Reassembly after importation at Bankstown
 

Hi all,

I'm importing my PA18-150 to Australia from the UK by ship, due to arrive early April at Bankstown. The original plan was to take it to Armidale for reassembly with Superair, who seem excellent, but I gather quarantine has gone mental and will require complete unpacking, so I am now wondering whether to get it reassembled and on the register there and then fly it up.

Anyone got any experience with this, positive or negative, with any operators at Bankstown? Happy to take info in advance by private message.

Thanks in advance,

David

I have no experience with operators in Bankstown but plenty of experience with PA-18-150 and feel that if it has been dismantled properly and arrives undamaged the average shop should be able to put it together in a day, even without any prior experience with Supercubs. Now putting on my asbestos suit.

Why can't you have the container delivered to Armidale?? You won't experience customer service anywhere in the world like Australia ;) and our red tape is second to none :D

I have privately posted you a response

Customs get a hard-on over anything made of wood, or packed with wooden bearers. I'd guess at the minimum they would require fumigation, and because you'll be a captive audience, be prepared to pay through the nose.

I'd suggest you try a different freight forwarder. It should be too hard. If it required fumigation it typically adds 3 days. Should be routine.

The problem you have nowadays is DAFF (AQIS) will not do tailgate inspections due to OH&S.
When they arrive at the QAP they want everything out for inspection.
That then means you need to repack the container risking damage to send to next destination.
I opened my own QAP so the containers come off the docks straight to my hangar for unpack and inspection then reassembly.
Depending on the origin of the aircraft you can usually reassemble on the original registration then fly it to its destination for the CofA process.

There's your answer. Ship it Melbourne to rnuts' QAP, he'll assemble it for you, then fly it to Armidale! Simple!

Happy to help but if you read the original post he is shipping to Bankstown.
Check with DAFF, there may be a facility at Bankstown Airport that can do it for you.
Cheers

Thanks all. Hadn't thought of reassembling it on the 'G' and then to Armidale for the registration / CofA.

Have a talk to Scotty Pringle at YSBK, he does a lot of assembly of aircraft out of containers.
You will now find him where Winrye used to be, north east part of the aerodrome.
Good bunch of blokes.
Tootle pip!!

PS: If you assemble it on the G register, you will need somebody with pommie licenses to sign it off.

I don't think there is anybody in n/nw NSW with a delegation to produce a C.of A.,so you would have to fly one in, but there is in Sydney, Dines Aviation Services P/L is one.

Like I said, talk to Scotty Pringle at Bankstown.

Tootle pip!!

CofA
 

Dave Dent in Camden is my recommendation. Do your homework before considering others. If possible try to find previous customers.

QDMQDMQDM,
You do understand, do you, that the LAME that puts the aircraft together will not be the person to do the C.of A inspection.

Except in the very rare case of a GA LAME who has the necessary delegation to issue a C.of A. I know of only one in NSW, and he is not at Camden of Bankstown, or anywhere close.

You are the one who does all the paperwork for the registration, and make certain you have the correct documentation to show the aircraft has had its G- registration cancelled. This is usually the longest delay to registration in Australia.

Not that it make all that much difference, but is it coming with an Export C.of A from the UK? I assume you have all the aircraft log books, they will be needed to set up the CASA compliant log books.

Tootle pip!!

PS: Scotty has lots of happy customers, just have a look at the traffic jam around his hangar.