Flying GA in to Mildura
Thread Starter
Flying GA in to Mildura
Hi all,
I'm looking to fly up to Mildura for the weekend and was wondering what it's like flying in to there now? I've read all the stuff in ERSA and on the website and seen a couple of older threads tending to recommend against it, even to fly in to Wentworth instead, but just wondered what it's like now. I'd be flying up on Friday with a passenger and back out again on Sunday, so will need to park, refuel etc.
Any thoughts?
I'm looking to fly up to Mildura for the weekend and was wondering what it's like flying in to there now? I've read all the stuff in ERSA and on the website and seen a couple of older threads tending to recommend against it, even to fly in to Wentworth instead, but just wondered what it's like now. I'd be flying up on Friday with a passenger and back out again on Sunday, so will need to park, refuel etc.
Any thoughts?
Last edited by PubliusNaso; 2nd Oct 2019 at 01:49. Reason: Flying out on Sunday, not Friday...
0730-0830 the flying school will have 3-4 C172’s the circuit
0900 the flying school planes will go to wentworth to do circuits for the day generally, but with common ctaf frequency with Mildura it can be confusing.
0930 normally an air ambulance will come in, a rexy from Adelaide & Melbourne. QLink from melb.
1000 GAM aerocommander in
1030 Virgin 737 in
It probably needs its own tower, but that’s the traffic you would get on a normal weekday.
0900 the flying school planes will go to wentworth to do circuits for the day generally, but with common ctaf frequency with Mildura it can be confusing.
0930 normally an air ambulance will come in, a rexy from Adelaide & Melbourne. QLink from melb.
1000 GAM aerocommander in
1030 Virgin 737 in
It probably needs its own tower, but that’s the traffic you would get on a normal weekday.
Thread Starter
Thanks Tulsami; I'll likely be coming in mid-afternoon and then actually out again on Sunday morning-noonish. A quick check suggested that I'd miss most RPT traffic then (not that that's the reason for those times.)
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Personally I'd give MIA a wide birth, costs money to operate there. I've been to WTO several times of late, great place no hassle, not seen or heard of a single training plane there in the mornings or any other time for that matter, the place is virtually deserted during the week. Aeroclub very friendly. Fuel avail although has gone up in price recently. Privately I avoid Ldg fee dromes where possible!
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If you really have to go to Mildura (rather than Wentworth which is much more user friendly) make sure you refuel when you get there on the Friday. If you want fuel on the Sunday you'll cop a 'call out' fee (even though there's a good chance they'll be there anyway!). You'll also cop landing & parking charges. Oh and make sure you wear your ASIC.
Other than that, enjoy the trip! Mildura is a nice place to visit.
Other than that, enjoy the trip! Mildura is a nice place to visit.
Thread Starter
I'll check with my passenger, they were organising the ground transport part of it, I'm not quite sure where we're meant to be ending up but it shouldn't make too much difference? So long as I take my passport for crossing the border ;-)
Make sure you ask them where to park. Last time I was there I was the only one on the tarmac for a quick toilet break for less than 5 minutes and they told me off for parking in the wrong place.
Exactly the same for me... I said I wasn't moving it until I'd finished my coffee!
Mildura is becoming a Canberra ‘Mini Me’. Slowly but steadily making it more and more inconvenient and costly for GA. Just ask any of the locals who’ve been around for a while.
I agree with Sunny. Swan Hill is my preference these days (but check ahead to confirm fuel arrangements).
If you have to go to Mildura? IFEZ nailed it.
I agree with Sunny. Swan Hill is my preference these days (but check ahead to confirm fuel arrangements).
If you have to go to Mildura? IFEZ nailed it.
Thread Starter
Thanks all! I've chatted with my passenger who is arranging ground transport and she seemed confident that Wentworth would be fine so if that pans out then I'll head there instead; pretty sure I can extend the flight plan by the extra 3 minutes! Just have to hope I don't get held in by low cloud in the Melbourne Basin Friday morning...
Should be safe with the 1mm of rain forecast for Melbourne on Friday.
Thread Starter
Yeah just concerned that low cloud might cling around a bit long; now aiming to get to YWTO by 12, 1300 at the latest so don't want one of those annoying ceilings that doesn't lift until the afternoon!
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MIA is fine, have been issues in the past but I wouldn't hesitate to use it and frequently do.
Fuel is as per stated organize to avoid a crippling call out fee.
Good grass tie down area 100m from GA terminal/aero club, tie down cables provided, ignore the sign stating automatic sprinklers, they are manual so shouldn't be a case of a free wash.
No landing/parking fees for private ops at least of a month ago.
Good aircraft security.
If you wanted to avail yourself of a taxi through aircraft hangar to avoid leaving your aircraft in the sun contact the airport manager (not the ARO) and he might be able to organize a short term rate.
Much shorter drive into town than Wentworth.
Longer sealed runways as opposed to gravel/natural surface, less prop damage.
Not trying to dis Wentworth, just offering a balanced view.
Fuel is as per stated organize to avoid a crippling call out fee.
Good grass tie down area 100m from GA terminal/aero club, tie down cables provided, ignore the sign stating automatic sprinklers, they are manual so shouldn't be a case of a free wash.
No landing/parking fees for private ops at least of a month ago.
Good aircraft security.
If you wanted to avail yourself of a taxi through aircraft hangar to avoid leaving your aircraft in the sun contact the airport manager (not the ARO) and he might be able to organize a short term rate.
Much shorter drive into town than Wentworth.
Longer sealed runways as opposed to gravel/natural surface, less prop damage.
Not trying to dis Wentworth, just offering a balanced view.
As at today, AvData says, with my bolding:
https://www.avdata.com.au/airport-charge-rates
I should note that I do not object to the principle of the imposition of a landing or parking fee or both. What I object to is the increasing costs charged for increasing marginalisation. GA is now effectively banished to ‘the grass’. Ask any aircraft owner who used park at YSCB what happens slowly over the next few years.
YMIA Mildura Airport VIC Landing $21.89 per tonne. Parking $5.00 per tonne per day, <5,700kg and privately registered $11.00 flat per day.
I should note that I do not object to the principle of the imposition of a landing or parking fee or both. What I object to is the increasing costs charged for increasing marginalisation. GA is now effectively banished to ‘the grass’. Ask any aircraft owner who used park at YSCB what happens slowly over the next few years.
Pretty obvious light aircraft are not wanted at Mildura.
There is a certain redeveloped cove in a harbor surrounded by four or five very pricey restaurants. The local council made it very, very difficult to arrive and tie up at this nautical destination. They fitted lots of “faux” marine bollards and cutesy stuff for the rubes to marvel at, but the place was basically unusable as a destination for large power boats. They added parking restrictions too.
I was one of the few who worked out how to tie up there.
‘’I had several conversations with restaurant owners as we watched sixty foot power boats with half a dozen suits on them try to tie up during weekday lunchtimes only to leave in disgust after a couple of attempts. We reckoned each boat that left was good for at least a thousand dollar lunch bill.
There is a certain redeveloped cove in a harbor surrounded by four or five very pricey restaurants. The local council made it very, very difficult to arrive and tie up at this nautical destination. They fitted lots of “faux” marine bollards and cutesy stuff for the rubes to marvel at, but the place was basically unusable as a destination for large power boats. They added parking restrictions too.
I was one of the few who worked out how to tie up there.
‘’I had several conversations with restaurant owners as we watched sixty foot power boats with half a dozen suits on them try to tie up during weekday lunchtimes only to leave in disgust after a couple of attempts. We reckoned each boat that left was good for at least a thousand dollar lunch bill.
It's about a year since I was there last. World Fuel Carnet Card worked for me last time. We got, I think a $20, fee but we parked overnight so not sure if it was parking or landing fee. Took awhile to come through via AvData
Mildura is a great place. I used to fly into Mildura monthly and loved it. But the current airport management are anti GA and I suspect are price gouging to benefit their own salary bonuses.
the landing fee is extortion
the fuel is expensive
the ASIC requirements and entry / exit from the tarmac is tedious.
the GA parking is an absolute scandal. the surface is just plain dangerous to props. I won’t park our twin in the GA area and I make arrangements to park it privately.
the staff are snooty
By contrast, the fuel at Wentworth is cheaper and the people friendly with no landing fees.
The only reason you’d land at Mildura is if you needed the instrument approach or needed a hire car. But for our twin, landing & fuelling at Mildura will cost more than Essendon
it really pains me to say that because Mildura has a nice flying club and some really good local GA businesses. It’s a shame that they are collateral damage.
the landing fee is extortion
the fuel is expensive
the ASIC requirements and entry / exit from the tarmac is tedious.
the GA parking is an absolute scandal. the surface is just plain dangerous to props. I won’t park our twin in the GA area and I make arrangements to park it privately.
the staff are snooty
By contrast, the fuel at Wentworth is cheaper and the people friendly with no landing fees.
The only reason you’d land at Mildura is if you needed the instrument approach or needed a hire car. But for our twin, landing & fuelling at Mildura will cost more than Essendon
it really pains me to say that because Mildura has a nice flying club and some really good local GA businesses. It’s a shame that they are collateral damage.
Thread Starter
Well I wasn't able to get up there today, as the plan was to stop by YBLT to pick up my passenger. Ceilings of 800ft around the hour or so that I'd have needed to get in to make timings work put paid to that idea! But thanks for all your replies, I'm sure I'll get up there some time.
