Australia | Bass Strait Crossings

[rodzoz]

With increasing frequency, I notice a number of single-engine GA flights crossing Bass Strait without adhering to the accepted routing via Flinders Island or King Island. Have there been changes to the accepted routing? Right now I am watching a Bonanza A36 flying direct. The other day, a Cirrus. What am I missing?

[Capt Fathom]

The 'accepted routing' you refer to are actually Recommend Routes to keep you close to land masses.
Most IFR aircraft will plan via Airways, as did your Bonanza A36!
I would have planned via the airway over Flinders Island 'cause I'm a chicken!

[Squawk7700]

I’ve also noticed a few lately, like a 172 and a PA28 direct from Mallacoota to Bridport.

[Aussie Bob]

Some pilots will fly over vast oceans in a single engine aircraft. Some pilots wont.

The ones that won't will never be persuaded by life rafts and safety gear
The ones that will will consider going with no raft at all.

Bass Strait is just a tiny ditch. Mallacoota to Flinders is somewhat further, but no vast distance :)

[rodzoz]

The 'accepted routing' you refer to are actually Recommend Routes to keep you close to land masses.
Most IFR aircraft will plan via Airways, as did your Bonanza A36!
I would have planned via the airway over Flinders Island 'cause I'm a chicken!
Thank you - this has puzzled me for a while. I see now that Private, Air-Work or Charter without passengers you can fly over water as long as you comply with CAO 20.11.5.1.1 (basically have life jackets for each occupant". The key word I missed was 'Recommended.' Thank you.

[evilducky]

Thank you - this has puzzled me for a while. I see now that Private, Air-Work or Charter without passengers you can fly over water as long as you comply with CAO 20.11.5.1.1 (basically have life jackets for each occupant". The key word I missed was 'Recommended.' Thank you.

CAO 20.11 is no longer the reg covering this. Standards for overwater flights/equipment/distances etc. are part of the CASR 91/133/135/138 Manual of Standards.

[ControlLock]

Once did a personal flight from Mallacoota to Launceston via Deal Island with a raft in a Warrior and it was the best Nav ex I ever did.

[By George]

I still remember Bob Vowles in the Ansett F27 circling over the Aero Commander that ditched in the Straight, watching helplessly as the poor chap drowned. The Bass Straight is not for the faint hearted and there is no way I would go direct in a single.

A little like NVMC. I have avoided that like the plague too. Even IFR in a single is a risk unless you have a cloud base above the LSA.

Don't roll the dice with auntie aviation, she can bite and rarely shows any mercy.

[rodzoz]

Yes. I remember that day too. I’d been flying at Devonport and heard about it. Went home and listened to the tragedy play out on the VHF. RPT circling overhead yet hope faded away. Sad day. I guess life experiences like that make you think about reducing the risk element vs time or convenience.

[Global Aviator]

Surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet.

Isn’t it amazing how the engine appears to run rough when over water.

🫣

[aroa]

#8 As a result of the Bass St episode the guy in the water succumbed to hyperthermia .? As a result of bureaucratic
f***ups. Process overrides saving a life. See doco by Dick Smith.
Even in Bass St distances are not something you can swim. And the water is cold. That will finish you off.
Be prepared. Life raft six pack tucker etc.

[megan]

I was sitting at Welshpool with back seat operator with a winch equipt Bell 212 at the time.

[Mach E Avelli]

Anyone considering crossing Bass Strait in a bugsmasher should use the BOM Marine forecast for offshore conditions. Swell direction is useful to know, because without experience it’s hard to judge from the air.
If the wave height is over 2 metres, in a ditching having a life raft and a nice warm immersion suit and all the other goodies could be moot.
I’ve done the crossing several times in a Sonex sitting behind one of those questionable Jabiru engines, and to quote Pauline “I don’t like it”, even with favourable conditions. On the last occasion I got forced down to below 500 feet by weather, and promised myself to never do it again in a single engine aircraft.
Boats are definitely less stress.

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Old timer at Airlines of Tasmania, when they did night freight in Chieftains got pulled up on a ramp check at Tullamarine one night by the CAA.

Mr CAA man asks where the life jackets are and how he would use them.

Old timer takes a suck on his Winfield and says, “tonight if I ditch in Bass Strait I will stay in the aeroplane and die in comfort, any other questions?”

[Marvin Martian]

I was in the other F27 overhead at F150 relaying Bob's transmissions.. so many things that could have been done.. but no.. we're 'doing it by the book'.. I knew the guy in VH WJC.. flew with him a few times when he had a C340.. still haunts..

[markis10]

I was in the other F27 overhead at F150 relaying Bob's transmissions.. so many things that could have been done.. but no.. we're 'doing it by the book'.. I knew the guy in VH WJC.. flew with him a few times when he had a C340.. still haunts..

Doing it by the book is the only way to go, IMHO as an ex searchmaster. I wasn’t in ATC at the time but was at LTV, the NSCA chopper was requested within 12 minutes of the distress phase but sent to Moorabbin, and Polair took their time as well. Regardless lots of lessons were learned from the incident and I hope those that knew the victim take some comfort from his passing making a profound impact on SAR in Australia in subsequent years.

The ATSB report is here: https://www.atsb.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/5226548/198302284.pdf

[Mach E Avelli]

Old timer at Airlines of Tasmania, when they did night freight in Chieftains got pulled up on a ramp check at Tullamarine one night by the CAA.

Mr CAA man asks where the life jackets are and how he would use them.

Old timer takes a suck on his Winfield and says, “tonight if I ditch in Bass Strait I will stay in the aeroplane and die in comfort, any other questions?”
Met an old ferry pilot once, who said that if he ever had to ditch into the North Atlantic in winter, he would do it vertically.

[aroa]

“Doing it by the book is the only way to go” Jeezus wept.!, A man’s life was at stake and the clock was ticking.
If I recall correctly a SE Jetranger could have saved him but no… the ‘experts’ got involved and it all turned to sh*t from then on. And the guy died.
Not the only instance in Oz when the bureaurats have effed up. Ignore local advice etc and folk die.
“ It had a profound impact on SAR in future years.”. One should bloody well hope so. !!