Mustering in a fix wing
 

Hi guys just wondering if anyone has done some fixed wing cattle mustering and can give me an insight into it as im heading to a station next week to start work flying a 2000 C172 doing mustering.

Would mostly appreciate it...
cheers

Have you got the training and experience as per CAO 29.10?

I have done a bit of mustering in a former life. Wouldn't do it in anything other than a C185.

In my opinion, and in my hands at least, a C172 just does not have enough margin for error.

Dr:cool:

DYO low level training is really great for insurance premiums !!

C172 Mustering......
 

G'day "Red',
Please check your pm's...........

My insight would be to go get yourself an ag endorsement for mustering, or whatever they call it these days. As well as trading a couple of grand of your cash for a stamp in your logbook, they will even train you to muster!

Free advice on mustering, right here on pprune and I've never even done any mustering myself..... how about that.

Wasn't 'Dead Man's Curve' the original free mustering training?:\

Red777

Best advice that I could offer you is to contact someone like Sandy Kidd at Windorah, spend a few dollars and get an endorsment.

Over the years I have helped to collect what has been left of several pilots who were unsuccessful in just 'rounding up a few cattle'.

Spinning
 

And 172's WILL spin. you need to know about it, specially for low level flying.

thanks for the comments, more is welcomed...i am being trained with the CP on the station who has a training approval from CASA.

cheers again

G'day Red,

No stock mustering experience, but 8 years bird mustering and 7 years Ag.

John Freemans book Flight at the lower levels is a good read.

Forget the Ag rating unless you intend to use it, it's 10k+

Understanding how to move stock in a stressless manner is quite important I believe, and the right direction is handy to.

As for the flying component, know your limits and ALWAYS (That is the single most important bit) stay well within them. The temptation to do impromptue beat ups and low flying will pop up, probably resign to the fact you are going to do it from time to time. When you do stop, plan and think through carefully how your going to do it, you may well talk yourself out of it through this forthought, if not at least you've got a plan, and stick to it.

Look where your going, look out for birds, willy willies, towers, wires, dead limbs in the tops of trees. Avoid flying into the sun, keep your windscreen cleaner than your willy, always know where the wind is blowing from, and force land into it, aviod looking over your shoulder in tight turns till you've got a bit of experience. Left turns are better than right turns as you can see a bit more from the L/H seat on cessna. Use flaps and don't forget where they're set to. Take a enough gear (water, food and jumper) for an overnight camp out. Know exactly how much fuels on board and when you need to head back for more, carry a pocket GPS and sat phone if you can afford it.

Be gentle with your aeroplane and keep it clean and tidy at all times, be careful where you land if you land off runway ie. tracks and supposedly clear paddocks.

Discount any comment that one type over another is more or less dangerous as basically crap. Each type has it's abilities and short comings your job is to understand that intrinscally so you won't ever get caught. Work up your skill base gently there is no rush unless your planning on dying early.

Eat plenty of vegies take some books on engines and use what spare time you have to learn stuff.

And best of all you can now forget all those CASA rules and regs, cause there are now just two.

Don't hit nuthin and don't do nuthin dumb!

Have a ball and best of luck.

M

would have thought a storch would be the perfect mustering aircraft..
http://www.warbirdalley.com/storch.htm

or its modern derivative: http://www.pazmany.com/stork/stork.html

thanks for the info again mostly appreciated

Good stuff
 

Good advice from Youngmjc. You have to be a bushman, and as well as flying within limits, you have to be able to "think like a cow"

One thing I learnt doing my training.

Never use full power at low levels.

That way you always got something to get you out of the sh!t

T.O.M

After 8500Hrs chasing stock about the place I can assure you the 172 is the most appropriate fixed wing for chasing stock. a few basics to remember and there are a couple of "gotcha's' to watch out for, but you really have to try to kill your self in a 172.
Mustering in a 185????? your kidding right??........ how much money does your boss have?. you wanna get splattered quick, use a 185 low and slow...... you'll end up rolled up in no time if your not on the ball 100% of the time. 180Hp 172 with a STOL kit is waaaay more forgiving.
If you need any advice on the subject, I think I may be qualified to help. if your in the west and need the low flying training or mustering approval, PM me. If your in the west and the CP is the station owner and has the correct approvals......... I know him, and you should be right.
Cheers, Wiz.

thanks guys, now with regard to the operations side of it, can you give me an insight into how low i will be flying at and what the basics behind fixed wing mustering...is it just spotting the strays and guiding them back in etc:.???


cheers red

Surely a Supercub would be the pick aircraft, in terms of handling and vis?

It sounds like fun flying, albeit on the risky side.

A

Super cub is a great mustering bus.
I have flown the 185........ mate, if you think they are the best mustering bus about, you just go ahead and use it...... but I do have a clue about what I'm talking about.......whether you like it or not. obviously you have worked for someone with more money than the average station people. 60ltrs an hour to start with..... hardly effeciant. weight differance is quite sustantial as well..... but hey, your the expert.
the reason more people are killed in 172's while mustering would be similar to the reason more people get killed training in robbo's. because they are used more than any other type for that job. I gues the reason for the lack of fatalities in 185's mustering would be in the same vein...... not many people use em for that purpose. great aeroplane, no argument..... but not for mustering.
good for you that you know me. :) you lucky lucky chap. :D
mustering in a 210 huh???........ gamer than me.
I know a bloke that had a great mustering bus....... Was a really old 150.... with a tailwheel conversion, and a 180hp engine in it. he managed some unbelievable number of hours in it....... something like 25000 odd, nearly all mustering. was a little disconcerting seeing the tops of the doors being sucked outwards as it cruised at 140 odd knts or so. was a great little bus to fly though.

C172-BEW-690-740kg??145-180hp.

C185-BEW-860kg -300hp.
Academic anyway, as you wouldn't find a 185 to go mustering in these days.

:ok: