timbo59

Yeah, that's why I said 'old' in my post. The disused strip right by Uluru was mentioned in earlier posts. :)

One more follow-up. I wrote to one of the operators yesterday that takes people on scenic flights in the area. This is what he said in the reply I just received - 'While there’s no hard restriction we do adhere to requests from the National Park to fly at specified altitudes and tracks around the sites. Planes will fly above 4000’ AMSL and Helicopters will be at 3500’ AMSL. By duress of weather we will fly at any altitude that is safe. I hope that helps!'

These two pictures also tie in with what was mentioned earlier. The first shows the old air strip, taken from the viewpoint of being on top of Uluru. The second ties in with what I said earlier, wondering how someone managed a touch and go on top of Uluru - look at all those ridges running SE to NW. I think I read that the pilot was drunk - I can believe it. That or you'd have to be crazy to try it.

I think vegetation might be more of an issue! :)

They kept those books - my name and that of my then girlfriend are in one of them. It's my understanding that the park rangers replaced them when they'd fill up and stored the old ones away.

Thanks SilverHammer, that kind of confirms my recollections from the period regarding Uluru, loose air control of people radioing their approach and intentions and keeping visual contact. Uluru wasn't as heavily visited in those days as it is now - or was, before COVID.

Most people driving out there mistake Mt. Conner for Uluru when they first see it in the distance. I've always felt kind of sorry for it, as it gets little love or acknowledgement compared to its illustrious cousins further west.

Hi Kasper. Your first line says that dropping down to 500' was fine back in the early 90's - is the second line a reference to current restrictions? Let me put it this way. If we're talking mid 80's here, could someone have flown there early in the morning, performed a quick circuit round the rock a few hundred feet above it, same again for Kata Tjuta, and gotten away with it as long as there was no other air traffic? Maybe it was legal back then, maybe not, I don't know. I could just wing it in the story, if you'll pardon the pun, but I'd like to be accurate if possible. As for the touch and go, the only one I can find was very recent, in 2015. http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=1d3c5931-c2f2-40f6-b3e9-5787fce5bbc5#:~:text=Left Tire Marks On The,formerly known as Ayers Rock. I really don't know how anyone could manage it safely, because the top is heavily ridged - I climbed it long ago, well before the Anangu began asking people to respect their wishes and not make the climb. Last time I went there in 2011, with my American wife and kids, we just walked around the base.

Can anyone confirm for me whether private planes are allowed to fly low around Kata Tjuta and Uluru? Or is it restricted airspace because of all the commercial flights in the region? The reason I ask is that I'm trying to nail down the details for a novel I'm writing. If it makes any difference, the novel is set in 1985. Also, is there anyone on here with extensive experience of flying in central Australia, areas like Cobber Pedy, Oodnattada, etc? Thanks in advance