Croatian aviation booms

In the first half of the year Croatian airliners have transported over 1 million passenger while both international and domestic airlines have transported over 2 million passengers in Croatia, a record for the country as the tourism industry continues to grow and the standard of living continues to increase. According to data from the Croatian agency of statistics, local Croatian airliners have transported nearly 1.03 million passengers (both domestic and international traffic included), which is a 7.1% increase compared to last year’s result. When including both local and international airlines the number of transported passengers rises to 2.08 million, a 9% increase compared to the same time last year. This only includes passengers that have either boarded or disembarked from scheduled international and domestic destinations by all airlines from or to Croatia.

In the Croatian domestic air market 456.000 passengers were transported, a large increase of 18.8% compared to last year. In the first half of the year 32.000 arrivals and departures were operated by foreign airlines, a 3.6% increase. The number of transported cargo has also significantly increased – by 10%. The large increase in passenger numbers can be largely thanked to the national airline which has introduced new lines, particularly in the region as well as the fact that more people are travelling due to an increase in living standards.

More Random Travels


Latest FU-24 to be added to the register, abeit briefly, is ZK-CYM (c/n 132). Originally ZK-CTP, it was exported to Australia in 1968 where it became VH-CYM with SuperAir in NSW. Super Air in Hamilton have worked their magic with it over the last four months, and it now features turbine power and stretched fuselage, making it by my reckoning a Fletcher 2000. Seen at Hamilton 14 October, I understand it will be returning to Australia.

Just another of the flock of second-hand training Cessna's hitting our shores at present is 152 ZK-JBS. Shot at Ardmore 13 August, it has yet to make it onto the civil register.

At last a sunny day! Noted at Ardmore on 25 July was PA-24 ZK-KJA (c/n 24-82). Originally imported in 1999 as ZK-CWJ, the registration was changed in July 2007 to reflect the name of the new owner.


Just about ready to fly on 15 August is Schweizer 269C-1 ZK-IPB (c/n 0228) after extensive rebuild of the wreck of N1831A which crashed in Florida in July 2006. In the background, in the early stages of rebuild, are similar machines ZK-IPC and ZK-IPE.















Interesting Mods.

Two interesting modifications on this microlight.

Fuel transfer tube from cockpit to fuel filler cap on top of cowling.
Motor vehicle horn for various purposes.

Common Errors in Straight-and-Level Flight

Pitch

Pitch errors usually result from the following faults:



Improper adjustment of the attitude indicator's miniature aircraft to

the wings-level attitude. Following your initial level-off from a climb,

check the attitude indicator and make any necessary adjustment in the

miniature aircraft for level flight indication at normal cruise

airspeed.

Insufficient cross-check and interpretation of pitch instruments. For

example, the airspeed indication is low. Believing you are in a

nose-high attitude, you react with forward pressure without noting that

a low power setting is the cause of the airspeed discrepancy. Increase

your cross-check speed to include all relevant instrument indications

before you make a control response.

Uncaging the attitude indicator (if it has a caging feature) when the

airplane is not in level flight. The altimeter and heading indicator

must be stabilized with airspeed indication at normal cruise when you

pull out the caging knob, if you expect the instrument to read

straight-and-level at normal cruise airspeed.

Failure to interpret the attitude indicator in terms of the existing

airspeed.

Late pitch corrections. Pilots commonly like to leave well enough alone.

When the altimeter shows a 20-foot error, there is a reluctance to

correct it, perhaps because of fear of overcontrolling. If

overcontrolling is the error, the more you practice small corrections

and find out the cause of overcontrolling, the closer you will be able

to hold your altitude. If you tolerate a deviation, your errors will

increase.

Chasing the vertical-speed indications. This tendency can be corrected

by proper cross-check of other pitch instruments, as well as by

increasing your understanding of the instrument characteristics.

Using excessive pitch corrections for the altimeter evaluation. Rushing

a pitch correction by making a large pitch change usually aggravates the

existing error and saves neither time nor effort.

Failure to maintain established pitch corrections. This is a common

error associated with cross-check and trim errors. For example, having

established a pitch change to correct an altitude error, you tend to

slow down your crosscheck, waiting for the airplane to stabilize in the

new pitch attitude. To maintain the attitude, you must continue to

cross-check and trim off the pressures you are holding.

Fixations during cross-check. After initiating a heading correction, for

example, you become preoccupied with bank control and neglect to notice

a pitch error. Likewise, during an airspeed change, unnecessary gazing

at the power instrument is common. Bear in mind that a small error in

power setting is of less consequence than large altitude and heading

errors. The airplane will not decelerate any faster if you stare at the

manifold pressure gauge than if you continue your cross-check.



Trim: Adjusting the aerodynamic forces on the control surfaces so that the

aircraft maintains the set attitude without any control input.



Uncaging: Unlocking the gimbals of a gyroscopic instrument, making it

susceptible to damage by abrupt flight maneuvers or rough handling.



Heading

Heading errors usually result from the following faults:



Failure to cross-check the heading indicator, especially during changes

in power or pitch attitude.

Misinterpretation of changes in heading, with resulting corrections in

the wrong direction.

Failure to note, and remember, a preselected heading.

Failure to observe the rate of heading change and its relation to bank

attitude.

Overcontrolling in response to heading changes, especially during

changes in power settings.

Anticipating heading changes with premature application of rudder

control.

Failure to correct small heading deviations. Unless zero error in

heading is your goal, you will find yourself tolerating larger and

larger deviations. Correction of a 1° error takes a lot less time and

concentration than correction of a 20° error.

Correcting with improper bank attitude. If you correct a 10° heading

error with a 20° bank correction, you can roll past the desired heading

before you have the bank established, requiring another correction in

the opposite direction. Do not multiply existing errors with errors in

corrective technique.

Failure to note the cause of a previous heading error and thus repeating

the same error. For example, your airplane is out of trim, with a left

wing low tendency. You repeatedly correct for a slight left turn, yet do

nothing about trim.

Failure to set the heading indicator properly, or failure to uncage it.



Power

Power errors usually result from the following faults:



Failure to know the power settings and pitch attitudes appropriate to

various airspeeds and airplane configurations.

Abrupt use of throttle.

Failure to lead the airspeed when making power changes. For example,

during an airspeed reduction in level flight, especially with gear and

flaps extended, adjust the throttle to maintain the slower speed before

the airspeed reaches the desired speed. Otherwise, the airplane will

decelerate to a speed lower than that desired, resulting in further

power adjustments. How much you lead the airspeed depends upon how fast

the airplane responds to power changes.

Fixation on airspeed or manifold pressure instruments during airspeed

changes, resulting in erratic control of both airspeed and power.



Trim

Trim errors usually result from the following faults:



Improper adjustment of seat or rudder pedals for comfortable position of

legs and feet. Tension in the ankles makes it difficult to relax rudder

pressures.

Confusion as to the operation of trim devices, which differ among

various airplane types. Some trim wheels are aligned appropriately with

the airplane's axes; others are not. Some rotate in a direction contrary

to what you expect.

Faulty sequence in trim technique. Trim should be used, not as a

substitute for control with the wheel (stick) and rudders, but to

relieve pressures already held to stabilize attitude. As you gain

proficiency, you become familiar with trim settings, just as you do with

power settings. With little conscious effort, you trim off pressures

continually as they occur.

Excessive trim control. This induces control pressures that must be held

until you retrim properly. Use trim frequently and in small amounts.

Failure to understand the cause of trim changes. If you do not

understand the basic aerodynamics related to the basic instrument

skills, you will continually lag behind the airplane.

Question time #17 Answer

What you have been looking at was the front on view of the wing tip tank of the Cessna 320E Skynight ZK-EGN. (turned through 90 degrees).
I had two off line stabs at a Cessna 310 tip tank, but I also wanted the registration and seeing that the 320 is the only one in country I am not going to pay out this week.

Solar plane makes record flight

A solar UAV utilizing Lithium-Sulphur batteries and amorphous silicon solar arrays has made a record flight. Read the BBC NEWS story: BBC: Solar plane makes record flight

Cassette bombs dismantled at Niš Airport

Russian experts have dismantled five cassette bombs found near the passenger terminal of Constantine the Great Airport in Niš, Serbia (the second largest city in the country). The bombs were thrown during the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia in which the airport was badly damaged. Together with the three cassette bombs a mine throwing bomb was also found unexploded since World War Two near the passenger terminal. A further two cassette bombs were found on August 15, 5 to 30cm deep in the ground. The exploration of the airport complex (of 704.000 square metres in area) began on July 31, 2008 with 5.000 square meters already being searched. Work on the whole site should be complete by the end of the year.

In the 78 day bombing of Serbia, Niš was hard hit with some of the most controversial raids taking place with many civilians killed. Cassette bombs have been banned by the Geneva Convention since World War Two however a few world powers persist in using them. Niš Constantine the Great International Airport was reconstructed in 2004 thanks to donations by the Norwegian Government and Serbian Royal family. The airport is served by national airline Jat Airways, national airline of Montenegro as well as Thompsonfly from the United Kingdom (only during the winter season). The airport handled 30.461 passengers in 2007, a decrease of 5.000 compared to 2006 contributed by the closing down of many lines by Jat Airways due to unprofitability. However 2008, with an increase in lines by Jat Airways and the reintroduction of flights from Tivat to Niš by Montenegro Airlines, should secure the airport to have over 35.000 passengers.

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