Royal Newcastle Aero Club suspends operations
News out of Maitland this weekend that the CFI at RNAC has resigned due to differences in direction with the board. A director's meeting last night stated that it would take 4-6 months to get going again, so as of last night all the Instructors have resigned also.
Very sad to see a once proud institution come to this - I have watched the (now ex-) CFI and his team build that flying school into something very impressive with a constant stream of graduates at RPL and PPL level (and CPL for all I know). Well done Phil and best of luck for the future. In the bigger picture, you would have to worry about the future of the airfield. It's all a terrible shame. |
Bugga, I did my PPL with Jack the Black and Stan Hone there back in the 60s. It was a ripper spot then - no idea what the story is at the moment but can only hope that they collectively get their stuff in a pile and get it back on track.
One wonders why it would take 6 months to sort the bits out ? |
That’s a great shame. I was there about a month ago and they were going great guns. |
Originally Posted by john_tullamarine
(Post 10536994)
One wonders why it would take 6 months to sort the bits out ?
Usually an arrangement ensues with another club or school in the interim so they can keep going. If no such arrangement exists, it seems to take ages to get up and running again. Hard to believe that one resignation could cause such a disruption, however it sadly does |
Usually an arrangement ensues with another club or school in the interim so they can keep going. |
How sad.
"Back in the day", the DCA Director General was the very active patron of RNAC, I wonder if the current CASA "senior" management "team" even know where Rutherford is?? I would love to know the full story. Tootle pip!! |
One wonders why it would take 6 months to sort the bits out ? Usually an arrangement ensues with another club or school in the interim so they can keep going. If no such arrangement exists, it seems to take ages to get up and running again. Hard to believe that one resignation could cause such a disruption, however it sadly does How long do you think it will take CASA to approve a "major amendment" to a Part 141 Operations Manual/Exposition? |
Originally Posted by Horatio Leafblower
(Post 10537058)
How long do you think it will take CASA to approve a "major amendment" to a Part 141 Operations Manual/Exposition?
|
Progressive.............yeah, nah.
|
Yeah nah?
Originally Posted by The name is Porter
(Post 10537981)
Progressive.............yeah, nah.
|
Would CASA even approve a 141 without suitable alternate personnel being named in each position to prevent something like this happening?
|
Originally Posted by BigPapi
(Post 10538534)
Would CASA even approve a 141 without suitable alternate personnel being named in each position to prevent something like this happening?
|
A very sad day, over the years lots of people have learnt to fly there, or been employed as instructors there. Must leave the the Royal Vic Aero Club as the last of the Royal prefixed flying clubs still going? |
Royal Aero Club of WA still going strong
|
Royal Aero Club of WA is still going.
I don't know anything about this particular situation, but the whole thing of having committees full of amateurs who want cheap flying for themselves interfering with the running of the flying school is something I have seen over and over again. In the past I have managed aircraft on behalf of clubs, even with a very clear contract it has always ended with them telling me how to run my business, even "white anting" my own clients right under my nose. It only takes one rotten apple and every committee has one. Might be easier just to pay tax like the rest of us. |
Originally Posted by BigPapi
(Post 10538534)
Would CASA even approve a 141 without suitable alternate personnel being named in each position to prevent something like this happening?
I believe this is different for a 142, perhaps someone else can clarify. |
And it all began in August 1928...…Can they make 'the ton'..?
Where it all began ? The First Aircraft - Royal Newcastle Aero Club Australia's first 'Aero Club'? Used to fly into RNAC West Maitland from BK quite regularly in 'de good ole days' of the early / mid 60's - hour building etc for CPL, just 'for a cup of coffee', usually on a 'shared' basis. The hospitality was always GREAT, and the number of flies in the cabin on departure ensured that should the engine fail on T/O....no problem.... Good Luck RNAC - you deserve it !! Cheers |
Not much has changed with the Hospitality Griffo, was always a delight to stop in at Maitland and have a yarn with Phil and his crew in recent years. RNAC had themselves a golden goose there with him and the way it was run and somehow they've still managed to kill it, bloody shame but going to be a gift to someone who offers to take them on for what they deserve. Wish them the best of luck and hope they're all gainfully employed very shortly which I'm sure they will be!
|
If CASA wish to put the club out of business, can’t they just delay the approval process for ever? |
If CASA wish to put the club out of business, can’t they just delay the approval process for ever? CASA's bureaucratic systems are so onerous that even CASA can't maintain them. The amount of bull**** paperwork that accompanies every regulatory function is mind blowing, and of course the (shrinking) Industry now has to fund this. I was fortunate enough to have a meeting with Barnaby (local member) about this and his advice was "you know what boys? If it's too hard, my advice as a small country accountant is just walk away and have a nice life doing something else" Where would small country towns be if we all took that advice? The whole point of the meeting, St Barnabas, is that IT DOESN'T BLOODY NEED TO BE THIS BLOODY HARD. |
I'm with you Horatio, It doesn't need to be this difficult.
When we first became a Part 142, I ended up putting in a Significant Change Request to change the process for making Significant Changes! The process to make what we would normally call a "small" change required a full on risk assessment, a formal assessment of the risk assessment by the change management committee, send off the change to CASA and wait for them to approve the change. Minimum turn around was about 4 weeks with one change taking just on 12 months for a change of address. Yes a change of address is considered a Significant Change requiring CASA approval before you can pack up your desk and move to the new building you are probably paying rent on waiting for CASA to approve.... Over and out..... |
Originally Posted by Clare Prop
(Post 10538653)
I don't know anything about this particular situation, but the whole thing of having committees full of amateurs who want cheap flying for themselves interfering with the running of the flying school is something I have seen over and over again. In the past I have managed aircraft on behalf of clubs, even with a very clear contract it has always ended with them telling me how to run my business, even "white anting" my own clients right under my nose. It only takes one rotten apple and every committee has one.
Our club (which incorporates a flying school and engineering facility) has strict rules in place; directors receive no fees for their service and no discount whatsoever. We believe that this ensures the directors are in it for the right reasons. Just about every member of our board is a working professional, some are highly qualified, with a good mix of backgrounds from aviation and non-aviation industries. |
My experience Clare was the exact opposite. The running of the flying school took precedence over the interests of the members to the point where I found it difficult to book and hire a certain aircraft for some touring because it would muck up some foreign students training schedule. The aircraft hadn’t even been booked. They just wanted it available in a few weeks time when they had finished some classroom IFR or cross country nav. I left the club because there was no value whatsoever in staying. Everything was geared to churning out foreign students and members were regarded as a nuisance. By “value” I don’t just mean cheap aircraft hire. I mean access to experienced instructors and training that could advance my very limited knowledge of airmanship. There was none to be had. The experienced, capable older folk (male and female) had either left of their own accord or been pushed out in favour of cheap instructors pushing out a very low quality commercial foreign product as fast as possible. |
Re 'and his advice was "you know what boys? If it's too hard, my advice as a small country accountant is just walk away and have a nice life doing something else"=left
And 'That', fellow GA aviators, just about sums it all up...…..Unfortunately...… No Cheers here...NOPE none at all...…. :-( |
Many flying "clubs" and groups in the USA where shared ownership in a number of aircraft works well. Maintenance is contracted out and the "club/group" has an honorary manager who looks after aircraft bookings. FRom what I've seen works well! [I realise that there has been or are a few here already]
|
Originally Posted by Sunfish
(Post 10539719)
My experience Clare was the exact opposite. The running of the flying school took precedence over the interests of the members to the point where I found it difficult to book and hire a certain aircraft for some touring because it would muck up some foreign students training schedule. The aircraft hadn’t even been booked. They just wanted it available in a few weeks time when they had finished some classroom IFR or cross country nav. I left the club because there was no value whatsoever in staying. Everything was geared to churning out foreign students and members were regarded as a nuisance. By “value” I don’t just mean cheap aircraft hire. I mean access to experienced instructors and training that could advance my very limited knowledge of airmanship. There was none to be had. The experienced, capable older folk (male and female) had either left of their own accord or been pushed out in favour of cheap instructors pushing out a very low quality commercial foreign product as fast as possible. |
Very sad news. Years ago I flew a Pitts out of Rutherford & obtained a formation endorsement. |
All times are GMT. The time now is 09:48. |
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.