East Coast Aviation Dead Zone?

[Sunfish]

Idly looking at Ozrunways trying to figure out a coastal route from say Melbourne to the Brisbane region. From Nowra to Brisbane the airspace seems out of the question for an unfamiliar PPL and impossible for RAA pilots and aircraft. In addition, you would need an ASIC, life jackets are required and I can’t see any friendly looking airfields anywhere - and it’s all tiger country in the event of engine failure. Is it just my imagination or do CASA, AsA, the RAAF and the general public hate little aircraft that much?

[bloodandiron]

Aww does controlled airspace scare your little Jabiru?

[Seabreeze]

Only a problem if you want to avoid flying over water. Victor1 and Willie coastal routes are very easy to Navigate, however.

[Aussie Bob]

It is a heap easier than it looks Sunny. Nowra have always been obliging and helpful, Victor 1 is a must for every pilot and a super spectacular flight, you can avoid Willie and the airspace altogether by following the lane from Maitland and Evans Head is not that active. A great flight I have done many times.

[Lookleft]

No you're spot on Sunfish, it is your imagination.

[wishiwasupthere]

Is that you Dick?

[drpixie]

Yeah - you'll need an ASIC, but any flying pilot needs one. And life jackets (easy rented), if you want to go coastal, because no one can swim for long in cold southern waters (assuming you don't have a spare engine!)
But the "coastal" route will be straight forward. Plenty of friendly and accessible airfields - Gippslands has a few, Lakes Entrance used to be fine. What wrong with Mallacoota? Merimbula and Muruya are great, right by the beach and easy into town.
There are VFR routes through Nowra, past Sydney (Victor 1), through Williamtown, etc - you'll have to talk to ATC, but you know how to do that, don't you?
Engage brain, check charts, revise radio procedures, and do it.

[Okihara]

Engage brain, check charts, revise radio procedures, and do it.

@Sunfish: After all, it's just like flying anywhere for the first time. If you're in Melbourne, you also had to get acquainted with the airspace here at one point or another. Where I'll give you full credit is that studying charts alone isn't always sufficient to get a thorough picture of what pilots should do. That's nothing new, of course, but flying in and around Sydney, the ERSA at YSSY is full of information regarding flight procedures where I personally wouldn't expect to find it. Flying privately and VFR while requiring extensive preparation and planning shouldn't feel like daunting task each time you're headed to new places though. I'd say take a best effort attitude by investing whatever time you consider reasonable in order to get a good picture of what to expect and carry out a safe flight. For the rest, just talk to ATS if unsure. The only certainty is that however much study you put into it, 1. you won't get rid of unexpected and random events, 2. you'll still make a few mistakes.

[Atlas Shrugged]

the airspace seems out of the question for an unfamiliar PPL and impossible for RAA pilots and aircraft. In addition, you would need an ASIC, life jackets are required and I can’t see any friendly looking airfields anywhere - and it’s all tiger country

Poor you................ :{:{:{:{

[junior.VH-LFA]

And yet people manage it every single day.

[Squawk7700]

Dare I say that the majority of pilots travelling from Melbourne to Brisbane, would take the far more direct, easier and blessed by better weather, inland route.

[Horatio Leafblower]

Swing through the inland route, Sunfish, stop at Scone and I will make you a coffee.

[Lead Balloon]

Do both: coastal and inland.

It’s worth the experience and comparison, both as between the flights themselves and what would happen during equivalent flights in other countries.

(I’m only saying this to you and not terrorists, but the enforcement of ASIC requirements at non-Capital city airports is .... mmm ... patchy...)

[YPJT]

the enforcement of ASIC requirements at non-Capital city airports is .... mmm ... patchy...)
​​​​​​​I'd agree with that but there is always that one place.

Happy LB?

[Lead Balloon]

Any chance of re-posting that in English, YPJT?

[Fantome]

yep . . . old Horatio is fair dinkum . . .. . have a break in Scone . . . catch up with the amicable Leafblower . . himself.

[OK4Wire]

Yeah - you'll need an ASIC, but any flying pilot needs one.

I must be doing something wrong: I fly RAA and heavies ex BNE and I don't have one. You've got me worried!

[uncle8]

​​​​​​​I'd agree with that but there is always that one place.

Happy LB?






You don't need an ASIC - from the CASA site:
"If you plan to fly frequently into a security controlled airport that has RPT services you need to have an ASIC."
Initiative.

[triadic]

You don't need an ASIC - from the CASA site:
"If you plan to fly frequently into a security controlled airport that has RPT services you need to have an ASIC."
Initiative.

Truth is that no allowance has been made by those responsible for ASICs to facilitate GA at rural airports that have a security requirement. There is no requirement for a GA pilot to have an ASIC card, besides costing too much money and only valid for two years (if you are lucky). There is no standardisation requirement for rural security airport management to provide for GA pilots that do not have and ASIC as can be seen by visiting a few around the country - some make it easy - some make it hard to almost impossible! Talk about discrimination.....!
It's about time that this clear case of discrimination was brought to the attention to those in charge of this ASIC mess - but then I doubt they would understand?
Once upon a time CASA issued a plastic credit card size licence - why cant they do that now and include a photo?

[LeadSled]

..
It's about time that this clear case of discrimination was brought to the attention to those in charge of this ASIC mess - but then I doubt they would understand?
Once upon a time CASA issued a plastic credit card size licence - why cant they do that now and include a photo?
triadic,
Rhetorical questions??
The answer to the first is: they do understand, and simply do not care, they are more than happy about the present arrangements.
The answer to the second is: they can, but they simply do not care, they are more than happy about the present arrangements.
Until effective political weight is brought to the subject, nothing will change.
There is no likelihood, sadly, under present circumstances, where such political pressure is likely to emerge.
Tootle pip!!

[LeadSled]

Folks,
As some of you will already know, you can fly the entire east and west coasts of USA, in VMC, without any kind of a clearance.

The only occasional difference to this statement is if there is a rocket launch at Cape Kennedy (Canaveral) , any delay will be brief.

And, of course, no GA pilot needs anything like an ASIC anywhere in the US. (very few countries have Australian like prescriptive restrictions)

As (Admiral) Donald Engen, at the time FAA Administrator said, after his first and only visit to Australia ( a very perceptive man): " In US, because a man is a pilot, we trust him, in Australia because a man is a pilot, you mistrust him".

Tootle pip!!

PS: This is the exact quote, long before present gender sensitivities, and I am not going to misquote him to conform to present norms. Indeed, the old Norm will do.

[triadic]

Leady, well I guess then some of us might have to make it an issue. You are correct they not only do not understand, but don't care either. But then it is up to "us" in the industry to try and make a difference. I am of the belief that calling the Govt on discrimination has some chance to attracting their attention..... Worth a try I believe.

[YPJT]

Triadic,
I think calling the fact that some airports enforce the requirements differently to others "discrimination" is drawing a rather long bow. If that is the case then it is the airports committing the act, not the regulator.
There is one set of legislation for all to follow. Some may chose to relax certain requirements whereas others will follow it to the letter. Who is in the wrong?

[triadic]

YPJT, your are correct, but what I am highlighting is that the regulations make no allowance for GA at rural airports that have a security requirement because of airline traffic. Because they make no allowance then it is the regulations that are discriminating against those GA pilots that do not have an ASIC. There is no regulation that they must have one. Even if you don't plan to land at such places, there is always the chance of a diversion due to weather or fuel etc - then you may have to fight your way with an aerodrome operator that does not have procedures in place for such events. Yes some are good and some not, but is that their fault. I don't believe so. They should have guidance from the appropriate department, but then as Leady says they either don't care or are not interested.

[YPJT]

Triadic,
I agree mate. In fact I faced that very scenario on more than one occasion and there is nothing in the legislation or guidance that says how it should be dealt with. Common sense says.... no intent to act illegally so help said pilot out to get aircraft parked and sort out the access matter later. You wouldn't just let them have the gate code but you can use discretion such as escorting to and from the aircraft etc. Probably not 100% in compliance with legislation but I guarantee if you call the Dept and ask for advice you will be treated to the sound of crickets. At the end of the day, it is quite a rare occurrence and depending on the airport each ARO / manager will deal with it differently.

Its one of the may situations that were not fully thought through and because the occurrence is so rare, it is unlikely to gain any momentum. Remember the regulator's office is full of people who in 90% or more of cases have never worked a day in this industry in their lives.