16-19 March - no fly zone 50 NM from stadiums

[Gyronaut]

... intercept you? With what? a Cessna Caravan?

By the way

...the aircraft MUST me transponder equipped. Which basically kills anything in the microlight class.

As a matter of interest, most of the Gyro's here in the Cape are transponder equiped, as is the one used for training at Aerosport, Fisantekraal. In addition Gyrofan's, Learjet's and mine certainly are and thats probably more than half of 'em.

Rgds

Len

[pietmeyer]

Will this no-fly zone apply in 2010 only over week-ends with the soccer world cup or whenever there is a game at the stadiums? How much flying will we be able to do in 2010?
I am sure if all of us non-transponder guys who are not realy interrested in soccer try and get this stupid idea stopped now before it becomes a bloody habbit, we would be able to fly in 2010. If everybody just keeps quite, the idiots who came up with this plan for March will just figure that it is ok for 2010 also.

Who can we phone to complain?

[Tumbleweed]

I would'nt worry about flying during the world cup, there wont be anyone to respond, they'll all have VIP seats or be doing 'crowd security'.

[Stephan van Tonder]

There are operational rooivalk choppers in SA and perhaps that could be used as a suitable intercept aircraft. I certainly wouldn't want to come face to face with one. I must say I have yet to see a trike with a transponder and having transponder equipped gyros in the cape certainly doesn't help our case
In any case - Petit apparently had a visit from SAAF today and they will be placing personnel there for the week to make sure no flying happens.
SO if you had plans of flying or training next week consider it cancelled by our govenrnment.

[Wargames]

I must say I have yet to see a trike with a transponder

There is a certain trike at morningstar with a transponder

[Stephan van Tonder]

We fought hard enough to get the transponder thing opposed that we don't like fitting them here
Do you guys at morningstar fly into controlled airspace often?

[Tracer]

There is a GT-450 with a transponder as well, in the area of concern. So I guess with the flight plans filed, a certain aviator from Aero57, could be flying, legally...

[Stephan van Tonder]

you also have to phone saaf to get permission first and I think there lies the problem.

[Tracer]

you also have to phone saaf to get permission first and I think there lies the problem.

No doubt

[John Young]

I must say I have yet to see a trike with a transponder.

Hi,

ZU-HAVoc has one. Allowed us through East London and Port Elizabeth air space. Was a hoot "Springbok 503 - please hold - there are 6 microlights crossing the centre line ...".

Interesting to read that the 50NM represents an area nearly 3 times greater than the 30NM used for a presidential inauguration in USA.

Regards
John ZU-sEXY

[ZULU1]

Stephen, I had a transponder mode C on CEW a few years ago, it was the best piece of kit I have used. I flew the Deben beach front regularly, Dave Jackson used it for the wild coast. As a result of the King Shaka International, Ballito is mandated for all aircraft to be fitted with Transponders in the near future and as such we are (or should I say have) designed a suitable antenna ground plane. At this moment we are importing a Trigg unit for Microlight usage. The ground plane is a laser cut dish thats mounted below the fuel tank very similar to the original that I made. That was a Ally curry pot base purchased in Chakas Kraal and about 500mm in diameter. Our "dish" is clamped on to the keel and uses a u bolt assembly which originates from a yacht supplier. The intention is to design without mod approvals. We are also fitting a LED voltmeter to each trike to monitor trike battery condition. These we are making in house as well.

So any one wants a ground plane; "Designed and Manufactured by Ballito Microlight Club", we are making 29 of them !!! Not a commercial venture at all. I can also forward the dxf files for cutting and the pdf. bend details when complete if it is of help to any club with a similar problem. They will be Aquilla/Aerotrike/Raptor only fitment and no fairings.

Unfortunately the Ballito project wont be ready by the time of these March trials. After what happened to the innocent cricketers yesterday, these laws and procedures will be tightened up globally and its only a matter of time before anything that flies will have a mandatory fitment. So thats life I am afraid. In South Africa anything that gets in the way of the 2010 World Cup will be bulldozed !

Enjoy the day.

Paul

[Gyronaut]

We fought hard enough to get the transponder thing opposed that we don't like fitting them here
Do you guys at morningstar fly into controlled airspace often?

Yes Stephan, some of us clearly do as can be seen from all the posts confirming transponders on microlights.

The issue is not really about transponders though, its about whether our country can afford some extremist flying into a crowd to make a point.
Zulu1's point about the cricketers in Pakistan is a good one and sadly it affects all of us so once again law abiding citizens will take the brunt.
Vote wisely.

Len

[Stephan van Tonder]

I didn't realise the criketers were attacked from the air with a microlight

Sorry just a little peeved. I really don't care a hoot about soccer.

[Wargames]

We fought hard enough to get the transponder thing opposed that we don't like fitting them here
Do you guys at morningstar fly into controlled airspace often?

Hi Stephan,

The trike mentioned had to have a transponder as he flew around the world

We normally don't bother with controlled airspace, exept langebaanweg, but they don't require a transponder.

[AndyG]

I didn't realise the criketers were attacked from the air with a microlight

Sorry just a little peeved. I really don't care a hoot about soccer.

After 911 I loaded my trike with some thunder flashes and cherry bombs intent on bombing the Royal Hotel in Durban. However they saw me coming and just opened the top floor windows and i flew right through.

Damn this Holy War aint easy