Kestrel Aviation - Newsletter

KULNINE FLYAWAY

Kestrel Aviation has just completed its September 2003 Kulnine Flyaway, which was another great success. Apart from the 3600 litres of fuel used for operational flying which included low level dawn river sorties, sling loading exercises and several R44 endorsements, the flyaway also show-cased Kestrels’ students professionalism and the Kulnine property to two visiting journalists.

Bruce Postle has worked as a press photographer with Queensland Country Life, the Brisbane Courier Mail and the Melbourne Age. Bruce is credited with producing some of Australian photography’s most memorable sporting and political images in a career that has spanned more than four decades. He now concentrates on tourism and travel subject areas and is based out of Armidale. Bruce attended the Flyaway at Kulnine to secure images for R. M. Williams OUTBACK magazine which has an average readership of 185,000 people per edition.

Martin Bass is a freelance writer and helicopter pilot, who writes for Australian Flying, the largest selling aviation magazine and dedicated aviation book publisher in the southern hemisphere. Martin was more then impressed with the whole operation and commented, that this was amongst the best flying of his entire career.

Kulnine has undergone some major changes since the last flyaway, the most significant being the breaking of the drought, with the property now washed with a green tinge and in places blanketed in purple flowers. Shearing also started the same week as the flyaway with the main homestead site a flurry of activity.

This flyaway also saw the christening of some new facilities – a new toilet and shower block complete with a wood fired hot water system.

Thanks to the fantastic efforts of Earl Greenaway, Colin Laity, Frits Heintjes, Peter O’Brien, Keith Robertson and Ray Cronin. The new construction was completed just in time for the flyaway and exceeded everyone’s expectations! Ray has promised the next project is an outside movie theatre..........

Finally, well done and thank you to all of the flyaway participants in making such a fantastic impression on Bruce and Martin who left us with great stories, remarkable pictures and great memories of Kestrel doing what it does best – flying safely!

AN EPIC JOURNEY- ARRIVAL OF THE CESSNA 402

Kestrel Aviation’s latest acquisition is the very slick Cessna 402B from Japan, ferried to Australia by Rex Booth, Tony Smith and Ian McFadden.

The Cessna 402B, capable of seating up to 10 people flew into Mangalore on Monday 13th October and received a warm reception from Kestrel staff and students who had been eagerly anticipating its arrival. Ian was dropped off in Tamworth on the Cessna’s down hill run from Darwin, with Rex and Tony completing the journey to Mangalore. Never had two men been so relieved to have their feet on solid, and familiar territory than Rex and Tony after their week of flying.

Rex, Tony and Ian accepted the ferry job with enthusiasm as it sounded like a great adventure. While the flight from Japan was technically just a long cross country, there were plenty of complications associated with the red tape of flying an Australian registered aircraft through airspace owned and controlled by foreign countries.

The availability of fuel (or lack of) posed the biggest hurdle for the guys during their 6 day voyage. In Kaohsiung AVGAS had to be transported by a fuel tanker. The nine hour journey only added to the frustrations of the Kestrel Pilots.

For the full ferry report prepared by Rex Booth please click here.

ACCOMMODATION REFURBISHMENT COMPLETE

The accommodation refurbishment project undertaken by Kestrel in July is now complete. The large unit boasts modern facilities with seven air-conditioned single bedrooms, two bathrooms and a spacious kitchen.

Kestrel’s individual self contained accommodation capacity has also increased with the addition of 5 cabins which are particularly suited to singles or married couples with a double bedroom and kitchenette/living area.

WELCOME BRIAN

Kestrel welcomes Brian Hall to the team. Brian has recently moved from Tasmania where he was involved in Marketing and Promotion with Tourism Tasmania. Brian will be taking over the role of marketing and communications and will also complete his commercial helicopter licence. Brian is looking forward to the recruitment of many new students to Kestrel and the challenge of completing his licence.

WELCOME JEREMY

Kestrel also welcomes Jeremy Vanderklift. Jeremy has taken on the role of senior fixed wing instructor . Jeremy was an instructor with Lilydale Flying School for four years and holds a grade one instructor rating for fixed wing, as well as multi-engine training approval. Jeremy is capable of training candidates up to multi-engine Command Instrument Ratings. Jeremy also has many hours experience in charter work and fire surveillance.

GOOD NEWS FOR THEORY STUDENTS

Rotary wing instructor Hans-Martin Wagner has recently been appointed as Kestrel Aviation’s full-time theory instructor. Kestrel is happy to announce that Hans will be available to all students who wish to participate in daily theory classes, and those who prefer one-on-one assistance to help them through their private study. Kestrel Aviation recognises the pressure and difficulty of study and is happy to provide a dedicated and experienced instructor, in the belief that it will further improve the quality of Kestrel graduates. Han’s is a grade one flight instructor and will also fulfill the role of student coordinator. For more information on structured theory programs and one-on-one tuition please contact Brian or Hans.

ADVANCED THEORY PROGRAMS

Helicopter IREX and ATPL theory programs will commence in January next year. Anyone interested in these courses are encouraged to book now. Places are limited, with spaces filling fast. Book through Brian or Hans on 03 5796 2373 soon to avoid disappointment.

HELICOPTERS HONG KONG CANDIDATE

During October Grant Hislop from Helicopters Hong Kong completed a Type Rating Examiner Course at Kestrel Aviation under the direction of Ray Cronin, which involved training in the Frasca 342 simulator and B206 Long Ranger. Mike Webber, of The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (equivalent to CASA) also visited Kestrel to observe part of Grants training and to view Kestrel’s facilities.

Canadian born Grant was particularly impressed with Kestrel’s friendly staff, facilities and training programs. Grant also took the opportunity to acquaint himself with some Aussie slang which provided lots of laughs for staff and students.

Ray, Mike & Grant

Winter 2003 Newsletter

Autumn 2003 Newsletter