Hovercraft

[Bend alot]

I think there might be a follow up story on the "hovercraft" up in Darwin.

[Duck Pilot]

The ABC had a writeup on it a few days ago, great machine to play around with in the Darwin Harbour.

Pretty impressive job building it from scratch!

Does the owner frequent this site, wouldn’t mind learning more about it, particularly how to build one myself.

[Stickshift3000]

I can already imagine the discussions at CASA, definition of ‘aeroplane’ etc...

[Bend alot]

By CAsA definition - it is not an "aircraft" but that alone will not stop CAsA having the discussions.

[WannaBeBiggles]

By CAsA definition - it is not an "aircraft" but that alone will not stop CAsA having the discussions.

There used to be an in ground effect hovercraft out Cairns and I think it was only GRMPA that had anything to say.

[Bend alot]

There used to be an in ground effect hovercraft out Cairns and I think it was only GRMPA that had anything to say.

Was that before say something like flight in controlled airspace requiring a transponder?

Or some other silly technicality they might try ping him on!

Can not be having fun guys!

[topdrop]

The wing in ground effect craft in Cairns had both marine and aviation registration. Had a dispo for nil transponder. Test pilot was previously aero club instructor. After venture folded, he became a pilot with Jetstar - really nice guy.

[Sunfish]

That wasn’t the shuttle to mirage at port douglas was it?

[LeadSled]

By CAsA definition - it is not an "aircraft" but that alone will not stop CAsA having the discussions.
Bendy,
Reminds me of many years ago in UK, after much discussion various "Authorities" agreed that cross Channel hovercraft Masters would have to have an ocen going Master's Certificate AND an ALTP with current IR.
It didn't take long to discover that there was no such animal in captivity.
Don'tcha just love "Xspert committees". X as in the unknown quantity, and spert as a drip under pressure, and a committee as a mechanism to make certain nobody is responsible for the outcome, if, indeed there is any outcome, never a high priority among the "Princes of Process".
Tootle pip!!

[Bend alot]

Bendy,
Reminds me of many years ago in UK, after much discussion various "Authorities" agreed that cross Channel hovercraft Masters would have to have an ocen going Master's Certificate AND an ALTP with current IR.
It didn't take long to discover that there was no such animal in captivity.
Don'tcha just love "Xspert committees". X as in the unknown quantity, and spert as a drip under pressure, and a committee as a mechanism to make certain nobody is responsible for the outcome, if, indeed there is any outcome, never a high priority among the "Princes of Process".
Tootle pip!!
If GI is still up there with CAsA best it have PC-12 or better performance and redundancies prior to any flight including the water landing checklist updates.

Not sure the spelling of his name (GI) - but PC-12 is enough to identify the guy.

[Allan L]

I'm not a pilot, but when the Darwin chap (as portrayed in the ABC newscast) started talking wings, wing spars and then elevators I think to myself "I thought they were talking hovercraft?" PS. I do have a measly 5 minutes in a (genuine) hovercraft.

[tio540]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/400x222/8ccade82_0020_47a1_a13c_b2ef8a0913a0_341636a73507784efda4cf7 feb70ae54190ba570.jpeg
Not really built from scratch. Been around for some time.

19XRW Hoverwing® | Universal Hovercraft (http://hovercraft.com/content/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_2)

[Wunwing]

In the 1970s I had a mate who ran a mechanics business on the Hume Highway in Western Sydney. He was given a hovercraft as a debt payment back when they were still experimental.

He went to DCA, Marine and DMR to find who registered such things and no one wanted to accept responsibility. So being resourceful he "drove" the craft along the highway only to be booked for driving an unregistered vehicle. Responsibility proved??

The local cops spent the next weeks trying to get the ticket back.I bet there were a few hard words in Highway Patrol headquarters over that one.
Wunwing

[aroa]

The CNS WIGE outfit that folded, were they trying to reinvent the wheel...with some Govt money ??
They should have just paid a visit to Russia. Them peskie ruskies have had that sorted for decades.
Could probably have got the Caspian Sea Monster at a discount, but probably too big for the PTD run.

[Squawk7700]

https://youtu.be/UIFiko4Nldk

[HPSOV L]

There was one built in NZ a few years ago, quite a slick machine. In NZ it is not classified as an aircraft so long as it is not flown out of ground effect. No licence or registration required.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTM8rcA7c04&feature=share

[Bend alot]

They are not classed as "aircraft" in Australia either - but that does not exclude them from rules that use the word "flight" I expect.

[tail wheel]

That wasn’t the shuttle to mirage at port douglas was it?

You have a long memory Sunnie! That was a hovercraft operated in the days of Skase, who died in 2001. I think the hovercraft commuter operated briefly between Cairns airport and Port Douglass in the late 1980s?

I remember the WIGE (Wing in Ground Effect) "aircraft" undergoing trials in Cairns, thought it was more recent but looks like it was around 2003 or slightly later:

https://www.pprune.org/tech-log/52414-flightship-takes-wing.html?highlight=WIGE+Cairns

Paul Phelan article: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/wing-in-ground-effect-craft-enters-production-160873/ (https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/wing-in-ground-effect-craft-enters-production-160873/)

Cairns WIGE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmy46xHcA3M

[amberale]

There were also Skase’s hovercraft operating between BN and the Gold Coast(Mirage Resort?).
IIRC they used to come up Kedron Brook behind the tower and scoot down inshore of Straddy.

[Lead Balloon]

From the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012:8 Definition of vessel

(1) In this Law:

vessel means a craft for use, or that is capable of being used, in navigation by water, however propelled or moved, and includes an air‑cushion vehicle, a barge, a lighter, a submersible, a ferry in chains and a wing‑in‑ground effect craft.

And if it’s a recreational vessel...

Here’s what the NT Marine Act 1981 defines “vessel” to mean:"vessel", see section 8 of the Marine (http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ma198175/s7.html#marine_safety_national_law) Safety National Law (http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ma198175/s7.html#marine_safety_national_law).That’s the definition quoted above.

Bottom line: Although it’s part fish and part fowl, it’s treated as a fish for regulatory purposes.

[Bend alot]

There is no doubt that this type of craft must comply with a Marine Act.

Should a wing‑in‑ground effect craft wish to supply alcohol to customers, they would also need to comply with a Liquor Act.

It certainly would not be exempt from any Work Health and Safety Act requirements.

I also expect that during "flight" (when not stated in an "aircraft") that the requirements of the Civil Aviation Act, could also apply as applicable.

[aroa]

Only in Oz.. does a sea or floatplane,..... a registered AIRCRAFT, have to also pay for a speedboat rego.
Ah bureaucrats...money for idle minds.

[compressor stall]

Where does CASA define Airplane or Aeroplane? I couldn't find it in the Dictionary buried at the back of the CASRs.

[Bend alot]

Where does CASA define Airplane or Aeroplane? I couldn't find it in the Dictionary buried at the back of the CASRs.

Found it after a good look the other day - was in one of the dictionaries but do not recall exactly where.

CAsA define a
"aircraft" - it specifically excluded craft that fly in ground effect, but do not recall the wording.

You will need to keep looking, or someone may post the link.

[Sunfish]

A certain seaplane pilot was “ramped” by the Victorian water police and was about to be pinged for a lack of flares. Quick thinking reply was that they were prohibited items under aviation regulations and that Commonwealth law overrides state law. Police gave up.

[Bend alot]

Still having a look for the definition of "aircraft" - but here is "aeroplane" from the 1988 REGs.

www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_reg/car1988263/s2.html

[Bend alot]

Or this.

"aircraft" means any machine or craft that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air, other than the reactions of the air against the earth's surface.

CIVIL AVIATION ACT 1988 - SECT 3 Interpretation (http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/caa1988154/s3.html)

[compressor stall]

Thanks - that's actually a neat definition, and would seem to exclude the hovercraft / WIGE vehicles.

[KRviator]

In the 1970s I had a mate who ran a mechanics business on the Hume Highway in Western Sydney. He was given a hovercraft as a debt payment back when they were still experimental.

He went to DCA, Marine and DMR to find who registered such things and no one wanted to accept responsibility. So being resourceful he "drove" the craft along the highway only to be booked for driving an unregistered vehicle. Responsibility proved??

The local cops spent the next weeks trying to get the ticket back.I bet there were a few hard words in Highway Patrol headquarters over that one.
WunwingSo here's a question...
We've worked out that a hovercraft doens't come under CAsA, so assuming it's registered under RMS (or whatever they call themselves these days), and you take out Marine third party insurance, what could The Rozzers get you for if you decided you didn't want to tow it to the boat ramp and simply drove it home? :}

[harrryw]

If you drive it on the left of the road you could get pinged for driving on the wrong side of the channel.