JULY 2013 - HB&EC; AERO CLUB

PRESIDENT’S REPORT
The North East paddock development is well under way. The Faram Aviation Ltd hangar has made
quick progress. The Club has signed a contract with Air BP to provide a new Jet A1 fuel facility next
to the Faram hangar site (behind the windsock). They have resource consent and we expect
construction of that to start in the next few weeks. As part of that the Club will be preparing an
access track driveway for the tankers so that will be the next working bee with a couple of tractors.
Also you will see some digging near the old clubhouse/NZAM access gate as the water supply to
the NE paddock is hooked up. Once the tanker access drive way is in we will level the taxi-ing
areas and start marking out available hangar sites.
RPL Medicals and CAA. After a long battle by many organisations and individuals a significant
victory for common sense and the Recreational Pilot Licence. CAA has agreed to honour the
original intent of the medical provisions for this licence. Ie; in return for a reduction in PPL privilege
(one passenger, no night flying etc.) a PPL holder can move to a Recreational Pilot Licence and
only require a drivers licence medical certificate. This represents a significant reduction in
compliance cost from the $313 CAA medical application fee plus $200-400 medical examiner fees
of the PPL medical. Along with microlight flying the RPL is another way for people to enjoy aviation
whilst avoiding CAA’s draconian medical compliance costs. If you want to learn more about the RPL
talk to Max. Kudos to the new Director of CAA for a step in the right direction, now we just need the
$313 application fee changed to a $25 on line application and the CAA hourly office charge rate
dropped to that of a moderately qualified lawyer. If there were to be a silver lining out of the recent
earthquakes, would CAA be free to move to lower cost premises if their current office and source of
great controversy were to be stickered for structural strengthening required
Aero Club History Project. Jan White has tracked down some early film footage of flying at our
aerodrome and Longlands. It is old film stock and she is discussing with the owner about the
possibility of having it carefully transferred to digital format. It will be great if we can have this
playing in the reception area and on the website.
Aircraft. Well by now you will have seen the Club’s new green machine in action – the Rans S6-ES
microlight. It is in the process of having registration changed to KIX but it is getting extensive use
already with our microlight students having been on hold for four weeks. Remember you can fly this
as a PPL with a type rating. Talk to Max, Kieran or Mads about it. Repairs to THA are under way.
ATC. It has been a looong time coming but #11 Hastings Squadron are getting to very close to
commissioning their hangar by the driveway and officially moving out of our old Clubhouse upstairs
and into their own building. There will be a few party streamers flying I am sure . . . .
Runway LED Lighting. Some LED options have been trialled and some further light options will be
tried out in the coming weeks.
Air HB Ltd. The Stage 2 Audit with Air NZ looms at the end of September so that is front and
foremost in planning. A substantial part of this involves adoption of a Safety Management System
(SMS) approach to risk management. Timely as this is being rolled out by CAA across the
commercial general aviation operators. With the July 2 nd intake of students there are now a total of
12 Year One students in action so the place is a little busier. Financial results are on track.
See you at Taildragger Day next month . . . .
Bruce Govenlock