Designated Remote Areas, Au

[Reynard]

When undertaking a flight more than 50 NM radius from the aerodrome of

departure, you must carry a serviceable ELT. If the ELT is installed on the aircraft,

it must be armed before flight. If it is a survival (portable) ELT it must be carried in

a readily accessible place. 
 

 

 

[BurnieM]

For the blind people;

When undertaking a flight more than 50 NM radius from the aerodrome of

departure, you must carry a serviceable ELT. If the ELT is installed on the aircraft,

it must be armed before flight. If it is a survival (portable) ELT it must be carried in

a readily accessible place. 
 

Edited Friday at 10:49 PM by BurnieM

[Garfly]

On 26/02/2026 at 6:14 PM, coljones said:

I'm not sure about Majors Creek to Moruya, it is very rugged, I have been that way once and asked myself "what am I doing here? This is scarey" less scarey (a bit less scarey) is Braidwood to Batemans Bay then down the coast.

 

Yeah, Col, I think it's six of one and half-dozen of the other in that case. But anyway, to Moneybox's original point, it is now a lot easier to compare VNC and SAT map views while you plan a flight.

 

I had a look at your preferred path down to the coast - going straight over the escarpment south-east of Braidwood towards Bateman's Bay before tracking south.  Well the sat-view gives a very different impression than the VNC.  And we know there's a lot of rugged country around those Budawangs.  On the other hand, only about 7NM after leaving the safety to the tablelands - as the satellite view shows (when you pinch in) - there's a fairly landable flat area called Currowang Creek.  And beyond that it's not far to the Nelligen Valley, before you hit the beaches. [Pics#1-3].

These are insights we won't get from our aviation maps.

Likewise, the alternate route down the Araluen and Deau valleys - a bit to the south. [Pics#4-7] When you zoom in on sat-view you get to see that there are actually quite a few places enroute to put down in a pinch. It's not as rugged or remote as it first appears.

As always, a lot depends on the weather and the more height you can get the more options you have.

 

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[skippydiesel]

18 hours ago, Moneybox said:

 

OzRunways says I can go all the way on my 65L tank but I’ve got an extra 30 that will go in halfway home. I’m yet to work out the Sportstar’s range.

I am concerned about ".......I’m yet to work out the Sportstar’s range."

• Range is a factor of fuel available, fuel consumed/hr, at a given ground speed.
• Ground speed is affected by wind speed & direction ie faster & further with a following wind/slower & shorter with a head wind.
• The short message is - work on knowing your fuel consumed/hr, at your preferred Cruise speed.  Your Take-off , Climb & Descent to landing are your short duration exteem consumptions. Cruise is where you spend most of your time/fuel consumed on a trip.
• I prefer to know my average fuel consumption/hr for  the whole trip, rather than fuel consumed at Cruise itself. This will include Take-off, Climb, Cruise & Descent to Landing.
• If using OzRunways, it will ask for Taxi, TO, Climb, Cruise, Descent , fuel consumption - put in figures that are most likly to give a conservative result (POH/Rotax Operators manual will help with this).
• Keep a fuel log - Flight time (I use Hobbs) and Litres to refuel to same point (easy just to completely fill) = L/hr used for last flight.
• I then add a conservative extra eg known to deliver 14L/hr & 100 knots, flight plan at 15 or 16L/hr .
• Remember higher power settings = more fuel used for a faster air speed and the converse. Try & figure out what you prefer to do and stick to that power/prop pitch setting for all long distance flights.
• Plug your planed fuel consumption/hr into your calculations - this will tell you if you will make your destination or have to stop for fuel at one or more waypoints.
• Your range will vary for every given leg of every trip and will hardly ever be exactly as planned.
• Try never to use your reserve (mine is 30L = two hrs = 260 Nm in still air )

Be Safe!

😈

[Moneybox]

2 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

I am concerned about ".......I’m yet to work out the Sportstar’s range."

• Range is a factor of fuel available, fuel consumed/hr, at a given ground speed.
• Ground speed is affected by wind speed & direction ie faster & further with a following wind/slower & shorter with a head wind.
• The short message is - work on knowing your fuel consumed/hr, at your preferred Cruise speed.  Your Take-off , Climb & Descent to landing are your short duration exteem consumptions. Cruise is where you spend most of your time/fuel consumed on a trip.
• I prefer to know my average fuel consumption/hr for  the whole trip, rather than fuel consumed at Cruise itself. This will include Take-off, Climb, Cruise & Descent to Landing.
• If using OzRunways, it will ask for Taxi, TO, Climb, Cruise, Descent , fuel consumption - put in figures that are most likly to give a conservative result (POH/Rotax Operators manual will help with this).
• Keep a fuel log - Flight time (I use Hobbs) and Litres to refuel to same point (easy just to completely fill) = L/hr used for last flight.
• I then add a conservative extra eg known to deliver 14L/hr & 100 knots, flight plan at 15 or 16L/hr .
• Remember higher power settings = more fuel used for a faster air speed and the converse. Try & figure out what you prefer to do and stick to that power/prop pitch setting for all long distance flights.
• Plug your planed fuel consumption/hr into your calculations - this will tell you if you will make your destination or have to stop for fuel at one or more waypoints.
• Your range will vary for every given leg of every trip and will hardly ever be exactly as planned.
• Try never to use your reserve (mine is 30L = two hrs = 260 Nm in still air )

Be Safe!

😈

I planned on filling the tank as soon as I landed. I went down to the card operated bowser, the only 98 in town but it's out of order. It's already been reported but being out here repair might take some time. I do have 60L of fuel I changed out a month or two back, I could mix it with the half tank left.

[BurnieM]

Typically there will be an unusable amount of fuel in your tanks at level flight.

Sling say this is 2 litres each tank for the TSI.

 

Has anybody worked out what this unusable fuel is at a 30 degree bank for their plane ?

Obviously going to be less more UNusable on the inside wing tank.

 

Edited yesterday at 05:54 AM by BurnieM

[facthunter]

IF the Balls in the centre the Bank doesn't matter. Nose down or Up  can alter the availability of the Last of the Fuel. Might leave you short on a Go around. Nev

[Love to fly]

38 minutes ago, facthunter said:

IF the Balls in the centre the Bank doesn't matter. Nose down or Up  can alter the availability of the Last of the Fuel. Might leave you short on a Go around. Nev

You sure? 

[facthunter]

 What do you disagree with ? nev

[Moneybox]

I started out with a full tank, dripping out the lip. Did a few circuits that included two touch&go's and two landings in 0.7hrs.

 

Then I flew 1.9hrs including runnup. Next leg was 1.5hrs including stuffing around with the battery and I added 20L of 98. I've just added 40L to fill up.

 

That's 4.1hrs on the clock for 60L of fuel travelling on 5000 to 5200rpm and the first 1.9hrs at 4500' and 1.5hrs 6500'. Approximately 275nm travelled. It looks slow but I spent quite a while on runup before circuits, trying to sort the battery and runup before leaving on the first leg.

[facthunter]

Seems about right to me.  Nev

[Moneybox]

I tried to stay away from tiger country, saw a few water buffalo and rhino but no tigers out here.

 

 

The old iPhone looking through the canopy into the haze didn't do too well.

 

 

I appreciated the modern facilities at Paynes Find although the door was locked.

[skippydiesel]

19 hours ago, Moneybox said:

I planned on filling the tank as soon as I landed. I went down to the card operated bowser, the only 98 in town but it's out of order. It's already been reported but being out here repair might take some time. I do have 60L of fuel I changed out a month or two back, I could mix it with the half tank left.

Old fuel mixed (shandy) with fresh, likly good. Have done this myself, many times, without any apparent problems.

 

"That's 4.1hrs on the clock for 60L of fuel ......"

 

Hobbs hr/L of fuel works out to ne 14.6L/hr - Not bad and even if you can do better, with practise/familiarity, it's safer to go with a conservative figure. So you might flight plan at 15L/Hobbs hr.

😈

[Blueadventures]

Regarding PLB etc, Best to consider carrying two PLB's (don't want your one to be U/S or damaged when needed, practical backup) Water (plenty) in multiple containers (guard against a leak and can help stowage), some food, first aid kit, light full cover clothing and foot ware. (Even a boat 'V' sheet - orange can be helpful to aide detection - cheap and light.)  These are my go to items for outback trips.  Also a handheld VHF radio will be helpful.

Edited 15 hours ago by Blueadventures