YMMB wait times
 

Howdy folks,

I'm looking at commencing a CPL at Moorabbin shortly. I've visited all the schools and am about to get a medical.

Anyway, one of the instructors I spoke to mentioned YMMB is REALLY busy right now, and they spend a lot of time waiting on the ground with the engines running.

This will obviously affect costs. Are there any YMMB pilots out there who can confirm this? Are there better times of day to fly with minimal traffic?

If this is a material cost then perhaps I'll go elsewhere.

YMMB wait times
 

Yep, its true, moorabbin is pretty busy right now. Who knows whether it is a temporary thing - just seems to be mainly the last two or three weeks that things have become really busy.

It mainly seems to affect circuit traffic - tower has been putting requirement on the ATIS to get start clearance if you want to do circuits for the last couple of weeks (due to circuit congestion, I suppose).

I would say, however, that it shouldnt make too much difference to you if you are flexible in your training. OF course, if you want to go do circuits in the middle of the day at the same time as everyone else, then yes, you will experience delays. But I have been getting circuits in before 9:30 - 10 am or after 3:30 pm or so without much problem.

OK, I haven't noticed the start thing on the ATIS (and I do listen!) Been flying out of YMMB for the last 6 months (weekends only). Granted it's busy, but particularly with 2 runways in operation, I've only had 2 waits, and in each case, couple of aircraft. I'm not doing circuits however.

Hey all,

There have been quite a few delays lately due circuit traffic. In another couple of weeks (hopefully) all the new students will be moving on to Navs so that should ease the congestion. Main busy days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

j:ok:1

Go to a country field like Tyabb or Lilydale. In to the air with no delays, cheaper rates and get more done in your lesson as you're in the training area straight away.

'dropt' as much as I would have said noway some years ago I agree now, go to a country strip & get max value for yr buck. I feel that learning from a towred airport straight up is better it's more about value for money these days.



CW

Capt Wally, check your PM's.

Cheers.

Flew over Point Cook Sunday gone, and it was remarkably busier than I remember...but in saying that, Essendon has dropped off a huge amount...obviously the $50 fees to land etc are too much for some people, who are moving to other fields...

yr right there "V" EN is way too expensive now for pvt ops of any nature. It is a fantastic place in which to learn ATC are a bunch of terrific helpful guys/gals but that comes at too much of a cost sadly.

'havick' I've replied tnxs



CW

If you check your ATIS and get your start clearance as required, there is no need for you to wait with engine running.

One thing I implore instructors to do is to get their students to do tighter circuits as quick as they can learn.

Sunfish,

Are we still talking about MB? Start clearances haven't been required there for years, unless you're departing into CTA ABV 2000. Nowadays they're not even interested if you've copied the ATIS on departure.

V,

What was EN circuit training is now done at Point Cook, which explains the transfer in activity from one to the other. I doubt that many aircraft owners have actually transferred their aircraft to YMPC as the terms of usage don't allow it yet. If I'm wrong on that, you are welcome to beat me with a rubber chicken.

True, the EN charges are horribly prohibitive and I'm already baulking at the idea of flying in for a tower tour. However, I think the down turn would still be happening regardless of the charges. Clearly, the new fees have been designed to speed the move of private ops away from EN.

Walrus

Yup Wally, it's been like that for the last two weeks - the circuits are both full a lot of the day with beginners so you are required to get permission to start if you want the circuit/touch and go. It's not required for an ordinary departure.

It's a measure to allow Mr. Sparrow and the tower people to maintain their sanity, one is hearing the occasional "Which Cessna are you? Waggle your wings." and there was a reference on 135.70 to some "pilot wandering around without a map".

Let's just hope that these guys learn faster than I did, and that the big sky principle holds while they do.

Sunfish,

As there has been a decline in the number of flying schools at MB, we can only expect that the increase in traffic is due to the expansion of the bigger mobs like GFS? I find it hard to believe that there's been a general upturn in private flying, but there might be more activity from QF cadets and the like?

I'm taking a Victa in there tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what's going down.

Walrus

I didn't think MB had any grass strips these days? LOL! :O

.. sorry, couldn't resist..

GFS have taken a much larger intake this year and it is the time of year where most of them are undertaking their circuit training. That is proably one of the main reasons why the circuits are so congested, but lets hope this dies down in the next few weeks. I can't see this having an impact on training costs.


Sunfish i couldn't agree more.

I understand that MB tower set a record for movements on Wednesday ((16/4) that has lasted for many a moon!

From the tower perspective, EN still has its' moments.

Walrus,

Was down operating out of MB today (Friday) and start clearances for circuit aircraft were required on ATIS (from the time I arrived at about 0930 till I left late in the afternoon).

HP

Hey KeepItRolling, do you know how many movements there were on Wednesday?

GFS instructors take note :=

Good to see that MB is a live again. Is the increase in activity due to more locals taking up flying or more international students coming to Oz to learn to fly?