Those were the days
 

I have just been reading again the book “Call of the Kyeema” by Doug Whitfield, which tells the story of the early days of DCA and Flight Service. I particularly like this bit in relation to Alice Springs in 1970:

I can see why the Review of Resources was so successful. Imagine if the industry had to pay for all that!

Just quietly Dick, aviation costs me a whole lot more now than it did then, something didn't quite go to plan.

If I remember correctly in those days we had Airnav charges which cost a lump some of about $3k a year for a twin Comanche

Yep and about $3,800 for a Baron 58. So much easier back then.

A bit disingenuous as it ignores the staffing requirements for shift work and the functions filled today by the airport staff and the geographic coverage provided by technical staff at the time.

Really
 

ok, I was flying all over the country when the then DCA had all those quoted resources. We as pilots felt very supported in an era of no social media and no weather radar on the phone. Pilots today have all those resources and yet the accident rate is way in excess of the rate in the good old days. Sorry Dick, your view on costs and the old days of DCA don’t mitigate the accident rate in GA today.

FSUs were a home away from home on those numerous all day charters in winter. No motels provided in those days, most FSU's made visiting pilots welcome to find a spot in the warm on those miserable days, make a cuppa or just have a chat. Devenport, Wynyard, Mildura, Broken Hill, Mt. Gambier, Leigh Creek, Cooma, Broken Hill particularly. I worked out of King Island for just over a year in the early 70's and spent many nights staying in the OIC 's DCA house, Brian Jones, great guy. Remember many times trying to cancel SAR in the circuit late at night on arrival at KI and getting Dubbo, or Mt. Isa or Carnarvon or Tennant Creek on HF. Great Service from all those Ladies and Gents.

The friendly FSO at Ceduna in 1984 loaned me his car so I could drive into town and get some lunch.
At Dubbo they would call a taxi
Those were the days!

Agreed
I spent my 21st birthday out of the winter chill, with the boys in the King Island FSU.

Oldbrigade
What data sources are you using for your statement re accident rates?

Apart from the 6 FSO's (the 3 briefing officers were more likely Met guys employed by BoM), the industry is still paying for most of that, just not directly. Apparently those were the days, because since that "problem" was fixed, the industry has done nothing but complain about how much the present system costs and how little value they get out of it. That Review of Resources was a triumph all right.

And don't forget Wagga FSU, Getting back home after midnight when Pat Chiswell remained on duty until I landed and kept my wife briefed on my progress, no mobiles in those days!

The industry has done nothing but complain about how much the present system costs and how little value they get out of it?

Can I go all Vag on you? Please define “the present system” and “the industry” and please cite some authoritative source for your assertion that “the industry” has done “nothing but complain” about how much “the present system costs”.

Still had a wad of Flight Plan forms (remember what those were?) with Stolen from Ceduna FSU written across the folder cover.:E

I was glad that Alice Springs FSU was there in mid 70s when I had to leave an oil rig in the middle of the night that was half way between Alice and Broome with a snake bite victim on board.
They organised everything, relayed info from the medical people and had the ambulance waiting in Alice. Even arranged to the taxi to take me into town.

Those were the days.
 

Flew into Parafield in 1962 and asked the FSU officer where nearest hotel was for overnight accomodation. Was taken upstairs in the tower and given free use of the itinerant pilot quarters . Was a fully equiped flat for two.
Those really were the days.

And today there are no public toilets at Parafield. I kid you not.

’Progress’.

Are you sure LB? Everywhere I go there are mens toilets. Just after you jump out of the plane, quite convenient ;)

What are you flying these days Dick? I was reminscing at The Old Station Fly In on the weekend about the year you dropped in in the Caravan. Maybe 2003/4.

Cheers

Lead Balloon: The other day, after a longish flight, I took one look at the toilet block 100 metres distant, another at the combination locked gate between me and toilet at this security controlled airport, and then used the aircraft as a screen………

‘One benefit of the decline of GA is that there is no one around.

Between the councils, CAsA, 'world's best practice Air services Australia etc the industry is going down the 'nonexistent' toilet. Appropriate action Sunfish.

Yes the locked toilets at Parafield are a disgrace. I along with others have been in contact with Adelaide AirRorts about these over the past year or so. They had some vandalism in the building so decided to lock them ...permanently. Some hangars have their own WC's of course other buildings do not. So in their wisdom they issued keys to those that didn't. No consideration was given to transient pilots and passengers. Pity help a female in urgent need after a couple of hour flight if you arrive after hours and the hangars are all closed . That is if they will let you use them. PF management have been asked to do what many country airports do and install a combination lock with a sign stating the combo is the CTAF,PAL, Area freq etc but there response it a flat no. No duty of care nothing.
They are happy to and insist in fact however, to charge you to land and park at PF while there.
May suggest if you find yourself in need to walk to their PF office in Tiger Moth Lane and ask to use theirs. If it is closed please feel free to relive yourself on their front door.
Tiger Moth Lane is only a short walk to the NW from the turnstile next to the Tower. You will need to use this exit anyway if you haven't got a gate swipe card as there is no other way out other than bolt cutters.
On behalf of Adelaideans I apologize for PF managements appalling managements attitude.

Precisely how I found out. After flying in from YWMC my partner disappeared through the turnstile and was gone for some time. I subsequently found out that she was lucky to find someone who let her use facilities in a hangar.

Third world.

Still flying the Caravan and also an Agusta Power.

Sorry I missed the Old Station fly in. Hopefully next year if it is on.

Perhaps not the only time this sort of thing has happened, Clinton? Many years ago you very kindly took my late sister for her only ever GA flight. A flight that she enjoyed immensely. But returning to YPPF over the Adelaide Hills, Jane enquired as to how long it might be before we landed? Upon taxying in and immediately after shutdown, my sister and I sprinted to the maintenance hangar on the western side of the tower. (I knew where the toilet was there, for her use.) Afterwards we returned to the A36 Bonanza for photos. I see those photos daily as they're in my lounge room at home.

Well, I got caught short at PF a little while ago, no public toilet and a very demanding bowel movement wanting to move.

Behind some hangars were a few garbage skips, and in one skip was a pizza box and some newspaper. Crouch down between the skips. Wrapped the boxed result in newspaper, deposited it in one of the skips. In the sun. several days before pickup was due.

Luckily I was on my way shortly after.

I remember it well, GIII. We are fortunate that most in GA - including GA training and maintenance organisations at YPPF - have a little more humanity than the airport corporations milking every red cent of profit they can out of what are supposed to be public assets.

As I said earlier: Third world.

Sounds very much like the old switches on the phone service in small towns. When something went wrong they had all the numbers, contacts, backups and would stay until sorted. Different times and different people.