Plane Crazy Down Under » DHC-6 http://www.planecrazydownunder.com Looking at the world of aviation from an Australia / Pacific point of view Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:34:38 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 CreativeCommons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ planecrazydownunder@gmail.com (Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com)) planecrazydownunder@gmail.com (Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com)) Aviation 1440 http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/images/PCDU_RSS_Feed_Logo.jpg Plane Crazy Down Under http://www.planecrazydownunder.com 144 144 An aviation based podcast with a focus on the Australia/Pacific area aviation, australia, new, zealand, asia, pacific, flying, aircraft Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com) Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com) planecrazydownunder@gmail.com no no PCDU Episode 38: Dick Smith: Around the World in Many Ways http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2010/08/10/episode-38-dick-smith-around-the-world-in-many-ways/ http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2010/08/10/episode-38-dick-smith-around-the-world-in-many-ways/#comments Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:24:53 +0000 Grant (Falcon124) http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/?p=662 Dick Smith is an entrepreneur well known to most Australians, ranging from the country wide chain of Dick Smith Electronics stores he created to Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic.

Another very important aspect of Dick’s life has revolved around aviation. In addition to owning & flying his own aeroplanes & helicopters, he has . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 38: Dick Smith: Around the World in Many Ways]]> Dick Smith is an entrepreneur well known to most Australians, ranging from the country wide chain of Dick Smith Electronics stores he created to Dick Smith Foods and Australian Geographic.

Another very important aspect of Dick’s life has revolved around aviation. In addition to owning & flying his own aeroplanes & helicopters, he has also flown around the world multiple times, made the first helicopter landing at the North Pole, and flown balloons across Australia as well as from New Zealand back to Australia (against the prevailing winds). He was on the board of (and then director of) both the Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Dick is also a very vocal champion of air space reform in Australia and aviation safety in general.

We were very fortunate to have been given some of Dick’s valuable time to discuss his early days learning to fly, his adventuring around the world and his thoughts on a number of different aircraft he’s owned & flown. We also touch briefly on his time with the CAA/CASA and his thoughts on aviation safety & airspace reform, all of which will be covered in more detail in future interviews we hope to bring you as soon as Dick’s schedule permits.

]]> http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2010/08/10/episode-38-dick-smith-around-the-world-in-many-ways/feed/ 10 0:47:23 Plane Crazy Down Under Episode #38 Dick Smith: Around the World in Many Ways aviation, australia, new, zealand, asia, pacific, flying, aircraft www.planecrazydownunder.com no no PCDU Episode 6: Plugcast http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/30/episode-6-plugcast/ http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/30/episode-6-plugcast/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:38:35 +0000 Grant (Falcon124) http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/?p=86 After almost two weeks we finally get another episode out, but this one should be worth the wait. We have our first guest discussion session (@MaxFlight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast) and we have our first interview (Carlo Santoro from the Flight Experience Melbourne 737 simulator). In addition to all this, we also discuss the . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 6: Plugcast]]> After almost two weeks we finally get another episode out, but this one should be worth the wait. We have our first guest discussion session (@MaxFlight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast) and we have our first interview (Carlo Santoro from the Flight Experience Melbourne 737 simulator). In addition to all this, we also discuss the following topics:

Our sounds come SoundSnap.com and our title track is “Younameit5″ by Brian Simpson (aka t3cat5).

]]> http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/30/episode-6-plugcast/feed/ 2 1:14:11 After almost two weeks we finally get another episode out, but this one should be worth the wait. We have our first guest discussion session (@MaxFlight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast) and we have our first interview (Carlo Santoro from the Flight [...] After almost two weeks we finally get another episode out, but this one should be worth the wait. We have our first guest discussion session (@MaxFlight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast) and we have our first interview (Carlo Santoro from the Flight Experience Melbourne 737 simulator). In addition to all this, we also discuss the following topics: Bodies of the passengers on the Airlines PNG Twin Otter crash at Kokoda are returned Kokoda crash victims arrive home (Paul Millar @ The Age) ‘Bubbly’ pilot broke down barriers (Michael McKenna and Natasha Bita @ The Australian) Fellow pilots remember Kokoda crash victims (Sarah Elks and Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Virgin Blue to drop their code share with United (thanks to @DanWebbage for the lead) Virgin Blue to end codeshare partnership with United (Brendan Sobie @ FlightGlobal) QANTAS profits drop dramatically Qantas profit plunges 88pc, misses market forecasts (Bill Lindsay @ The Australian) Qantas shares defy profit plunge (Bill Lindsay @ The Australian) Qantas says LA and London routes behind profit nosedive (The Australian) Boeing Tells Qantas 787 Will Fly This Year (Aero News Network) Qantas targets costs as profit tumbles (Matt O’Sullivan @ The Age) Flight Centre also has a dramatic drop in their profit Flight Centre hits financial crisis turbulence (Michael Janda @ ABC News) Flight Centre optimistic on travel sector recovery in fiscal 2010 (Bill Lindsay @ The Australian) We talk briefly about travel agents vs online travel planning and Grant shamelessly plugs Cloud 9 Travel in Melbourne, his favourite boutique travel agency Falling profits are the norm at the moment with Macquarie Airports and Air New Zealand also earning less than expected Macquarie Airports hit by fall in asset values, air traffic (Iain MacDonald @ The Australian) Air New Zealand posts 90pc profit slump (ABC News) Air NZ rejects cartel charges (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) We discuss military flying in New Zealand, including the RNZAF 757, selling their A4 Skyhawks, their success with the Kaman Seasprites, buying the RAN’s A4s and the RNZAF’s A4 formation aerobatic team Australia and New Zealand getting closer to having open borders between them Cheap NZ flights as Tasman union looms (Josh Gordon @ The Age) @MaxFlight from the Airplane Geeks Podcast bravely agrees to chat with us and be recorded Do you think you have what it takes to save the day when your flight crew “eat the fish” but want to be sure in advance? Flight Experience Melbourne provide a 737 simulator and instructors to help you find out. Grant interviews Carlo while sitting in the sim Regional Express tries to expand into Queensland again Rex’s second tilt at Queensland: Regional Express (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Optus launch a 3rd satellite Ariane 5 Rocket Launches Satellite Duo for Japan, Australia (Justin Ray @ SpaceFlightNow) QANTAS passenger tries to open door in flight Midair drama: man restrained on Qantas flight (ABC News) Man tries to open door on Qantas flight (Yahoo!7 News) Bomb scare on Singapore Airlines Bomb scare: Passengers herded to back of plane (ABC News) We hope the winds drop further (Wind causing flight delays: Qantas (ABC News)) Our sounds come SoundSnap.com and our title track is “Younameit5″ by Brian Simpson (aka t3cat5). Podcasts Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com) no no PCDU Episode 5: Jet Lag Recovery http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/16/episode-5-jet-lag-recovery/ http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/16/episode-5-jet-lag-recovery/#comments Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:41:05 +0000 Grant (Falcon124) http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/?p=69 Steve’s back from his trip to the USA and, despite some jet lag woes, he’s in the recording studio and the banter is flowing in our longest episode yet. Sadly, the first 15 minutes sound like Grant’s testing NASA’s new Interplanetary Internet and experiencing a really crappy connection. Not to worry, it soon clears up . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 5: Jet Lag Recovery]]> Steve’s back from his trip to the USA and, despite some jet lag woes, he’s in the recording studio and the banter is flowing in our longest episode yet. Sadly, the first 15 minutes sound like Grant’s testing NASA’s new Interplanetary Internet and experiencing a really crappy connection. Not to worry, it soon clears up and the rest of the episode quite clearly reveals our usual commentary on this week’s local aviation news stories, including the following topics:

]]> http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/16/episode-5-jet-lag-recovery/feed/ 3 1:15:48 Steve’s back from his trip to the USA and, despite some jet lag woes, he’s in the recording studio and the banter is flowing in our longest episode yet. Sadly, the first 15 minutes sound like Grant’s testing NASA’s new Interp[...] Steve’s back from his trip to the USA and, despite some jet lag woes, he’s in the recording studio and the banter is flowing in our longest episode yet. Sadly, the first 15 minutes sound like Grant’s testing NASA’s new Interplanetary Internet and experiencing a really crappy connection. Not to worry, it soon clears up and the rest of the episode quite clearly reveals our usual commentary on this week’s local aviation news stories, including the following topics: Airlines PNG Twin Otter crash at Kokoda Pilot in PNG crash had six months’ experience (Michael McKenna and Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Flyers may have lost their bearings (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Landing gear incidents @ Bankstown (YSBK) Planes Lose Wheels (The Torch newspaper) Regional airlines worrying about aircraft Regional airlines face plane shortage (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Flying Doctor losing a contract Flying doctor service loses $70m contract (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Royal Flying Doctor Service – history Royal Flying Doctor Service – Wikipedia Steve discusses his visit to the TWiT Cottage and meeting Leo Laporte (go on gang, you *know* you’re jealous :) Steve clarifies that he went to Eaker AFB while in the USA but named it incorrectly during his update on the previous episode Steve talks about his flights with V Australia Tainted Virgin Blue chicken wraps induced births (Jamie Walker @ The Australian) Virgin-Delta joint venture to get a clear run (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) We discuss an article by Andrew McLaughlin in the July issue of Australian Aviation magazine about United Airlines fighting to retain share on the Pacific route Tiger is taking steps to improve its image Airline complaints head sky-high (Clive Dorman @ The Age) V Australia wants to fly to Fiji V Australia applies for Fiji route (Greg Waldron @ Flight Global) Grant talks about his experiences going to Sydney for the SimpliFlying/PCDU Tweet Up along side the Asia Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009 conference QANTAS links its frequent flyer program to the Woolworths loyalty program Qantas loyalty deal with Woolies a big seller (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) AirAsiaX news Capital city rivals out to land Asia (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) AirAsiaX will boost its Gold Coast route Malaysia Airlines getting stung by low cost carriers Discount rivals hit MAS results (Geoff Easdown @ The HeraldSun) Laser taggers arrested Laser pointer accused faces court (ABC News) Podcasts Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com) no no PCDU Episode 4: Hand Propped http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/07/episode-4-hand-propped/ http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/07/episode-4-hand-propped/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:47:41 +0000 Grant (Falcon124) http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/?p=58 This week’s episode comes out a little late as Steve’s still in the USA and Grant was up in Sydney for the PCDU / SimpliFlying TweetUp that happened along side the Asia / Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009. A great time was had by all who attended the event but now it’s back to work . . . → Read More: PCDU Episode 4: Hand Propped]]> This week’s episode comes out a little late as Steve’s still in the USA and Grant was up in Sydney for the PCDU / SimpliFlying TweetUp that happened along side the Asia / Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009. A great time was had by all who attended the event but now it’s back to work as there’s news to read, interviews to arrange and a podcast to produce.

This week’s episode includes the following topics:

  • Tiger Improves its Act
  • Remains of last missing RAAF airmen returned from Vietnam
  • Merpati Twin Otter crashes
  • Bangkok Airways ATR72 crashes at Koh Samui
  • RNZAF Upgrades Tech Training Fleet
  • Hand Propping Accident
  • Steve Visscher presents an update from the USA including flying an old tail dragger, seeing more C130s than the RAAF could ever own and starting the long flights back home
    • ]]>     http://www.planecrazydownunder.com/2009/08/07/episode-4-hand-propped/feed/ 0 0:33:44 This week’s episode comes out a little late as Steve’s still in the USA and Grant was up in Sydney for the PCDU / SimpliFlying TweetUp that happened along side the Asia / Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009. A great time was had by all [...] This week’s episode comes out a little late as Steve’s still in the USA and Grant was up in Sydney for the PCDU / SimpliFlying TweetUp that happened along side the Asia / Pacific Aviation Outlook Summit 2009. A great time was had by all who attended the event but now it’s back to work as there’s news to read, interviews to arrange and a podcast to produce. This week’s episode includes the following topics: Jetstar launches world first SMS based boarding pass Jetstar’s SMS boarding passes (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Comparing Geoff Dixon with Alan Joyce at QANTAS Qantas boss a cautious optimist (Matt O’Sullivan @ The Age) Global aviation faces slow return to profits: Dixon (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Joyce rules out Qantas merger (Matt O’Sullivan @ The Age) Alan Joyce kills off IPO plans amid Pacific rationalisation forecast (Ross Kelly @ The Australian) QANTAS fights back Qantas vows to slug out fare ware (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Qantas relaunches branded website (The Age) Qantas business blitz to hit Virgin (Steve Creedy @The Australian) Swine Flu impacts air travel and Cathay Pacific struggles Asia-Pacific travel recovery falls foul of flu (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Times are turbulent for Cathay as it faces storm (Steve Creedy @ The Australian) Virgin fights back, raises money and has a health scare V Australia Launches New One Way Fares to USA Virgin share offer takes flight (Matt O’Sullivan @ WA Today) Food poisoning scare on Virgin flights (ABC News) Tiger Improves its Act Complaints drop as Tiger Airways listens to customers (John Wright @ The Courier Mail) Remains of last missing RAAF airmen returned from Vietnam Missing Vietnam airmen’s remains found (ABC News) Merpati Twin Otter crashes Plane wreckage found in Papua (ABC News) Bangkok Airways ATR72 crashes at Koh Samui Pilot killed as plane skids off runway (ABC News) RNZAF Upgrades Tech Training Fleet NZAF to Upgrade Aircraft for Training (Aviation Today) Hand Propping Accident Cessna takes off without pilot (ABC News) Steve Visscher presents an update from the USA including flying an old tail dragger, seeing more C130s than the RAAF could ever own and starting the long flights back home Podcasts Steve Visscher & Grant McHerron (www.planecrazydownunder.com) no no