Monday, April 28, 2008

By The Numbers

I thought members may be interested in some numbers and ratios.

The Government body CASA look after approx 11,000 pilots in Australia. These include ATPL, CPL, and PPL. pilots. To do this they have a staff of approx. 600 people. This is a ratio of 18:1. Pilots as to admin.

The RA-Aus look after approx 9,000 recreational pilots, and do this with a staff of 10. This is a ratio of 900:1

Interesting numbers aren't they?

I truly believe our day to day administration is is far more efficient than any other, but if you have some issue that is not the norm, please look at these ratios and consider cutting the people in Canberra and your elected members a little slack. There are some things in the past we could have done better, but we are trying to do things better month by month, and every year we become a little more professional than the past year.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Rotax Flickering Oil Pressure

There is a problem appearing in Rotax 912 engines with flickering oil pressure. Three aircraft at my home airfield at Boonah had the problem.

Rotax Australia has appeared, from statements to me by owners, to be somewhat unhelpful in this regard telling the owners the only problem is at Boonah when in fact there have been other reports around Australia of the same problem. Owners have been told all sorts of very expensive fixes including "buy and install a new oil pump"

There are two very experienced engine guys on the field at Boonah and to them the problem is not unique, and easily fixed. The problem is just a weak relief spring (probably a bad batch of outsourced springs), and is easily fixed with some shims. The Rotax factory actually have a shim kit to fix this problem, but people locally have been told to spend bulk dollars on a new oil pump.

One of our members (with air force hydraulic training and experience) and in consultation with one of our very experienced mechanics, fixed his problem by going to the local hardware store and buying a pack of small stainless steel washers to use as shims. Two little washers fixed his problem.

( I will ask M. and B. if they will write a technical explanation to post here)