Light aircraft private touring holiday suggestions 2013

[eloigorri]

I own and operate a Thai registered Piper Malibu PA-350P with the Jetprop conversion.

I need to get the prop overhauled next year and so have decided to fly the aircraft from Chaing Mai, Thailand to the overhauler in Bankstown and make a holiday of it before and after the overhaul.

Firstly, I know very little about Australia other than a few short business trips to Sydney and Melbourne in the late 90’s, so forgive my ignorance. Hopefully that will be addressed by the end of the trip!

I would appreciate some suggestions of a good route through Australia inward and outward.

The zero wind range of the aircraft at FL270 is an honest 1,000Nm.

The port of entry will be Broome. From there I was thinking of going straight to Ayres Rock, and spending a day or two there before making my way down to Bankstown. I was considering Adelaide as an off stop on the way to Bankstown, to break that leg up a little.

For the return, I would like to do some form of air tour and spend a couple of weeks slowly returning to Broome for the home stretch exploring and diving along the way. Average stop would be 2-3 days each, or longer if there was something of interest like a great diving site.

Some specific questions:-

1. Do I need an ASIC? I got one back in 2007 since I was planning to do my PPL in Australia back then, but changed my plans and so let it lapse.

2. How difficult is it to arrange local VFR flights, such as flying around Ayres Rock?

3. My PT6 burns JetA1. How available is JetA at the smaller airports?

4. Where can I obtain the insecticide you have to pre-spray the cabin with prior to arrival?

5. Weather. I was planning to leave Thailand late April, to avoid the beginning of the monsoon there, so would be arriving to Australia in early May, and returning in mid June. What is the weather generally like for flying in Australia during that period?

Any suggestions and answers gratefully received.

Cheers - Eduardo

[fujii]

Go to the Airservices home page. Then go to the publications section. AIP contains entry and customs plus whatever else you'll need for Australian procedures. The Enroute Supplement (ERSA) has the airports including fuel at each. You will need an ASIC. Have a great holiday.

Airservices (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com)

[RENURPP]

1. Do I need an ASIC? I got one back in 2007 since I was planning to do my PPL in Australia back then, but changed my plans and so let it lapse.

2. How difficult is it to arrange local VFR flights, such as flying around Ayres Rock?

3. My PT6 burns JetA1. How available is JetA at the smaller airports?

4. Where can I obtain the insecticide you have to pre-spray the cabin with prior to arrival?

5. Weather. I was planning to leave Thailand late April, to avoid the beginning of the monsoon there, so would be arriving to Australia in early May, and returning in mid June. What is the weather generally like for flying in Australia during that period?

Any suggestions and answers gratefully received.

Cheers - Eduardo

I can't help with the ASIC customs type questions I'm sorry,phone an Australian flying school or the CASA for current and accurate info.

2, easy. You can view Australian AIP on line. That will outline all the requirements, butitshouldnt be an issue. You can fly around the country VFR with little effort.

3 with a range of 1000nm you won't have an issue getting fuel.

4 not sure, the company work for provides it when required, let "PM" me if you don't get an appropriate response and m sure I can find out. I suspect Customs and quarantine will provide it if you haven't sprayed, however you may have to sit in the aircraft for some time after spraying for it to take affect. Not ideal.

5 the general weather is good. Dry season in the Northern half. Once you are clear of the Queensland coast it should be difficult to find a cloud in the north.
Down south can be more hit and miss but overall pretty good weather.
Publications | Airservices (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/)

As for a suggested route home, there are so many options. My suggestion would be to look at some Australian travel sites, decide what interests you and then come back and give us some clues as to what you would like to see.

[Mister Warning]

I would imagine you can "borrow" a bottle of aircraft insecticide spray from an obliging Thai Airways crew member - they must stock them in BKK for Oz flights.

Do you need a co-pilot? :)

[truthinbeer]

If you want something of typical outback Australia and you are mid fuel you could try staying at farmstays that have airstrips. Do a search say of "B&B with airstrip Australia". There are also many towns where the airstrip is spitting distance and you can get the local publican to collect you and take you back to his pub for the stay.
There are some threads here where posters have waxed lyrical about staying at towns close to Lake Eyre for example. Start a thread specific to air accommodation and I am sure you will get some interesting pointers.

Edit: I should have said a search of "farmstay with airstrip australia". This will yield you better results.

[displaced gangster]

4. Where can I obtain the insecticide you have to pre-spray the cabin with prior to arrival?

Callington make a complete range of IATA/ICAO approved products, "one shot" "top of descent" etc. These are industry standard and would be available anywhere.

5. Weather. I was planning to leave Thailand late April, to avoid the beginning of the monsoon there, so would be arriving to Australia in early May, and returning in mid June. What is the weather generally like for flying in Australia during that period?

Generally during your proposed flight periods the weather is gin clear, however as always ensure you have appropriate preflight and enroute updates. Have a look at Airservices (http://www.airservices.gov.au)

With 1000nm range, there are numerous routing options, however on your return beware of westerly jetsteam activity, generally south of 25°S. :cool::cool:, these can be up to 150kts.

[compressor stall]

First excellent time of year to travel in the northern and central part of the country.

From Broome I'd suggest finding one of the stations (=very large farms, usually measured to the nearest quarter of a million acres) that offer farm stays in the Kimberley.

Some include
Mt hart
Mornington
Mt Elizabeth
Drysdale river
Home valley
El questro (this is arguably the most well set up for the tourist with lots of variety in accomm and on ground tours)

Kununurra is at the east Kimberley and the logical spot for fuel. I think drysdale has jet a1 too if req, but it would be $$$$. None except Kununurra are sealed either.

From Kununurra it's direct to ayers rock over a very empty desert but it beautiful in its own way, and worth a look at the Bungle Bungles (scenic flight pattern check Jepps, you might also contact ground tour companies who have camps there if you want a look around on the ground which is pretty spectacular) and Wolfe Creek Meteorite Crater. If aboriginal art is your thing, a stop at Balgo could be arranged with the arts centre, just a short walk from the strip (weekdays only, no accomm). Halls Creek is a bit north of Balgo and should have Jet A1, but I wouldn't recommend staying there :}

From Ayers Rock, you might consider Alice Springs for a day or two which has a bit to see as well - lots of gorges and desert scenery.

For something completely different and the quintessential outback pub experience stop at William Creek near lake Eyre. Accomm is basic around$110 a night in a very basic and spartan room, but clean. Make sure you are up at sunrise for the desert bird life. Ring ahead too as there are local procedures. Jet a1 by the drum but u shouldn't need it with your range.

From there, Broken Hill for jet A1 and on to Sydney.

[Tonym3]

Not too sure about ASIC but the only place I have been asked about it was at Ayres Rock. I reckon if you are flying a non vh registered plane, the chances are you'll be able to get "escorted" access to your aircraft without it. Couldn't be sure though. Maybe ring CASA.

I recently flew a Saratoga from Europe to Australia via Broome (and Thailand for that matter). We had to wait in the plane until quarantine arrived with the spray can. If you have been a bit wooly with your eta (we gave a one hour range because we werent sure about the timing of leaving bali), you might be able to mention to the tower that you're expecting to meet quarantine and customs and they might be able to get them down to meet you. We waited about 20 mins for them. Don't be carrying food in.

For $70, if you have an iPad, I reckon ozrunways would be a great investment for you. With all the charts and Ersa in it, you won't ever be caught landing somewhere without jetA1.

As for places to see, there are heaps but I would say don't miss a low run along the gulf of carpentaria. Beautiful.

[eloigorri]

Many thanks for all the input. Excellent pointers.
Looking forward to it already. :-)

The copilot position is filled, and there is a waiting list of possibles back in Thailand as well!

Cheers. E

[Old Akro]

Eduardo

Do you keep your aircraft at the airport near Laemchabang? There is an Australian ex-PanAm pilot who lives in phuket. He owns a Merlin III and flies to Australia regularly? Do you know him? PM me and I'll send you his contact details.

JetA1 is possibly easier than AVGAS because the tourist choppers and Royal Flying Doctor use JetA1.

Basically, you need ASIC for any airport with RPT. Broome. Alice Springs, Bankstown, Adelaide etc. Without one the security guys just come and escort you off the airport. In places like Adelaide, this still happens even if you do have an ASIC. I'm not sure I'd bother. There are stories of initial issue taking many weeks also. I'm not sure if you will have trouble applying with a non Australian address. Once again PM me and there might be some suggestions.

I think I have read some posts from you that indicate you do your own paperwork. I'm planning on flying up in our Seneca in a couple of months. I was told White Rose are good, but my Phuket mate uses Flightworx.

It looks like my Australian Jepp subscription includes SE Asia now. Have a look. You might have most of what you need. Bankstown requires a bit of local knowledge. Even IFR it helps to have the VFR flight guide or VTC.

Bankstown is a very unreliable place to get a cab and it has no hire car. I'd lean on your prop guys to help. In fact, are you really sure you want to take it there?

You will arrive Australia late autumn / early winter. The weather is pretty stable then. The wet season build-ups will be gone from the North and while the south may have cloud, there is unlikely to be any difficult weather - especially by Thai standards. I flew back on a Thai 777 from BKK last night. It was a rough climb out. I believe its still raining heavily in Pattaya.

The places I would put on your list are:
Arakaroola (fly into the sealed strip at Balcanoona and get the hotel to pick you up)
Coober Pedy (stay at Lookout Cave or Underground Motel, eat at Tom & Mary's)
Kangaroo Island
Mildura (stay at Grand Hotel - eat at Stefano's)
Fly into Ayres rock, but don't stay there. In fact, I'd think about flying into Alice, then hiring a car and seeing Kings Canyon as well. Consider staying at Curtin Springs Homestead.
Maybe Ceduna


Life will be easier with a Mobil carnet, BP carnet and Aero refuellers carnet. The Shell carnet no longer operates, but most shell or ex shell locations have credit card swipe bowsers. You can download maps of bowser locations from each of the above.

The airlines use Woomera as a fuel alternate. Its very difficult to actually land there now, but it has JetA1, so its a useful point to reset fuel reserves. If you want to sightsee around Lake Eyre, Woomera would be a good base. Its difficult to get in there, but might be worth an email.

I will probably be back to Thailand 3 times between now and your trip. I split my time between BKK (ThongLo) and Laemchabang / Rayong (Hemeraj)(staying at Pattaya). PM me if I can bring anything up for you.

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

I assume Mr Warning
a) has a Thai license with the required endorsements; and
b) is aware the PA-46 is a single pilot a/c;

Otherwise would appear a bit desperate.:E

Seriously, you will find customs much easier in Darwin (1000nm from Denpasar, but easy to reach from Kupang where Jet-A is available), but as for Broome (680nm from Denpasar), as long as you stick to your notified arrival time, no dramas. Either way, they will supply a can of bug spray on arrival if you don't have one. Takes a couple of minutes. Not really a problem in Apr/May, even in the top end.:cool:

You will need to arrange a temporary import permit with customs if you are scheduling maintenance while in Australia. Contact a customs agent/broker in advance, not after you arrive, or you aren't going anywhere.:ok:

[Old Akro]

My mate with the Merlin III uses Broome as his port of choice, so while I agree Darwin is probably easier, Broome can't be too bad.

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

Just make sure you notify them. They have to come out from the wharf and charge overtime after 4pm.:ok:

[172driver]

ASIC: unless this has changed over the last three years, the ASIC card cannot be mailed out of Oz, it needs to go to an Australian address AFTER you have cleared immigration.

In your scenario this means one of two things:

1) If you plan to travel to Oz any time before your private flight then apply for it now and have it mailed somewhere you can pick it up in Oz. You then arrive ASIC in hand

2) Apply for it beforehand, but know that you won't have it for the first part of your trip and plan accordingly.

One thing you should really do on your way back is to fly along the Great Barrier Reef. Spectacular :ok:

[captwawa]

I dont think you need an ASIC, as long as you have some type of Aviation Security Id card from Thailand, thats what all the other international airline pilots do, they dont have ASIC cards issued in OZ, they are issued from their country.

But sounds like an awesome holiday you are going to have, I flew an A36 from U-Tapo Direct to Darwin once had no spary and customs provided it for me, they are rather helpful too, long way tho.

Cheers

[gileraguy]

I'll second El Questro and Broome. Bullo River Station is a Five Star experience too.

If you want to catch Barra, and you're arriving at the perfect time for the run off, try Dundee Lodge out of Darwin. Just take plenty of suncscreen and insect repellant... It's a jungle out there.

[Ovation]

Eduardo,

The entire Kimberly region has some of the most stunning scenery you'll ever see.

Mt Hart Station is worth a visit. It has good accommodation and the hosts there are very friendly. Their tame dingos will welcome you, and they are happy to sleep under the wing during the day or on top at night.

Uluru (Ayres Rock) is well worth seeing but the resort is way overpriced and under-delivers - read user comments in TripAdvisor to see what I mean.

West of Alice Springs is Kings Creek Station, which has good but basic accommodation, however the scenery at nearby Kings Canyon makes it a "must see" destination.

If you travel through central Queensland. Winton is a very pilot friendly destination, and Lark's Quarry visit can be recommended if you want to see evidence of a Dinosaur stampede, and a meal at the Tatt's hotel is recommended. Charleville is also a friendly place and well worth a visit.

If you happen to pass through Adelaide PM me, and I should be able to help you with a bit of local knowledge.

[YPJT]

The question of ASIC requirements for crews of foreign aircraft not engaged in international RPT or charter ops is a question that still has the OTS scratching their heads.

ATSR 3.05 Crew of foreign and state aircraft etc

Despite regulation 3.03, the following people need not display
an ASIC in a secure area:

(a) a person who is a member of the crew of a foreign aircraft
(other than a state aircraft) that is engaged in a regular
public transport operation or a charter operation and who:
(i) is in the uniform of the aircraft operator; and
(ii) displays appropriate identification issued or
authorised by the aircraft operator;

I have seen a guy with a european registered Piper Cheyenne entering and flying around Oz but depending upon the airport operator, it can create some headaches. Tonym3's advice below about being escorted is probably workable as getting the ASIC prior to arrival would be problematic too. Perhaps you could arrange through Aviation ID Australia to have an ASIC applied for and ready for you on arrival at your point of entry. This can be done but just takes a bit of coordination with regard to the visa checking requirements. Not impossible though.

[Old Akro]

YPJT. What is OTS?

Also, can I infer from the pasted copy in your post that Australia has joined the 3rd world countries where a pilot of a private flight needs to wear a uniform to be taken seriously????;)

I'm not sure what licence Eduardo carries, but my Thai licence has a photo. A bit like International drivers licences. Do you think this helps?

[YPJT]

What is OTS?
Office of Transport Security. The branch within the Dept of Infrastructure dealing with all matters pertaining to Aviation and Maritime Security.

Also, can I infer from the pasted copy in your post that Australia has joined the 3rd world countries where a pilot of a private flight needs to wear a uniform to be taken seriously
Well that is a rather simplistic take on it. An airline operator is required to have certain measures that demonstrate a compliance with international aviation standards whereas a pvt operator doesn't. That is why the regulation is pretty straight forward in this regard.

A photo on the pilot licence satisfies the secondary ID requirement should Eduardo apply for an ASIC. A big stumbling block for many other overseas private pilots whose licences do not have a photo.

[Old Akro]

Well that is a rather simplistic take on it.
Was a bit tongue in cheek!

[eloigorri]

Excellent replies. Much appreciated.

My aircraft is normally based in Chiang Mai, but I travel extensively around Thailand, and can often be found in Siracha, Pattaya, (there is a very healthy LSA community there.), Bangkok, and Phuket. The advantge of having a very capable IFR machine with great short field performance :-)

My Thai PPL has a picture on it, and I do have a official Thai airside pass, also photoid'd, but I would be amazed if that got me airside in Oz?

I have been in touch with the ASIC ID guys, and they have confirmed they can only send it to a local address, and require a Thai criminal record check, which will be fun to obtain.

I normally do all my own paperwork, where it is possible to do, but for those authorities that will not deal with individual pilots, I have used WhiteRose very successfully in the past, especially on the longer trips, such as my journey back to Europe last year with the aircraft.

Cheers. E

[172driver]

and require a Thai criminal record check

Are you sure about this? When I did my ASIC some three or four years ago, I didn't need to supply one from the UK. IIRC (although memory is a bit hazy on this), they ran a check in OZ, but not over here.

[eloigorri]

They did not require it back in 2007 either, but the reply I got yesterday is quite unequivocal. I will be following it up to make sure, since most things involving Thai bureaucracy normally involves an inordinate amount of time and patience to obtain....

E

[Old Akro]

When I got my Thai licence, the slowest part was CASA supplying confirming my details for the Thai DCA.

[YPJT]

Was a bit tongue in cheek!Thought it might have been.:)

A Thai crimial records check? :eek: That's a new one on me.
Eduardo, check your PMs please.

[eloigorri]

As part of my trip, I was planning to return via some of the South Pacific Islands, and PNG. I am not HF equipped, but I do carry a fixed installation sat phone, which I have in the past been able to substitute for HF on other trips in different parts of the world.

Does any one know if it is possible to use a sat phone instead of HF in this region, where HF is mandated?

Cheers. Eduardo