Katoomba YKAT

[Aussie Andy]

Hi there, anyone been into Katoomba?

I am planning to visit home (Sydney - I live in London) later this year and plan to take a mate of mine, who lives in the Blue Mountains, and his kids on a local flight from Camden in a P28B Dakota to see the sites and their house from the air, and was thinking stopping in at (unlicensed) Katoomba for a break and change of seats etc.

I understand the longer of the two runways (RWY 24/06) I am told is 950m - haven't done the math yet, and the Dak is a bit heavy compared to a Warrior so it will depend on the density altitude (elev. 3,280') on the day, but I think that'll probably be OK for climbing out. But if they are on the cross-wind runway (28/10) which I understand is substantially shorter, then that probably won't be an option. The remarks in ERSA say that there are power lines crossing the RWY 28 threshold as well.

I'd be interested to hear from anyone familiar with the airfield -- anyone been in there in a Dakota? Anything else to know?

Cheers!

Andy

[apache]

Haven't actually been there myself... however, have heard that one would want a STOL aircraft for THAT strip!

[Aussie Andy]

Hmmmm, well the mighty Dakota is many things, but STOL it is not!

Andy

[Aussie Andy]

Thanks -- ERSA doesn't give the RWY lengths(!)

Good idea to check with Curtis, thanks!

Andy

[Di_Vosh]

G'day Andy

From the NSW Country airstrips guide (2002)

Operator/Owner Blue Mountains Aero Club [phone]

Elevation 3280' AMSL
Strips: 06-24 980M Unsealed Gravel
: 10-28 640M Under repair

Windsock and Markers YES
Lighting UNDER REPAIR

Remarks:

At press time runway 10-28 was under repair. Caution: turbulence and windshear. Right circuits runway 06. Beware power lines at eastern end. CTAF 126.7. KAT NDB 233. Landing fees apply, at press time fixed wing private $10.00. Latest information: Barry Sonter, on site [phone] or Godfrey Lucas [phone], [phone] (mob). Permission required prior to use.

Hope this helps

DIVOSH

[Foyl]

Had a look around there a couple of years ago and late last year (on the ground). Nobody uses it, it’s full of grass and rocks. I’d use it only in dire emergency.

[Aussie Andy]

Cheers fellas -- sounds like at a minimum some local knowledge is needed, so I've dropped a line to Curtis as suggested (I will be renting the Dak from them whilst at home...)

Thanks!

Andy

[Atlas Shrugged]

It's awful........

[No Mate!]

I have to admit, it is pretty bad.

[Like This - Do That]

Originally Posted by No Mate!

I have to admit, it is pretty bad.

Originally Posted by Atlas Shrugged

It's awful........

Katoomba might be, but VH-LJK isn't, that's a really sweet aeroplane

[computer says no]

We went up there about 3/4 months ago and tried to get a partialaviator in, it was a little dodgy but no more than 90% of the other unsealed strips i've been to in nsw (we weren't too concerned about landing so went off somewhere else). From 200' it essentially looks like a clearing in the trees, lots of power lines around and like dr oakenfold said lots of rocks but in saying that old mate who looks after the strip may have cleaned it up a bit since then. 2 weeks before I went up there, a mate landed and got out in the partenavia no worries, and was even queried on the ctaf freq by the owner whether he was going in for a cuppa!

[Aussie Andy]

Curtis' chief pilot has confirmed that it's a bad idea! Apparently a number of aircraft have had difficulties there so they have a policy that one may not fly in there without an instructor on board - which is handy as that avoids me making a decision myself

So I will use Bathurst say for my pit-stop / change the kids between seats etc. on our scenic flight instead.

Thanks all for your input!

Andy

[Ultralights]

strip is very rough as of last month, large rocks everywhere and the grass is creaping up as well, i would only fly into there in something like a Storch or Savannah, tundra tyres would almost be a smart choice.

[rustywings]

YKAT is not such a bad strip!!! If you limit your opps to 0-10kts of wind then you take out the windshear problems and the rest is easy!

For the guys above who have put their two bobs worth in they might actualy want to go and land on the strip and see what its like or call Rob at Kat airstrip who teaches there (No. in ERSA). Yes a C310 does regular trips there from BK with a limited load with no problems and the main runway 24/06 is a lot better then some other ALA's.

If you know what your doing then no problems but do get checked out by someone who frequents the place, if you think you need a STOL with large tundra tyres and a turbine engine then stay away.

Just my two cents worth.

[Bendo]

What is wrong with people these days?

When was the last time you guys landed off the asphalt?

I know that when I learnt to fly "in the country" I never once landed on the dirt or grass... except once when I was told to land on the stopway on 35 at Cessnock "so you have some rough dirt runway experience"

I am surprised that Curtis Avn reckon KAT is rough. I was at YKAT a bit over 12 months ago in a C172 and yeah, it's a dirt strip... but gees...

Get out there and live a little

[rustywings]

Right out of my mouth Bendo, at least someone here has landed on something less than 1000m of hard stuff in the last 10 years!!

Where are all these "Large rocks". Oh well at least it will stay nice and quiet if everyone is scared of the place.

[Like This - Do That]

And remember that Jim Drinnan is flying folks into and from Yerranderie almost every day of the year .... I'm sure Curtis has ample corporate knowledge to make a call on the strip at Katoomba.

[Bort Simpson]

I haven't flown into YKAT for a year now but it wasn't a problem. A little bumpy comming in (fm light windshear), keep an eye on the power lines and the richmond control area and you shouldn't have problem. I don't see how a STOL is a requirement as I pulled up in a partnavia no worries. The only down side was that I was running late so I couldn't get that cuppa that was offered when I phoned to heck the conditions of the strip.

From memory there is a bit of a slope on the strip as well (humped in the middle). Helps with the braking!

Makes me want to go back and have another go!

Bort

[Mr Crowe]

Over the last 18 months I have only been flying into remote and rough bush strips. katoomba is by far the worst I have flown into. Be aware and be very careful. As previously stated, powerlines EVERYWHERE, rough strips, (rocks and bushes on strip), lots of wind sheer and turbulance etc etc. From what I remember it also hangs kind of, off a cliff...........

If you do fly in here, be very very careful.....

[Capt. Crocodile]

I did a touch n go at Katoomba about a year ago in a C-210. This dirt runway is the worst I have ever landed on. Runway is in very poor condition and I wouldn't consider landing there again and yes as there are cliffs off the end you want to get it right the first time. Definitely call the owners before you go there and do a good fly-by inspection before you put your wheels on the ground. But I really advise you steer clear of it.