Adelaide city orbits / scenic flights?

[Okihara]

I'm a Melbourne hatched egg and now want to flap wings in Adelaide. On the VTC I see recommended VFR routes, e.g. Hope Valley from Marino Light House to Parafield. My question is: are city orbits there available too? I see that the airport is much closer to CBD than it is in Melbourne and the orbit flight path might be in conflict with traffic on 05/23 so I'm wondering if that's even an option for fixed wings. If not, any recommendation on other popular scenic flights in the region?

[cooperplace]

A few months back I flew the jab from YMBD to Kangaroo Island and back: a wonderful scenic flight.

[wasbones]

Call Adelaide TCU (number in ersa) to discuss on the day you’re interested in doing it.

Clearances for the Hope Valley VFR route and / or orbits are difficult to facilitate during the week due to Adelaide traffic, but may be available on the weekend if you’re happy to wait for it.

Low level coastal from PNL - OHB (and vice-versa) is much easier to facilitate even during the week, with delays.

[Okihara]

Thanks for the pointers, I will try the PNL-OHB coastal route with a flight plan.

I thought every city had its scenic flight routes, like the City Orbit in Melbourne or the Harbour Scenic in Sydney.

[bw2004]

+ 1 for the calling TCU suggestion

I previously lived in Adelaide and used to fly from Adelaide and Parafield fairly regularly. Usually I had a pretty good run at whatever scenic or practice approaches I was looking to do. I almost always had to book a slot (which you can do over the phone when you speak to them)

The coastal offshore route is fun but often you'll be kept down to 500' and may need to hold a number of times. It you do end up doing it I'd look pretty carefully at which jetty is which - the instruction will be something like 'Orbit offshore at Grange Jetty' and if you're not familiar with Adelaide it would be pretty easy to confuse yourself!

Have fun!

[Okihara]

Cheers for this. I might just request clearance to fly the Hope Valley route inbound into Parafield from Port Noarlunga, and refuel there. Alternatively, the other option would be to circumvent Adelaide altogether and fly over Hahndorf and then on to the Barossa Valley. I hear that Gawler also has Avgas.

[717tech]

Avgas at Aldinga too.

[Squawk7700]

Some years ago I flew a light GA into Adelaide International and the costs weren’t prohibitive considering it saved on taxis etc to the CBD. Worth checking the costs I’d say...

[Okihara]

Some years ago I flew a light GA into Adelaide International and the costs weren’t prohibitive considering it saved on taxis etc to the CBD. Worth checking the costs I’d say...
That is actually a very interesting idea, cheers.
Landing fees for GA aircraft are indeed more reasonable at Adelaide than Tullamarine.
Additionally car rental companies are readily accessible. At Parafield you first need to take a taxi to Salisbury to get one and then have a 20 km drive back into town.
My only concern is having long waiting times on the ground or holding.

[Squawk7700]

That is actually a very interesting idea, cheers.
Landing fees for GA aircraft are indeed more reasonable at Adelaide than Tullamarine.
Additionally car rental companies are readily accessible. At Parafield you first need to take a taxi to Salisbury to get one and then have a 20 km drive back into town.
My only concern is having long waiting times on the ground or holding.

Wait times? In Adelaide? Lol

They generally don’t give you the taxi clearance if there’s a chance of a long delay.

I was vectored a little, but not much, but it was ok as it was quite scenic and a nice day. You’ve reminded me that I also factored in the taxi to the hire car and it was worth while. I rang the number in ERSA for the airport coordinator and he said come on down and it would be $60 or whatever it was and asked for a rough arrival time and he told me to park at the SA Pol air wing. That caused a little confusion when the ATC guy thought I was in a helicopter and tried to send me straight in.