Homebuilt scrap aircraft crashed in WA
In practice, it seems to be one of those things where, if you're not a weekend fisho or roaring around on a Jetski, because there are so many different bureaucracies involved, so long as you don't screw up nobody's going to bother you either way.
If the public service (oxymoron?) had its way all wheeled aircraft would be required to be registered with the road traffic authority and for pilots to have drivers licenses, I mean they share pavement with cars, trucks, tow motors etc You know it makes sense.
They are unlikely to bother people who do screw up either. Jetskis roaring over dive flags, powerboats mowing down rowers, rights of way and speed limits disregarded; water police are missing in action. Only ever seen them on the water once yelling at kayakers to keep away from the sealions even though it was the sealions who were the ones coming up to have a look at the humans.
I guess they can't be everywhere. To say they're understaffed would be an understatement.
Smelly creatures, them sealions..
On the Lancelin Facebook page there is a quote from the pilot/skipper who says he has had his skipper’s licence since he was 16 and that he is a commercial airline pilot too. There are a few videos in the comments as well.
Thread Starter
Down here in Melbourne the Water Police have only one tiny outfit based out of Willliamstown and are often seen to be quite busy on nice weekends either entertaining VIPs in the Admiral's Barge (aka VP01) or chasing jetskis around the St Kilda foreshore in their own suitably-marked Police jetskis (or both at the same time).
I guess they can't be everywhere. To say they're understaffed would be an understatement.
I guess they can't be everywhere. To say they're understaffed would be an understatement.
But don’t let that get in the way of a good story…
As for whether you are likely to get caught after the 7am-3pm shift is over, well that’s another story.
You obviously haven’t been to their toy shed, they have heaps of equipment. The 40? foot zodiacs from one of the last terrorism funding rounds, the massive thing, the less massive thing, the rigid inflatable things with the dual motors, plus the mobile units complete with Dodge Ram for towing etc, and said jet skis.
But don’t let that get in the way of a good story…
Thread Starter
They certainly do.
I know a little bit more about that than your average punter ;-)
What they don’t have, is the fuel budget of the Airwing, but they do ok and get a good number of hours on the water overall.
I know a little bit more about that than your average punter ;-)
What they don’t have, is the fuel budget of the Airwing, but they do ok and get a good number of hours on the water overall.
Moderator
WIGE craft in Australia require both registration as a marine vessel and registration as an aircraft and the "pilot" must hold a marine drivers license and a pilot license, verified some years ago with the WIGE craft operating in Cairns.
I doubt that Junkyard Dog was compliant.
I doubt that Junkyard Dog was compliant.
WIGE craft in Australia require both registration as a marine vessel and registration as an aircraft and the "pilot" must hold a marine drivers license and a pilot license, verified some years ago with the WIGE craft operating in Cairns.
I doubt that Junkyard Dog was compliant.
I doubt that Junkyard Dog was compliant.
Interesting to note that in NSW, a seaplane - but only while it is on the water - is considered a vessel, per the Marine Safety Act, which also includes "any non-displacement craft" ie a hovercraft (or WIGE vehicle). What's even more interesting to note that, (again, in NSW), my boat, that's locked in my shed, tied down on its' trailer, is still considered to be on a voyage. Because "For the purposes of this Act, a vessel is taken to be proceeding on a voyage from when it gets underway for the voyage until it gets underway for another voyage." RMS obviously employ the same lawyers as CAsA...
EDIT: The WA DOT has a nice little page on WIGE(ts), including a decent photo of the boat/plane/vessel
Last edited by KRviator; 25th Oct 2023 at 01:17. Reason: Added WADOT link & pic.
The definition is in the Civil Aviation Act 1988: any machine or craft that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air, other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface.
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Saw a video of the incident. Was a loss of AoA and the front plowed into the water. The beauty of these craft is that it wasn't a stall from 100's of feet up and vertical speed wasn't the issue. Plane looked to have come out of it quite well.
Can't post links due to forum rules.
Can't post links due to forum rules.
Never flown one with boat rego, never been asked for a boat licence. I did however see the "authorities" being told to "piss off; ya got no authority, on the water it's a registered power boat, in the sky it's controlled by the Commonwealth" by a private float operator. He had landed where "they" reckoned he shouldn't. "They" backed down.
I think old mate had a great idea, I am just not that into his testing location. Hope he "flies" it again. Ironically, the Caspian Sea monster featured on "Abandoned Engineering" just last night.
Amen to that aroa, wish more would join us :-)
I think old mate had a great idea, I am just not that into his testing location. Hope he "flies" it again. Ironically, the Caspian Sea monster featured on "Abandoned Engineering" just last night.
Amen to that aroa, wish more would join us :-)
hey
The craft is not in testing, it was out for a trip around lancelin. It has over 4000km on it
A few interesting comments but what else do you expect on pprune
The vessel was built from purchased material not "scrap" as some seem to think. A control malfunction occured during a 20 degree right hand turn causing loss of pitch control. It held up very well after impacting 200mm deep reef.
The vessel has over 4000km and has flown in several water body's and conditions. The flight at lancelin was a normal flight, not testing. To operate a WIG you only need a skippers ticket. This was approved by the department of transport over several meetings and even after the mishap they have no issue with its operation once repaired.
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Had a mate pulled up by the water police in Port Phillip for speeding, was over near Willy. Mate disagreed with them, when he asked what proof they had they said they got him on a video camera. Went to court to dispute the fine, when the case was laid out, the prosecutor advised the beak that they had the perpetrator on a video camera. Old mate asked the copper when the camera was last calibrated. Beak couldn't help laughing, threw the case out. Was a very entertaining 45 minutes.
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I was wondering if it was some kind of drone because the DoT picture above seems to be flying without anyone driving it. Then I came across the original picture on this site. Strange photoshop job..
The MudSkipper Wing in Ground Effect (revolutionise.com.au)
The MudSkipper Wing in Ground Effect (revolutionise.com.au)
They blurred the pilot for privacy reasons.
Moderator
OK, I retract my statement. I saw this WIGE craft in Cairns and could have sworn it had both marine and aviation registration, however this film clip suggests no pilot license required:
I also know CASA Cairns "took an interest" in this craft at the time. It didn't last long, trials only then apparently disappeared?
I also know CASA Cairns "took an interest" in this craft at the time. It didn't last long, trials only then apparently disappeared?
Thread Starter
That Cairns one doesn’t seem to fly very high. Looks like a half decent wave would end your dar early.