UK private pilot visiting Sydney
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kemble, Cotswolds, UK
Age: 40
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UK private pilot visiting Sydney
Hi All.
I am a UK private pilot looking to visit Sydney to see family in April. I will look into the license and admin side of it fully of course but I would be keen to get recommendations from members here as to what type of flying I can do while I am out there (assuming its possible).
What airfields are there around Sydney? What clubs operate from there? What is GA like in the area and what can I expect from flying out there?
This is my first call for information so everything welcome, I am sure I'll have many more specific questions between now and then!
Thanks for all your help, feel free to PM.
-JT
I am a UK private pilot looking to visit Sydney to see family in April. I will look into the license and admin side of it fully of course but I would be keen to get recommendations from members here as to what type of flying I can do while I am out there (assuming its possible).
What airfields are there around Sydney? What clubs operate from there? What is GA like in the area and what can I expect from flying out there?
This is my first call for information so everything welcome, I am sure I'll have many more specific questions between now and then!
Thanks for all your help, feel free to PM.
-JT
One could write a book........
The main GA field is Bankstown, about 12 miles as the crow flies (ATCF) west from the CBD. Can get there by public transport. There are GA training organisations and clubs active there. It is a busy field especially at weekends and time can be spent waiting in take off queues.
There is another field at Camden, about 30 miles ATCF south west from CBD. Easily accessible by road. GA training and clubs active there. Has bitumen and grass runways. Fairly quiet during the week, busier at weekends, not as busy as Bankstown. Waiting for takeoff is rare and its closer to the training area than Bankstown.
There are also strips used by clubs at Warnervale 40 nm ATCF north and Wedderburn ATCF 30 nm south.
Google will locate clubs or organisations at these places, and there are posts about some of them here on PPrune.
There is some great flying around Sydney. The Victor 1 scenic route takes you along the coast past the CBD, parts of it are at 500 feet AGL. Very scenic and I'd advise a briefing from an instructor before tackling it. The Blue Mountains is also worth a look. Coastal flying south to Moruya or north to Maitland are short pleasant joy flights.
The main GA field is Bankstown, about 12 miles as the crow flies (ATCF) west from the CBD. Can get there by public transport. There are GA training organisations and clubs active there. It is a busy field especially at weekends and time can be spent waiting in take off queues.
There is another field at Camden, about 30 miles ATCF south west from CBD. Easily accessible by road. GA training and clubs active there. Has bitumen and grass runways. Fairly quiet during the week, busier at weekends, not as busy as Bankstown. Waiting for takeoff is rare and its closer to the training area than Bankstown.
There are also strips used by clubs at Warnervale 40 nm ATCF north and Wedderburn ATCF 30 nm south.
Google will locate clubs or organisations at these places, and there are posts about some of them here on PPrune.
There is some great flying around Sydney. The Victor 1 scenic route takes you along the coast past the CBD, parts of it are at 500 feet AGL. Very scenic and I'd advise a briefing from an instructor before tackling it. The Blue Mountains is also worth a look. Coastal flying south to Moruya or north to Maitland are short pleasant joy flights.
James,
If you want to fly as PIC, the biggest obstacle to overcome will be getting a certificate of validation from CASA for your UK licence. It used to be a simple straight foward process which could be completed in one day but they managed to turn it into a bureaucratic nightmare taking weeks. I dare you to go to the home page and look at the photo without puking
Also if you want to fly away to another airport that is security controlled ie has RPT services, you will also need an Aviation Security ID Card. Lots of discussion about them on these threads. Totally useless bits of plastic that cost the best part of $200.00. They are easier to get than say 3 years ago. I suggest you contact Aviation ID Australia who have experience in processing cards for the overseas PPLs.
Ring around the schools at the airport you want to hire from. You will require a check ride to bring you up to speed with the local Class D and adjoining CTA proecedures.
It can be done, just takes a bit of prior planning though.
If you don't want to go through the hassle, you could just go up with an instructor.
If you want to fly as PIC, the biggest obstacle to overcome will be getting a certificate of validation from CASA for your UK licence. It used to be a simple straight foward process which could be completed in one day but they managed to turn it into a bureaucratic nightmare taking weeks. I dare you to go to the home page and look at the photo without puking
Also if you want to fly away to another airport that is security controlled ie has RPT services, you will also need an Aviation Security ID Card. Lots of discussion about them on these threads. Totally useless bits of plastic that cost the best part of $200.00. They are easier to get than say 3 years ago. I suggest you contact Aviation ID Australia who have experience in processing cards for the overseas PPLs.
Ring around the schools at the airport you want to hire from. You will require a check ride to bring you up to speed with the local Class D and adjoining CTA proecedures.
It can be done, just takes a bit of prior planning though.
If you don't want to go through the hassle, you could just go up with an instructor.
Join Date: May 2007
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There is also Somersby and Warnervale to the north and The Oaks near Camden. Depends on what kind of flying you want to do.
Getting to Bankstown by public transport is ****e. Anywhere else almost impossible.
http://www.somersbyairfield.com.au
Central Coast Aero Club
You can pm me for more info.
Agree about the bs with CASA. Regulator regulating for the bejesus out regulation... iow bureaucrats creating job security for themselves.
Getting to Bankstown by public transport is ****e. Anywhere else almost impossible.
http://www.somersbyairfield.com.au
Central Coast Aero Club
You can pm me for more info.
Agree about the bs with CASA. Regulator regulating for the bejesus out regulation... iow bureaucrats creating job security for themselves.
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G'day James,
I'd suggest downloading the Sydney Basin Visual Flight Guide -
http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset...oad/sydney.pdf
It's recently updated to include the new changes from GAAP to Class D and has a pretty comprehensive breakdown of Vic 1 and the Sydney Harbour scenic route.
Also, do ask around and get advice before hiring an aircraft in Sydney - there are a few schools with fairly dodgy reputations regarding maintenance. Of course, it would be the height of bad manners to list em here, but feel free to pm.
Just a word on CASA too.....when I had to get my licence validation to go to the US, they arsed it up AND charged me $50 for the pleasure! My advice would be regarding anything that involves CASA: plan well ahead of time, and be prepared to be fleeced outta $50 every time you fill in a form...
Sydney's an amazing city to fly around (you can usually get right into the harbour and orbit the quay) and April's a fine month, usually, weather wise.
Good luck with your planning,
GWaS
I'd suggest downloading the Sydney Basin Visual Flight Guide -
http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_asset...oad/sydney.pdf
It's recently updated to include the new changes from GAAP to Class D and has a pretty comprehensive breakdown of Vic 1 and the Sydney Harbour scenic route.
Also, do ask around and get advice before hiring an aircraft in Sydney - there are a few schools with fairly dodgy reputations regarding maintenance. Of course, it would be the height of bad manners to list em here, but feel free to pm.
Just a word on CASA too.....when I had to get my licence validation to go to the US, they arsed it up AND charged me $50 for the pleasure! My advice would be regarding anything that involves CASA: plan well ahead of time, and be prepared to be fleeced outta $50 every time you fill in a form...
Sydney's an amazing city to fly around (you can usually get right into the harbour and orbit the quay) and April's a fine month, usually, weather wise.
Good luck with your planning,
GWaS
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Kemble, Cotswolds, UK
Age: 40
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Thanks to all who took the time to reply, as I look into it more and more I may PM those who offered more help.
It is a shame that Australia is suffering the same thing under CASA that we are suffering under EASA. I had the impression from my initial scouting a few years ago that the mutual recognition between the UK and Oz was a pragmatic one.
It may be that my aviation passion is better served by experiencing some skydiving, gliding or finding a light aircraft operator offering excursions into the interior, but I'll remain optimistic about actually getting some time at the controls (until it is beaten out of me).
It is a shame that Australia is suffering the same thing under CASA that we are suffering under EASA. I had the impression from my initial scouting a few years ago that the mutual recognition between the UK and Oz was a pragmatic one.
It may be that my aviation passion is better served by experiencing some skydiving, gliding or finding a light aircraft operator offering excursions into the interior, but I'll remain optimistic about actually getting some time at the controls (until it is beaten out of me).
