Flying across the Tasman
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Flying across the Tasman
Hi all, was just wondering if anyone has attempted a flight from Australia to New zealand across the tasman. I am contemplating on attempting this trip and before departure I am hoping to gather as much advice and information as possible. Obviously the journey will most likely originate from Port Macquarie and then Lord Howe Island, followed by Norfolk island and then keri keri in New zealand or perhaps Auckland Int. (the aircraft doesn't have sufficient range to go direct to New Zealand and island hopping only involves legs with a maximum distance of 480nm-easily achievable by most aircraft at 140-150kts).
One of the major queries I have is regarding VHF radio. Obviously long flights over water are going to be outside VHF coverage and it would still be necessary to pass on position reports. Would it be recommended to bring along a satphone? Or simply try to contact airlines in the vicinity to pass on these reports. Probably don't want to be in a position where SAR is alerted.
This is a private aircraft registered under the Australian registry-so If i'm not mistaken, there are no restrictions in regard to flying it to New Zealand and around as well?
Any operational information regarding this flight would be greatly appreciated, especially if anyone else has done it. Feel free to PM.
Kind regards and thx!
One of the major queries I have is regarding VHF radio. Obviously long flights over water are going to be outside VHF coverage and it would still be necessary to pass on position reports. Would it be recommended to bring along a satphone? Or simply try to contact airlines in the vicinity to pass on these reports. Probably don't want to be in a position where SAR is alerted.
This is a private aircraft registered under the Australian registry-so If i'm not mistaken, there are no restrictions in regard to flying it to New Zealand and around as well?
Any operational information regarding this flight would be greatly appreciated, especially if anyone else has done it. Feel free to PM.
Kind regards and thx!
Moderator
Hi all, was just wondering if anyone has attempted a flight from Australia to New zealand across the tasman.
Smithy's error was to take the Southern Cross to Brisbane where airport services are so bad, the aircraft is still there!
theaviator332,
It's really quite straight forward. Only occasionally have I had the luxury of an HF, if it was a light aircraft ( I must admit, statistically, for most of my crossings of the pond I have had dual HF and dual sat/com data link) I have just relied on VHF relays via ever helpful RPT aircraft.
Have at least two GPS, for a handheld, both a power plug and plenty of spare batteries. Nice to have an ADF.
Wear your lifejackets over water, not just have them just "available" --- just in case, remember Murphy's Law. I always carry two rescue beacons, one in my pocket, and one marine type beacon that will float. Make certain your liferaft certification is current, if it is new in the wrapping, have it repacked --- a comment not made lightly.
Do your homework on Lord Howe Island --- see if you can get a copy of the written brief Qantaslink use --- and at least for the first time, only go there when the met is very very favorable with L/V winds. The wind blowing in three different directions along the length of the (short) runway is normal. If you already know how to read the turbulence from the water surface, so much the better. This is not the place for lazy airspeed control on approach, and long floats --- use full control authority at proper approach speeds, not high IAS, to handle any turbulence, and and get the aeroplane on the ground.
Clear customs/immigration at Lord Howe, folks are very pleasant to deal with.
Norfolk, stop the night, great people, watch the weather like a hawk (not like PelAir), just like Lord Howe, be very conservative, it can change very quickly.
NZ- Check the current customs/immigration entry points on the far north of the county, and make arrangements in advance for the customs man to be there. Stay away from Auckland International as an entry point (even if you have the range) --- mucho $$$$.
Do your homework on all the paperwork you will need, make certain you tick the right boxes, your don't really want to pay NZ GST on the aircraft.
There are many small airfields in NZ that have card operated fuel pumps, but are otherwise not attended. Last time I was there and needed to use one, they were oil company cards, but there was to a program to upgrade so they would take any credit card.
All the NZ rules are on the NZ CAA web site, have a good look at the basic rules, and buy the NZ topo maps and study then carefully, make certain you understand the NZ controlled airspace --- quite straightforward and friendly.
NZ gets windy, and places like Wellington and anywhere in the mountains of the south island, be very careful, get comprehensive briefings from local aero clubs and the like before you venture into the hilsl. The standing waves and orographic turbulence can be aeroplane busting.
The scenery is spectacular,the native are friendly, as is the local beer, have a great time.
Tootle pip!!
It's really quite straight forward. Only occasionally have I had the luxury of an HF, if it was a light aircraft ( I must admit, statistically, for most of my crossings of the pond I have had dual HF and dual sat/com data link) I have just relied on VHF relays via ever helpful RPT aircraft.
Have at least two GPS, for a handheld, both a power plug and plenty of spare batteries. Nice to have an ADF.
Wear your lifejackets over water, not just have them just "available" --- just in case, remember Murphy's Law. I always carry two rescue beacons, one in my pocket, and one marine type beacon that will float. Make certain your liferaft certification is current, if it is new in the wrapping, have it repacked --- a comment not made lightly.
Do your homework on Lord Howe Island --- see if you can get a copy of the written brief Qantaslink use --- and at least for the first time, only go there when the met is very very favorable with L/V winds. The wind blowing in three different directions along the length of the (short) runway is normal. If you already know how to read the turbulence from the water surface, so much the better. This is not the place for lazy airspeed control on approach, and long floats --- use full control authority at proper approach speeds, not high IAS, to handle any turbulence, and and get the aeroplane on the ground.
Clear customs/immigration at Lord Howe, folks are very pleasant to deal with.
Norfolk, stop the night, great people, watch the weather like a hawk (not like PelAir), just like Lord Howe, be very conservative, it can change very quickly.
NZ- Check the current customs/immigration entry points on the far north of the county, and make arrangements in advance for the customs man to be there. Stay away from Auckland International as an entry point (even if you have the range) --- mucho $$$$.
Do your homework on all the paperwork you will need, make certain you tick the right boxes, your don't really want to pay NZ GST on the aircraft.
There are many small airfields in NZ that have card operated fuel pumps, but are otherwise not attended. Last time I was there and needed to use one, they were oil company cards, but there was to a program to upgrade so they would take any credit card.
All the NZ rules are on the NZ CAA web site, have a good look at the basic rules, and buy the NZ topo maps and study then carefully, make certain you understand the NZ controlled airspace --- quite straightforward and friendly.
NZ gets windy, and places like Wellington and anywhere in the mountains of the south island, be very careful, get comprehensive briefings from local aero clubs and the like before you venture into the hilsl. The standing waves and orographic turbulence can be aeroplane busting.
The scenery is spectacular,the native are friendly, as is the local beer, have a great time.
Tootle pip!!
Last edited by LeadSled; 12th Sep 2013 at 08:41.
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Thanks Leadsled for the info, that stuff is excellent in terms of the operational side! Indeed I would expect permission is required from CAA of NZ prior to going there and flying around with an Aussie licence and A/C, I'm sure CASA won't have much issue as its just a private aircraft leaving and coming back. Hmm definately don't want to pay GST on the plane (is that even possible?). In terms of the fuel, I hold a BP carnet card and its my impression that this is widely available in NZ in terms of fuel bowsers. I have heard that the carnet cards don't work with the pumps though? Are you aware if Australian ASIC cards would suffice to go airside over there? Especially at the Intl.Airports. Also when contacting the RPT ops overhead for positional reports do you just use inter-pilot air 123.45 or simply 121.5 to get their attention?
Thanks again for the info guys!
Thanks again for the info guys!
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Be much more simple to put some long range tanks in and fly at 50' all the way across...no customs fees, no need to declare anything...and certainly going into NZ...no chance of interception
I would expect permission is required from CAA of NZ prior to going there and flying around with an Aussie licence and A/C
Hmm definately don't want to pay GST on the plane (is that even possible?)
In terms of the fuel, I hold a BP carnet card and its my impression that this is widely available in NZ in terms of fuel bowsers. I have heard that the carnet cards don't work with the pumps though
Are you aware if Australian ASIC cards would suffice to go airside over there?
Last edited by 27/09; 12th Sep 2013 at 10:46.
Be much more simple to put some long range tanks in and fly at 50' all the way across...no customs fees, no need to declare anything...and certainly going into NZ...no chance of interception
Much excitement when an eagle eyed local noticed the Aussie rego and the police turned up. Not sure what happened to pilot or aircraft.
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When you arrive there you will have to stay in your aircraft whilst the quarantine mob spray their fly spray into your window vent to kill off the nasties. If it's a hot day (if that's possible in NZ) you'll be cursing them!
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Surely they don't spray the stuff into the A/C while your still in there? Any kind of spray that has the intended effect of killing off insects/other stuff surely wouldn't be safe to inhale? 
Last edited by theaviator332; 12th Sep 2013 at 11:27.
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spray
we (aus) routinely did it on inbound international flights for years .... flight attendants marching down the aisles discharging spray cans. Squirting one bloke in a 182 (or similar) seems small beans really.
theaviator 332,
Good stuff from 27/09.
My reference to customs and charges was well found, there have been some serious stuff-ups.
One chap, who flew an ultralight to NZ was presented with bill of about $5000, took the shine of the celebration of the first direct crossing of the Tasman in such a small aircraft.
I had a big blue when I had an aircraft stuck at Ardmore, and I brought in a spare radios from home, finally got my money back after a long battle ---- all because the wrong box was ticked.
You just get the odd one who doesn't believe you are not going to sell the aircraft or spares in NZ.
Tootle pip!!
Good stuff from 27/09.
My reference to customs and charges was well found, there have been some serious stuff-ups.
One chap, who flew an ultralight to NZ was presented with bill of about $5000, took the shine of the celebration of the first direct crossing of the Tasman in such a small aircraft.
I had a big blue when I had an aircraft stuck at Ardmore, and I brought in a spare radios from home, finally got my money back after a long battle ---- all because the wrong box was ticked.
You just get the odd one who doesn't believe you are not going to sell the aircraft or spares in NZ.
Tootle pip!!
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Yes, twice this year.
Route: fly over the islands; theoretically you could get across in one hop but you wouldnt have any fuel for a diversion to an alternate. We carried extra fuel enabling us to continue from NZ to Norfolk and then onwards to La Tontuta, New Caledonia (has ILS)
Customs: if you are not importing/exporting its quite easy. Just a crew declaration, cash declaration if you carry cash and your entry/departure cards. Have it all sorted before departure and everyone will be happier along the route. If you are importing -get a GOOD customs broker. You must enter and leave the country from a customs airport so we used KeriKeri. Kaitaia is closer but KK is close to Opua which is a favoured entry point for pleasure yachts and so there is a guy living up there. Will cost you a couple of hundred nz to get him out on sundays. You need to notify customs at latest 24hrs to international ops. Form om nz customs website.
Customs are easy but the DAF (the pest people) are fairly anal and so you must enter the country at a place where there is not only customs but also DAF. They will require you to spray the aircraft before exiting or opening doors. No big deal and no you wont die. If you did want to make life easier, get a bottle of the "top of descent" spray. Spray airborne and show can on arrival. (The Aussies will take it off you thou but the islands will let you keep it. )
Islands: Norfolk, friendly people but not an overly exciting place. Lots of pine trees. Elevation of apt is fairly high and wx changing rapidly so beware of the cloud. You may not be able to and on into wind rwy as the threshold may be too high. (As was the case when I flew in once) When fire service are on stby they score the landings of incoming Jets and write it on a big board outside their station for when you taxi past. -lol
Lord Howe; tropical paradise. Lots of cool mountains and theres Balls Pyramid which is a strange very tall rock formation poking out of the sea some 10nm south of LHI. Check it out!
LHI gets EXTREMELY bad turbulence (qantas q300 cant get in) with wind from certain angles and over 12kt strengths (which is most of the time). Wind direction can be very different each end of rwy so a second met station is positioned on the western threshold which will broadcast in different voice on AWIB.
Recommend stay a night or two at the pine tree place (appears expensive but all meals included and its great -they even packed a lunch bag for us!) Locals throw great parties.
The Island people are very helpful and will phone each other to ensure your safe arrival. Make sure however you call ahead to all the places.
FUEL; in NZ, BP and Z have bowsers everywhere but credit card always works, however for credit card you must call ahead. In fact, always call ahead just to be sure. NF gets its AVGAS in drums but put it into a underground tank.
Procedures; IFR -must have HF, VFR; pretty sure you don't but not 100%.
Have a liferaft and if single, I would grab an immersion suit. Consider a Personal Locator Beacon, cheap but can be hired also. We use them all the time for offshore yacht racing.
Norfolk is Aussie territory but halfway from LHI you will enter Auckland FIR. Oceanic, go flightlevels -set 1013 and when in NZ hemispherical is north/south, not east west. Rule of thumb: they are Odd in Auckland (north odd).
We flew at 55% all way to conserve fuel but it made for a long haul, despite being in a twin. I found the fuel numbers in the manual to be extremely accurate. If you have retractable gear, also consider PNR for a gear malfunction causing the gear to fall out half way (loss of hydraulic pressure)
Pee bottles could be good just in case. We carried but did not use as our flight times wee only 4.5hrs however with the ferry tank we had 11hrs endurance or there abouts.
International flight plan, very similar to normal but you also give an email address to which a copy will be sent.
Make sure your nav equipment is certified for sole means oceanic - between NF and NZ there is 100nm out of range between KT and NF NDB. Also, grab an iPad. You need ERC H5 to get across the ditch and from there, the NZ charts.
Thats about all I can think of for now.
/mr.ferrypilot
Route: fly over the islands; theoretically you could get across in one hop but you wouldnt have any fuel for a diversion to an alternate. We carried extra fuel enabling us to continue from NZ to Norfolk and then onwards to La Tontuta, New Caledonia (has ILS)
Customs: if you are not importing/exporting its quite easy. Just a crew declaration, cash declaration if you carry cash and your entry/departure cards. Have it all sorted before departure and everyone will be happier along the route. If you are importing -get a GOOD customs broker. You must enter and leave the country from a customs airport so we used KeriKeri. Kaitaia is closer but KK is close to Opua which is a favoured entry point for pleasure yachts and so there is a guy living up there. Will cost you a couple of hundred nz to get him out on sundays. You need to notify customs at latest 24hrs to international ops. Form om nz customs website.
Customs are easy but the DAF (the pest people) are fairly anal and so you must enter the country at a place where there is not only customs but also DAF. They will require you to spray the aircraft before exiting or opening doors. No big deal and no you wont die. If you did want to make life easier, get a bottle of the "top of descent" spray. Spray airborne and show can on arrival. (The Aussies will take it off you thou but the islands will let you keep it. )
Islands: Norfolk, friendly people but not an overly exciting place. Lots of pine trees. Elevation of apt is fairly high and wx changing rapidly so beware of the cloud. You may not be able to and on into wind rwy as the threshold may be too high. (As was the case when I flew in once) When fire service are on stby they score the landings of incoming Jets and write it on a big board outside their station for when you taxi past. -lol
Lord Howe; tropical paradise. Lots of cool mountains and theres Balls Pyramid which is a strange very tall rock formation poking out of the sea some 10nm south of LHI. Check it out!
LHI gets EXTREMELY bad turbulence (qantas q300 cant get in) with wind from certain angles and over 12kt strengths (which is most of the time). Wind direction can be very different each end of rwy so a second met station is positioned on the western threshold which will broadcast in different voice on AWIB.
Recommend stay a night or two at the pine tree place (appears expensive but all meals included and its great -they even packed a lunch bag for us!) Locals throw great parties.
The Island people are very helpful and will phone each other to ensure your safe arrival. Make sure however you call ahead to all the places.
FUEL; in NZ, BP and Z have bowsers everywhere but credit card always works, however for credit card you must call ahead. In fact, always call ahead just to be sure. NF gets its AVGAS in drums but put it into a underground tank.
Procedures; IFR -must have HF, VFR; pretty sure you don't but not 100%.
Have a liferaft and if single, I would grab an immersion suit. Consider a Personal Locator Beacon, cheap but can be hired also. We use them all the time for offshore yacht racing.
Norfolk is Aussie territory but halfway from LHI you will enter Auckland FIR. Oceanic, go flightlevels -set 1013 and when in NZ hemispherical is north/south, not east west. Rule of thumb: they are Odd in Auckland (north odd).
We flew at 55% all way to conserve fuel but it made for a long haul, despite being in a twin. I found the fuel numbers in the manual to be extremely accurate. If you have retractable gear, also consider PNR for a gear malfunction causing the gear to fall out half way (loss of hydraulic pressure)
Pee bottles could be good just in case. We carried but did not use as our flight times wee only 4.5hrs however with the ferry tank we had 11hrs endurance or there abouts.
International flight plan, very similar to normal but you also give an email address to which a copy will be sent.
Make sure your nav equipment is certified for sole means oceanic - between NF and NZ there is 100nm out of range between KT and NF NDB. Also, grab an iPad. You need ERC H5 to get across the ditch and from there, the NZ charts.
Thats about all I can think of for now.
/mr.ferrypilot
FUEL; in NZ, BP and Z have bowsers everywhere but credit card always works, however for credit card you must call ahead. In fact, always call ahead just to be sure.
Definitely check that LHI and NSF have fuel especially NSF as weather can disrupt delivery.
between NF and NZ there is 100nm out of range between KT and NF NDB.
DAF??????? do you mean MPI? or the old MAF?
Here's what you need to know Aircraft | MPI Biosecurity New Zealand
Last edited by 27/09; 12th Sep 2013 at 21:02.
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
When you live....
Hobart-Invercargill
I'm curious to know how often this is attempted? 1052NM great circle and should have decent tail winds 90% of the time.....
Smithys error was to take the Southern Cross to Brisbane where airport services are so bad, the aircraft is still there!
Forever more my four wheel drift around the International Terminal roundabout and into the staff carpark will be ever so slightly slower and with a smile instead of a grimace as I think of 'Smithys error'!
Alas the subtlety and irony of that very funny comment has been lost on the wider audience.
I now fly with First Officers that do not even know the Southern Cross is even there let alone the significance of this truly historic aircraft. Their loss!
Sharing the bookcase with the ever increasing number of Volumes A to Z of how not to enjoy airline flying are first editions of 'The Old Bus' and 'Story of the Sourthern Cross - Trans Pacific Flight 1928' as well as all the P G Taylor yarns.
I know which ones I would rather read.
Sorry for the thread drift.
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One chap, who flew an ultralight to NZ was presented with bill of about $5000, took the shine of the celebration of the first direct crossing of the Tasman in such a small aircraft.
Surely they don't spray the stuff into the A/C while your still in there? Any kind of spray that has the intended effect of killing off insects/other stuff surely wouldn't be safe to inhale?
I'm not aware of anyone having died from fly spray.
A mate flew his ultralight to NZ and had to wait in stifling heat, busting for a piss for quarantine to spray into his vent.