Harryn

Hi Biggles The Rockwell has an emergency beacon but I will check on the registration. We also have a hand held emergency beacon which we had for our 4x4 trip and we will have that as a backup. I will use my friends address in Aus to overcome the registering problem. Many thanks Harry

Hi Biggles You are absolutely right but I had to learn that the hardway. I bought the IPad mini 3 wifi and only then did I but Ozrunways and then read their webpage which says exactly what you are saying. In reality it is not meant to be used as a primary method of navigation and makes a fabulous planner especially with a wifi connection and NAIPS. Also my traveling partner has an Ipad with the inbuilt gps and sim card connection so between the two of us we should be ok when the time comes. Interesting thing happened today as I was registering on the NAIPS site. It allows you to choose your country when putting your address it but even so only excepts numerical numbers in the post code section. As we also use letters in the UK it won't accept my registering. Shall give them a ring and explain the problem. Thanks for the info Biggles Harry

No Problem all avenues are worth investigating. In my short time looking into this there have been several changes. Same thing happens in the Uk as well.

I looked up the application form for the ASID and it requires confirmation of photos and documents by authourised persons but they are all associated with Australia. There appears to be no one acceptable from overseas. The background check has to be completed and it states that the immigration part cannot be done unless you are in Australia at the time which defeats the objective. The AVID also costs Aus$ 182 which is not insignificant if I also then have to pay Aus$ 204 for the ASIC which I will definitely need. I think I will have to just persue the ASIC route. Many thanks Harry

Hi DWF I missed your point about the AVId. That sounds like a quicker course to take to get the 3 month temporary CASA licence. Many thanks yet again. Harry

Hi DWF Wow thanks for such a concise list and helpful links. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do but then I have plenty of time. The one pain that you didn't mention was the ASIC requirements. The problem with this for overses applicants is they like you to be in the country when applying but it takes up to 4 weeks to obtain all the information you require. If you think about all the costs associated with sitting around for 4 weeks this is an expensive undertaking. I am taking two visits to try and overcome this. I have already obtained a ARN, doctors certificate and proved I can speak English (we have to do this is England also) so it is just the flight test once all the other paperwork arrives that I need. I have Ozrunways which is a fantastic piece of software as long as you have an internet connection. My 4x4 trip in the outback showed that it is not always possible to get that but you can predownload 99% of the info. Many many thanks for your info Harry

Hi Phil That is very useful information. The one thing I don't want to happen is to spend time in the local cop shop explaining why I had not obtained the permissions I need. Obviously we don't have this issue in the UK but as in the US restrictions are becoming the norm to us poor recreational pilots. Anyone else out there know what and where permissions are needed in the top right hand end of Australia and flying across there from Darwin VFR.

I am spending many days following Solar Impulse on ww.solarimpulse.com/widget-aircraft and on Youtube on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUQ4khqgyvA. This is a piece of aviation history in the making and just fascinating to watch and listen too live.

Cheers Alan but being right handed I am thinking Clockwise but I suppose the weather will play a part in the final decision.

Many thanks for your best wishes Phil. I am really looking forward to the trip and as it is a trip of a lifetime I really don't want to miss out on the sites and people which is why I am hoping to get as much help as possible on this site. Rgmwa's blog suggestion was really helpful and I found a link to many small airfields within a mile of a roadhouse. Can anyone confirm whether you just need lifejackets when crossing water or whether a liferaft is required when say crossing the Gulf of Carpenteria?

Hi rgmwa. You are right, I meant 2016. I will go and look at John gilpin's blog.

Hi to all you aviators My name is Harry and I am 66 years of age and have been flying since the 1990's having gained my PPLA licence in the USA and then ontaining further training in my home country of England. I had spent over 300 hours flying flex wing microlights in the UK before crossing the pond to gain a PPL A. I continued flying until 2006 when the costs became too great and yearly medicals were burning a hole in my wallet. I spent last October and November 2014 touring the Australian outback with my Australian mate following the Burke and Wills trail in a 4x4 yute. While we were admiring the "Dig Tree" a group of around 9 individual aircraft arrived and we got chatting to the pilots who were conducting a group tour. We thought what a great idea and so we have purchased a a Rockwell 114 with the intention of touring Australia in July of next year (2015) with extended time in the Kimmberly's. The fun started whent I enquired of CASA what I would need to gain a temporary licence for Australia and spent many an hour going through ASICS requirements, medicals (I had just completed treatment for prostate cancer) and the new maintence requirements for aircraft over 12 years of age (control wires). We also learnt of the crazy requirements for all Cessna aircraft in the general aviation category. Anyway I have over a year to prepare for this trip of a lifetime and came across this association and read some of the threads and thought it would be a great place to learn more about flying in Australa and more especially flying in the outback and the safety precautions we will need to take. Another reason is to learn about how to enjoy the pleasures of the outback and to meet the people who make a living in this harsh environment. I would welcome any help from those of you who have ventured into the outback and also any help in terms of the requirements of gaining a licence from CASA. The big issue is the time it takes to get the ASIC (4-6 weeks) and then to obtain the temporary licence. This means a long extended time, not flying, in Australia. Thanks in advance for any help. Harry