New Zealand Aviation Editor's Blog.

Sitting your tests all at once.

One thing that interested me when talking to a group of GA pilots is how they went about their initial training. The hard yards to getting their Private Pilots Licence (PPL) isn't always in the sky but in the class room.

There were a few pilots like myself who did their theory course in what then was 2 weeks in the school holidays then left it months before sitting any of the exams. For me it was the right thing to do because things I lean need to process a few weeks before I really understand them.

For others though that giant leap on the Saturday after the course to hit off all the exams in one day.

Most of my PPL class are now all at CPL level or higher. Two are flying for an over seas airline and the others well we never stayed in touch.

They all have the relative idea that you should pass all your exams before moving on to the practical side of things.

Check out the PPL sample tests on NZAviation.com

http://nzaviation.com/learn-to-fly/

Good luck.

Balloons over Waikato Festival 2009 Dates.

New Zealand's premier Ballooning Event "Balloons over Waikato" announced their new dates for 2009.

The festival that is visited by thousands every year will run from the 25th - 29th March 2009.

Organizers told NZAviation.com that they expect an even larger crowd in 2009 going on the results of the event that has just past.

For more information about the Balloons over Waikato Festival visit their website:

http://www.balloonsoverwaikato.co.nz/

More information about the 2009 event is located in the Events section of this site.

Public safety around hot air balloons!

One thing that I clearly noticed while attending the Balloons over Waikato festival this week was the public's reaction to inflating balloons.

Wide open mouths and the stunned chicken look as these giant balloons were inflated.

While standing looking at the balloons some people forgot that there were other balloons inflating around them quickly realising once they heard a loud burst from the burners.

Don't be shy to make yourself known to the pilot and crew. If they know you are there they can make sure you are well out the way before they do anything remotely dangerous.

I have to admit while walking around there were times I got caught out by rouge burners forcing hot air into the balloon. The sound can only really be compeered on a smaller scale to the space shuttle taking off.

Remember: Mission first, safety always.

The Whenuapai airport debate.

The news lately is full of people complaining about the noise pollution that would be generated by changing Whenuapai airbase into a commercial airport. Now I'm not for or against it however in saying that their will always be people who look at the negative side of things.

In my opinion Whenuapai's location would make it a perfect place for commercial operations. Yes some residences would have increased noise as planes fly over every half hour but this is why someone invented double glazing.

Whenuapai Airbase Action group (Waag) recently published a chart picturing in red people who would be affected by extra noise. This chart never took into account a few variables. One, being that aircrafts these days are much quieter than some of the military aircrafts that the Air Force fly and two, the altitude that aircrafts fly as relative to ground noise.

While WAAG might seem like its doing Auckland Airports dirty work by accepting money from the competition the question has to be asked:

How would Whenuapai's commercial operations affect the community?

Pros:

More jobs will be created; more airlines would equal more pilots and more training more support crew. Shops would open.
In the event of a major problem at Auckland, aircrafts could be diverted to Whenuapai.
Local businesses, that develop sound proofing for the homes will get more business.
More money into the local economy means more funding for community projects.

Cons:

Noise pollution would impact to local equality could drive people away from the area.
Wildlife patterns would change with the increased air traffic.
More aircrafts means more jet fuel more green house gasses.

Whenuapai should always be an airport however who gets to use it should be up to the community around it. No one can argue that the airport is a prime piece of land but turning it into a park or housing estate would be foolish.

This debate will go on for a long time and I believe that everyone who has had input about "what it should become" have all had valid points.

What side are you on?