for potential pilots–like jet skis–
arose, and all of a sudden anything
approaching a new GA aircraft was
completely out of reach for aero clubs.
“Then, on the instructing side
of the equation, CFI numbers,
especially in country areas, are
dwindling due to recruitment by
both the airline and third-level
operators, compounded by the high
cost of the GA instructor rating and
poor remuneration.
“Then RA-Aus comes along.
For a reasonable price, around
$130,000, you get a brand-new
aircraft, which doesn’t require a
GA instructor rating or a CASA
Air Operator’s Certificate,
and has much lower operating
costs than a GA aircraft. These
operating costs are in the
order of 17-20 litres per hour
f lying cross country, and where
unleaded petrol can be used, this
compounds the savings at around
$1.20 per litre, rather than say
$2.30 for avgas.
“Some aero clubs have persevered
with something like a Cessna
182–a great aircraft–but with fuel
consumption of around 50-60 litresper hour of avgas, this is beyond the
reach of most members financially,
resulting in the aero club ending up
effectively subsidising the operation of
such an aircraft by drawing on its own
cash reserves, to the detriment of the
aspirations of the rest of the members.”Benefits under
RA-Aus
It appears the major benefits for aero
clubs of operating LSAs under RA-
Aus are financial and operational;
LSAs generally have lower operating
costs compared to an equivalent GA
aircraft, and the administrative burden
is generally lower. Both of these aspects
should make flying more accessible.
Michael Pendergast’s dual role asboth a dealer for Alpine Aircraft, as well
as President of Geelong Sport Aviators
at Lethbridge Airport, gives him a
unique perspective. “The aero club’s
job is to introduce people to aviation. It
needs to cover its costs, but should not
be a money-making exercise.”So, can operating RA-Aus
registered aircraft increase the appeal
of aviation and so generate more flying?
The experience of some aero
clubs would suggest the RA-Aus
environment is the way of the future.
Rod Davison, President of the Hastings
District Flying Club at Port Macquarie,
is a firm advocate of RA-Aus.
“We used to operate a 1973
Cessna 172, but it always seemed
to be in for maintenance, the SIDS
inspections were coming due and it
needed a new engine in the next 100
hours. Consequently, we decided to
sell it about two years ago and now
operate solely under RA-Aus.
“We first obtained a Foxbat in
2005, put about 2500 hours on it
and then replaced it with a second
one in 2010, which also now has
about 2500 hours up. We purchased
a Flight Design CTLS in June 2014,
which replaced a Eurofox we had.australianflying.com.au 51
March – April 2015 AUSTRALIAN FLYINGall of a sudden anything approaching a new GA
aircraft was completely out of reach for aero clubs
To say the Foxbat has been a success at Hastings
District would be a gross understatement!