Aviation’s Grass Roots.
Aviation’s Grass Roots. Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 787 and Airbus A320 and 321. I have been very fortunate to be rated on a range of airliner types during my career. Even so, there is a very special feeling to return to grass roots aviation …
Giving Back.
Giving Back. At my age, much of the conversation seems to centre around retirement. Personally, I have never considered retirement, it is more a case of changing focus and a large part of that will be continuing to give back to the industry that has …
Three Years On.
Three Years On. The light rain on the roof and the half light of this Saturday morning made it very tempting to roll over and go back to sleep. However, it was like 5am on any other morning and the motivation remained strong. This morning …
What a Night!
What a Night! It was a clear night, albeit moonless. The air was smooth, even near the equator, as we wound our way southward from Vancouver to Sydney. I have spent many hours aloft by night but this night was something different. Whether it was …
Aviation Terminology. What’s in a Name?
Aviation Terminology. What’s in a Name? Across the decades, aviation has continually sought to reduce the element of risk. When technology was the culprit, improvements were implemented and when the human element was seen as the weakness, new processes were created. ‘Human Factors’ became …
When Everything Old is New Again.
Qantas A321XLR Arrival. (Image: SYDSQUAD) When Everything Old is New Again. As the new Qantas Airbus A321XLR taxied in at Sydney Airport in the thrashing rain, my eye was caught by one of the less obvious details – its registration – VH-OGA. The markings, “VH-OGA” …
75 Years On. The Forgotten War – The Korean War.
75 Years On. The Forgotten War – The Korean War. As dawn broke on 75 years ago on 25 June 1950, the Korean People’s Army surged south across the 38th Parallel in unison with artillery fire. The Korean War had begun. Most Australians would’ve have …