Australia

[FBCK]

I going to Sydney, Australia on a vacation and would be interested in renting a plane when I,m there, does anybody know a good GA airport and an FBO that would rent a plane, a Mooney would be great, but a 172, 182 or an Arrow would work as well.

[gsxrpilot]

Hi,  I just moved back to TX after living in Sydney for the last 4.5 years.  I eventually gave up on getting into GA in Australia.  They used to have the same freedom to fly that we do, but since 9/11 have severely restricted GA.  And since the aviation system is all locally funded, it has become very expensive. I flew a few times, but ended up giving up GA flying and taking up Hang Gliding.  Sydney might be the best place on earth to learn to fly hang gliders.  And that satisfied the need to fly until moving back to TX and buying the Mooney.

 

Of course, it isn't too difficult to go up and fly with a CFI sitting next to you.  The biggest GA airport in the Sydney area is Bankstown (YSBK).  There are several flight schools on the field and any of them will take you up for a flight.  A second option is Camden (YSCN).  It is a little further away but more affordable.  All Australian airports have landing fees.  The fees at Camden are about half what they are at Bankstown.  If you go to Camden, look up Curtis Aviation. curtisaviation.com.au. They have a variety of aircraft and a long list of instructors.  I lot of flight schools in Australia don't actually fly GA but rather LSA which they call RAA.  Another good flight school at Camden in Gostner Aviation gostneraviation.com. 

 

If you want to rent a plane and go fly without a CFI you'll have to get a Certificate of Validation (http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/manuals/regulate/fcl/form61-4cov.pdf) and apply for an ARN (Aviation Reference Number).  This process can take at least a month to complete.  So you'll want to get started immediately.

 

While it's not exactly the same thing, I'd recommend doing a little bit of hang gliding while you're there.  There is nothing quite as spectacular as flying a glider along the Australian coastline.  If interested, look up Curt Warren at www.warrenwindsports.com.au.  He's at Stanwell Park just south of Sydney on the edge of the Royal National Park.  Even if you don't fly, a trip to Stanwell Park is worth the drive as it's one of the most spectacular views of the coast.  And if the wind is somewhere between ESE and SSW you'll see dozens of gliders in the air flying up and down the coast.

 

Have fun.  Sydney is everything you would imagine it is.  We had a wonderful time living there and often wonder why we moved back to Texas.

 

Paul

[FBCK]

Thanks Paul, I really appreciate that, I try to take a plane up whereever I go, some of the highlights have been Chile (flew around a steaming volcano from a distance) and Thailand. Looks like we will take an instructor up just to make it simple.

[flyboy0681]

 

 

Have fun.  Sydney is everything you would imagine it is.  We had a wonderful time living there and often wonder why we moved back to Texas.

 

Paul

 

My wife and I spent a week in Sydney a few years ago and I was amazed at how civilized it was. In terms of pace of life, it reminded me of the U.S. in the '60's, when trains ran on time and people respected each other.

[Awqward]

There is an N reg Mooney in Sydney owned by an American orchestral musician...he is an active member of the Australian Mooney Pilot's Association....I believe he rents it to suitably qualified pilots... I will PM his details

[Awqward]

And I second everything GSXRpilot says about Australia's squandered aviation heritage....

[Awqward]

http://members.optusnet.com.au/~mooney202/

[29-0363]

Check this out - you may not need to validate your FAA licence if you are only operating an N registered aircraft. 

 

I think N201CM lives at Camden airport (YCMD) which is easier to fly in and out of compared to Bankstown (YSBK), but it's way out West. If you stay in Sydney CBD you'll spend more time driving to and from Camden than you will flying. A comment - private flying in Australia is over-regulated with complex airspace boundaries around Sydney.  

 

A MUST when here is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb at dusk, and a visit to the Hunter Valley just to the North of Sydney should next on your list. 

 

Enjoy!

[Awqward]

Check this out - you may not need to validate your FAA licence if you are only operating an N registered aircraft. 

 

I think N201CM lives at Camden airport (YCMD) which is easier to fly in and out of compared to Bankstown (YSBK), but it's way out West.

I think it is at Wudderburn....slightly closer but still a decent drive....and yes to fly an Us registered aircraft with a U.S. license is clearly not a problem....BUT Australia requires an Aviation Security Identification Card....a photo ID issued after paying about $200 and submitting to police background checks.....which need to be repeated (including full background checks) every two years.... This ASIC is required if flying into an any airport which has regular scheduled commercial flights....this could be a weekly Navajo into some dirt strip in the middle of nowhere!.....the worst part is that most Austarlians think all this BS is reasonable....