How many light aircraft cross the Tasman?
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How many light aircraft cross the Tasman?
Was down at my local club a week or so ago, and there was a Maule with a VH rego. Apparently touring NZ, having came across from Aussie (sorry, didn't get to speak to the owner, but did feel for him when the stroppy tower at NZRO was less than helpful insisted he refer to his approach chart rather than just telling him holding point A was just to his left!). I presume said a/c was also IFR equipped, as he was heading for White Island through a ceiling of about 2000ft
So back to the question, just how many singles/twins cross the Tasman, say per week (or per annum) - anyone done it, what route, how long does it take, etc...
So back to the question, just how many singles/twins cross the Tasman, say per week (or per annum) - anyone done it, what route, how long does it take, etc...
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Flew Bankstown - Lord Howe Is. - Auckland in a Baron (B58) once. Took about 7hrs. Return trip: Auckland - Norfolk Is. - Lord Howe Is. - Bankstown. Return takes longer due winds (You would not make Auckland - Lord Howe direct, not in a Baron).
Overnighted at Lord Howe on the way there and Norfolk on the return.
Found the NZ (Auckland) controllers really helpful! Baron 'trues out' at 180 kts, in case you're interested.
Thoroughly recommend the trip, although IFR is the only way to go...
RB
Overnighted at Lord Howe on the way there and Norfolk on the return.
Found the NZ (Auckland) controllers really helpful! Baron 'trues out' at 180 kts, in case you're interested.
Thoroughly recommend the trip, although IFR is the only way to go...
RB
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I think theres a few that make the trip for Warbirds over Wanaka. Not that Ive done it myself but a few of the lighties that Ive seen have been a Caravan, Islander, Twin Commanche, Cheyenne, Chieftain etc. Apparently there was a whole convoy of light a/c that went NZ - Auz - NZ last year.
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Rotorua tower is professionalism at its best in my opinion. I think Graham ( I think thats his name ) sets a impressive standard for ATC. (however I have only been to 3 controlled zones, lol )
If your ever in the situation and still cant find it just use the old " (callsign here) is unfimiliar with (airport here) taxi procedures please provide progressive taxi instructions to taxi point alpha ..
stunned by manner they will usaully give in I'm told.
If your ever in the situation and still cant find it just use the old " (callsign here) is unfimiliar with (airport here) taxi procedures please provide progressive taxi instructions to taxi point alpha ..
stunned by manner they will usaully give in I'm told.
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Agree totally
Spot on, usually, but the other Saturday the Aussie guy did just that and was told to refer to his charts. Could see it all from downwind leg of circuit - he was about 40m from Charlie, yet tower just didn't say just look at 10 o'clock. (NB it wasn't Graham)
Still, you have experience of two more control zones than me!
Still, you have experience of two more control zones than me!
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I must say, I have been to Rotorua twice only and both times they have been really great.
Makes you feel so "professional" when they stick to the books,
Frustrating in one way if you are unfamiliar with the airport , but good in a million other ways.
Makes you feel so "professional" when they stick to the books,
Frustrating in one way if you are unfamiliar with the airport , but good in a million other ways.
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Crossed the pond several times when I was flying a corporate Merlin IIIB back in '94. It was just me single pilot with the boss and his wife as pax. They were both Kiwis and we spent about two weeks seeing relatives and visiting their numerous investments on both islands.
Based in Brisbane, we did direct Christchurch in about 5 hours. My bladder held out but had the crystal bags with me just in case! On the return we usually stopped in at Norfolk for the night to fuel up, break the journey and duty-free shop.
Always a great trip and challenging professionally with customs etc for a young fella in GA. The funny thing about ATC in NZ is that they kept unsuccessfully calling a Victor-Whiskey-Uniform until I realised that was standard shortening of my beloved VH-AWU!!
Based in Brisbane, we did direct Christchurch in about 5 hours. My bladder held out but had the crystal bags with me just in case! On the return we usually stopped in at Norfolk for the night to fuel up, break the journey and duty-free shop.
Always a great trip and challenging professionally with customs etc for a young fella in GA. The funny thing about ATC in NZ is that they kept unsuccessfully calling a Victor-Whiskey-Uniform until I realised that was standard shortening of my beloved VH-AWU!!
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Peter Hodgens from Wedderburn did it in his Lancair 4, in one hit with a ferry tank I believe - and set a record in the process. Not bad for an aeroplane he built himself. Still, that would be a fair bit faster than a Baron. I believe average was about 230kt. I was speaking to another guy from there who did it a T18 - which he also made himself. Not sure I fancy that quite so much. It must happen quite a lot as there is a fair bit of aircraft trade between here and there - and that includes Cherokees, 172's and the like. Still, it might not be that big a deal. My 172 and 182 were ferried over from US. Looks like about 50 hours + in the logbooks for that.
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There's a lot of water in that Tasman, how do you check out a 'plane for that sort of flight.
I mean how far back do you go in the logbook for similar flight, was it used in the circuit for the last ten years, now you are asking it to run 8 to 10 hours over water with no local airstrip to let down.
Brave guys!
Sultan Ismail
I mean how far back do you go in the logbook for similar flight, was it used in the circuit for the last ten years, now you are asking it to run 8 to 10 hours over water with no local airstrip to let down.
Brave guys!
Sultan Ismail
cyclops camel
You will find that the Australian AIP (GEN 4.19.5) requires that ATS respond to the initial transmission from a foreign registered acft with an abbreviated form of the callsign. So the Kiwi controllers are not strange at all, just conforming to ICAO recomendations. It makes good sense to use the abreviated callsign rather than the five word mouthfull that none of us are accustomed to, when travelling outside OZ!
I recall about 3 occasions I was glad of the abbreviated callsigns, particularly when working AKL on HF from mid Tasman even though the HF reception was particularly good, as I tend to get a bit tongue tied when there is too much to say.
Rgds
You will find that the Australian AIP (GEN 4.19.5) requires that ATS respond to the initial transmission from a foreign registered acft with an abbreviated form of the callsign. So the Kiwi controllers are not strange at all, just conforming to ICAO recomendations. It makes good sense to use the abreviated callsign rather than the five word mouthfull that none of us are accustomed to, when travelling outside OZ!
I recall about 3 occasions I was glad of the abbreviated callsigns, particularly when working AKL on HF from mid Tasman even though the HF reception was particularly good, as I tend to get a bit tongue tied when there is too much to say.
Rgds
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Blackburn - How do they decide what letters to use in the abbreviation?
Take the case of VH-AWU, I could understand it being abbreviated to AWU but why use VWU (unless its a typo CC)
Take the case of VH-AWU, I could understand it being abbreviated to AWU but why use VWU (unless its a typo CC)
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Blackburn. Didn't for a moment mean to imply that ATC in NZ was funny as in strange, just that I in my ignorance found it amusing that some idiot wasn't listening out - me!
Quite the contrary mate. I found the controllers more than generous in their assitance to a foreigner.
Only wish I had the pleasure of talking to Kiwis on the radio more often, although we now have two on Dxb app and twr! Roll on Akl in the A340-500!
Quite the contrary mate. I found the controllers more than generous in their assitance to a foreigner.
Only wish I had the pleasure of talking to Kiwis on the radio more often, although we now have two on Dxb app and twr! Roll on Akl in the A340-500!
Last edited by cyclops camel; 15th Apr 2003 at 02:09.
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I have crossed the Tasman in a variety of "lighties" over the years, always pretty straight forward and everyone is helpful. NF weather the bigest hold up generally. The record holder in number of crossings and variety of types must be Jimmie Hazelton, surely.
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nzer
Don't overlook NZeds own Cliff Tait, Airtourer's, Airtrainer's (CT4's), Fletchers and the odd Bonanza. Last time we spoke the number of single engine Tasman crossings was well into 3 figures.
If you're read this Cliff I hope you are feeling better.
ding
Don't overlook NZeds own Cliff Tait, Airtourer's, Airtrainer's (CT4's), Fletchers and the odd Bonanza. Last time we spoke the number of single engine Tasman crossings was well into 3 figures.
If you're read this Cliff I hope you are feeling better.
ding
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I've always wanted to cross the ditch in a lighty and I'd be happy to organise my own way home if someone let me ride along as co pilot. Any suggestions as to who I could contact to organise that?
flyby_kiwi
Re your question: "How do they decide what letters to use in the abbreviation?
Take the case of VH-AWU, I could understand it being abbreviated to AWU but why use VWU (unless its a typo CC)"
I should have looked a little further before posting my last reply.
From the Australian AIP GEN 3.4-20 para 4.15.2: "ATS will not abbreviate call-signs of air carrier or other civil aircraft having authorised call-signs. ATS may initiate abbreviated call-signs of other aircraft by using the prefix and the last three digits/letters of the aircraft identification after commnications are established. The pilot may use the abbreviated call-sign in subsequent contact with ATS."
Therefore VH-AWU should have become VAWU, but I guess that there may have been a further shortening to VWU.
As per my previous I also found it easy to use just the three letters when Auckland responded to my initial mouthfulls with the abbreviated 3 letter form of call sign as per our friend in VWU.
Sorry for the delay in answering, but I hope this answers most of your question.
Rgds
Re your question: "How do they decide what letters to use in the abbreviation?
Take the case of VH-AWU, I could understand it being abbreviated to AWU but why use VWU (unless its a typo CC)"
I should have looked a little further before posting my last reply.
From the Australian AIP GEN 3.4-20 para 4.15.2: "ATS will not abbreviate call-signs of air carrier or other civil aircraft having authorised call-signs. ATS may initiate abbreviated call-signs of other aircraft by using the prefix and the last three digits/letters of the aircraft identification after commnications are established. The pilot may use the abbreviated call-sign in subsequent contact with ATS."
Therefore VH-AWU should have become VAWU, but I guess that there may have been a further shortening to VWU.
As per my previous I also found it easy to use just the three letters when Auckland responded to my initial mouthfulls with the abbreviated 3 letter form of call sign as per our friend in VWU.
Sorry for the delay in answering, but I hope this answers most of your question.
Rgds
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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I did a ferry into SE Asia last year and found that after a while you get use to the Victor hotel, Blah blah blah....... but struth its a mouth full to start with.
I would love to bash my old three ten over there for a look one day....... How long is the longest sector? How long for the whole run in a C310? (avarage TAS 175). Anyone want to go with me and share fuel costs? (looking at doing a port morsby run soon as well if anyone wants to share fuel on that run. room for two more)
I would love to bash my old three ten over there for a look one day....... How long is the longest sector? How long for the whole run in a C310? (avarage TAS 175). Anyone want to go with me and share fuel costs? (looking at doing a port morsby run soon as well if anyone wants to share fuel on that run. room for two more)
Wiz.. I've been slowly planning a trip over the duutch to kiwi land. The longest leg is Norfolk to auckland, which is ~450nm. I've been thinking about taking over a bonanza or a baron or some such.
The other legs are Coffs to Lord Howe which is ~300nm and Lord Howe to Norfolk which is almost 400 from memory.
I could be convinced into going in a 310 (if I can do some of the drivin' that is)
Bevan..
The other legs are Coffs to Lord Howe which is ~300nm and Lord Howe to Norfolk which is almost 400 from memory.
I could be convinced into going in a 310 (if I can do some of the drivin' that is)
Bevan..