'Cowboy' pilot flies to catch plane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Perth
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'Cowboy' pilot flies to catch plane
I'm surprised this news hasn't made it to pprune as yet. 
Source: Ninemsn.com.au
"Magistrate Joe Pinder said while there was no evidence of any flaws in Acton's flying skills"
I wonder how the magistrate came to this conclusion?
A "cowboy" unlicensed pilot who flew his unregistered ultralight aircraft to a busy airport without landing clearance in order to catch a commercial flight has been fined $17,500.
Kenneth William Acton, 52, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to multiple counts of flying unlicensed and unregistered over a three month period in 2007.
The majority of the offences were at isolated locations, generally landing at private properties across far north and northwest Queensland.
The court heard the most serious offence occurred on July 3, 2007, when Acton used a public road at Gordonvale, south of Cairns, to fly to Cairns Airport where he was due to depart on a commercial flight.
The Charters Towers man landed at the airport without approval, in the process delaying one aircraft about to take off and another preparing to land.
Magistrate Joe Pinder said while there was no evidence of any flaws in Acton's flying skills, his actions had put other aircraft and the public at risk.
"You are nothing short of a cowboy," he said.
He fined Acton $17,500 to be paid within 12 months.
Kenneth William Acton, 52, pleaded guilty in Cairns Magistrates Court to multiple counts of flying unlicensed and unregistered over a three month period in 2007.
The majority of the offences were at isolated locations, generally landing at private properties across far north and northwest Queensland.
The court heard the most serious offence occurred on July 3, 2007, when Acton used a public road at Gordonvale, south of Cairns, to fly to Cairns Airport where he was due to depart on a commercial flight.
The Charters Towers man landed at the airport without approval, in the process delaying one aircraft about to take off and another preparing to land.
Magistrate Joe Pinder said while there was no evidence of any flaws in Acton's flying skills, his actions had put other aircraft and the public at risk.
"You are nothing short of a cowboy," he said.
He fined Acton $17,500 to be paid within 12 months.
"Magistrate Joe Pinder said while there was no evidence of any flaws in Acton's flying skills"
I wonder how the magistrate came to this conclusion?
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Live in Taupiri, Waikato, work in the big smoke, New Zealand
Posts: 545
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Didn't you know that all magistrates are also either flying instructors or testing officers, and at least aviation experts!
Sprucegoose
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hughes Point, where life is great! Was also resident on page 13, but now I'm lost in Cyberspace....
Age: 59
Posts: 3,485
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Well all pilots are expert business executives, judges, lawyers, accountants, HR managers, the list goes on...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some "Cowboy" he doesn't have a Cowboy Hat !
Photo here:
Sky high fine for 'cowboy' Cairns pilot- Local Cairns News | cairns.com.au
Photo here:
Sky high fine for 'cowboy' Cairns pilot- Local Cairns News | cairns.com.au
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mr Bovey said his client (Acton), a mechanic, ran a boarding house for miners at Charters Towers which had been hit hard by the financial crisis, and was in the process of setting up a mechanical workshop in the town.
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Darwin
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Similar thing happened at YPJT . A guy flew into JT in his 182 . No radio , did not adhear to GAAP procedures, No idea of CCT TFC ect . Taxied upto a flying school and asked for a Pilot license. Sure they said we have a 172, 152 .... No no no he says i have my own plane its right out there a 182 When quized how it got here the schools staff nearly fell over !!! When they told him that you can't fly around willy nilly without a license and without knowing the rules, he scoffed got in his plane and took off with no regard to procedures or other traffic!
Heard second hand but im sure someone else out there knows of the story ...
Heard second hand but im sure someone else out there knows of the story ...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Even if the truth is stretched a little those kinds of stories make for good reading.
I'm aware of one (truth or story I don't know) a while back where an elderly gent flew down from QLD to Albury but missed Albury and set his sights on Tullamarine once the cloud cleared thinking that it was Albury. He proceeded to join for a circuit after they hurriedly re-directed everything around him with no radio calls. He probably just thought the Albury tower was closed and wondered why he could hear circuit traffic at Melton on the same frequency.
I'm aware of one (truth or story I don't know) a while back where an elderly gent flew down from QLD to Albury but missed Albury and set his sights on Tullamarine once the cloud cleared thinking that it was Albury. He proceeded to join for a circuit after they hurriedly re-directed everything around him with no radio calls. He probably just thought the Albury tower was closed and wondered why he could hear circuit traffic at Melton on the same frequency.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Aust
Posts: 378
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I dont know that story inparticular, but I have a similar one. When I was instructing, I had a student from the outback rock up wanting to do a PPL. He had just purchased an aircraft that he was going to use for mustering and other station duties. Well as a typical intstructor I said "mate your a natural. Been spending a bit of time on flight sim have you?". His response flawed me.
"Nah mate, been flying for about 13 years". I asked him out of curiousity's sake why bother now, and he claimed it is now his aircraft and the insurance company required him to be licensed
Its always the insurance mob
"Nah mate, been flying for about 13 years". I asked him out of curiousity's sake why bother now, and he claimed it is now his aircraft and the insurance company required him to be licensed
Its always the insurance mob
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Mel-burn
Posts: 4,875
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I remember being in a flying school at Moorabbin when a guy flew in in the dark (pitch black) and enquired about getting a night rating. The lovely female instructor commented on him having just flown in and asked what his landing was like. He replied "bumpy."
surely these stories are BS?
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YSHT
Age: 56
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At least he had the sense to land on a station somewhere because he was running outta light. raaus should kick him out of the federationf for spoiling it for every one else
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: in the classroom of life
Age: 55
Posts: 6,864
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Yeah Right!
Just like the lunatic doing illegal aeros, in the CCT area and dogfighting another RAA in close prox, and who was reported by a CFI to the RAA, and he asked me to confirm some details etc.....
Neither of us ever heard a word back..... not even a thank you we will be investigating. No further questions at all.
Maybe he pleaded guilty as charged......... but I see he is still flying, and probably not trained and endorsed........
Just like the lunatic doing illegal aeros, in the CCT area and dogfighting another RAA in close prox, and who was reported by a CFI to the RAA, and he asked me to confirm some details etc.....
Neither of us ever heard a word back..... not even a thank you we will be investigating. No further questions at all.
Maybe he pleaded guilty as charged......... but I see he is still flying, and probably not trained and endorsed........
I have heard one about a bloke who used to fly out of Moruya. Apparently he flew with the RAF or RAAF during the war.
After the war he apparently refused to get a civilian licence and contiued flying his own aircraft, often 'boucing' other pilots out of the sun!
He is said to have died in the 1980s.
After the war he apparently refused to get a civilian licence and contiued flying his own aircraft, often 'boucing' other pilots out of the sun!
He is said to have died in the 1980s.
And another one
About 1974
Flew his 172 ( might have been 182 ) all the way from near the Kimberley's to Dalby SE Qld.
He was picked up there and brought to AF to learn to fly.
Did so without much effort but the exams were a pain for him.
Licence in hand and home he went!
He made the national news for something completely different a few years later.
About 1974
Flew his 172 ( might have been 182 ) all the way from near the Kimberley's to Dalby SE Qld.
He was picked up there and brought to AF to learn to fly.
Did so without much effort but the exams were a pain for him.
Licence in hand and home he went!
He made the national news for something completely different a few years later.
.................you don't need to be licensed to be a pilot but you need to be a pilot to be licensed!
I see Harry Houdini is being celebrated next March (2010) right here in Vic (Diggers Rest) for being the first man to pilot a heavier than air craft here from Aussie soil (well I think he was but am willing to be corrected). Did he have a license? ..................nope but he had the "right stuff"
I;d say there are many 'pilot's out there in our outback that have had little to no formal flying training. It's not difficult to learn to fly the difficulty is to stay alive whilst doing it
Wmk2
I see Harry Houdini is being celebrated next March (2010) right here in Vic (Diggers Rest) for being the first man to pilot a heavier than air craft here from Aussie soil (well I think he was but am willing to be corrected). Did he have a license? ..................nope but he had the "right stuff"
I;d say there are many 'pilot's out there in our outback that have had little to no formal flying training. It's not difficult to learn to fly the difficulty is to stay alive whilst doing it
Wmk2
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Sydney
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is not rocket science. A little bit of physics and maths and I mean a little teenie weenie bit, a bit of hand eye coordination and a bit of common sense.
Any decent station hand would be more than capable. The license bit is just a justification for CASA and raa existence.
Any decent station hand would be more than capable. The license bit is just a justification for CASA and raa existence.