SAAA - Sports Aircraft Association of Australia - Builders of Experimental Aircraft

Recent News

Website Updated 30th June 2009

Some new additions for members!

The Library has just issued a new list of books, magazines and videos available to members. Click on the "Library List" menu item under "Members". The file is in pdf format.

Would you like your project featured in the "Builders Log" section of Airsport? If so you can send, online, the editor details and a photograph for inclusion. Click on "Builder Report" under "Members" for the upload page.

And some for all!

See Airsport Magazine in Full Colour!
Airsport magazine is now viewable in full colour directly from the web site. Click on the "Airsport" cover picture on the right or click on Airsport in the Home section of the main menu.

Membership Online Services

Online facilities are now available via our secure web site for the following:-

Join Online

Members need to log in to:-

Pay your annual subscription
Pay an Invoice
Update your membership records

Follow the links in the sidebar.

Try our new Forum

A forum has been setup to enable members to be able to communicate to other members, topics that are of interest and relevant to aviation and safety.

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MAINTENANCE TRAINING COURSE

The authority to maintain our own aircraft is a valued privilege for amateur builders, but it carries some important legal responsibilities.
Having built an aircraft, in some cases many years ago, does not ensure that the holder of the maintenance authority is up to the job today.
The SAAA Maintenance Training Course aims to ensure all who hold maintenance authority for their amateur built experimental aircraft are able to meet their responsibilities.
Background
Many of our older members built aircraft under the ABAA system (Amateur Built Aircraft Acceptance) which did not give them any maintenance authority.
The SOAG group in Queensland, who mainly operate ABAA built aircraft, approached CASA some years ago to obtain maintenance authority similar to that for experimental builders.
CASA agreed with the concept provided they completed a course designed to meet the requirements of the CASA Basic Airworthiness Administration Syllabus plus demonstrating practical maintenance skills. This course has now been offered to SAAA by SOAG. This provides great value to SAAA members, not only in helping our ABAA builders to obtain maintenance authority, but also to educate all experimental builders and owners.
Builders of experimental category aircraft must convince the Authorised Person who issues their C of A that they are capable of 'continuous maintenance' of their aircraft.
Experience since the introduction of the experimental category has shown that many may be less than fully equipped for this task. There is a knowledge gap that needs to be filled. With this course now available, new CofA applicants as well as existing maintainers, can prove their competency by successful completion of this course......(read more)

Maintenance Training Course at Cowra.

A Maintenance Training Course will be held in conjunction with the SAAA Convention at Cowra, which is being held on the 18th to 20th September.
The course which will be run on Thursday and Friday the 17th and 18th September is available for all members, but for those who live in more remote areas, this is a great opportunity to participate.
The course will run from 8:00am to 5:00pm daily.
If you would like to attend, please phone Alison at HQ on (03) 9482 4716, or email her at enquiries@saaa.com to register your interest.
Places are restricted so I suggest you register your interest soon.

Fuel Injected Engines AD

CASA has issued a 2nd amendment to the AD relating to the servo plug on fuel injection servos. This may affect some of our members. If you have a fuel injected piston engine in your aircraft, please review this AD to see if your aircraft is affected. If your aircraft is affected, you must make the inspection by 23rd February 2009. You must continue to make regular inspections until the plug gasket is replaced by the newer type. The Amended AD can be found at http://www.casa.gov.au/airworth/airwd/ADfiles/equip/fsm/fsm-031.pdf

Got a Tru-Track Autopilot Servo?

If you are using a Tru-Trak Autopilot servo in your RV (or aother aircraft) check here to read about one pilots problems with it. Click here for Tru-Trak's response to Brian Hunters E-Mail requesting clarification of the problem.

Members EMail Address Update

Do we have your correct email address?
From time to time we send information to members via email. This enables us to contact you quickly with up-to-date information for you to provide a convenient reply if necessary.Not all members have provided an email address, and many we have are no longer current.
If you have not received an email from us in the last week of October we probably don't have your correct email.
Simply email your name and updated contact details to: membership@saaa.com or click on the 'Update Your Details' in the Members Section of the web site.
If you don't have an email address or a relative who could receive emails for you, contact Head Office and we will arrange for any important information to be posted directly to you.
Log in as member; click on the update details prompt. This will take you to a separate, secure log in prompt that will then allow you to update your email address and other important information for our database.

Log In/Forgotten Password:

In the top right hand corner of this home page is the box to login to the members' only section. Please follow the prompts. If you still have difficulty or get no response please go to the bottom of this page and click on webmaster prompt and email the details to the webmaster.

Advertising in Airsport/Website

Click here for booking form, deadlines, and rates.

Escape To Cowra 2009

Escape to Cowra 2009 dates are 18th, 19th and 20th September 2009. Make sure you put it in your diary!

Escape to Cowra Awards 2008.

Click here for details and photographs of the Awards at Cowra 2008......(read more)

Can you Help with an Me-163?

The following email was received by Brian Hunter.
Can you help with the information?
Please respond to Istavan directly at l5zkx5@freemail.hu.

Hello!
My name is Istvan Csoban, I am a hungarian glider pilot and I want to build a Me-163 replica and the only complete set that I know of, was owned by Mr Kurz in Germany, but the printed drawings (A3 size) were all sold to Australia some two years ago and can you tell me who is the owner, where can I buy the plan/drawings, it is possible?
Whit thanks:
István Csobán

406 PLB Exemption

CASA EX21/09, an Exemption agreed between AOPA and CASA is now in effect until the end of June 2009.
Please ensure you purchase a 406 PLB/EPIRB/ELT as appropriate before that date as there will be no further extension.
To operate without a 406 beacon in the interim, the following conditions of EX21/09 must be met:
1. The pilot in command of an aircraft to which this exemption applies must lodge with Air Traffic Services (ATS) a comprehensive flight plan or flight note;
2. The pilot in command of an aircraft must nominate a SARTIME for each visual flight rules (VFR) flight;
3. The pilot in command of an aircraft must advise ATS of a deviation from the flight plan or flight note;
4. The pilot in command of the aircraft must ensure that a 121.5 MHz beacon either exists in the aircraft or is carried in the aircraft;
5. The pilot in command of an aircraft must ensure that if the aircraft is to be flown through a designated remote area, it is equipped with HF and also carries a 121.5Mz portable or fixed beacon.