Best routing for ferry flight (Germany to South Africa, PA34)

[Alexander Pichler]

Hi guys,


friend of mine who is down in Cape Town intends to buy a Seneca in Germany. The question is now, how to get it down to South Africa the easiest way.


Here are some details:


Piper Seneca II
160 knots TAS (65%) and 80 liters/h
Standard tanks of 123GAL = 465 liters
AVGAS (MOGAS is possible, depending on the amount)
Departure: Klagenfurt, Austria LOWK
Destination: Grand Central, South Africa FAGC (Initially for registration and import)


A friend of mine gave me the following routing, which had been flown before by a Seneca:


South Germany-Dubrovnik (LDDU)-Iraklion (LGIR)-Luxor(HELX)-Khartoum (HSSS)-Djibouti (HDAM)-Nairobi Wilson (HKNW)-Malawi (FWKI)-Kruger International (FAKN)-Johannesburg


The thing about this route is that AVGAS in Khartoum and Djibuti is only available in drums, liter costs according to the latest info 7$ per liter.

So I wonder if any of you guys knows a better alternative routing that fits the data given above (Speed, Range, etc.)


Please let me know.


Regards,


Alexander Pichler

[The Ancient Geek]

The simplest method is to take the wings off and ship it in a container.
This usually also works out to be the cheapest.

[Alexander Pichler]

I/we only do this, when shipping is the best solution, mainly when it's for flights from Europe to Australia because of all the water inbetween. Europe to Africa, Mediterranean Sea is inbetween but isn't being a real problem. Plane should be flown there!

[flyslr78]

Did a Germany-Jo'burg ferry route not long ago.. All though in a jet.. Stops in Crete, Jeddah, Kenya, Jo'burg.. With ferry tanks you could get close to that.

[JanetFlight]

Two friends of mine about 5 years ago ferried a German Regd. C172 from here (Faro-Portugal) to Maun-Botswana...it was an hell of a ride with lots of stories, but they made it in less than a week period

IIRC it was Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, Namibia and Botty.

[bambazonkepilot]

Try Sky Ferry, Robert Weaver for advice and ferry. Apparently very experienced and capable chap.

[Alexander Pichler]

Number does not exist :P

[JEP]

A friend of mine made it from Denmark to South Africa and back in a C182.

Check out Hosbiz.com [index]

[Alexander Pichler]

Thank you, I will contact him later on tonight, busy with working out the routing at the moment!

[mogas-82]

Just a thought - I calculated about 2000nm range with additional fuel bladder and one pilot. If you want just to transport it and don't see the whole continent (i.e. deal with high handling cost and too many permits) you could try something like LPA-DKR-ACC-OND-WDH-CPT.
Just consider:
1. SAR a few miles off the coast will be very tricky in that part of the world
2. Quadruple check the avaiablility of AVGAS at DKR and ACC
3. The weather in the Gulf of Guinea can be very dangerous especially during rainy season
4. If your aircraft isn't in the best condition and there might be some bad weather en route please do hire Robert Weaver to personally fly your aircraft

[debiassi]

Wacky Backy

The simplest method is to take the wings off and ship it in a container.
This usually also works out to be the cheapest.

Wow, take the wings and engines off a Seneca to get it to South Africa?? I have heard it all now.

If you need some free advice, routes, charts etc, I am happy to assist. Send me a PM

[Evanelpus]

Try Sky Ferry, Robert Weaver for advice and ferry. Apparently very experienced and capable chap.

To be sung to the tune of "We'll support you evermore"

Ready "Are you Weaver in disguise, are you Weaver in disguise"


What a brilliant first post. Hopefully your PPRuNe career will be a short one!

[Alexander Pichler]

@ JEP: I wrote him a message, but he didn't answer yet.
@ mogas-82: No, I can't increase range and West Africa is no good solution at all .
@ POLE IT: Something must be wrong with your phone, because it ends my call after a few seconds .
@ debiassi: We are in contact!

[ct2003]

Alex, check German pilot's magazine "Pilot und Flugzeug". They recently had a similar trip for their readers using their own a/c (Leserreise). The first (or first two?) issue with such topic included a very detailed planning on the route and the relevant pros and cons. Just google and phone their office, they will help.

[Alexander Pichler]

Jeeeeeez, thank you, I do remember now. I was supposed to go on that trip actually. How could I forget....tststs.... Thanks!

[Alexander Pichler]

I would sincerely like to thank Debiassi at Alpha2Bravo for all of the assistance he has provided in relation to ferrying our Seneca. Nothing seemed to be too much trouble and I am now looking forward with great enthusiasm to making the trip of a lifetime. He provided every single needed information, was available at every stage and is certainly one of the greatest and best persons that I have met to work with!

I can only suggest everybody to get in touch with him when it is about a ferry flight and the so called "know how"!

[Dragon2]

Advice needs to be based on "Afican" ferrying specifically

Not sure of the background of the people in this thread so please forgive me if I step on toes. The advice that will be appropriate will be from someone with experience ferrying through Africa specifically. It is a different ball-game entirely from ferrying elsewhere. Flying through Africa ( and the middle east too) involves bribery corruption and all sorts of tactics to extort so-called airport taxes etc out of you. These underhanded tactics can see pilots grounded without fuel, passports confiscated, jailed etc until the price for right of passage is right. The route chosen is more about avoiding these type of places than getting the shortest route etc. These unofficial airport taxes/ fuel taxes/I don't like your face taxes etc can get into thousands of dollars, depending on how desperately you need to get out of said airport. For these reasons the cost of the journey can escalate hugely. I know of one Twin comanche owner who had to sell the plane to repay the cost of his trip. I also know of a comanche owner who successfully flew from SA to England and back, ( PM me to track him down if you want more advice) I don't know how much shipping a seneca costs, but my wild guess is that it is not such a far-fetched idea. Your adventure could be the experience of a lifetime or a nightmare. Go into this prepared and forewarned. Finally good luck, I hope you get it right and have one of the good ones.

[magvelda]

AFRICAN FERRYING

Sorry to see your post.

I do agree to a certain extent.

I am always happy to help.

Cheers.

[Alexander Pichler]

Hi guys,

thanks for your late input, unfortunately the whole thing didn't work out because actual costs exceeded the budget, but maybe next time!

Cheers,

Alex