2 pages of pontificating as to whether issuing a NOTAM advising the lack of acts is a good or a bd idea and (crucially) who is responsible and why they can’t be trusted.
Holy Snapping Duck Sh!t!!
Why can’t Australian pilots say - top stuff Airservices Australia, CASA, Gladstone Refueller, Or whoever. Excellent, thank you very much for this very helpful information, we would like more of the same please.
Refuelling stops are few and far between, and any information is greatly appreciated if something goes tits up.
We rely on NOTAMS to tell us if a runway is closed because some numpty has exceed his personal capabilities or if the runway is closed because the local mayor wants to see how fast his new car REALLY goes, and we rely on NOTAMS to tell us if there is WIP on a taxi way? Why is it so different to rely on NOTAMS to tell us that fuel is unavailable?
most airports that offer fuel also have an RPT service - part of having an RPT service is that runways must be checked once a day (usually by the same guy / gal who checks the quality of the fuel for sale). They are the ones who may or may not answer the phone when we ring asking bout fuel availability so why not make everyone’s life easier by issuing a NOTAM.
Places such as Leigh Creek that have a self serve swipe bowser may not be inspected on a daily basis (no RPT service, and at a self serve bowser the fuel quality only needs to be checked every 14 days). But in this day and age of mobile phones, anyone landing is usually straight on the phone to the number listed in ERSA, and the fuel operator can then issue a NOTAM and save further drama.
in other news for Croweaters, and those visiting the land of Crow, William Creek, Hawker and Kingscote are all rumoured to be getting self swerve swipe card bowsers. Fingers crossed.