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Mildura closed to GA?

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Old 29th Jan 2018, 03:56
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Mildura closed to GA?

I flew into Mildura yesterday. All the tarmac GA parking has been removed. There is no longer any light aircraft parking available outside the AeroClub.

Outside the aeroclub is reserved for Cat B aircraft (Airforce, RFDS & Bank Run aircraft).

GA parking is supposed to be on a "Grass Area" with is actually a mixture of sand, rock, loose stones and broken asphalt. I would strongly advise anyone who has interest in the care of their prop not to park there.

Mildura Airport is doing as much as it can to tell GA that we are not welcome.

Protest if you can, or go somewhere else if you can. Which is a great pity, because I used to like going to Mildura.
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 04:33
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Something does seem to be going on up there:

Airport?s future stays up in the air | Sunraysia Daily

Pilots want airport input | Sunraysia Daily
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 07:35
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So they have a company to run the airport - Mildura Airport Pty Ltd.
There will be directors fees, CEO, CFO, Marketing manager, Media Manager, etc. - a whole new empire to pay for.

The pesky lighties will not be able to afford to pay for this empire so lets get rid of them.
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 09:15
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Don’t forget the mandatory OH&S expert, HR expert, consultants, IT expert etc.

The local unwashed Mildura GA pilots will have to meet strict new criteria for safety vests, safety goggles and hearing protection compliance!
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 09:33
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GA aircraft are Cat B aircraft (maintenance wise)

Park wherever you want tell em to get stuffed if the object!
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 10:13
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In the USA, the FAA would be suing the airport operator.

In good ol’ Australia, individual private pilots can go and get stuffed. In a country run by property spivs and merchant bankers, the concept of public infrastructure is anathema.

The USA recognises the importance of private aviation and aviation infrastructure to the fabric of what it is that makes the USA the most powerful country on the planet. The stultifying mediocrities that have run Australia for the last couple of decades are running an immigration Ponzi scheme.
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 12:32
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Originally Posted by Lead Balloon
In the USA, the FAA would be suing the airport operator.

In good ol’ Australia, individual private pilots can go and get stuffed. In a country run by property spivs and merchant bankers, the concept of public infrastructure is anathema.

The USA recognises the importance of private aviation and aviation infrastructure to the fabric of what it is that makes the USA the most powerful country on the planet. The stultifying mediocrities that have run Australia for the last couple of decades are running an immigration Ponzi scheme.
That's pretty hard to argue against, as apparently Victoria's population has increased by more than a million since 2006. (According to the Sydney Morning Herald, yesterday.) Gotta keep those boat people out tho'. On my last trip to YMIA, they were ripping up the GA tarmac to strengthen the pavement. Returning home today, after a great GA trip, I noticed that the beautiful Rotary Park in South Penrith (NSW) has been destroyed. All the trees have been cut down and facilities demolished. I wonder how that happened?

The greed of "property spivs" is apparently endless..

Last edited by gerry111; 29th Jan 2018 at 12:44.
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 23:00
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What can they do if you park in the wrong spot?
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 23:26
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They can clamp your tires, mate.
Leave a note, "come see us in the office"
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Old 29th Jan 2018, 23:46
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They can clamp your tires, mate.
You sure about that? Section 24 of the Act might apply.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 00:13
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Mildura used to be such a friendly location to visit, friendly aero club, good GA parking area and fuel nearby. Prior to the 'takeover' by the present mob from the Council which then managed it thru a few of their own staff it was excellent and the council listened to the users, be they airline or GA and many things were done. Now it seems we have a board, a CEO and other staff that obviously cost and the treatment of GA gets worse. At what cost to the community I wonder. The three big airshows in 96, 99 and 02 were very successful and showed what you can do when the community and the airport users all get together. Something we will not see again in MIA. Obviously the present CEO and the board don't have aviation as a priority, but their own ego and income. Sad! The sooner the Council wake up to this and do something about it the better.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 00:14
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The lovely folks at YSCB put a little fence around your aircraft’s undercarriage if you don’t pay their landing and parking fees. Doesn’t touch the aircraft, but it prevents taxiing. (An offence in the USA.)
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 00:21
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Would be interested to know how this works. If it's like those car-e-park places, they have to prove that because you were parked in a spot and didn't pay the fee, that they lost money because you stopped someone else from parking there and paying the fee. If the car park is half full and you didn't stop anyone else parking, then they don't have a leg to stand on.

The difference here is that they can track you down through your rego and send you an invoice for an infringement or similar, but that's a whole new kettle of fish.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 00:59
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Mildura Council, have a look at what your enlightened colleagues in Wagga Wagga have done.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/...city%20council

‎Geoff Breust‎ to WaggaCity Aero Club
7 hrs ·
Everyone will be pleased to know Wagga Wagga City Council tonight approved the re-instatement of last year’s fees and charges including an amendment to allow the option for an annual landing charge to anyone who applies, not just a local operator; agreed not to introduce any aircraft parking charges and agreed to have the airport advisory committee undertake a thorough review of the airport’s operations, its financial position, future investment, budgets and charging .

This is quite a major win, but most of all gives the industry members via the Airport Advisory Committee the ability to be directly involved in all significant decisions on the airport. If we get this right it can become a precedent for all regional airports. It provides a means I believe for us to get a great airport really serving its users and our community.

We thank our Councillors and staff for adopting this approach to the management of our airport. We also thank Ben Morgan from AOPA who assisted in lobbying the Council, the airlines and local users, our members and supporters.

This is an excellent result - but only the beginning. We now have much work to do in the spirit of co-operation and working together with all parties, to achieve a great result all round.

CC
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 01:02
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The last time I visited Mildura was about 2012. Everything was locked and there was no toilet accessible from airside. My partner and I both peed in some remote spot, filled the aircraft and left. On an earleir visit my partner was upbraided fr going to the terminal to use the toilet with no ASIC while I was filling the aircraft. I wont be going back, except maybe for fuel, much as i would like to stay the night and try stefanos(?) for dinner.

Mid Murray flying club at Swan Hill is a much more friendly stop for fuel, a chat and a cup of tea. Kerang is also not bad for an overnight at the motel and a pub dinner but no fuel.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 02:11
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Exclamation

I am a proud member of the Wagga City Aero Club and see what has been achieved by lobbying instead of standing by and just complaining.

I call to action all of us to actively safeguard all our airports. Don't just think it doesn't affect us because we can go elsewhere, your fellow aviation community members need your support - it doesn't matter if we have high wings or low wings or fly in rag-and-tube - we must all do something otherwise self-licking ice-cream bureaucracies will pop up everywhere following each other as a successful model and destroy general aviation, and in doing so compromise the big end of town - read that as Regular Public Transport.

Both pilots and maintenance engineers grow out of General Aviation and this source is drying up, as demonstrated with news of Pilot and Maintenance staff shortages. We know who to thank - our airport and aviation infrastructure custodians. Immigration laws have already been changed to permit importing of pilots to fulfill the shortfall and you know airlines are involved in offshore maintenance.

We should not stand by and let this degradation happen.

Last edited by ums; 30th Jan 2018 at 02:23.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 02:44
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Originally Posted by Sunfish
Mid Murray flying club at Swan Hill is a much more friendly stop for fuel, a chat and a cup of tea. Kerang is also not bad for an overnight at the motel and a pub dinner but no fuel.


I hear the club at Wentworth is welcoming to visitors, 5 mins flying time from Mildura and their fuel bowser is credit card operated from memory.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 07:48
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Originally Posted by mikewil
I hear the club at Wentworth is welcoming to visitors, 5 mins flying time from Mildura and their fuel bowser is credit card operated from memory.
Yes, friendly and fuel...the two basic requisites for most of us who fly smaller stuff. Lovely clubhouse and you can do an overnight stay.

Same at Renmark which is my favourite destination ...just phone through and no landing fees applied.

Kaz
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 08:49
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I was in Mildura in October last year with the Australian Piper Society. The Mildura Aero Club members were most accommodating and they were concerned about the planned changes at that stage. Keep in mind all that chat about going somewhere else while the MAC suffer. It is a most unfortunate situation for the members and the club.
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Old 30th Jan 2018, 10:12
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I hear the club at Wentworth is welcoming to visitors, 5 mins flying time from Mildura and their fuel bowser is credit card operated from memory.

I second that; have passed through there twice recently, very friendly and helpful people.
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