Barwon Heads Airport Closed
Congrats or Otherwise, guessing you guys got what you wanted.
But just a small point, you're all going to have to be extraordinarily careful now. You have raised a huge amount of awareness about your little airfield and now everyone knows how you feel about illegal operations.
You have also raised the regulators interest in the area, therefore I'd be willing to bet that you get a few more drop in visits and ramp checks.
My point is, all of you, every single one at BHS will have to be extra careful.
Eg. No joining bases, no low level stuff up and down the beach, make sure all your radio calls are spot on, no messing around on weekend, ensuring that you have proper takeoff separation. The list goes on. Good luck, but just be very very careful what you wish for.
All the best kids, and I'm not being familiar.
j3
waits for the tyriad of abuse and usual cr@p
But just a small point, you're all going to have to be extraordinarily careful now. You have raised a huge amount of awareness about your little airfield and now everyone knows how you feel about illegal operations.
You have also raised the regulators interest in the area, therefore I'd be willing to bet that you get a few more drop in visits and ramp checks.
My point is, all of you, every single one at BHS will have to be extra careful.
Eg. No joining bases, no low level stuff up and down the beach, make sure all your radio calls are spot on, no messing around on weekend, ensuring that you have proper takeoff separation. The list goes on. Good luck, but just be very very careful what you wish for.
All the best kids, and I'm not being familiar.
j3
waits for the tyriad of abuse and usual cr@p
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The GOOD NEWS just keeps coming
Luke McWilliam was served with the Bankruptcy Notice tonight after leaving the Federal Court. He was served in the presence of his barrister.
YIPPEEE
pol
Luke McWilliam was served with the Bankruptcy Notice tonight after leaving the Federal Court. He was served in the presence of his barrister.
YIPPEEE
pol
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Latest Court Fiasco
GEELONG ADVERTSER 24/9/2008
Skydive City boss sues airport owner for millions
Britt Smith
September 24th, 2008
SKYDIVE City operator Luke McWilliam is suing the owner of Barwon Heads Airport for millions after she lobbied to have parachuting banned, his lawyer says.
Mr McWilliam has accused Barbara Begg of persuading the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue the ban, which forced the closure of his business in 2005.
He is seeking compensation for a loss of income for projected earnings up to 2010.
Mrs Begg denies the claim, arguing the authority's decision was justified and that it was Mr McWilliam who breached the rules and regulations.
Justice Tony North, on day one of the Federal Court trial, urged the parties to "reduce the risk of disaster" by resolving the matter outside court.
"This is inherently the end of the line in a long, bitter dispute and it has come down to a matter of dollars and cents," he said.
The relationship between Mr McWilliam and Mrs Begg has deteriorated with several legal proceedings, and previous attempts at mediation have failed.
The drama came to a head following CASA's ban.
Mr McWilliam claims Mrs Begg influenced the decision by disallowing parachuting on her property.
His lawyer, John Ribbands, said she acted in breach of a lease agreement which allowed him to operate at the airport until 2010.
An earlier hearing was told Mr McWilliam was claiming $1.3 million for losses up to June 2006.
A forensic accountant is expected to give evidence on the total projected loss, which is believed to be up to $10 million.
The hearing continues today.
Skydive City boss sues airport owner for millions
Britt Smith
September 24th, 2008
SKYDIVE City operator Luke McWilliam is suing the owner of Barwon Heads Airport for millions after she lobbied to have parachuting banned, his lawyer says.
Mr McWilliam has accused Barbara Begg of persuading the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue the ban, which forced the closure of his business in 2005.
He is seeking compensation for a loss of income for projected earnings up to 2010.
Mrs Begg denies the claim, arguing the authority's decision was justified and that it was Mr McWilliam who breached the rules and regulations.
Justice Tony North, on day one of the Federal Court trial, urged the parties to "reduce the risk of disaster" by resolving the matter outside court.
"This is inherently the end of the line in a long, bitter dispute and it has come down to a matter of dollars and cents," he said.
The relationship between Mr McWilliam and Mrs Begg has deteriorated with several legal proceedings, and previous attempts at mediation have failed.
The drama came to a head following CASA's ban.
Mr McWilliam claims Mrs Begg influenced the decision by disallowing parachuting on her property.
His lawyer, John Ribbands, said she acted in breach of a lease agreement which allowed him to operate at the airport until 2010.
An earlier hearing was told Mr McWilliam was claiming $1.3 million for losses up to June 2006.
A forensic accountant is expected to give evidence on the total projected loss, which is believed to be up to $10 million.
The hearing continues today.
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J3pipercub
Point taken, but only those that breach the regs need to worry.
When McSkydive was operating SAFETY did not exist and the APF did not want to know about it, so the only avenue open to remedy the situation was incident reports to CASA.
Coming under the regulator spotlight is a small price to pay for SAFETY.
pol
The whisper is McSkydives recently sacked solicitor John Maitland issued proceedings against McSkydive last week for non payment of legal fees amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The boy is not having a good month.
sheets
Point taken, but only those that breach the regs need to worry.
When McSkydive was operating SAFETY did not exist and the APF did not want to know about it, so the only avenue open to remedy the situation was incident reports to CASA.
Coming under the regulator spotlight is a small price to pay for SAFETY.
pol
The whisper is McSkydives recently sacked solicitor John Maitland issued proceedings against McSkydive last week for non payment of legal fees amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The boy is not having a good month.
sheets
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All the information is now coming to the top.
From the Geelong Advertiser report it is now showing who the real thug is.
I seem to recall earlier reports indicated there were dozens of pilots (not only from Barwon Heads), land owners, parachutists, and members of the public who complained to CASA about the McWilliam operation.
Why do I see that McWilliam is now putting ALL the blame for his business problems and failure on the owner of the airport, a lady in her sixties.
If you believe McWilliam, she has no right to ask CASA for assistance to help control a parachute operator using her airfield who will not abide by the rules and regulations.
I suppose that would be like me having no right to call the police when someone is in my back yard breaking the law.
I understand she issued an eviction notice a few years back and that was met with Supreme Court threats by McWilliam.
Lets hope the Judge will see right thru McWilliam and give him the treatment he deserves.
It appears from day one McWilliam has had the sole intention to take the airfield from Mrs Begg by continual harrasment and then launch legal proceedings with costs that would break her and he would have the airfield.
Well she has stood up to this thuggish behaviour and it is now hoped the judge will back her in standing up and requesting assistance from CASA to have a parachuting cowboy operate to the rules.
The Australian Parachute Federation in all of this saga have done nothing.
From the Geelong Advertiser report it is now showing who the real thug is.
I seem to recall earlier reports indicated there were dozens of pilots (not only from Barwon Heads), land owners, parachutists, and members of the public who complained to CASA about the McWilliam operation.
Why do I see that McWilliam is now putting ALL the blame for his business problems and failure on the owner of the airport, a lady in her sixties.
If you believe McWilliam, she has no right to ask CASA for assistance to help control a parachute operator using her airfield who will not abide by the rules and regulations.
I suppose that would be like me having no right to call the police when someone is in my back yard breaking the law.
I understand she issued an eviction notice a few years back and that was met with Supreme Court threats by McWilliam.
Lets hope the Judge will see right thru McWilliam and give him the treatment he deserves.
It appears from day one McWilliam has had the sole intention to take the airfield from Mrs Begg by continual harrasment and then launch legal proceedings with costs that would break her and he would have the airfield.
Well she has stood up to this thuggish behaviour and it is now hoped the judge will back her in standing up and requesting assistance from CASA to have a parachuting cowboy operate to the rules.
The Australian Parachute Federation in all of this saga have done nothing.
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What an absolute maniac this man is, causes havoc to all public and pilots alike then has the tenacity to say the airport owner is at fault for his complete disregard of not following procedures for conducting parachute operations. I have seen the blatant jumping through cloud cover numerous times and could only sit in disbelief when even CASA and the federation (parachuting) could not stop him.
Does he not think the safety of pilots transiting the area when this is going on could not cause an accident of horrific consequences ? the judge must see this terrible injustice by him trying to seek compensation for his disrespect of the law. I know the outfit is not doing jumps in the area now but do not let it happen again for all concerned.
Does he not think the safety of pilots transiting the area when this is going on could not cause an accident of horrific consequences ? the judge must see this terrible injustice by him trying to seek compensation for his disrespect of the law. I know the outfit is not doing jumps in the area now but do not let it happen again for all concerned.
My view is that Mrs. Begg could counter sue for loss of business herself because the activities of this creep have deterred many GA pilots from visiting or using her airport.
As I have frequently said, I've friends in Barwon Heads I would very much like to visit regularly, I've flown in once to have a look see, but I put the airport "off limits" because of Skydive City's activities, and it remains so until the threat of an unpleasant confrontation with this @ssclown or anyone working for him, either in the air or on the ground, is totally removed.
As I have frequently said, I've friends in Barwon Heads I would very much like to visit regularly, I've flown in once to have a look see, but I put the airport "off limits" because of Skydive City's activities, and it remains so until the threat of an unpleasant confrontation with this @ssclown or anyone working for him, either in the air or on the ground, is totally removed.
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Do I see a pattern emerging?
Blame everyone else in the world for your problems because you can't accept responsibility for your actions.
I hope McWilliam gets a FAIR hearing and that the FACTS are clearly presented.
One also hopes that CASA gets a chance to put forward their side of the story.
I hope McWilliam gets a FAIR hearing and that the FACTS are clearly presented.
One also hopes that CASA gets a chance to put forward their side of the story.
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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Mr McWilliam has accused Barbara Begg of persuading the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) to issue the ban, which forced the closure of his business in 2005.
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Pall
It would be great if the truth was told but after seeing and hearing it for so long do you really think a leopod will change it's spots ? the only thing that worries me is the courts are so unpredictable and decisions come down that floor you on occasions!!
It would be great if the truth was told but after seeing and hearing it for so long do you really think a leopod will change it's spots ? the only thing that worries me is the courts are so unpredictable and decisions come down that floor you on occasions!!
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Your so right!
Lukeateme,
Your so right. The courts are littered with absurd decisions. I have heard some horrific stories highlighting the injustice of the system. One can hardly contemplate the results if McWilliam is successful. Lets hope justice and common sense prevail.
Your so right. The courts are littered with absurd decisions. I have heard some horrific stories highlighting the injustice of the system. One can hardly contemplate the results if McWilliam is successful. Lets hope justice and common sense prevail.
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Federal Case not listed?
Looking at the hearing list today for the Federal Court I note that:
VID710/2005 Luke Maxwell McWilliam & Anor v Barbara Jean Begg & Ors
is NOT LISTED for today Mon 29/9/08.
Have they decided to settle? Or are they having a day off? Surely submissions would not be completed within one week.
VID710/2005 Luke Maxwell McWilliam & Anor v Barbara Jean Begg & Ors
is NOT LISTED for today Mon 29/9/08.
Have they decided to settle? Or are they having a day off? Surely submissions would not be completed within one week.