IN TH E N EW S
(Left to right) Lilydale Shire councillor, Mike Clark; Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe; former chairman of the Melbourne Branch of the RAeS Australian Division, Dom Lombardo; Lilydale Airport CEO Roger Merridew; Lilydale Shire councillor Tony Stevenson.
L ILY D A L E WINS AWARD
Lilydale Flying School has won the Royal Aeronautical Society’s annual Flying Training Organisation of the Year award.
The award was open to all flying schools nationally. Lilydale Airport CEO, Roger Merridew was presented with the award during the Lilydale Air Show in November from Dom Lombardo, former chairman of the Melbourne Branch of the RAeS Australian Division. Also present at the ceremony were Evelyn MP, Christine Fyffe, and Lilydale Shire councilors, Mike Clark and Tony Stevenson.
Roger said the award was a prestigious testament to the hard work and continuous improvement philosophy of past and present management and staff over the past four decades. “We have an enviable safety record and are extremely proud of the achievements of our many graduate pilots”, he said.
WARNING ABOUT STRIPS CASA has issued a warning to pilots about landing and taking off from the grass beside runways. “Concerns have been raised with CASA about pilots using the grass or dirt surface next to a sealed runway surface, inside the gable markers, for standard operations. “The purpose of the runway strip is to reduce the risk of damage to an aircraft if it runs off a runway and to protect aircraft flying over it during take-off or landing operations. This purpose is set out in the Civil Aviation Safety Regulation Part 139 manual of standards. Clearly, this does not imply suitability for normal aircraft operations. However, this does not
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prevent an aerodrome operator preparing a runway strip for landings and take-offs if they choose. When considering using a runway strip for landings or take-offs pilots should first check in the ERSA if the runway strip is suitable for operations or directly contact the aerodrome operator. “Unless it is clear the runway strip is suitable for normal operations it should not be used. An example of where a runway strip can be used for normal operations is Temora. This runway strip has been prepared and maintained for glider operations and is also available for use by tailwheel aircraft. The availability of the runway strip for these operations is notified in ERSA.”