Flying across the Tasman
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Thanks for the insightful knowledge, much appreciated!
cptkris you mentioned the flight notification submission isn't too different-do you just use NAIPS international flight plan (internet) until you reach NZ and then use their internet flight plan process for flying around the country?
As for Radio calls going into New Zealand, I assume you give them the full VH-XXX but when flying around the country do you just use XXX for CTAF's/other aerodromes?
How are the winds generally speaking when crossing around late NOV/early DEC? Hopefully not 50kt headwinds I hope
A/C has endurance of 5.5-6 hours and cruises at 150kts tas (so around 800nm range)
Are there many forms in total you have to gather up and submit? I know theres the customs declarations, passenger/cargo manifest etc. Also which 'box' is the one if ticked incorrectly, they may charge GST
Also upon arrival do they take a look at the certificates of registration/airworthiness/personal flight crew licences etc?
cptkris you also mentioned ensure nav equipment certified for sole means oceanic? what exactly does the entail- the A/C has a functional ADF, VOR, ILS. And how long exactly are you out of VHF coverage for during the overwater segments?
cptkris you mentioned the flight notification submission isn't too different-do you just use NAIPS international flight plan (internet) until you reach NZ and then use their internet flight plan process for flying around the country?
As for Radio calls going into New Zealand, I assume you give them the full VH-XXX but when flying around the country do you just use XXX for CTAF's/other aerodromes?
How are the winds generally speaking when crossing around late NOV/early DEC? Hopefully not 50kt headwinds I hope
A/C has endurance of 5.5-6 hours and cruises at 150kts tas (so around 800nm range)Are there many forms in total you have to gather up and submit? I know theres the customs declarations, passenger/cargo manifest etc. Also which 'box' is the one if ticked incorrectly, they may charge GST
Also upon arrival do they take a look at the certificates of registration/airworthiness/personal flight crew licences etc?
cptkris you also mentioned ensure nav equipment certified for sole means oceanic? what exactly does the entail- the A/C has a functional ADF, VOR, ILS. And how long exactly are you out of VHF coverage for during the overwater segments?
Last edited by theaviator332; 13th Sep 2013 at 01:48.
I'm not sure how old you are and if you'd remember, (as noted in previous post too) however not that many years ago on international flights when you arrived the hosties walked down the isles with their cans of fly/bug spray polluting the interior. I believe nowadays they simply inject the spray into the air conditioning system on descent which is one of the reasons why people often start coughing on descent. Would be I interested to know if this is still in use though?
Current policy is for aircraft to be sprayed during regular maintenance using a long term surface spray by approved personel which is then valid for a period of up to 8 weeks . A Residual Disinsection Certificate is then carried on board the aircraft and is provided to the appropriate Quarantine authorities electronically. The details of the Disinsection are confirmed by the PIC via the Gen Dec on arrival.
If the Certificate is not current then Quarantine will board the aircraft and conduct the manual spray that you have mentioned.
Either way it is a very good reason not to use the "5 second rule" on board an aircraft when considering eating a dropped jelly bean!
http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets...procedures.pdf
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Still file via NAIPS while in aussie territory so that includes Norfolk however thereafter you will have to go Christchurch Control. The nice people staffing the UNICOM can help you fax a flight plan if you cant get internet. The NZ system is called IFIS, www.ifis.airways.co.nz.
Radiocalls are fairly similar to australian ones, you will have to use the full Victor Hotel XXX when entering NZ FIR but may be abbreviated to VHX or VXX by each controller.
On the topic of radio requirements -flying in NZ you will encounter areas marked as CFZ and MBZ, that means Common Frequency Zone (much like a CTAF for an area) and Mandatory Broadcast Zones, in the latter you must report entering, leaving and a pos rep every 10 minutes.
VHF Coverage is not great, there is a repeater station for MLCEN on Lord Howe but not on Norfolk. You'll be back in VHF not until visual with NZ I'd say(never tried the distance, went to HF early)
Weather should be stabilizing towards summer, but generally a tailwind going to NZ.
Easiest thing if you want to make sure you dont forget is to visit the customs NZ and customs AUS websites. esp the NZ is very helpful in describing which documents are required. Not many forms, just crew declaration and entry/departure cards.
I have not been ramp-checked by CASA or NZ CAA at all so probably not. Check with the NZ CAA if you need a special flight permit but I really dont think you will. Anyway, the NZ CAA are extremely helpful, much more so than CASA IMHO. Do bring your passport though.
NAV: are you VFR or IFR? -we flew NZ reg planes IFR only. Our RNAV system was certified for oceanic. Providing you fly during the day, you should actually have NDB coverage all the way. Just ensure you crosscheck the requirements with your equipment list.
What sort of plane are you in?
Here's the customs website that lays down the law: in addition you probably need to arrange the ag-people to check for food/pests etc. No cargo manifest unless you are carrying cargo other than personal affects. No cash report unless carrying more than 10k$. Just need entry cards and your clearance from precious port. -this is a list of the crew with the details that will get stamped by the customs when you leave. do NOT lose it.
We never came into NZ so unsure about their procedures.
New Zealand Customs Service : Advance notice of arrival for private aircraft
Radiocalls are fairly similar to australian ones, you will have to use the full Victor Hotel XXX when entering NZ FIR but may be abbreviated to VHX or VXX by each controller.
On the topic of radio requirements -flying in NZ you will encounter areas marked as CFZ and MBZ, that means Common Frequency Zone (much like a CTAF for an area) and Mandatory Broadcast Zones, in the latter you must report entering, leaving and a pos rep every 10 minutes.
VHF Coverage is not great, there is a repeater station for MLCEN on Lord Howe but not on Norfolk. You'll be back in VHF not until visual with NZ I'd say(never tried the distance, went to HF early)
Weather should be stabilizing towards summer, but generally a tailwind going to NZ.
Easiest thing if you want to make sure you dont forget is to visit the customs NZ and customs AUS websites. esp the NZ is very helpful in describing which documents are required. Not many forms, just crew declaration and entry/departure cards.
I have not been ramp-checked by CASA or NZ CAA at all so probably not. Check with the NZ CAA if you need a special flight permit but I really dont think you will. Anyway, the NZ CAA are extremely helpful, much more so than CASA IMHO. Do bring your passport though.
NAV: are you VFR or IFR? -we flew NZ reg planes IFR only. Our RNAV system was certified for oceanic. Providing you fly during the day, you should actually have NDB coverage all the way. Just ensure you crosscheck the requirements with your equipment list.
What sort of plane are you in?
Here's the customs website that lays down the law: in addition you probably need to arrange the ag-people to check for food/pests etc. No cargo manifest unless you are carrying cargo other than personal affects. No cash report unless carrying more than 10k$. Just need entry cards and your clearance from precious port. -this is a list of the crew with the details that will get stamped by the customs when you leave. do NOT lose it.
We never came into NZ so unsure about their procedures.
New Zealand Customs Service : Advance notice of arrival for private aircraft
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NZ Table of Cruising Levels
Unlike Oz which operates on a N-S split, NZ operates an E-W split for its Table of Cruising Levels i.e.Odd thousands of feet between 270-089 degrees (IFR) and even thousands of feet between 090 and 269 degrees.
VFR same split but an extra 500ft on each nominated level
VFR same split but an extra 500ft on each nominated level
May be 20 years ago some guy flew a Baron from QLD direct to Waharoa/Matamata (?) with some parrots or similar on board. Like most Australian's I under stand he liked a cockortwo.
Australia...full of budgie smugglers
Australia...full of budgie smugglers
NZ operates an E-W split for its Table of Cruising Levels i.e.Odd thousands of feet between 270-089 degrees (IFR) and even thousands of feet between 090 and 269 degrees.
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Is there anything else important to know when flying around in New Zealand when compared to Australia? One of the differences pointed out was CFZ and MBZ zones, and controlled airspace might be slightly different. Also, do the major aerodromes like wellington/queenstown charge a lot for parking/visitors?
For those with experience flying around New Zealand, any recommendations on particular aerodromes to visit?
For those with experience flying around New Zealand, any recommendations on particular aerodromes to visit?
For info on Queenstown parking charges go to queenstownairport.com where you'll find a parking fee calculator.
Parking facilities are not fantastic but you'll find ATC helpful. They get lots of itinerants, usually in bizjets.
If you are thinking of flying to Milford Sound have a chat to the instructors at the Wakatipu Aero Club first. It's a spectacular but very challenging environment and Milford is one place where local knowledge is vital.
Parking facilities are not fantastic but you'll find ATC helpful. They get lots of itinerants, usually in bizjets.
If you are thinking of flying to Milford Sound have a chat to the instructors at the Wakatipu Aero Club first. It's a spectacular but very challenging environment and Milford is one place where local knowledge is vital.
Is there anything else important to know when flying around in New Zealand when compared to Australia?
The weather can change rapidly and be quite different over the space of a short distance.
The topography means poor VHF coverage in many areas and the need to fly through valleys to get places. Flying in situations where there is no natural horizon.
A lot of you Aussies fly straight lines which is fine in OZ but doesn't work over here where due to weather and topography means having to fly around weather and terrain.
Ontrack is correct re Milford. I would recommend a trip to Milford BUT only if you go with or take a local instructor from somewhere like Queenstown or Wanaka.
Last edited by 27/09; 14th Sep 2013 at 09:31.
For those with experience flying around New Zealand, any recommendations on particular aerodromes to visit?
The Bay of Islands area is nice, since you're most likely arriving and departing from Kerikeri, stay at Paihia or Kerikeri for a day or two and explore the area take a day cruise around the islands or a bus trip to Cape Reinga.
The Coromandel area is worth a stop. Whitianga is probably the best spot to base yourself, good airfield, good beaches nearby etc.
Taupo is a good place to see geothermal activity. Rotorua is better known and but Taupo is a nicer place to stop. The closest I can think of in OZ to Taupo is Jindabyne except there's not geothermal stuff at Jindabyne.
Omaka, (Blenheim) great place to see the Marlborough Sounds from and there is a fantastic aviation museum there.
If you're into gliding or not Omarama is a neat place to stop with the hotel in the airfield.
Queenstown or Wanaka. Queenstown is more touristy Wanaka is more laid back and I think a better climate. Both worth visiting.
Croydon Aircraft Co. at Mandeville is a must if you're into de Haviland aircraft.
A trip up the West Coast of the South Island is a must stopping at Hokitika or Westport or both.
That should keep you busy. for a day or two.
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A satphone equipped with bluetooth would probably work well across the tasman as I could connect it to the Bose A20 headset. What do you guys think? I know its been mentioned that I could communicate with passing jets on 123.45 or 121.5 but its probably best to have a constant link of communication especially if things get hairy.
- Inmarsat Isat Phone Pro - PRE PAID OPTIONS - ClientSAT
Keen to fly around milford sound and especially queenstown, and matamata (aka hobbiton
)
- Inmarsat Isat Phone Pro - PRE PAID OPTIONS - ClientSAT
Keen to fly around milford sound and especially queenstown, and matamata (aka hobbiton
)
Last edited by theaviator332; 14th Sep 2013 at 06:31.
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Also, I can't seem to find KeriKeri anywhere on the list for New Zealand 'Customs designated airports'....I have heard that this is the best place to arrive after Norfolk and that many people choose it but all I can see is that you have to gain approval through submission of a form to the Chief Executive to approve...wasn't expecting it to be so hard? Does this mean i'm limited to only going to Auckland Int.?
New Zealand Customs Service : Airports
New Zealand Customs Service : Airports
Last edited by theaviator332; 15th Sep 2013 at 11:38.
Yes, I did a similar trip in 2005 in an A36 Bonanza. Here are a few things that stick in my memory;
File flight plans using NAIPS up to Norfolk. However, if you fly VFR (I did - didnt have HF or a sat phone for IFR position reporting), then Auckland will need to hold your SARTIME. You need to ring them (the australian briefing office rang me to let me know!)
Send position reports via relay - there are always aircraft flying overhead and will be reachable on 121.5.
Dont expect to see any shipping - I never saw a boat at all. Yes I was always looking.
Carry a raft, grab bag and wear lifejackets (constant wear types like the heli operators use). We had a bunch of kit, rations in the pockets and each occupant had their own ELB. See EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE - Outdoors Gear, Survival Equipment Review & Survival Information for tips. Assume you will only make it out the door with the kit attached to you. The rest is a bonus.
Ring Lord Howe and Norfolk a few days in advance to confirm they know you are coming AND have fuel. They do run out from time to time, and let me tell you, you don't want to be stuck on Norfolk for a week or two. They are astounded by the number of people who arrive unannounced, on this little island in the middle of nowhere. Fuel status is not usually NOTAMed either.
Dont take the mention of cross winds and turbulence lightly at Lord Howe. We landed in about 10kt of wind, and it gets rough on final.
Know how to calculate a point of no return and a last point of safe diversion. Expect your GPS to report no nearest airfields at TEKEP.
For NZ arrival I entered and departed from Whangarei - the harbour is close so you dont have to pay too much for customs and MAF. Great aero club there.
File flight plans in NZ via IFIS. Get a temporary met service account from metservice for weather. They are different and not integrated at all. (MET is a paid service in NZ).
Your carnet's will not work in the automatic bowsers, even when you are told they will work.
People do not usually have a call out fee
Dont assume every airport has AvGas. I turned up in Dunedin on a sunday, and was lucky to get fuel from a heli charter operator who luckily was at work.
Do fly down south around the mountains. It is amazing.
We did about 50 hours of flying, in Feb March. It was just fantastic and good on you for giving it a go. You'll have a ball.
Bevan..
File flight plans using NAIPS up to Norfolk. However, if you fly VFR (I did - didnt have HF or a sat phone for IFR position reporting), then Auckland will need to hold your SARTIME. You need to ring them (the australian briefing office rang me to let me know!)
Send position reports via relay - there are always aircraft flying overhead and will be reachable on 121.5.
Dont expect to see any shipping - I never saw a boat at all. Yes I was always looking.
Carry a raft, grab bag and wear lifejackets (constant wear types like the heli operators use). We had a bunch of kit, rations in the pockets and each occupant had their own ELB. See EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE - Outdoors Gear, Survival Equipment Review & Survival Information for tips. Assume you will only make it out the door with the kit attached to you. The rest is a bonus.
Ring Lord Howe and Norfolk a few days in advance to confirm they know you are coming AND have fuel. They do run out from time to time, and let me tell you, you don't want to be stuck on Norfolk for a week or two. They are astounded by the number of people who arrive unannounced, on this little island in the middle of nowhere. Fuel status is not usually NOTAMed either.
Dont take the mention of cross winds and turbulence lightly at Lord Howe. We landed in about 10kt of wind, and it gets rough on final.
Know how to calculate a point of no return and a last point of safe diversion. Expect your GPS to report no nearest airfields at TEKEP.
For NZ arrival I entered and departed from Whangarei - the harbour is close so you dont have to pay too much for customs and MAF. Great aero club there.
File flight plans in NZ via IFIS. Get a temporary met service account from metservice for weather. They are different and not integrated at all. (MET is a paid service in NZ).
Your carnet's will not work in the automatic bowsers, even when you are told they will work.
People do not usually have a call out fee Dont assume every airport has AvGas. I turned up in Dunedin on a sunday, and was lucky to get fuel from a heli charter operator who luckily was at work.
Do fly down south around the mountains. It is amazing.
We did about 50 hours of flying, in Feb March. It was just fantastic and good on you for giving it a go. You'll have a ball.
Bevan..
Just ring up customs in NZ and they will arrange the boatie customs to come to you (and the reason I went to Whangarie was the harbour is close so the fee was not bad ($80 or so I recall))
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Hey thanks Bevan for the advice! So if an Australian BP carnet doesn't work down there, do credit cards (most bp pumps don't even accept credit cards in oz-found that out the hard way). Or you just go to airports with trucks that can come out?
Any difficulties navigating around NZ?
Also for the trip across did you get a life raft that conforms to CASA requirements (TSO'd) or just any one? Does it even matter
Were you ever ramp checked over there for ASICs/etc?
Thanks again!!
Any difficulties navigating around NZ?
Also for the trip across did you get a life raft that conforms to CASA requirements (TSO'd) or just any one? Does it even matter
Were you ever ramp checked over there for ASICs/etc?
Thanks again!!
Kerikeri is able to be used as a first place of arrival.
Information for aviators using Bay of Islands Airport Kerikeri, Kaitaia Airport and Kaikohe Airport in the Far North District of Northland New Zealand nz
Gary Burton (NZ Customs) and Mike Cartwright (MPI) are the guys you need to contact. They will come up from Opua (Paihia) to Kerikeri airport for light aircraft arrivals. It's not far from Paihia to Kerikeri.
Port of entry to New Zealand at Opua Marina, Opua, Bay of Islands, nz
Information for aviators using Bay of Islands Airport Kerikeri, Kaitaia Airport and Kaikohe Airport in the Far North District of Northland New Zealand nz
Gary Burton (NZ Customs) and Mike Cartwright (MPI) are the guys you need to contact. They will come up from Opua (Paihia) to Kerikeri airport for light aircraft arrivals. It's not far from Paihia to Kerikeri.
Port of entry to New Zealand at Opua Marina, Opua, Bay of Islands, nz
Last edited by 27/09; 16th Sep 2013 at 01:47.
So if an Australian BP carnet doesn't work down there, do credit cards (most bp pumps don't even accept credit cards in oz-found that out the hard way). Or you just go to airports with trucks that can come out?
Most larger regional airfields,e.g. Kerikeri, Whangarei, Ardmore, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson, Omaka, Wanaka, Queenstown, Timaru, Invercargill and a few others have operators who will sell you avgas during normal business hours, usually 7 days per week.
There aren't many places with a truck and then they'll want a carnet most likely.
Were you ever ramp checked over there for ASICs/etc?
Also for the trip across did you get a life raft that conforms to CASA requirements (TSO'd) or just any one? Does it even matte
Last edited by 27/09; 16th Sep 2013 at 01:45.
- The VFR cruise altitude split in NZ is N/S i.e. "odd buggers come from the south"
- GA aircraft cannot fly into Auckland International without prior arrangement (you need to have your own ground handling organized beforehand) so it really is not worth the bother.
- My personal preference for a Coromandel stopover would be Pauanui over Whitianga - more picturesque and walking distance to beaches/accomodation/dining/bars.
- Most Aero/Flying Clubs will have facilities for checking weather and/or filing flight plans if you have internet access issues.
- If you are a plane nut, visit Ardmore, Tauranga, Hood (Masterton), Omaka, Ashburton, Wanaka and Mandeville - they all have excellent aviation establishments, whether it be museums, restoration companies or warbird associations. The RNZAF museum at Wigram in Christchurch is also very good but sadly you cannot fly in any more.
- If you intend flying around the South Island, check in with the locals at Queenstown or Wanaka and get an hour or two of instruction. It will enhance your safety as the conditions down there are as unforgiving as they are unique.