Secret Unicom Trial at Hervey Bay
I suspect that for many of us VFR's in Australia, the Telstra 3G mobile phone network has made the Unicom idea largely obsolete. Particularly for a person in DF's capacity. It's wise perhaps to know a reliable person at your destination and ring them before or enroute for WX etc? Outback hotel and motel proprietors sure know whether it is raining, overcast or if there's a cyclone on the way.
CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS 1988 - REG 120 Weather reports not to be used if not made with authority
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And if you don't want to run into a hill when your GPS position gets corrupted, install a TAWS.
Technology replacing unreliable humans
Sorry for the thread drift (daydreaming about the good ol days of follow me vans)...If'n I was the big Cheese I'd go for the option that gives free minties!
Last edited by Alistair; 12th Jun 2015 at 06:56. Reason: do i have to have one?
Man Bilong Balus long PNG
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for the option that gives free minties!
Re your comments on Technology; I for one am becoming more and more sceptical with those who seemingly believe that new technology will make us all safer and more `effecient.`
I once read a comment that went along the lines of
`You can never make a machine so smart that some jerk won`t be too dumb to run it.`
`You can never make a machine so smart that some jerk won`t be too dumb to run it.`
DF.
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Pilots forces to weather cloudy service on Lord Howe Island
Are AsA and CASA in cahoots to actively reduce safety at non towered airports? This is mindless stupidity. It is almost incomprehensible that anyone would resist having a Unicom service.
The US system uses AWIS and ASOS for weather information at uncontrolled airfiields which any Unicom operator can read out on the radio. As I experienced on many occasions both as a Unicom operator and an RPT pilot in the US the automated weather cannot do many things that a human can.
-Inform a pilot if a snow or rain squall line is approaching the airport.
-Inform a pilot that visibility is unlimited in one direction but reduced in the other.
-inform a pilot of the runway condition (wet/dry/contaminated)
- The previous aircraft landed with airframe icing.
-Sea fog observed nearby.
-Flock of birds observed feeding near threshold.
I used to be employed as a refueler at an FBO situated at an uncontrolled airfield the US Rocky Mountains. As just one of many staff who would answer pilot requests on the Unicom for an 'airfield advisory', I could answer any question a pilot might have that would aid their decision making particularly when weather was adverse.
I can assure readers that both as an RPT pilot and Unicom operator in the US, the information that can be gained from simple human observations was invaluable. Why are our authorities actively thwarting implementation this cheap safety addition in Australia?
For those pilots like Bloggs who don't believe in this measure. NO PROBLEM, when the Unicoms finally make it to our shores, Dont ask for a field advisory. Its that simple.
Are AsA and CASA in cahoots to actively reduce safety at non towered airports? This is mindless stupidity. It is almost incomprehensible that anyone would resist having a Unicom service.
The US system uses AWIS and ASOS for weather information at uncontrolled airfiields which any Unicom operator can read out on the radio. As I experienced on many occasions both as a Unicom operator and an RPT pilot in the US the automated weather cannot do many things that a human can.
-Inform a pilot if a snow or rain squall line is approaching the airport.
-Inform a pilot that visibility is unlimited in one direction but reduced in the other.
-inform a pilot of the runway condition (wet/dry/contaminated)
- The previous aircraft landed with airframe icing.
-Sea fog observed nearby.
-Flock of birds observed feeding near threshold.
I used to be employed as a refueler at an FBO situated at an uncontrolled airfield the US Rocky Mountains. As just one of many staff who would answer pilot requests on the Unicom for an 'airfield advisory', I could answer any question a pilot might have that would aid their decision making particularly when weather was adverse.
I can assure readers that both as an RPT pilot and Unicom operator in the US, the information that can be gained from simple human observations was invaluable. Why are our authorities actively thwarting implementation this cheap safety addition in Australia?
For those pilots like Bloggs who don't believe in this measure. NO PROBLEM, when the Unicoms finally make it to our shores, Dont ask for a field advisory. Its that simple.
Incredible. See the front page of The Australian today.
MJBOW2, you cannot be serious?
Pilots forces to weather cloudy service on Lord Howe Island
Add to Dick's list of the evil empire one Sir Angus Houston. "Not available for comment" is right. Is there isn't anybody left?
NO PROBLEM, when the Unicoms finally make it to our shores, Dont ask for a field advisory. Its that simple.
The reality is that it is you guys who are living in the past... not forgetting that we had world-class Flight Service Stations at all the major regional airports until Dick shut them down...
Gotta hand it to you guys though... front page of the WE Oz two weeks in a row... impressive, or is it a slow-news weekend(s)?
Occasionally I ask my company compatriots already on the ground in Bullamakanka for an appraisal of the situation.
There's an admission of serial criminal behavior by good ol' Bloggsie and his criminal (sorry, professional) mates.
CASA, where are you, or is your attention limited to putting the Unicom operator at Lord Howe out of business.
From personal experience, I think the service at both Lord Howe and Norfolk is excellent, and much appreciated.
Tootle pip!!
Ouch!
OMG! Did I just shoot myself in the foot?! 
And I'll say the same for the AWIS' and Beepbacks at [insert the many unmanned Unicom airports I frequent here]. Thanks!
I think the service at both Lord Howe and Norfolk is excellent, and much appreciated.
Thread Starter
Bloggs. Surely we all want airports to be as safe as possible. I can understand why you fear so called un qualified personal giving traffic and other safety services.
It's because you have not experienced just how well the U.S. and Canadian non prescriptive Unicom system works.
Yes an AFIS would be great but the costs are far higher and we already have an industry that is very much effected by high costs.
My belief is we copy the success of others- certainly worked for me- so why not try and have a slightly open mind on these possible safety improvements.
It's because you have not experienced just how well the U.S. and Canadian non prescriptive Unicom system works.
Yes an AFIS would be great but the costs are far higher and we already have an industry that is very much effected by high costs.
My belief is we copy the success of others- certainly worked for me- so why not try and have a slightly open mind on these possible safety improvements.
Thread Starter
Bloggs. Re beep backs. I came up with the concept and built the origional unit.
I then financed the next batches as there was great resistance to the concept
I installed a unit at Bundaberg after the horrific incident where two commercial pilots were in cloud attempting the same instrument approach at the same time .
One had dialed up the wrong CTAF frequency.
At first professional pilots objected to Leroy Kieth because , they claimed ,the "beep " was blocking out calls. I pointed out it was only one third of a second long.
The rest I'd history. Other countries don't have beep backs because they all have a minimum of a Unicom at airports serviced by airline traffic.
I then financed the next batches as there was great resistance to the concept
I installed a unit at Bundaberg after the horrific incident where two commercial pilots were in cloud attempting the same instrument approach at the same time .
One had dialed up the wrong CTAF frequency.
At first professional pilots objected to Leroy Kieth because , they claimed ,the "beep " was blocking out calls. I pointed out it was only one third of a second long.
The rest I'd history. Other countries don't have beep backs because they all have a minimum of a Unicom at airports serviced by airline traffic.
Originally Posted by Dick Smith
I installed a unit at Bundaberg after the horrific incident where two commercial pilots were in cloud attempting the same instrument approach at the same time .
One had dialed up the wrong CTAF frequency.
One had dialed up the wrong CTAF frequency.
What happened was that you ripped out a perfectly good and safe system and replaced it with nothing, until the inevitable happened. Fair enough, our FSS system might have cost too much at the time but it has now been replaced by Beepbacks and AWIS. You're quite welcome to try to set up Unicoms (we've been through all of this before with Airspace 2000 so I question your motives this time, with no incidents that I know of since); the training and cost will make them unviable. Ask the airport manager at Ballina; "a firey Unicom would be great but I don't want to pay!".
Thread Starter
Have you ever thought for a second that there is a good chance you may not have had a job if those reforms did not take place?
The a Review of Resources resulted in CAA staffing being reduced by many thousands. Over a billion dollars has not been paid out by aviation businesses since then. Where was to come from? I know. You are just a pilot and that's someone else's problem!
I note the never ending advertisements in the aviation pages of The Aus for more and more CASA staff and Airservices now takes from our aviation companies nearly $1 billion dollars a year.
Unicoms are a low cost way of providing an importanut safety service. Bringing back 700 Flight Service Officers may result in you or your mates losing employment.
The a Review of Resources resulted in CAA staffing being reduced by many thousands. Over a billion dollars has not been paid out by aviation businesses since then. Where was to come from? I know. You are just a pilot and that's someone else's problem!
I note the never ending advertisements in the aviation pages of The Aus for more and more CASA staff and Airservices now takes from our aviation companies nearly $1 billion dollars a year.
Unicoms are a low cost way of providing an importanut safety service. Bringing back 700 Flight Service Officers may result in you or your mates losing employment.
Last edited by Dick Smith; 15th Jun 2015 at 01:05.
Originally Posted by Dick
Unicoms are a low cost way of providing an importanut safety service. Bringing back 700 Flight Service Officers may result in you🐴or your mates losing employment.
Originally Posted by Bloggs
Fair enough, our FSS system might have cost too much at the time but it has now been replaced by Beepbacks and AWIS.
Perhaps if CASA had more staff it'd get through the reform process quicker...
Perhaps if CASA had more staff it'd get through the reform process quicker...
Believe me, the "lack of staff" in the glasshouse has nothing to do with the state of the "reform" process.
We have a "ratio of regulators" to aircraft that is world leading, if just numbers count.
Indeed, in terms of reform as understood in various government reform policies over the years, or even the dictionary definition of reform, what CASA is doing, and has been doing since about 2003 could not, even with the wildest stretch of imagination, be called "reform".
Tootle pip!!
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Dick did a review of resources at CAA, if I remember correctly 3000 odd people were made redundant. CAA continued to function. Another review of resources is due. There are more titles at ASA than a Tony Abbott wet dream.
Thread Starter
SunnySA
You ask,
Well, we could follow Coalition Government policy and introduce competition into rescue and firefighting services and also into the Class D towers. After all, Airservices was operating Class D towers in the USA on a competitive basis and saving US pilots quite a lot of money. We are the only country I know of in the world that has the rescue and firefighting services run from the capital city by a giant monopoly. In other countries the services are run by the airport on a competitive basis and the firefighters are multi-skilled, i.e. they do security work, operate the radio and perform lots of other productive tasks. A paper which was done by Russell Smith a number of years ago showed that the cost-per-tonne landed for rescue and firefighting services in Australia was just about double the cost in New Zealand. Years ago a number of air traffic controllers contacted me and said they could operate the Coffs Harbour tower for half the cost that Airservices was changing.
You can look at it this way – either save a lot of money for the industry or double the amount of safety by putting in twice the number of Class D towers and twice the number of firefighting services at the present cost.
What is wrong with a bit of competition? We all insist on it when we go and buy things at the shopping centre.
You ask,
What other funding model are you proposing?
You can look at it this way – either save a lot of money for the industry or double the amount of safety by putting in twice the number of Class D towers and twice the number of firefighting services at the present cost.
What is wrong with a bit of competition? We all insist on it when we go and buy things at the shopping centre.
Thread Starter
Bloggs. You state that the " training and Cost" would make Unicoms unviable .
In the USA and Canada Unicom services are provided by existing personel at an airport at no measurable cost.
You should open your mind up and allow us to accept the best from overseas. I note you are not flying a Nomad- but a proven design from another country.
Now there is a hugely expensive fire station at Newman what could be more sensible than to have the Firies provide a Unicom service. Training would take all of a few hours.
In the USA and Canada Unicom services are provided by existing personel at an airport at no measurable cost.
You should open your mind up and allow us to accept the best from overseas. I note you are not flying a Nomad- but a proven design from another country.
Now there is a hugely expensive fire station at Newman what could be more sensible than to have the Firies provide a Unicom service. Training would take all of a few hours.
"safety" or what..??
On reading the LHI article its clearly evident (and from other examples) that BS bureaucratic process has precedence over practicality, commonsense and safety. The s should be removed from CAsA to reflect the reality.
Man, do we in this country need a revolution or what?
Industries buggered by monopoly agencies...with absolutely NO interest in their "clients"/customers, but ripping in the bucks and building empires.
And its not just in aviation, either. Which is our worry.
Talk to people hounded by "Workplace Health and Safety" (sic) and forced to introduce "systems" that interfere with, and add cost to the job in hand.
Cutting red tape and costs ?? BS.! All Governments are incapable of it.
Federal, State and Local.
Ah, the Smart Country...I think not.!!
Man, do we in this country need a revolution or what?
Industries buggered by monopoly agencies...with absolutely NO interest in their "clients"/customers, but ripping in the bucks and building empires.
And its not just in aviation, either. Which is our worry.
Talk to people hounded by "Workplace Health and Safety" (sic) and forced to introduce "systems" that interfere with, and add cost to the job in hand.
Cutting red tape and costs ?? BS.! All Governments are incapable of it.
Federal, State and Local.Ah, the Smart Country...I think not.!!