Flying into Townsville, Aust
 

Afternoon,


I was thinking about taking my RV-10 up to see some relatives in Townsville. Flying out of Bankstown I was looking at stopping at Roma to refuel and refresh and then head direct.


How easy is it for GA to get into Townsville? Am I better filing IFR or is VFR just fine? And parking for a few days... is that allowed? I've checked the ERSA and it all looks doable, but a lack of detail then and I'd love to hear from someone who has actually done it or is based there.


thanks
tony

It's fairly straightforward getting into YBTL. There's a lot of military airspace around, but good easily followable VFR corridors S & N.

The southern one starts around Giru, tracks between the coast and the hills and in.

Radio quite straightforward - ATIS, approach for an airways clearance, passed to tower etc.

Not sure about parking, but shouldn't be a problem I would think. Pick your time for when there's no cyclones lurking obviously!

That's great - thanks for the tips. I'll dodge the cyclones and hope for a smooth flight and experience the top end under my own steam.

All the best

Bankstown to Townsville with a refuel at Roma works fine. Bankstown-Charleville-Townsville is only 35nm longer and as well as fuel, you can get a feed/refreshments at Charleville (check that - but used to be the case!).

Getting into Townsville is not a problem. I think IFR is easier than VFR cause they spoon feed you clearances - but that may just be me. I like to fly high and IFR takes the worry out of getting down if there is cloud about.

VFR is easy too, but you should get your clearance on the discreet clearance delivery frequency before entering controlled airspace and coming in over one of the VFR entry points probably makes it a bit easier.

Controllers a good and generally pretty patient! GA parking is limited but generally do-able.

PM me with specific questions if you wish. How do I know this stuff? Cause I have flown out of YBTL for the last 30 years!

Dr :8

Forkie,

Well, go and join the Townsville Aero club!!! Actual flying members are thin on the ground!

And Tony, cheapest beer in all of Townsville, open from 4-7 every evening, just the thing after flogging an RV up the coast all day.

But, to your original question, parking is the only difficult thing, (what Forkie said for everything else and VFR is just as easy as IFR) but an RV is only small, and you can park next to me right next to the BP fuel bowser.

PM me for details if you want.

Just be prepared for orbits/holding if there is the slightest hint of any aircraft within 1000 nm's & inbound to YBTL..........:ugh:

That certainly used to be the case, but not so much in recent years in my experience.

I recall being on a long final for Rwy 01 when a Herc called up inbound - next thing I am diverted to Yabulu and landed 20 min later.

Used to be a member but I thought the Townsville Aero Club went belly up years ago!

YBTL Aero Club still going strong Forkie.

Beers are still frigid as Charity.

I think this is a good thing.

:ok:

The only time I did it back in the 80's I went coastal all the way up and back. Nice sceneries and a reason to stay low.

Ask 4 Marty 1st
 

Pls do yourself a favour & ask to be refueled by Marty aka " The Legend ".

Harold is one true " Ole Salt " Qld Butcher & Pete " Gee, tells the best politically incorrect jokes in FNQ : for my bet a potential better politician then Pauline Hanson :D :D :D

No Bull**** & all are total Gentleman from the ole days " SALT OF THE EARTH " without a callout fee :ok: :ok: :ok:

Australia would be a far better place to live & work if all 3 gave their time to the Nation instead of refueling in TL !

IF THERE WAS MORE MARTY THE REFUELERS IN THE WORLD > > > IT WOULD BE A MUCH HAPPIER PLACE TO LIVE > > > I'LL GIVE YOU " THE DRUM " AS BENNY MOORE WOULD SAY :O :O :O

And once upon a time Forkie had a hangar spot for rogue Retard Vehicles -10 :E

Go IFR, it is easier. And you can do the ILS via SATCO chuck a righty and down ya go! No often you get to actually fly an ILS.

Yeah, "Direct SATCO" used to be the go, but someone decided that that was too easy so now they seem to prefer, "Direct KIRAN" - then you have to fly the 14 nm arc to intercept the localizer!

Dr :8

Not to hijack the thread, but if the TSV Aero Club is thin on numbers, how about telling the powers that be to chuck something on a webpage or the usual social media and update things?

There's plenty of us that have done time at the 'vile, drunk many at the bar, and still overnight there from time to time! Heck, put a shout out on here (or other media platforms), and organize a reunion with plenty of notice and you'll get a heap making the effort.

And agreed, TSV controllers are better now and accommodating compared to years gone by. Just lucky you aren't trying to go to Willy Tony! That's an absolute privilege..... :ugh::ugh:

Not so much 'thin on numbers', more thin on flying members. It's a social club at the airport more than anything.

Very few actual members are either pilots or aircraft owners.

Flew in to TL quite a few times. Usually no issues, however held once for 20 mins while MIL stuff was floating around. Seem to remember something weird about the holding points if they are using RWY01?? Don't have a ERSA with me to confirm..