AirtimeISSUE 14 FIRST QUARTER 2001

The Avalon 2001 Airshow

held in February was a

special event that celebrat-

ed the 80th Anniversary of

the Royal Australian Air

Force and marked the

Centenary of Australian

Federation.

AirShows Down Under

hosted more than 450 aircraft

from 30 different countries,

showcasing the latest in avia-

tion, aerospace and defence

technology.

The 2001 Airshow was the

sixth in the AirShows Down

Under series of aerospace

industry exhibitions.

Tuesday to Friday after-

noon were open to the Trade

to wander freely about the var-

ious stands and aircraft dis-

plays before the General

Public were admitted late

Friday afternoon for the week-

end activities.

The aerial displays did not

disappoint with an array of air-

craft from F1-11 top speed and

power to wing walking dis-

plays and VSAF

C17 transport

fly overs.

Melbourne’s

Summer heat

wave was kind

to the Air Show

and held off

until the closing

day when tem-

peratures hit the 40 degree

mark, keeping crowd numbers

and traffic to a manageable

level on the Sunday.

Previous days had seen

record attendance numbers.

Air BP’s chalet was well

attended by a range of cus-

tomers who enjoyed the new

Air BP branding experience.

The Avalon 2003 Airshow

will be themed along the lines

of 100 years of Australian

Aviation, dates to be con-

firmed.

Avalon 2001

In excess of 200,000 people attended this

year’s Avalaon Airshow.

Air BP’s customer hospitality tent.

‘Aussie Tiger’ Euro Helicopter

VSAF C17 Transport

VSAF B1 Bomber

FEDERATION AIRSHOW ACQUISITIONS

On 21st February 2001, Air BP completed the purchase of

Tesoro’s into-plane re-fuelling business at Pago Pago.

This follows a year of successful throughput arrangements in

American Samoa, which has become Air BP’s second-largest Pacific

Islands market.

Our team of five airport staff provide a first class fuel delivery

service through a hydrant system to a broad set of airline customers,

ranging from large US military jets, through to the needs of heli-

copters based on tuna fishing vessels.

Jet A1 fuel with with optional FSII additive will be available 24

hours a day, seven days a week although a minimum of four hours

notice is needed for night time re-fuellings between 00:00 and

04:00. A trailer for Avgas 100/130 is also available.

Contact numbers are as follows:

Representative Nifo Tali

Airport Telephone +684 699 9111

Mobile +684 258 4923

Fax +684 699 8346

Setting up base in

American Samoa

January 4, 2001 marked the

official Day 1 of Air BP’s pur-

chase of Exxon Mobil’s

Turbine Oil range.

After protracted negotiations

the deal was finally signed on

December 22, 2000 before the

Christmas break.

At this stage the range available in Australia is the Turbine Oil

274, Turbine Oil 2380, Turbine Oil 2389 and Turbine Oil 2197. The

product is available in cartons of 24 quart cans.

For product brochures and order enquires please contact

Australia: Sue Goding Phone: (03) 9268 4786, Fax: (03) 9268 4478.

NZ: Justin Walker: Phone: +64 (4) 495 5641, Fax: +64 (4) 495 5512

The spirit of Australia’s aviation pioneers will

be commemorated over the period Wednesday

11 July to Sunday 22 July, 2001 in the

“Federation AirShows in the OutBack”.

Queensland will be hosting the 2,400km air safari

route that retraces, in convoy the original routes of Qantas

and the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Six airshows will be

staged along the route, presenting flying displays of

historic, aerobatic, sport, commercial and recreational

aircraft.

Air BP is a major sponsor of the event and our sites at

Longreach, Cloncurry, Charters Towers and Roma will be

hosting some of the festivities.

For further information please see the website at

www.airshow.net.au/outback

Introducing the new

BP range of jet turbo oils

Also available in other pack sizes

Air BP purchasesExxon Turbine Oil

AIR SHOW

Ozkosh Downunder, in just two short

years has become the largest ‘out-

door action event’ and Airshow in

Australia, and is now the only annual

Airshow in Victoria.

In fact, had Albert Park not been grant-

ed a permit for the 1953 and 1956 Grand

Prix’s, they would have been held at the

Ballarat Airfield!

Over $20,000 has been raised through

the event in two years to assist charities

and community service groups including:

the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Very

Special Kids, the State Emergency Service

(SES), St Johns, the Lions Club, Kiwannis,

Make a Wish Foundation, the Country Fire

Authority (CFA), the Scouting Assocation,

Rotary, Missionary Air Fellowship, Air

Cadets and the Australian Air League.

Ozkosh Downunder’s patrons include:

The Hon. John Brumby, Minister for

Regional Development, Norm Beechey

(three times Australian Touring Car

Champion), Maurie Quincey (eight times

Australian Motorcycle Champion) and Air

BP’s roving ambassador, Jon Johanson.

All were in attendance to meet the

large crowd.

The Airshow caters to all

aero enthusiasts and includ-

ed ultralights, gyrocopters,

gliders, radio controlled

models, sport aircraft, war-

birds, hot air balloons,

ground to air battle re enact-

ments, antique aircraft, sky-

diving displays, Paul

Andronicou, ex-Victorian and

national aerobatic champion,

crop dusting displays and

Australia’s world renowned

RAAF Roulettes.

Motorsport events and

competitions at Ozkosh

Downunder included the

‘special stages’ of the first

round of the Victorian Rally

Championship, street class drags, sound

off competition, burnout competition,

tractor pull display, mud racing and moto

X displays.

Rides for all included Harleys, Ferrari’s,

scale steam trains, helicopter, WW2

Mustang, Harvard and Strikemaster Jet

joyflights.

There was even a steam train trip from

Melbourne to the event, run by Steam Rail

Victoria.

Ozkosh Organisers are now planning a

tour for all enthusiasts to Air BP’s ‘Warbirds

Over Wanaka’ in New Zealand for Easter

2002.

For enquires please contact Terry

Lawrie Ph: (03) 9587 9704 Fax (03) 9587

9705

OzKosh down under

by Terry Lawrie

Terry Lawrie welcomes Jon Johanson to Ozkosh

Downunder 2001.

Austalia’s RAAF Roulettes relaxing in the Spa Car – a modified

1977 Cadillac Biaritz, stretched to 30 feet long, with a can-

tilevered BBQ in engine bay, sideways looking cameras mount-

ed in the front mudguards to enable the driver to see traffic on

closed circuit TV, plus a two person heated spa in the boot!

Mark McCleary’s fabulous WW1

Replica SE5 Bi-plane, in front of

Judy Pay’s superb WW2 Mustang

Air BP is proud to be a major supporter of

Ozkosh Downunder, conducted at the historic

Ballarat Airfield, first operational 76 years ago,

in Central Victoria.

AIR RACE

AUSTRALIAStaff happeningsRichard Scanlan has recently moved on

from his role as Marketing Manager

Australasia and has commenced a post-

ing with Air BP in the UK, looking after

the UK and Ireland territories. We wish

him well in the currently trying UK con-

ditions.

In addition to his Business

Development Asia

Pacific role, Gerard

Whitely has taken on

the Marketing

Manager Air BP

Australasia post.

Gerard brings to the

role a wealth of BP/Air

BP experience.

After 10 years with BP Warren Harding ,

Strategic Account Manager for Victoria,

Tasmania and South Australia, has

moved on outside of the company. Sue

Bailey has returned from her two year

posting as Queensland Strategic

Account Manager to take on the man-

agement of Vic/Tas/SA. We welcome Sue

back to Melbourne.

Pei Chi Lau, Business Services Advisor

for NSW has taken maternity leave.

Jodie Farrelly, formerly Business Service

Advisor for QLD has stepped into the

NSW role and we welcome Simone

Soek who has taken over the QLD

reigns.

COMING EVENTSMoruya Aero Club Open DayMoruya Aero Club Annual Open Day is

on the weekend of May 5 and 6, 2001.

The gate fee on the Sunday will go to

Fiona Lodge, a local weekend retreat set

up for families who have a member

under going Cancer treatment. The

Eurobodalla Shire Council will also

donate all landing fees collected over

the event to Fiona Lodge. For enquires

please contact Lauren Skinner on 02

4474 2095.

NETWORK NEWS

Airtime is a publication for Air BP and its customers in Australia, New Zealand and the South West Pacific.

Its contents do not necessarily reflect the company’s official views. Contributions and suggestions are welcome.

Editor: Sue Goding, Air BP MC28, GPO Box 5222BB, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.

Phone: (03) 9268 4786 Fax: (03) 9268 4478 Email: godingse@az1.bp.com

CSU Australia 1300 1300 27

CSU New Zealand freecall0800 666 333

Air BP Global web pagehttp://www.airbp.com

EDITOR

The Auckland anniversary week-

end in late January saw 25 race and

support aircraft leave North Shore

Airfield for the Air BP Great

Northern Air Race.

The North Shore Aero Club has run the

event for the past 10 years with the greatly

appreciated support of Air BP, and other

sponsors.

It is a hugely enjoyable six-leg, three-day

race which tests pilot skill, pre-flight plan-

ning, and requires teamwork for success.

The first destination was Whitianga via

the Hauraki Gulf Islands. After lunch the 22

remaining race aircraft and two support

planes set off for Tauranga on a NZ

Precision Flying Association Rally leg.

After refuelling, the crews handed in

their leg notes and observation forms then

retired to the local Aero Club for dinner and

refreshments.

The next morning saw careful analysis of

the weather: 50 kilometre visibility, and

cloud scattered 8000 feet before the route

guide was given out and the race controller

took over the Tauranga Control Zone for the

departure to Taupo and lunch via the

Waikato River.

Then it was to the top of Mt Tongariro

and down hill to the Maui A oil platform off

the West Coast before heading to New

Plymouth.

Sunday’s weather was not quite so good

with low cloud and rain showers, but fortu-

nately the route happened to work well

with such conditions and we departed on

time for Hamilton, again taking command

of the Control Zone for departure.

At Hamilton a local TV crew was doing

an article and interviews with contestants

when a race aircraft with a radio failure dur-

ing arrival required the tower visual sig-

nalling system to be employed, emergency

training was put into action with a success-

ful outcome.

Then it was time for the final leg, home

to North Shore for some, for others just the

final leg before returning to their own home

bases, Kaitaia, Ardmore, and for one crew

back to Hamilton.

Two weeks later many gathered again

for the prize giving dinner at North Shore

Aero Club, where en-route race photos

were returned, results announced and sto-

ries told.

Overall winners by combined photos

and handicapped speed of the Racing Class

was Cessna 172RG, EWB; second Cessna

172, DXI; and third Piper PA28, ELX.

Of the Cruising Class, the overall winner

was Cessna 172, ETK; second Cessna 172,

DKH; and third Piper PA28, FRL.

Prizes were also given to first, second

and third place winners in both classes for

each leg as well as fastest aircraft overall,

fastest aircraft for the last leg, and

“Sportspersonship”, as well as many spot

prizes. A fantastic weekend was had by all

and we hope to see the race expand further

for 2002.

Pilot Craig Harris readies himself and his aircraft for the fifth leg of the Air BP Great Northern Air

Race between New Plymouth and Hamilton. ZK-DXI and its crew was second overall.

RRaacciinngg aarroouunndd tthheeGGrreeaatt NNoorrtthh

Andrew Schooler

Flight Instructor – North Shore Aero Club