RFDS Pilatus PC-12 In NZ
 

Please don't tell Capt Wally, but I noticed one of the RFDS PC-12(poor mans version of the B200) cross the ditch and visit the land of the long white cloud.

Nice few days flying Adelaide-Sydney-Wellington-New Plymouth-Wellington-Hobart-Adelaide.

Check it out on Flightaware.com

Yeah VH-WBI isn't an RFDS PC-12

The rego was VH-FVB according to flightaware.

Medical Evacuation?

Fathom, you are correct. Sorry CLX, I saw VH-WBI but didn't see FVB until Fathom pointed it out.

Strange.

morno

Jesus there's some brave people out there doing a medivac in a single!:)

It's scary enuf in a twin & throw in night, storms, torrential rain, marginal ALT dromes & corrupt countries (no guarantee lights will be on never lone the ILS)....pass, some risks are just not worth it the older you get:ok:

Wmk2

http://www.avsoft.com.au/ext/pc12-1.png

http://www.avsoft.com.au/ext/pc12-2.jpg



It was a fun trip!

Bevan..

Doesn't pass my risk plan so not something I would do
Your welcome to take the next one to

Is a sales trip a charter

What, no Avplan on the dash?

No room with all that glass - AvPlan was on our kneeboards though!

As for risk - this was in a single engine turbine. I've done the same trip in a piston single, so this time was far safer in that regard.

Would be interested to know routes flown, flight times, fuel burn, etc...

PS: That's why it was parked at the Eastern end of the apron in Sydney the other week?

"In that regard" correct
Using the same logic the next flight will be in a B200 and the next in a jet :ok:

Avplan - Big tick

Single engine over water and at the Flight Level of Death TM :eek:

Hi Nautilus Blue,

Do you mind explaining your idea of "FL of death".
Cheers

P

I was in a 23000 hr B200 thats nowhere near the end of its life and shut down an engine. I yawned, switched on the x-feed and flew on to my original destination without worrying about how many airstrips were in the area......

"There was roughly 8 strips they could still land at without power. "


and IMC, or at night?? ---------------- small comfort no matter how many strips within gliding distance!!




I'm with Jamair.

So Dancer, did they pick one out and complete the demo without a restart

@Dodo
I don't know what the wx was because I obviously wasn't there, but given that its the outback and a promo flight there's a good chance it was daytime with good visibility.

Regardless, the point is that single engine aircraft are not flying coffins like they're often made out to be.

Classic PPRuNe! :D

It's all about options, it's nice to know that once you commit to an airfield if it doesn't look good, there is always another option! ;)

I lurv reading the stuff about SE & how many dromes they can reach, keeps me amused for a little while:)
I recall some years ago chatting to a central section pilot whom was laying over at EN one day awaiting his med team to return & I asked him what's the proc for a cloud break engine-less over the top of a drome doing a non prec App? His answer sent shudders up my spine & I bowed in front of him, he was my new hero:E
And going to Alt & shutting down the only donk you have on purpose is nuts!
I'd break the guys wrist if I saw him go anywhere near the condition lever whilst still airborne & I don't care how LOP he runs it:E:E!:)


Wmk2

Oh man............don't tell me they are selling the RFDS now.:eek:

Pelosh,

I dare say he was having a tounge in cheek go at statements made by Dick Smith in this thread:

http://www.pprune.org/pacific-genera...le-deaths.html

I don't think he really considers FL280 to be the flight level of death.

Thanks CT,
I did follow DIck's ADSB thread but was thinking we were going again down the line SE vs ME ......very popular recently.....:ugh:

P

What a waste of money. :ugh:

DF.

Sales tours are generally paid for by the aircraft manufacturer. The charter rate for the aircraft probably ensured some extra funds for the RFDS.

The only concern would be coverage for the RFDS while the aircraft was out of the country.

Can the RFDS do charter, maybe that region has a AOC

It's not charter when someone (manufacturer) borrows your aircraft for a private operation.

Just ask Bevan666, he was at the pointy end :) and can surely set everyone straight :ok:

I see, so if the PC12 was borrowed then no money changed hands for the aircraft or pilot so it wasn't a charter

If I own a charter aircraft and it's used at ABC Air Charter which is a company that I own, I can loan it to you for $1,000 an hour and you can do whatever you want with it (except carry poached Lobster and Abalone) and fly it yourself. No AOC required for that.

fkn love how some are so quick jump to the default "how was that legal?" position. typifies so many in au aviation

onya bevan hoped you enjoyed the trip to nz

It was an ace trip :ok:

Just got to get myself into the left seat now..

They seem to have been pushing the PC-12 here in NZ pretty hard lately. Much interest that you're aware of Bevan?

Yes - & I am sure there are plenty of other PC12's in the country that could have done the promo tour in its place.

DF.

Quote:
What a waste of money
Sales tours are generally paid for by the aircraft manufacturer. The charter rate for the aircraft probably ensured some extra funds for the RFDS.

Oakape posted the above so I would of thought the AOC comment was fair

Could it be that they wanted to show off a medically configured PC12 for the aeromedical guys in NZ? It would be a pretty good replacement for a PA31 for example!

Perhaps they wanted to show the very latest variant of the PC-12 and that was the only one available in the region!:ok:

PS: Must have been a great trip, you gotta love a good junket! ;)

Wally might disagree, one has 1 engine and the other has 2.... depends on what you mean by "good" replacement.

A KingAir would be a better option!

DF.

Good in the fact that it is an aircraft that is able to carry more, easy to load & unload with that big cargo door at the back & of course can cruise higher & faster than a PA31!
Having said that the KingAir can do all that and has 2 engines!

The two advantages the PC-12 has over the Kingair, are the ergonomic cockpit layout and the little door at the front, it'd be nice not to have to push past the pax on the way through! :ok:

And how does pc12 price compare with king air, and running costs compare?