What will the weather be like during my tour?
Click here to go to
www.weather.com.au where you can find details about the weather anywhere, anytime. Keep in mind that Australia’s summer is the USA’s winter with January and February being the hottest months. July and August are the coldest. Most of our winter trips are into the Red Center and Northern Queensland where the winter temperatures stay around a balmy 75+ degrees. Some places, Cairns, Katherine and Darwin, for example, stay at 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. Summer in Australia is much the same as in the USA. Queensland, similar to Florida, is humid and often has afternoon showers.
Do I need insurance?
Aircraft insurance is covered with the rental of the plane. However, we do recommend that you purchase travelers insurance when booking your international airfare. You never know when your luggage will end up in Moscow while you are in Brisbane. The health care system in Australia is not as expensive as here in the USA, but you would want to make sure that your current health care coverage will be in effect internationally just in case.
Do I need an instrument rating?
No. All flying is VFR.
Do I have an instructor on board?
No. You operate under your own Aussie license called a Certificate of Validation.
How much experience should I have to join a tour?
A good Private Pilot standard license with around 100 hours total time is sufficient. To fly the Cessna 182, you will need its specific High Performance Airplane rating. The Australian equivalent is the constant speed prop endorsement. We recommend that once you have you High Performance rating, that you stay proficient so the transition in Australia is more about procedure than flying the aircraft. The more comfortable you are in the 182, the more you will enjoy this incredible vacation.
To listen to live air traffic control in Australia now, visit this website: http://www.basair.com.au/bktower.php. This will help adjust your ears to the Aussie accent and increase your awareness of any protocol discrepancies.
How many aircraft are in each tour?
All of our tours consist of 4-7 aircraft with a True Blue Skies tour guide in the lead aircraft.
Can I bring my spouse/partner/friend along?
Certainly. They are welcome to fly in the aircraft with you.
Can I bring my child on tour with me?
If you have a family that loves to fly, and you feel your child would fit in with a group of adults on tour, then bring them along. Most of our sightseeing stops would enthrall a child as well as the adults in their lives.
Can I bring along a non-pilot friend?
Absolutely. That means more air time for you. Of course, the fare for their trip will be slightly lower as they do not require a check out flight and special license (Certificate of Validation).
Will you collect me from the airport when I arrive?
True Blue Skies will not only pick you up, we will drop you off when the tour is over.
Can we access our email while on tour?
Most of the hotels on our tour have computer access set aside for just this purpose.
What does the tour cost include?
The tour cost includes all accommodation, meals, organized tours/cruises/sightseeing, your Australian temporary license (PPL), all transfers, aircraft costs (including gas, landing fees and other misc. costs), check out ride and countless photo opportunities. This is an all inclusive vacation. The only things not included are souvenirs and cocktails.
What is the power supply? Will I need an adapter?
Australia’s electrical current is 220-240 volts. The Australian three-pin power outlet is different from most countries so you will need an adapter. If your appliances are 110V, you will need a voltage converter. Most travel hairdryers will adapt to both currents. Universal outlets for 240V or 110V for electric shavers are found in leading hotels.
What do I pack?
Remember to keep it simple!!!!!
Open spaces, low terrain and brilliant weather combine to make the best VFR flying conditions anywhere in the world.
Antarctica aside, Australia is the driest continent on Earth. Our climate varies from tropical to temperate. March, April and May are our fall months with temperatures ranging from cool and sometimes warm overnight to glorious sunny days of between about 69F (20C) to 77F (25C) inland, warmer in coastal areas. June, July and August are our winter months with temperatures ranging from near freezing overnight to warm sunny days of between about 64F (19C) to 71F (22C) inland, warmer in coastal areas.
Because the country is not elevated significantly and surrounded by warm sea we do not have as severe winter conditions as the same latitude for the US or Europe. Our houses, however, are designed to be cool during a relentless summer that makes them cold in winter. Not all buildings on our routes have central heating.
Australia is a very casual country and has no requirement for clothes other than smart casual. Most people purchase souvenir shirts along the way. For winter tours (March – October) a warm jacket and comfortable walking shoes are a must. During the Summer tours, don’t forget your swimsuit, sunscreen and flip flops. The tours that include a Great Barrier Reef stopover, regardless of the time of year, will also require a swimsuit or wetsuit.
There is ample opportunity to launder clothes along the way.
Soft luggage is better than hard-sided. Please bring along a smaller bag for your overnight requirements, packed from larger bags. This saves a lot of effort and inconvenience avoiding taking all baggage to the hotel each night. At some airports we cannot get a vehicle to the aircraft, which means carrying your own bags to the perimeter fence. Lighter is better!
How much can my baggage weigh?
Typical Weights for a Cessna 172
| Empty Weight |
659 kg (1430lb) |
| Take off Weight |
1043 kg (2300lb) |
| Fuel 189 liters, 50USG |
136kg (298lb) |
| Disposable weight |
257 kg (565lb for you, your partner and baggage) |
So, if you both weigh 200lbs, that leaves 156lbs for “extras.” Pack light. There are places to launder clothes while on tour. It’s better for the plane to have extra capacity than be too heavy, right? Plus, you’ll want room for souvenirs!
Do you have a question?
