TEFC - MKT Airfield

Nice Gyrocopter operating from MKT Airfield

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:03:00 +1000

I took Joe down for a flight to Coomalie Creek a couple of weekends ago and as we backtracked for runway 07 a rather sleek looking Gyrocopter took off. Here are the pictures I took while waiting for the aircraft o pass.

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TEFC Flying Competition and official opening of MKT with bitumen makeover

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 03:56:00 +1000

While the V8 cars were belting around Hidden Valley on Sunday, Top end Flying Club pilots and friends of MKT Airfield were participating in our flying competition. With our new bitumen surface less than a week old, it also made sense to combine an official opening by Kath Meyering with the event.

Competition on the day was fierce and so was the Southerly wind that had my drifter and many of the trikes pointing their noses at the airstrip on the downwind leg (which means that we were flying sideways.

Photos in main part of entry...

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MKT Airfield - Back in Black - Bitumen airstrip

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:04:00 +1000

Yesterday marked a special day in the history of MKT. The airstrip that has been here serving light aircraft needs (and military, customs, coastwatch, firefighting aviation needs) is now a bitumen strip. This is a very significant event made possible by the contributions of the people who use MKT and the Meyering family who own the airstrip. It is fair to say that the cost of creating that one kilometre of black ribbon was not cheap, but it was paid for by the people, not through a government grant.

Want to see what it looks like/ read on...

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Changes at MKT

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:27:00 +1000

I attended the monthly meeting last Friday and it was entertaining and productive with a great salad and sausage sizzzle to top it off. Thanks to Arti. We learnt that MKT will be covered in 1km of bitumen in about two weeks time and this will be paid by friends of MKT without any external funding from taxpayers to top up, prop up or support this massive infrastructure investment.

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End of month meeting this Friday

Tue, 25 May 2010 22:56:00 +1000

The end of month meeting will be held this Friday at the MKT clubhouse. Lots to discuss as always. I am pretty sure the upcoming bitumisation of MKT will be on the agenda and I understand that yet another helicopter is to be added to the Toy Box.

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MKT future looks bright

Tue, 11 May 2010 20:47:00 +1000

Despite some shaky events including the granting of only a formal three year extension by the Government to the existing permission to allow the Top End Flying Club to operate at MKT Airfield (which is not under threat as it is an authorised landing area in the formal and traditional definition of the term) we are still going from strength to strength.

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New procedures for non-towered aerodromes

Tue, 11 May 2010 20:26:00 +1000

I went to a CASA safety presentation the other day. John Bradley, Steve Allen, Vince Cassaniti (late again), Ron Lawford, Skippy and myself made up the TEFC representation at the presentation, again hosted by the extremely professional Peter Ball who chaired a great presentation by Mark Richardson (Richo) who is no stranger to Darwin or these presentations.

Follow the more link to find out how to access their eLearning material...

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I have applied for my first ASIC card

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:51:00 +1000

Seeing as I am going through this process, I thought it best to share it with you... Firstly for those who don't know, it isn't a card that gets you into the Australian Security Investments Commission... but rather

If I may quote from Fact sheet 13 http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/factsheet/fact13.aspx#1

What is an ASIC?
An Aviation Security Identification Card, known as an ASIC, is an identification card which is used to identify a person who has been the subject of a background check. An ASIC is required to obtain unescorted access to the secure areas of security controlled airports that have regular public transport (RPT) services. ASICs are valid for up to two years.

The ASIC scheme is a layer of security that ensures that only people who have been background checked to a certain level are permitted to be in the secure areas of airports. The ASIC scheme aims to reduce the risk of unlawful interference with aviation, not just terrorism.

Why do I want an ASIC? Read on...

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Our Karl wins GYFTS Scholarship

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:11:00 +1000

For the first time since the inception of the GYFTS scholarship, a young Territory pilot at the Top End Flying Club has been awarded one of the annual scholarships. Karl Staben who has not only been learning to fly at the Top End Flying Club is also often seen helping out around the club at working bees and is a very deserving recipient of this scholarship.

The 'Giving Young People Flight Training Support' [GYFTS] fund was launched at NATFLY 2008. The intention is to provide scholarships to deserving and capable young flyers that enable them to continue their flight training http://www.raa.asn.au/students/gyfts.html.

Congratulations to Karl and to Phil. Young student pilots are our future and instructors and chief flying instructors nurture that future.

Karl Staben - GYFTS Scholarship Recipient

The Litchfield Lap - My Easter Flight and Video

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 05:04:00 +1000

I went for a flight on Easter Sunday and created a kind of travelogue video using my iPod (not iPad) nano and my Nikon D90. I purchased a program that I generally use for developing online learning modules but as it was a new version I decided to try it out, Here is the video...

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Proposal for a converging airstrip with MKT Airfield quashed

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:32:00 +1000

Just a short note to report that a proposal submitted to the development consent authority here in the Northern Territory for an airfield adjacent to MKT and having a converging flight path with MKT Airfield has not been approved.

Conversely, permission has been granted by the relevant authorities for the Top End Flying Club, MKT Airfield and associated activities to continue, which will take us beyond 30 years of continuous operation as a training facility for recreational aircraft.

TEFC takes a logical step and seeks expressions of interest to operate the Top End Flying School

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:47:00 +1000

At our monthly meeting it was decided that the time had come to call for expressions of interest from suitably qualified folk from the aviation community who may have an interest in running a commercially viable flying school for recreational aircraft at MKT Airfield. For those who are aware, the club and the school have been one for probably as long as the club has been in existence.

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A big THANK YOU to Wildcare, Rotary Darwin South and Darwin Prison

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:26:00 +1000

Individual expressions of thanks are one thing, but the committee would like to publicly thank the two organisations who worked tirelessly during the open day to keep the humans fuelled up with cakes, treats, sausage sandwiches, cool drinks and big smiles. It is very hard working on a stand and considering that all the proceeds gathered go to good causes like Wildcare and the many benefits that Rotary supports - it is a tiring and sometimes thankless task.

The passion and dedication of volunteer organisations sets a a leading example for our community.

Another group of folks from Darwin Prison came out on the Saturday before the event and really spruced up the airfield, erecting barriers, cleaning around the airfield and in the clubhouse. We would like to thank Darwin Prisons, the supervising prison officers and the gentlemen who came out to work on the day. It is hot hard work and it is fantastic that the Prison can help out selected non profit organisations.

Without the management team at the prison supportive of these kinds of activities it would almost be beyond us to present as polished an image as we have been able to on both open days in the last 5 years. Again, a public show of thanks to Darwin Prison and who knows, they may or may not become close neighbours to the flying club at MKT.

A Big Thanks from all at MKT Airfield - Home of Recreational Aviation in the Northern Territory

Me and My Ride - From the NT News

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:17:00 +1000

Once again demonstrating the highest levels of grammatical correctness, the NT News has a feature called "Me and My Ride". The article about Bernie's newly acquired drifter - Rob Hall's old aircraft was featured in the Sunday Territorian on the day the Open Day was held (23 August)

Although the article isn't available, the photo album is.

http://tools.ntnews.com.au/photos/photo_gallery_popup.php?category_id=931&offset=4

A great open day at MKT

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:12:00 +1000

We arrived just after 7am to find Sam Meyering, grandson of the owners of MKT Airfield manning the entrance ready to guide people to the correct parking area. Resplendent in his reflective safety vest and trademark smile we were informed that visitors had already arrived. There were still signs to put up, aircraft to wash, tables to set out and many other things to do before the main body of folk came through.

It was an open day and we had interesting visiting aircraft like Max's Gyrocopter, Greg's Tiger Moth, Nick's Harvard and three flavours of Texan including the new Storch which was a real headturner and was a progressive contrast to the drifter that I fly.

I'll thank specific people a little further along but a big thankyou goes not only to the members who helped make the open day happen, but to those who came along, those who brought their aircraft and those who had a yarn sharing everything from old friendships and memories to those igniting that desire to fly in young and old.

I think visitors were surprised at the variety of aircraft and the numbers of aircraft. There were 30 aircraft parked out on the flightline with probably another dozen at least tucked away in hangars.

There were highlights throughout the day and one of the great things was that there was a serious amount of flying going on. I estimate that there were up to 150 landings between 8am and 3pm - All without incident.

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