RAAF Not welcome at Port Augusta

[THE IRON MAIDEN]

Looking at the Jepp Port Augusta airport diagram today,

C-130 aircraft operations are not permitted. So what does that mean if I want to fly in there in a C-210!? if the 130 wont fit.

What an odd note to have, does it mean that a 747 is allowed to operate there? Why would the mighty herc not be allowed in there? and Why would they mention it on Jepp Plate? There must be are a lot of civi herc's out there.

anyway just a strange note i've notice.

Maiden

[Islander Jock]

Maybe no one wanted to go through the hassle (liability) of approving pavement concessions?

[EMB120ER]

Been a while since I have been there. But memory you would be very lucky to get an aircraft of the Hercs wing span onto the tarmac.

I remember the M23 having to have a good look at the spacing.

Isn't El Alemain just up the road anyway. I seem to recall there was a herc capable strip at the camp.

[The Voice]

you could only just get a 146 or a f100 in there - need to keep the area free for the RFDS .. or leave it on the rwy which would be a pain in the proverbial

[Jabawocky]

What sort of strip is that???

We have had them in at YCAB before

And FTDK reckons its the worst strip in the country!

J

[homeless1]

port augusta bottleneck !

Don't think it is anti RAAF. C130's would only be mentioned as they would be the largest aircraft tempted to go into YPAG due the nearby military areas. be a pain in the neck trying to park a herc there. would need the old rfds hangars and refuel compund to be moved to really open it up.

[Barry Bernoulli]

C130 is not popular in places due to the landing gear configuration. High flotation gear is fine in a straight line but tandem configuration rips the surface apart during tight turns. Anyone done a U-turn with a tandem trailer?

[pithblot]

A couple of years ago I saw a C185 looking sad a & misrable with a broken wing in YPAG. Evidently it had been tossed about by jet blast from taxiing RAAF Falcon manouvering on the apron.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

We have had them in at YCAB before And FTDK reckons its the worst strip in the country!

Yeah you could rip the crap out of the surface at YCAB - and nobody would notice the difference!

Could even be an improvement!

Dr

[Peter Fanelli]

I suspect a C130 at the gutter would be a taxi in reverse out proposition. Biggest thing I ever saw in there was two RAAF DC-3/C-47's.

Anyone remember when the RAAF chopped up the strip at Hawker by putting a Caribou in there when the strip was wet?

[Desert Duck]

I have always understood that although a C130 could operate on gravel runways, depending on the quality of seal then laid the C130 can be very limited.

[Trojan1981]

PAF-C-130 ops

Hey PAF, you seem to be in the know.

Remember the 36 TAC Course at Amberley in late 2002. At the end of two weeks of airdrops/TAC offloads at various regional airports around SE QLD, one runway (Moura I think-not sure) was completely torn up and closed, one (Watts Bridge) was left fairly rough and the fuel bowser at Watts Bridge was destroyed by a double-sequential platform dropped way off the RAM.

Many $thousands$ for repairs and lots of down time for locals. If I owned an airport I would specify no C-130 ops too!!!

[Pinky the pilot]

Have'nt been to YPAG since Air North lost the Mail run contract but I suspect that it would be as EMB120ER suggests; Apron space somewhat tight!

El Alamein is indeed just 'up the road' and from memory the strip there was improved when the then Govt built 'Aunt Lizzies Holiday Home for Illegals.'
(ie; Baxter)

[Moniker]

Woomera also had/has Baxter covered!!

[Brian Abraham]

The Herc had problems at Whyalla some years ago with damage caused. Don't know what the state of play is now with their use of the strip.

[Peter Fanelli]

El Alamein is indeed just 'up the road' and from memory the strip there was improved when the then Govt built 'Aunt Lizzies Holiday Home for Illegals.'

Well that explains why it looks somewhat like a prison on google earth these days.
Is it still used as an army camp also?

[load it, launch it]

I am guessing but YPAG has just been resurfaced and marked.
The threshold on runway 08 at YPIR just down the road has been repaired about 3 to 4 months ago from C130 circuit ops apparently leaving "tracks" in the strip.
Maybe they are trying to prevent that at YPAG
Just a thought

[Desert Flower]

Anyone remember when the RAAF chopped up the strip at Hawker by putting a Caribou in there when the strip was wet?

No, but I have seen the results of a C130 landing at night sans lights (both aerodrome & aircraft) just using night vision goggles at a strip not too far distant from there. Some lovely gouges in the pavement, starting on the right hand side of the centreline & ending up on the left! They have been banned by the aerodrome manager from coming back too, because despite their promises to fix what they broke, they didn't.

DF.

[Old Fella]

C130 operations

Maybe the C130 will not be welcome at Port Augusta and other places until the next time the sh*t hits the fan and they need some urgent assistance when the RAAF boys will get in, get the job done and worry about such things as pavement concessions later. Pray tell us more Desert Flower, just what aircraft damage occurred?

[Desert Flower]

Pray tell us more Desert Flower, just what aircraft damage occurred?

The aircraft touched down on the right hand side of the centreline & went sideways across the runway ending up on the left hand side, leaving gouges that broke right through the surface. Had to be repaired by aerodrome manager & aerodrome reporting officers. This type of damage was not done to the runway when the aircraft either landed during daylight hours or with runway lighting in use. It's not a matter of pavement concessions (they had them), it's the fact that they promised to pay for any damage done & they didn't. That does tend to make people angry!

DF.