HF radio requirements for private ops?
 

I have poked around the CASA website with no result so thought I'd throw the question to the forum.

When, if ever, is a HF radio a requirement for private ops within the Aus FIR?

Could a satphone be substituted for a trans Tasman flight?

Reason I ask is I have a clunky old Barret SSB in my aircraft which while it works I have never used and I have been pondering ditching it during the restoration process in favour of something like the small mobile/sat phones that are on the market now.

Poking around in the tail cone I see the huge old 121.5 mgh ELT which is now useless and the HUGE HF tuner box, HUGE panel control head and HUGE antenna causing drag, not to mention all the wiring, and want to turf the lot.

Off the top of my head, flying through a DRM without an ELT requires a HF. Possibly also required for private IFR outside VHF range, though I could be wrong.

I should have noted that I will be replacing the old ELT with one of the new 406 mhz ones but a portable unit rather than a fixed one.

IFR requires continuous 2-way comms with ATC.

AUaCB :E

at night, if an aerodrome has PAL lighting you need an alternate (unless RP in attandance) your alternate may have PAL provided you have 2 VHF's or 1 VHF & 1 HF + 30min of holding

prolly not that relevant anymore as most a/c have dual comm's...

HF is handy (essential for IFR) when you are out of range of VHF.

See AIP GEN 1.5.1

IFR require HF when beyond VHF range of ATS units.

Also required in designated remote area if no elb/elt carried.

However I do know of one operator that carries a SAT phone instead of HF for a specific operation - not sure how the acheived it though.

I have it on good authority (although I couldn't quote the reg's) that a sat phone will do in lieu of an HF.

I'm in the same position, my chunky ole HF will come out during the upcoming avionics upgrade as it's taking up too much panel space in me trusty Archer, and it's also skewing the CofG backwards a bit..

How so? My understanding is that it is a requirement to be in continuous communication with ATC if you are on an IFR plan. I generally can get around this by downgrading to VFR when I believe that I will not be able to maintain VHF comms. I carry a sat phone just in case I need to talk to someone but I can't see how it meets the requirements for IFR.

VFR - not a problem!

I have not found not having HF to be a problem for private ops all over Oz - including transcontinental from the east coast to Broome and Perth, but I have not had to go IFR in a really remote area (came close to it though between Ayers Rock and Leonora last year - didn't we Jaba !!!)

I see that ICOM have a new fangle radio that covers the spectrum of HF/VHF/UHF. Not TSO'd but would get the job done.

Dr :8

Chimbu,

I remeber reading through a CASA mailing list email recently regarding the use of a satellite telephone in lieu of HF but cannot seem to find it at the moment. I cannot remember whether is was regarding a NPRM or a closed project. Will keep digging throught the emails and see if it turns up.

What you guys are looking for is AIP SUP H10/08 USE OF SATPHONE IN LIEU OF HF (AVFAX code 81526.)

It's only for emergency/non-normal situations though, such as where you are planned to be in VHF coverage but have to depressurise and descend putting you outside VHF comms. You cannot PLAN to go outside VHF coverage and use Satphone.

Ahhhhh not quite the answer to the Question..........

But looks like its a VFR trip to NZ hey Chuck! Who wants to be IFR on that trip anyway:uhoh:.

Can always upgrade again if needed at the other end!

Plane will be 20Kg lighter and 5 knots quicker without it!:ok:

Actually...... hang as many drag devices on it ya can.....:E (Everything in life is a race)

Actually you're supposed to be IFR over water to the land of the Long white All Blacks.

Reasoning goes that you must be able to positively fix your position at least every 30 mins. Since one wave looks much the same as any other, it means you've got to resort to approved instruments and that means declaring yourself as IFR.
If you're IFR then you've gotta report every thirty as well, and though I have managed to talk to Sydney on the ground at Lord Howe, it was spurios conditions and I still needed HF to be legal.

Not true ZEEBEE, VFR across the ditch is just fine, all you need is a flight plan.

Years ago you required IFR capability but that has not been the requirement for some time.

VFR over the ditch in a Jab..... HF and Sat phone it seems!

http://www.jabiru.net.au/Photopage/M...%20to%20NZ.pdf

I wonder was the SPECI for LHI really as stated? :eek:

DC10 driver or not thats a brave call!

J

OK Jab and C100, I got the message.:ok:

It's still interesting to know how it works though.
In theory, you have to be IFR rated to navigate by instruments (including GPS) and you'd never find LHI without them. (Yes I know that Chichester did) so does that mean that you can fly by instruments if you're not IFR ?

Forty knots xwind in a Jab230. What was the max xwind component on those again ?

Having flown a PA31 into LHI with 20knots across the mountain, I can tell you where I'd be leaving the Jab with 40 knots forecast.
Home where it belongs. :=
What would they have done if they couldn't land (quite possible in LHI) ?

ZEEBEE, do the words "mainland alternate" ring a bell anywhere?

Zeebee, you can use GPS for position fixes above 2000' VFR.

yes you can use gps as a secondary means of navigation but must still co-inside with a visual fix every 30mins
to use gps as a primary means (eg on top of cloud or over water flights) you must be appropriately endorsed (GPS sole means endorsement in your log book)

I am sure that is really important when flying to Lord Howe or Norfolk Is!

"Centre, XXX, I'm just over the wave with the curly top and the the white foamy stuff running SW/NE, 8000, Norfolk Is 0423".

Dr :8