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Islander down at Melaleuca?

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Old 8th Dec 2018, 02:29
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Islander down at Melaleuca?

Anyone heard any news on this?
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 02:39
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Used to sit there amazed watching the lads landing with horrendous gusting crosswinds in 182 & 206 delivering supplies for Maatsuyker lighthouse and Danny King at his tin mine. Greatest demonstration of skill I've seen.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 02:44
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Where is Melaleuca please. Sorry, I have never heard of it and Google is struggling.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 03:27
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Challenger seems to be searching further inland?


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-...mania/10597294

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Old 8th Dec 2018, 03:41
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https://www.themercury.com.au/news/t...557cc2fb1e6c49
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 03:42
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A quick search of VH-OBL on flightaware looks ominous.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 03:51
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Melaleuca is actually the name of the airstrip near Bathurst Harbour, SW Tasmania, not on Maatsuyker Island.
It's about 11NM Northeast of South West Cape.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 04:44
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Originally Posted by wishiwasupthere
A quick search of VH-OBL on flightaware looks ominous.
It does indeed. Tracking seems to have stopped a good way short of destination, & also looks as if it may have turned around.

DF.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 05:40
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RSCU660 is now returning to YMEN.

DF.
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 10:51
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From Vigilante News Facebook page
”The Westpac Rescue helicopter has dropped 3 Police search crew & an Ambulance paramedic into the South West National Park area around 5.00pm.
They have direction finding equipment to locate the beacon”.

Thoughts are with the pilots family, Shannon & all at Par Avion.
RW
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Old 8th Dec 2018, 15:30
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From ABC
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-...mania/10597750

Search and rescue police say the plane's sole occupant, the pilot, could not have survived the crash. The wreckage has been located in Tasmania's remote south-west.

RIP
RW
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Old 9th Dec 2018, 00:15
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not on Maatsuyker Island
Absolutely no way anyone could build a strip on the island, it was difficult enough getting in there with a helicopter. The large piece at top of photo.

Very rarely flew Hobart direct Melaleuca unless the weather was CAVOK. Tracked down the east coast, turned right, then turned north to Melaleuca when abeam Maatsuyker. Fixed wing chaps used to take the same route. Never mess with weather in Tassie, the outcome can be bad.


Last edited by megan; 9th Dec 2018 at 00:27.
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Old 9th Dec 2018, 19:43
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Bad enough sailing down there. The weather can change very suddenly. Low cloud/sea wrack is very common.
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 00:42
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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-...alker/10598302
Just in on ABC, two years flying "highly experienced" pilot.
RIP another aviator.
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 04:59
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Sad news. I wonder how long she had her MECIR.
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 06:01
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Dunno the relevance of sea wrack (post #13). Low cloud maybe, but the potential for severe turbulence in that area probably presents a greater hazard. Even 20 knots wind can produce most unpredictable shifts, downdrafts and sometimes total reversal in direction.
Two years commercial flying may not be “highly experienced” but plenty enough for that operation, especially as she gained most of her experience in Tasmania. If the pilot had a freshly minted Instrument Rating she was probably more current than some with many more years in the business who may not have had recent practice, so again enough for that operation.
Thinking 50 year old airframe/turbulence, and I do hope the investigators look very closely at what remains of the structure.
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 06:39
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Mach E,

Your post is the one that makes sense....

The 50 year old airframe. Total time is important and heavens knows what time has possibly not being logged by previous owners. Importantly though, this class of aircraft does not require a really accurate count of landing 'cycles' Islanders were made for short haul work and a ratio of 3 to 6 landings per flight hour might not be uncommon. Certainly common in PNG, Indonesia, small Air taxi's operating around the luxury Island resorts.
Need to have a close look at the structure!
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 07:27
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The structure?

I am more interested in the deviations prior to impact and why.

My understanding is it is "pilots" that put flight time in MR's - So owner pilots of a BN2 aircraft might be what you refer.

The MR requires landings to be recorded in Australia and this forms part of the Log Book - so it is only as accurate as you are Petropavlovsk - If required there are conversions to calculate "a number" on import.

6 is uncommon in most cases the Islander is not fast.
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 08:14
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An IR for any fairly young pilot guarantees nothing., in fact it's a ticket to a very dangerous world in which we never leave. RIP young lady, those left behind can hopefully turn another page in their logs books on your behalf:-)
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Old 10th Dec 2018, 10:18
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Reg history for VH-OBL

Reg - Airline - Delivered
G-BNAF - Pilatus Britten-Norman Ltd - 21.10.86
N9754N - Christopher O Miller - 10/12/86
N9754N - Emerates Air Services - 14.12.86
A6-NHM - Pakistan Aviators-Lahore Flying Club - 00.00.93
A6-NHM - Abu Dhabi Aviation - 00.00.95
VH-OBL - Island Air Services - 04.07.95
VH-OBL - Cape York Air - 15.10.99
VH-OBL - Island Air Services - 19.09.01
ZK-OBL - Milford Sound Flightseeing - 24.02.03
VH-OBL - Airlines of Tasmania - 28.10.04

Last edited by flickit; 10th Dec 2018 at 10:33.
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