ABS Update – September 2026

Welcome to the latest ABS Update after a long winter. Join us at the events below.

Events

Register for our upcoming events

• Gold Coast – 10 October: A great day out has been planned by Nick Lindsay for a fly-in to the Gold Coast on 10 October. Details of the day are here. Register (free) by clicking YBCG Registration to go to revolutionise to help planning.
  
  
• Tocumwal – 3 October: The Tocumwal fly-away had to be abandoned due to fog and is now rescheduled for Sunday 3 October. Register (free) on revolutionise here to help with planning and for updates on the event.
  
  
• 2026 AGM in Scone – 14 November: Registration is now open for one of our most popular social events of the year, our AGM in Scone. Register by clicking here AGMlink to go to revolutionise and then also book your own accommodation as explained in the event details on revolutionise. As in recent years, the ABS will put on dinner at one of the best local restaurants for those registered.

US ABS Engagement & Updates

Committee members had a video call with the new Executive Director of the US ABS, Lauren Bayless, who is very keen to engage more with our Australian group more on a number of levels, for better sharing of both information and resources.

One example of this is with our Beechcraft Maintenance Reviews - Jock Folan and James Cherry met with Shela Holmes on how they are using software to support their maintenance reviews and gather data. This looks readily adaptable for us and would significantly improve our BMRs.

Tom Turner is launching the ABS-recognised flight instructor renewal course, involving an online module and documentation of at least four dual instructional flights given in an ABS-type aircraft. Your Committee is considering how we benefit from this as well for our next BPPP.

Insurance Survey

One of the ABS’ long-term sponsors, Aviator Risk, supports our ABS members and the broader aviation community with tailored insurance advice and practical guidance, helping aircraft return to service safely, efficiently, and with fewer financial surprises.

To help them better understand how we operate our aircraft, manage risk, and approach insurance protection, they invite you to complete their survey via the following link -  AviatorRisk survey

By benchmarking risk and gathering valuable operational insights, Aviator Risk can help strengthen risk awareness and promote safer flying practices across the Beechcraft community. Aviator Risk greatly appreciates your participation and thanks you for taking the time to share your experience.

CASA Wing Bolt AD Review:

Your Committee and many individual members submitted responses to CASA's review of the Beechcraft wing bolt Ads in June, strongly advocating for their immediate repeal. The current unique Australian directives impose unnecessary costs and aircraft downtime, and can introduce maintenance risks by repeatedly disturbing factory-rigged joints. This has long been a major concern of many of our members. Thank you to all those that contributed.

Put Your Gear Down

One of the greater risks in flying a Beechcraft, often leading to write-offs, is a gear-up landing.  A new resource is available on techniques to reduce the risk of gear-up landings which sadly afflict Beechcraft worldwide - see putyourgeardown