Oz Report

2007 USHPA NTSS flex wing ranking

The ranking with two more USHPA sanctioned competitions to go in 2007

Chris Smith sent this preliminary version of the NTSS ranking:

1	SMITH, CHRIS	1837
2	O'BRIEN, JEFF	1819
3	MARTIN, DUSTIN	1597
4	CARTER, KEVIN	1543
5	VOLK, GLEN	1483
6	ZIMMERMAN, CHRIS	1358
7	LANNING, TOM	1306
8	STRAUB, DAVIS	1278
9	SLOCUM, JACK	1165
10	BLOOM, PHILL	938
11	WILLIAMS, MICHAEL	933
12	SIMMONS, JACK	878
13	SHAPIRO, JEFF	824
14	ZANETTI, MARCELO	817
15	WARREN, CURT	756
16	TJADEN, PAUL	730
17	SALAMONE, LINDA	726
18	GOODMAN, BUBBA	707
19	FRUTIGER, MARK	695
20	BURICK, CARL	685

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Transponders in the UK

To be mandated?

DAVID WILLIAMSON <postmanexpat> sends:

Here's part of the statement put out by the CAA ( which some people suggest is an acronym for "Cease All Aviation"), with translation provided by Dave Massie:

Translation service by http://inbetween-the-lines.com:

Phase Two

The CAA intends to conduct further public consultation on its policy aim to expand the requirement to carry and operate SSR transponders.  This consultation will seek views on the following proposals:

**We will ignore this, too, but we are obliged to do it.

· On a regulatory framework for the establishment of notified 'Transponder Mandatory Zones' (TMZs) within specific portions of uncontrolled airspace.  The intention of TMZs would be to mitigate specific risks but with the minimum impact on uncontrolled airspace.

**Despite being told in no uncertain manner that transponders are impractical, we are going ahead anyway, and bringing in some new stuff we didn't happen to mention before.

· The removal from the Air Navigation Order of the exemption for gliders from transponder carriage requirements.

**We listened to you guys, wrote down what you said, then trashed it.

Future Implementation Phases

It is envisaged that the phased implementation will proceed beyond Phase Two with the aim of expanding SSR transponder carriage throughout all UK airspace and, where technically feasible, to all aircraft as user demand and airspace arrangements require.

**We are the bosses here, you will do what we say.  Paraglider and hang gliders would have transponders if anyone could make them small enough.

...  However, depending on the timescales, the means of compliance for these additional phases will need to take into account new technologies and the need to be consistent with emerging European policy.  Additional phases would also be subject to further separate consultation.

**As soon as the guys trying to make small transponders get their act together, you free flyers are stuffed, and will have to buy one.

Funding

The CAA is investigating funding opportunities to support its policy proposals.  These include encouraging an industry partnership for the development of a Low Power SSR Transponder (LPST).

**We're pushing this hard.

It is also investigating funding to offset institutional costs, such as certification, which could potentially benefit all affected operators.

**Odd.  We might subsidise certification?  (that's the 500 quid a year bit)

consultation on the proposals for Phase Two will start towards the end of 2007 and will take place over 16 weeks and take account of the Christmas holiday.  The consultation documentation for Phase Two will be produced in conjunction with inputs and support from user group associations, and the consultation period will be supported by a number of regional presentations.

**It has to look democratic, even if it ain't.

Future timetable:

Phase 2 Summer 2007: Informal stakeholder workshops on the Phase 2 proposals End 2007: Public consultation on the Phase 2 proposals commences for 16 weeks Autumn 2008: CAA submission of Phase 2 Proposals to Government March 2009: Proposed Implementation date for Phase 2 proposals

**That's when we will do it regardless.

March 2012: End of the proposed transition period for Phase 2

**By 2012 we must all have transponders.

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Aero-Skiing

Rhett flies his tug and the towee goes barefooting

http://www.barefootcentral.com/videos/prettyfly.wmv

Thanks to Steve Prepost.  This occurred in the last few months.

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AIR ATOS - the original

(This topic is in: <- Jun.5 Jun.1 Apr.24 Mar.27'06 May 12'05 --> )

The aerodynamic analysis of the original ATOS by an academic team. (AIR factory, Germany)

http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=406&gTable=Paper&gID=44841.

It costs a bit for the article.  Thanks to Bruce.

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Are you sleepy?

Maybe you can't see as well either.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070523113828.htm Thanks to Ron Gleason.

When an air traffic controller at the end of a double shift forgets the location of an aircraft that had recently appeared on his screen, it may be that he did not properly take in the visual information.

While it is well documented that sleep deprivation leads to short-term memory loss, it had been believed that it was the result of the brain not being able to assemble and "file away" the information it received in its proper place.

Discuss Sleepy?  at the Oz Report forum         del.icio.us

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