Rottnest Day Trip

[Wanderin_dave]

Hey, myself and the girlfriend are in Perth for a few days in a couple of weeks. I'm thinking a day trip out to Rottnest is on the cards. Just looking for a little bit of info from guys who've done it before. It's just the two of us so anything will do ( i hear RACWA has a Chippy :)), will need headsets + lifejackets.

Is it feasible to fly out and walk to a place that hires bikes?

Who best to borrow an aircraft from? (Am i going to be able to borrow an aircraft for a day for what will total 2 hours flying at best?)

Any other tips?

Thanks in advance :ok:

Just for info i've got 1500TT, 300t/w

[Monopole]

WD,

Rottnest, AKA Rotto (and that is what you better call it if you want people to know where your talking about), is a great little spot.

You can walk from the airport to the 'village' in maybe 10 mins, or a free shuttle bus comes past every 20 or 30 mins and takes you to the village.

I dont know the who's who of JT anymore, but if there are only 2 of you, then most of the operators will have something suited to your needs. I use to hire off JFC and Air Australia.

When you finally get to the Island, you will no doubt want to do a 'boggy' lap of Rotto. Try to avoid flying low over Thompsons Bay (eastern part of the Island) as this is where everybody is. You can get bikes for hire from here also. It is getting bl00dy hot here and it will take you a few good hours to cycle around so take bucket loads of water as there is nothing (or not much) once you leave the Village area.

One last thing, Quokka soccer is only fun for the dead beat drunken yobbo schoolies :}

[HEALY]

Landing after midday when the sea breeze has cranked up provides a rollercoaster from 100' down. The crosswind has put a couple of acft into the drink in the shallow salt lake next to the runway. Early arrival in the morning is always the nicest with a Easterly if your lucky.

[ozineurope]

And remember to duck when you depart JT via FREM, 'specially if the big airport is on 03 visuals!!

[Bla Bla Bla]

Use Rotto air taxi, they are quite cheap and do a day rtn, save the hassle of flying yourself. You can walk from the terminal to the town and bike hire, otherwise there is a regular bus around the island just wait outside the terminal until it arrives.

If you do fly yourself don't worry to much about the crosswind unless you are in a tail wheel a/c, I flew the rotto air taxi for a while and its really not as bad as everyone around Jandakot tells you.

[Towering Q]

Maybe throw in a 'City and Beaches' on your way back.

I agree with HEALY, make it a morning exercise, unless you enjoy pedalling into a 30kt souwester.

Also, keep an eye out for the light house off the western end of the strip.:eek:

Re: Jandakot...study the layout and procedures well, it gets crazy there at times!!

[Go West]

Great fun,

Go on the hottest day possible. That way the wind will be the lightest. Plan to get there in the morning or else the sea breeze can be gnarly in the afternoon. Many an aeroplane has ended up in the lake beside the strip. Renting bikes no dramas. Best beaches on the north side out of the wind. We took a Baroooon a few times and as silly as it sounds worked out cheap. Only paid airswitch and none of this 20 minutes ++ on the ground at YPJT. Food can be expensive over there so pack lunch. Enjoy.

[YPJT]

I flew the rotto air taxi for a while and its really not as bad as everyone around Jandakot tells you.
Funny, in the 15 or so years I've been around Jandakot, I've never heard anyone saying anything bad about Rotto Air Taxi. Your not confusing them with Rottnest Airbus by any chance?

[bentleg]

The day trips by ferry are also very pleasant (but doesnt give the flying fix).

[Awol57]

Funny, in the 15 or so years I've been around Jandakot, I've never heard anyone saying anything bad about Rotto Air Taxi. Your not confusing them with Rottnest Airbus by any chance?

I was thinking the same thing. If you are unfamilar with JT procedures make sure you mention it in your radio call, we will look after you.

Best bet is probably to call the main places and see if they have a minimum rate. Off the top of my head; RACWA, Air Australia, Minovation, Jandakot Flight Centre and ACFT (Advanced Cockpit Flight Training). I am sure there are other places you can hire aircraft from but they are the "main" flying schools if you like. I don't think you can take the Chippy to Rotto.

I have done it a number of times and its a very nice way to spend a day. Don't get too sun burnt though, it makes the 10 mins flight back very long :cool::O

[Keg]

I have done it a number of times and its a very nice way to spend a day.

Or even an afternoon. Shame the F/A I rustled up for you didn't give you her number! :}

[Awol57]

Haha she only wanted your F/O's number!! But it was still very nice over there :ok:

[Towering Q]

Slight thread drift...Awol57, you guys in the tower have been under the pump lately....multiple clowns inbound who don't know how to use a radio let alone fly an aircraft!

Must make for some nail-biting moments up there.:uhoh:

[Awol57]

It can certainly be interesting on the odd occasion but generally it all flows pretty well. We much prefer you just say you don't understand though if you ever don't. Same as a Join early/late downwind, we really like you to head for that point, not mid downwind.

However this has nothing to do with Rotto :) End of thread drift :ok:

[aussiefan]

I think Bla bla bla was trying to say the crosswinds are not bad, not Rotto air taxi.
The whole sentence reads,
If you do fly yourself don't worry to much about the crosswind unless you are in a tail wheel a/c, I flew the rotto air taxi for a while and its really not as bad as everyone around Jandakot tells you.

[Bla Bla Bla]

YPJT

I meant the cross wind at Rotto, read the post properly!

[YPJT]

I flew the rotto air taxi for a while and its really not as bad as everyone around Jandakot tells you.
Fair enough. Bit of a double meaning there, I guessed the wrong one.

[Joker 10]

YPJT as you generally do !!

[aussiefan]

Try reading the whole sentence.

[Capt L]

I've spent many a day over at Rotto!! The Quokkas at the airport are the friendliest, you'll get some cute photos out there. The pies from the Bakery are the best in OZ so make sure you get down ther for lunch, might have to queue for a bit though. Take snorkels over with you, the Leeuwin Current means there are more fish out on Rotto than the mainland. I always like The Basin for swimming and you can easily walk there. If you do get the air taxi over go down to the pub for a beer before you leave, awesome view back over to Perth from the beer garden! You'll have a great time over there, just thinking about it is making me miss the place!!

As for hiring an aircraft, I would imagine most schools will hire to you after you've done a checkride. You'll probably have a minimum hire time depending on if you go for half or whole day. Just call or email around to get a feel for things and see what they would want you to do.

I'll sign off by saying JUST DO IT!! It doesn't matter how you get there you have an awesome time!! Have Fun!! :ok:

[aveng]

Food can be expensive over there so pack lunch

Seriously your discussing hiring a plane for a jolly and your concerned with packing a lunch because foods expensive????WTF???

There are quite a lot of good food options available these days - even a pie at the Rotto bakery is cheaper the a couple of litres of avgas.

[Deepsea Racing Prawn]

Take your board dude, Strickos has some fully-sick left-hand barrels! :cool:

[position & hold]

Dave,
Did the trip with my girl a couple of weeks back and it was a blast! Haven't flown a lighty in a while so I hired a warrior from minovation to keep things simple, they organised lifejackets and extra headsets too. Picked up a VTC from the chart place down the road and had a good read of the ERSA before heading off. Only thing i didn't know was not to call ready until you're front of the queue, which is quite long when jandakot is on one runway! Once you get going its all smooth sailing, the earlier you can get to Rotto the better, that way as soon as the sea breeze picks up you can head for home and watch all the boats pounding through the rough water! Even with the delays in getting airborne on a busy morning i think it took us about .8 tacho, all tolled was about 200 bucks incl. all the landing fees

Don't forget the snorkelling gear and sunscreen! :ok:

[Wanderin_dave]

Awesome guys, more info than i could have hoped for!! Thanks heaps. Heading over there early next week.

[pilot2684]

good ole WWL.

Suggest going with Rotto Air Taxi as i know most of the pilots. They run out of the minovation building, and is fairly cheap.

Failing that, there are a few schools that have TW a/c. RACWA wont allow the chippy out (afaik) for private hiring as the insurance is too high. RWI is a bit of a dog to fly, albeit spins nicely.

IIRC most schools have a two hour minimum for a day trip.

Lastly, you can scoot underneathe CTA if you file for 2000 feet, means you dont have to wear your life jackets, but you have to have them on board.

Have a blast man. You'll love it. Some of the best looking bays anywhere in the state :D

[Atlas Shrugged]

you can scoot underneathe CTA if you file for 2000 feet, means you dont have to wear your life jackets,

What??? :confused:

[pilot2684]

At 2000 feet, you can scoot under the CLL 2000 ft step. Over Freo golf course at 1500, maintain till just after freo harbour, then 2000 feet, you maintain your glide distance to land at 2k in a single. Or you could just file a flight plan and go CTA.

If you're within glide range to land, while going over water, then you dont need to wear your jackets, but you must have them on board

[Another Number]

Best option is to file a flight plan, including v65 (VFR route over city) - that way you get the best views in Perth, only adds a few minutes to the trip, and ATC will give you the heads up on traffic enroute and probably at Rotto too.

[Awol57]

Or you can ask RAS (135.25) for traffic advisory leaving FREM. I generally do that and get an idea of what is happening around me. Haven't been denied yet :ok::D

[Go West]

U know what mr aveng i dont give a ****. But by the time u hire the plane, the bikes, the fess, the everything else, paying 15 bucks for a half chicken and chips doesnt really float my boat x 6. Do what u want but I am packin' my esky and eating what I want. :)

[pilot2684]

Go west, thats the price you pay for "exporting" things "overseas". It's a tourist destination. Not your backyard! Don't like the price then go to Cottesloe. Cheaper for you as you can take the train aswell!

[Go West]

This is typical pprune. When I had no cash spending 100$ on food was a pain in the ass. I would rather spend that 100$ on flying. So spend what u like on what I am not phased. Plus there are not too many food outlets at the west end.

Rotto looks windy today from the balcony.

Just offering some advice guys, take it easy.

[Bla Bla Bla]

Wow is this still going, Rotto is just ok for one afternoon unless you were brought up in Perth where it seems to be really special to people.

I found it ok for a few hours when I first went, it really is nothing special.

Tin hat secured

[Fred Gassit]

I'll second that, Rotto is a very limited destination.

[Wanderin_dave]

Gotta say thanks again for all the info. We borrowed one of Minovation's Warriors. Wind was up and all x-wind, been a long while since i've poled a Cherokee, forgot just how limited in rudder they are. Had an awesome day, guys at Minovation were really helpful. Girlfriend loved it, well worth the $$$, which were plentyful.....we are playing with aeroplanes after all.

How anyone could think Rotto is a "limited destination" is beyond me. Guess it's just that classic old sh**ty Proon attitude. We were out there at 10am, had to be back at Jandakot at 5pm. We got in at 4:50 and could have easily stayed another 3-4 hours. You could easily fill 2 days over there if you've not been there before.

Anyway, great day, many thanks.

[pilot2684]

Glad to see you enjoyed it mate.

I always enjoy going over to rotto for a quick scoot and Xwind practice.

PS Broome is stinkin hot and humid as hell

[Go West]

W'Dave,

Exactly. Glad you had a nice time. Cheers