Experimental Plane Flying Internationally?

[Sunfish]

Is it possible to legally fly a home built VH register experimental aircraft out of Australia?

[Lead Balloon]

You should ask your friend, Michael Smith. He put his Searey on the N register, but as I recall that was a decision driven by practicalities rather than legalities.

[djpil]

Sunfish, this goes some way to explaining Flying Adventure: Around the world in a homebuilt KR2 - Features - Pilot (http://www.pilotweb.aero/features/flying_adventure_around_the_world_in_a_homebuilt_kr2_1_46534 78)
perhaps explains why he got stuck in Japan :
'They told me in an email I do not have authority to fly my aircraft outside of the UK, strange as I seemed to have done quite a bit of that recently, anyway they say, and I quote, "It must go back!"
'I have yet to question quite what that means, but they say that my plane must be dismantled and leave the airfield by road.

[Andy_RR]

Yes, I'm sure it is possible but you'll need to apply for permission from every authority whose airspace you use.

Even in the EU, a G-reg homebuilt (for example) needs permission from every member nation that you wish to fly over. Of course there is EASA experimental regulations you can use these days, but I don't know if anyone's done it yet. Not been following it closely since I returned to the brown land of Oz though.

[Cloudee]

Is it possible to legally fly a home built VH register experimental aircraft out of Australia?
Jon Johanson managed it in an RV4.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Johanson

[bekolblockage]

Pilot becomes first Hongkonger to fly around the world in a homemade plane | South China Morning Post (http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2045530/pilot-becomes-first-hongkonger-fly-around-world)

Guess it must be.
Understand this one was built in HK then flown to Australia and registered on VH for a while before returning to HK and registered on the B register.

Before anyone thinks the fanfare around this particular a/c is a bit over the top, you need to keep in perspective the almost invisible GA scene in HK and the absolute conservatism about letting it even fly by the Regulators let alone land and depart at HKIA.

Well done to them.

[Squawk7700]

Tasmania is actually part of Australia you know Sunfish....

It's gonna be a long way anywhere in your 85 knot but smasher!

[LeadSled]

Yes, I'm sure it is possible but you'll need to apply for permission from every authority whose airspace you use.

Andy RR is correct, and this applies to any aircraft on any form of Special Flight Permit, ie: anything that is not flying on an ICAO standard category C.of A.

Tootle pip!!

[Squawk7700]

I was under the impression that Jon's RV was built under the ABAA regs before experimental came about which would have made it easier for him... however I have been wrong before.

[LeadSled]

SQ7700,
Makes no difference, the aircraft did not have an ICAO Standard Cat. C.of A.

Of recent times there has been some fudging going on (not Jon) by obfuscating to some local authorities about just what C.of A an aircraft had ----- not a process I would recommend, all countries I know take a particularly dim view of such behavior.

No names, no pack drill, but, fellahs, give it up, 10 years in an Indian (or any) jail would be most unpleasant. And don't bank on on-airport gratuities to save the day.

Tootle pip!!

Surprise, surprise, but Australia is just about the most difficult country to get approval for an aircraft on a Special Flight permit to transit/land ----- unless it is a Boeing or Airbus on a "development" flight, when the CASA Red (is it blood ??) Carpet is rolled out.

[Kr2 worldtour]

SQ7700,

No names, no pack drill, but, fellahs, give it up, 10 years in an Indian (or any) jail would be most unpleasant. And don't bank on on-airport gratuities to save the day.


Hi, my name is Colin Hales and I've been flying my UK permit aircraft to different places around the world for the last 21 years now.

Not many people are actually qualified to say this, many people just think they know what they are talking about. I am qualified as I've done it. And if anyone says different, I can and will put them right time and time again.

So, "Yes, you can almost get any aircraft from any country in and out of any country, end of." Whether you would want to is a different matter.

Also there are many more greater issues than permits to fly.

But I've just flown my UK permit aircraft through Russia and had two precautionary landings at unapproved airfields and there was not one bit of trouble. In fact the Russian officers and FSB were a delight to deal with.

Anyone saying you will end up in jail, especially in India, I've been through there twice, is just talking utter nonsense, unless he has actual experience of this, which I doubt.

So, the answer is Yes you can get your Australian Permit aircraft cleared to fly through all countries of the world except one. Singapore. They simply will not allow anything without a full C of A iaw Annex 8 into their airspace.

I hope this helps.

Colin H.

KR2 World Tour (http://www.kr2worldtour.com)