
RIP Notty.
The D
RIP Notty.
The D
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Like many on here, I had the privilege of working for Steve and was given many opportunities to fulfill my dreams. His amazing knowledge, enthusiasm and professional manner will remain with me, rest in peace.
God bless
God bless
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I had the pleasure of working for Steve for three years, He is an icon and an institution in the Australian aviation industry. He will never be forgotten.
Condolences to Steve's family and to that of the pilot.
Condolences to Steve's family and to that of the pilot.
Join Date: Jan 2005
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While many of you know Steve, who has been in the industry for years, not everyone will know JJ - she was a beautiful girl, she put her heart and soul into her work, her friends and her family.
My deepest sympathies go out to her partner, her parents, and her family and friends.
RIP.
My deepest sympathies go out to her partner, her parents, and her family and friends.
RIP.
Join Date: Feb 2000
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I first knew JJ from the old days of PPRuNe chat around 1998-99, when the chat room was alive with Go Girl, Reddo, Raven, Hugh Jarse, Turbulent Eddy, Jazzi, Kapton Kaos, Apache, Compressor Stall, Monte, HOTAS, kfras, Disco Stu, Thermal Bandit, Gaunty, Capt Claret, VNE of course and several others. We would get together when our charters or other work trips lined up.
I think she met her partner through that group but I could be wrong.
Lost touch for several years but she was my Sim buddy in the Rex interview back in March.
See ya JJ.
I think she met her partner through that group but I could be wrong.
Lost touch for several years but she was my Sim buddy in the Rex interview back in March.
See ya JJ.
Last edited by Bendo; 1st Aug 2007 at 10:29.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Steve gave me my first full time flying job, my first paid holidays, after many years of bum bosses. He was and will always be the best boss I ever had!!!
JJ you were the biggest character on the field, a little pocket rocket always full of energy and gusto.
I will miss both of you. I wish my deepest sympathy and condolences to both families.
Primal
JJ you were the biggest character on the field, a little pocket rocket always full of energy and gusto.
I will miss both of you. I wish my deepest sympathy and condolences to both families.
Primal
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Very sad news. Condolances to Steve's family they must be devastated. Also to JJ's family you have all my sympathy's. She could talk a leg off an old chair if she wanted to but she had finally worked herself into a position to step up into an airline job. Such a shame she will never get there.
Having worked with Gam's a few years back I soon realised Steve was a freak of an engineer. An intimidating man with an amazing amount of knowledge. His work ethic was second to none and that's why he was aboard that Shrike to shep and not one of the other 20 guys he could have sent. He was a great bloke to some but could be very unfair to others. After all at the end of the day he was a business man and there was money to make.
Like most of us know GA is tough game. Many times I pondered how CASA would treat the GAM organisation as "better the devil I know". They would rather have 3 dozens shrikes out there than a mix of clapped out chieftans, aztecs, and c310's. These aircraft fly over loaded, the pilots are overworked (fms), underpaid and those Shrikes by some miracle have the cleanist mr's in the counrty. It will be interesting to see how much spine CASA an show with this unfortunate accident. I suggest they start with pilot duty hours.
RIP JJ
RIP Steve
Having worked with Gam's a few years back I soon realised Steve was a freak of an engineer. An intimidating man with an amazing amount of knowledge. His work ethic was second to none and that's why he was aboard that Shrike to shep and not one of the other 20 guys he could have sent. He was a great bloke to some but could be very unfair to others. After all at the end of the day he was a business man and there was money to make.
Like most of us know GA is tough game. Many times I pondered how CASA would treat the GAM organisation as "better the devil I know". They would rather have 3 dozens shrikes out there than a mix of clapped out chieftans, aztecs, and c310's. These aircraft fly over loaded, the pilots are overworked (fms), underpaid and those Shrikes by some miracle have the cleanist mr's in the counrty. It will be interesting to see how much spine CASA an show with this unfortunate accident. I suggest they start with pilot duty hours.
RIP JJ
RIP Steve
Join Date: Mar 2006
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There are so many experts out there that know the intricate workings of every business that operates a crashed aircraft.
Mr. Westking, your lack of previous posts somewhat degrades your statement on duty hours and "clean" MR's. Hardly an appropriate forum for the airing of your concerns.
I wonder why none of the experts have noticed that the gear was down? Was the gear down in Tassie? No. Not all that similar eh?
Mr. Westking, your lack of previous posts somewhat degrades your statement on duty hours and "clean" MR's. Hardly an appropriate forum for the airing of your concerns.
I wonder why none of the experts have noticed that the gear was down? Was the gear down in Tassie? No. Not all that similar eh?
Mba747
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QNH ..
I noticed the gear down as well, the only reason I can think that one would put the gear down in flight is to try and slow down, perhaps the wx may have been involved after all.
Condolences to family and all.
BTW, you just never expect a guy as large as Steve not be there...it will take a whole lot of getting used to.
I noticed the gear down as well, the only reason I can think that one would put the gear down in flight is to try and slow down, perhaps the wx may have been involved after all.
Condolences to family and all.
BTW, you just never expect a guy as large as Steve not be there...it will take a whole lot of getting used to.
Join Date: Nov 2005
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Not sure if this is the time or place for this, but…. According to the ATSB report, the most likely cause of the Tasair accident is that the PIC had received insufficient training, on the part of the operator, on the various types of autopilots TASAIR had installed on their Aero Commanders. As a result it wasn’t disengaged correctly and resulted in a trim runaway type situation. The end result was a negative G overstress. It will be interesting to read the preliminary on this accident.
Condolences to all those affected by this accident.
Condolences to all those affected by this accident.