How far away destination airport is considered isolated?

[Bungfai]

My airline operates to Australia destination and now due to financial difficulty are considering carrying the least fuel possible. Any of you operate to Australia destination without alternate airport?

[BelArgUSA]

When I worked for a USA supplemental air carrier in the early 1980s, we had flights to Diego Garcia, which is a US military base, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. No alternate airport available. The FAR 121 regulations required to have 2 hours of cruise fuel reserve, as minimum fuel requirement.
xxx
I do not know how that applies to you in Australia. I recall having done one charter to Alice Springs, cannot recall how close were the nearest alternates.
xxx
:)
Happy contrais

[alatriste]

Even though, unfortunately, I don´nt fly to Australia flying there doesn´t have anything to do with "isolated aerodrome".
Isolated means there is no destination alternate, and I guess that Melbourne or Sydney are well sorrounded by airports.
Depending on the route to be flown, fuel requirements might depend on:
ETOPS criteria ( if applicable) AMC OIPS 1.255
Additional fuel require to cover the possible failure of one engine or loss of pressurisation while on cruise and the need to divert to an enroute aerodrome , reaching it with a minimum fuel as required in AMC OPS 1.255.
The use of a Decision Point Procedure or Pre-determined one if convenient.

Of course if you fly to the Outbacks you might find lots of isolated aerodromes in the North Territories or in the Central Deserts like Gibson, tanami etc.

A thread regarding this topic called " ISOLATED AERODROME" was initiated on 12/05/2005 you can use the search tool.
I would like to fly to Australia as well!!!!
Regards

[hunterboy]

I would have a quick look at the Ozzie Air Pilot as it gives the criteria and min. fuel requirements for operating to and in Oz. Your Ops manual should be compliant.

[Henry VIII]

Hi Bungfai, according Jar 1.295 an apt is isolated when no adequate destn altn exist. It doesn't states a gnd distance.
As mentioned by alatriste you can use DPP or PDP fuel planning.
In addition AMC OPS 1.255 requires a minimum additional fuel of 2 hours flight at normal cruise consumption after arriving overhead destn apt.

Ciao ;)

[Prop Job]

I'm curious, say you fly into an airport where the closest alternate is 2hrs30mins away, what do you do? Technically you do have an alternate available, but can you consider your destination "isolated" and plan for two hours alternate fuel?

[Henry VIII]

The game is to plan to destn, no altn fuel, final reserve 30', PLUS an additional 2 hrs.
If you aplly a DPP or PDP fuel planning you can save in contingency fuel too, despite the fact that in many airlines the contingency is already limited to a certain max amount.

[galaxy flyer]

Please wait for an Aussie pilot to respond. If you search, you will find several stories about anxious moments in OZ when the fuel was short, the weather much worse than forecast and desparate measures being taken. Most OZ airports have few suitable alternates, fortunately weather often good.

GF

[BelArgUSA]

You are correct, Galaxy...
I think the practical alternate for Alice Springs was Adelaide or Darwin...
Not exactly next door.
What the hell - lean the mixtures...
xxx
:E
Happy contrails

[A Comfy Chair]

There are some routes where it is difficult to have anything practical as an alternate in Australia, and so sometimes carrying what would normally be very large amounts of fuel is just necessary.

Perth is probably the worst major one, with weather there being quite variable, with fog below landing minima, or severe low level turbulence not uncommon. The nearest "alternate", Pearce AFB is unfortuntaly going to suffer any fog just as bad as Perth, and so isn't a viable option. The next major airport is Adelaide, which is a long way away.

A lot depends on which direction you are coming from... are you coming from the North, East or West, and the size of your aircraft.

Often we plan with no official alternate, but to a DPA, and then decide if we have enough fuel to continue from there, although Perth is slightly different due to its location.

PM me if you want more details.

[john_tullamarine]

.. ah, the joys of the Electra when one could contemplate carrying New Zealand for Perth ... 727-100 was a different game.

[groundfloor]

Just a hint, check out the alternate`s runways ability to take your type when wet... ie: landing performance on a wet runway. Lots of alternates for "isolated major airfields" are a lot shorter in the runway dept.

A good example is George South Africa as an alternate for Cape Town for a wide body (747 etc..).