Club Captain’s Report

Hi All

Hopefully you’ve received this copy and we are getting ready for the Rottnest Bun Run this year. The last couple of years we didn’t make it, what with bad weather one year and COVID the next!

However, we look set to have a virtual ‘armada’ of aircraft heading to Quokka-ville and we still have room for more!

The rule is – COME CASHED UP, please! We donate (the waived) Landing Fees to RFDS, and this year it will be a cash donation of $60 per aircraft, but wait there’s more… There are raffles with a variety of prizes to be held prior to and on the day to help bolster the amount we collect for this worthy cause, so we’ll be asking you to dig deep, but not too deep!

At the time of writing, there appear to be no C172s available, but still plenty of C152s – so book your aircraft, don’t forget to arrange for life vests and we’ll see you at the briefing on Good Friday 2nd April at 0815, for important information on the execution of this event.

The Royal Aero Club of WA, would like to thank both Jandakot Airport Holdings (JAH) and Rottnest Island Authority (RIA) for their generosity in waiving the Landing Fees at both Jandakot and Rottnest.

Oh, and don’t forget to let us know how many (6 packs) of buns you require, prior to the event!

Prior to the Bun Run is the Jandakot Comp on Sunday 28th March, with Breakfast from 0830, then briefing for the comp, a Flapless, Glide Approach at 0915. This comp is designed to give you practice in the event of not only an engine failure, but electrical failure too! It’s a tricky one and a great way to practise and hone those skills that are hopefully never needed!

The breakfast will again be performed by messrs Ivan and Justin and hopefully will prove as popular this month as it was last month…..there are two points worth noting:  Please register for breakfast with reception, or myself  You don’t have to have a go in the Comp to come and enjoy a get together with fellow Members

On 10th April, Serpentine Airfield are hosting a Torana Car Club day and have invited RACWA to join in the fun and spectacle – which may kick on a tad late, so there is an offer to hang around and not have to drive or fly home late! I’ll post the times for this event in a TT weekly update, or email me for more information.

The next day, 11th April is a currency Comp at Murrayfield, starting with breakfast at 0830, then briefing at 0915. Let me explain we have, in our Comps, usually two noninstructors that are able to fly with current, ‘medicalled’ RPL pilots and higher. Sometimes when you are getting close to your 90 days, but not past, you can get your currency back by flying with these guys. If you are out of hours (beyond 90 days), then we have an instructor available to fly with you and providing your medical is up to date, you’ll be set for some more solo flights. There are some other circumstances that we are going to confirm as being ok and again, I’ll get the information in the weekly TT update prior to the comp.

I can’t make any promises yet, but mid April we may be taking a trip to WhiteGum Farm, just the other side of York as well as in the near future a sojourn to Wheeler Army Airfield. Flying Committee members Vaughan Emery and Anthony Buckley are in the process of teeing up a “one dayer” to either or both of these locations.

When you think about it, there’s only another two months before the start of the Night Challenges at the beginning of May and if you have never experienced this, then you’re in for a treat.

All I can say is that we may need to extend the Gregorian Calendar another couple of months to fit everything in!

Safe and happy flying!

New Employees

The Club has employed three LAMEs to boost our capacity in the hangar.

Gig Papa-Adams has taken on the role of Maintenance Manager, to prepare the maintenance section for the significant regulatory changes that CASA has announced. Andrew Van Der Waarden and Sebastian Larralde bring their considerable experience to ensure RACWA aircraft are maintained to the highest standards.

Katherine Norman-Murphy is the new Marketing Assistant and the one responsible for this issue of the Magazine. We farewell Lew Peake who has been in charge of the engine shop since 2012. We wish Lew all the best in the challenges he is currently facing.