Construct a circuit based on what? No, still done the way it always was, hand flown.

We probably get more practice as GPS allows us to do a lot more night flying.

Old school flying requires old school techniques. I do hope that modern pilots haven't lost the ability to turn the automation off and just fly the plane.

I did a 14 month stint where I could be required to fly to a remote community or cattle station for a medical evacuation. When I arrived I found very little by way of assistance in the Ops Manual but a heap of RFDS material. By the time I left that job, unwillingly but that is another story, I had put together a data base of all the strips I could be required to fly into, their lengths, directions, elevations, lighting and grid LSALTs' (the aircraft didn't have RAD ALT) for a cloud break should it be necessary. It also included notes regarding surrounds and how robust the strip was to rain. The approach flown was consistent no matter what the strip and practiced in the daytime. In the time I was in the job I only had to do 2 recoveries at night but I was extremely glad I had worked out an approach before having to do it for real.

Swamp, you could construct it off your last position or of course your destination and use it as a guide / check while you hand fly

Thanks guys for an interesting thread. Makes a pleasant change from the all too common ranting.

In a previous life I was taught the finer points of bush flying by Arthur Schutt and it is interesting to hear the methods used these days.

The only thing missing is the Bar and a few beers !

Emeritus.

Why bother, Isn't it easier to just fly the plane. Sometimes technology just complicates things. KISS principle.

I left the RFDS gig for another "bush" operation where landings were in conditions of the exact reverse. Some cloudy days it was all white outside, sky and ground, and just a couple of black dots marking the threshold. Nothing else to see at all in the circuit. Even in the flare. Power off when it went bump. Great fun. I miss it.

Hey stallie, I remember some of those fantastic piccies you posted here. Awesome stuff.

How do you get an accurate airport reference point? Inaccurate data on outback airstrips could lead to error. Prefer headings and timings based on visual cues, also track made good bug and RA are very useful tools.

Emeritus,
wholeheartedly agree, wonderful to read these posts and see the skills
these guys maintain, and hopefully pass on to the next generation,
But goodness me "The only thing missing is the Bar and a few beers !".
Bite your tongue!!! In Todays toxic regulatory environment??
Admit to that and you would be branded a substance abuser and face a year of testing and expense to prove your not.

Ah the memories, probably learnt more in the bar after the hanger doors were closed from the "Grey beards" than I learnt anywhere else. Those days are gone.
Now its ticks in boxes and be-damned to them that have bin there done that, the grey beards experiences stands for nothing in this modern world.

Glad to see that despite our regulator knowledge and experience bush flying is being passed down and these very basic skills maintained.

It was a lot more fun in the bar after the hanger doors were closed but.

Duck, no ones trying to convince you to change, they are only comments as it can be a useful aid

I don't know what the RFDS have in their SOP's, but I'm sure some one can enlighten us

As 601 reminded us it used to be common and this effort probably only made the news as Marketing / PR thought it might help donations, fair enough

I understand that megle2, not challenging you, just passing on what I have found in my experience in bush flying.

I can tell a story of a new pilot we had that was about to do his first car light landing training and check. He explained to us that he was going to build a circuit in the FMS complete with extended centrelines Etc. as that would make it easier and programmed the box prior to departure all chuffed that he was going to show us something new.

All went well until arrival overhead the car headlight lit strip when he found the GPS coordinates for the runway were out by around 2nm which made none of what he had programmed useable.

Not a criticism, he just didn't know what he didn't know. Does now.

These are not surveyed runways with accurate data. They are dirt outback station strips. The data is plenty accurate enough to find the airstrip but not for building circuits, extended centrelines etc.

If I wished to circle overhead instructing the people on the ground I would certainly use ALT HOLD and HEADING with the autopilot engaged. Once flying the circling approach it is back to hand flown timings and headings, as per our SOP's.

Proline 21 is a very fancy glass cockpit which is awesome for flying in controlled airspace, approaches etc. but feed it inaccurate data try to build something from that would be very dangerous. The features of the Proline which are useful over an old six pack during these outback night circling approaches are the wind vector, ground speed, track made good bug and radar altimeter.

The media frenzy that has occurred over this was strangely enough started over some photos taken by the flight nurse on the night posted on the RFDS Facebook page. Dunny roll landings are considered fairly normal in RFDS operations but I guess not many people were aware of that, they are now. It generated over 7500 likes and about 1200 shares in a couple of days which got the attention of ABC radio who were equally fascinated and requested a radio interview then away it went from there all over the world, crazy. Just grabbed people's attention, not a deliberate PR stunt.

Swamp Duck,

I did my time as a appy with the RDFS back in starting back in 85.

That was a transition time from piston to turbine and installation of Omega for Christmas/Cocas Islands.

I got the job because I was from the bush, even then dunny rolls worked better than car lights.


Utmost respect for all at the staff RFDS - Cleaner to CEO at each base.

Respect back to you Band a Lot, pre GPS, real old school. Would love to hear some of your stories, please share :)

Would someone please write a book.....:ok:

A book would be great, but some rules were pushed back then that would now be considered broken. Would be a shame to see a lifes saved and a pilot hung 30 years later.

Before the first flights to Christmas and Cocas took place, and after they had done a few, the plan if any thing looked like going a bit pear shaped was to shut down an engine. This was not written ops but may buy enough time to rectify what issues were changing (weather/nav aids)

This if not already passed, extended the point that return to mainland had to be made. If these guys could find a way to get to you - They would.

Balls to shut a engine down mid ocean at night to extend the point of no return on a Omega Nav installation.