Hello from NWQLD.

[Dave.]

Hi guys and girls new guy here from Mt Isa.... Well I live here I'm not from here.

 

Been in a few planes and a few helicopters but never flown one.

 

I would like to buy myself a small plane just to get out and explore the area and also to fly out to the East coast and up to Darwin from time to time. I would like to be able to land on bush strips and just out on flat looking ground.

 

First things first I've got to learn how to fly.

 

Dave.

 

 

[winsor68]

Welcome Dave. The Isa has a long aviation history.

 

 

[dazza 38]

Welcome Dave

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

Hi Dave,

 

Western Qld was my reason for flying too. Nearly every town has an airstrip right beside it. So easy to fly in and walk around town and none of the hassles of transport at destination you get in larger places. You will need long range tanks out there. Not essential, but nice to have the option of extended flight and less diversions to get fuel.

 

 

 

Next decision for you - go into General Aviation (Cessna, Piper etc, Private Pilot's License) or Recreational Aviation (ultralights, Pilot Certificate). Each have their merits. Ultralight just means at the lighter end of aviation. Today they are very similar to the 2 seat GA aircraft and some can go in either category. It is worth discussing the kind of flying you want to do with the Flying Schools to see which path they recommend. You will get lots of advice here from people who have done it before.

 

 

 

Go fly!

 

 

Sue

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Hi Dave, Well nice to hear from someone out that way. There seems to have been a distinct lack of Ultralight activity from that area in recent years. As Sue mentioned it would be great country for flying with plenty of landing options , and many good destinations to the North and West.

 

There is instruction available at Starke Field just West of Townsville, and occasionally some at Charters Tower, a little closer to you.

 

May I also recommend you pick up a copy of the RAAus magazine 'Sport Pilot' if available out there on the news stand. If not get back to me and I'll see you get a copy. This site is also great for communication with other people here in the North..............Cheers for now. Maj...... Ross Millard

 

 

[ArcherFallsAirfield]

Hi Dave, if you are ever down our way call in... we have a local flying mate who hails from the Isa, and shares his time between there and down our way, will let him know and you might catch up, he's a wealth of information and likely can give you some local advice

 

 

[rankamateur]

There seems to have been a distinct lack of Ultralight activity from that area in recent years.

There is a Recreational flight school at Mount Isa and a visiting CFI, same one I trained with, so there is no need to travel east to get to your training. Just do it, and enjoy!

 

 

[Dave.]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome.

 

Hi Dave,

Western Qld was my reason for flying too. Nearly every town has an airstrip right beside it. So easy to fly in and walk around town and none of the hassles of transport at destination you get in larger places. You will need long range tanks out there. Not essential, but nice to have the option of extended flight and less diversions to get fuel.

 

 

 

Next decision for you - go into General Aviation (Cessna, Piper etc, Private Pilot's License) or Recreational Aviation (ultralights, Pilot Certificate). Each have their merits. Ultralight just means at the lighter end of aviation. Today they are very similar to the 2 seat GA aircraft and some can go in either category. It is worth discussing the kind of flying you want to do with the Flying Schools to see which path they recommend. You will get lots of advice here from people who have done it before.

 

 

 

Go fly!

 

 

Sue

Yeah I am a bit over driving thats for sure, and there is some beautiful country out here that I'd like to see from the air.

 

And being able to fly would really open the country up to me. I would like long range tanks.

 

I am leaning more towards a PPL but I don't really know that much about it as yet, from what I've been told if I have a rec certificate I can only carry one passenger and also cant fly into major airports like Brissy ? Not that I plan on flying to Brissy any time soon but I don't want to limit myself.

 

May I also recommend you pick up a copy of the RAAus magazine 'Sport Pilot' if available out there on the news stand. If not get back to me and I'll see you get a copy. This site is also great for communication with other people here in the North

I'll see if I can get a copy this afternoon.

 

Hi Dave, if you are ever down our way call in... we have a local flying mate who hails from the Isa, and shares his time between there and down our way, will let him know and you might catch up, he's a wealth of information and likely can give you some local advice

Thanks mate.

 

There is a Recreational flight school at Mount Isa and a visiting CFI, same one I trained with, so there is no need to travel east to get to your training. Just do it, and enjoy!

Thanks mate I didn't know that. Could you share the name or contact details of the CFI with me ?

 

I was thinking I'd have to go to the east coast to learn.

 

 

[facthunter]

You can convert a lot of your time towards a PPL later if you want to. Long way between drinks out there. Used to fly cargo from BNE through ISA to Darwin in the 60's. Plenty of black flies there then that got all over my breakfast. Believe the dung beatles got rid of them. Welcome to our forum. Well It's not ours, it's Ian Bakers and he lets us use it. (Maybe it's his wifes) He only bites now and then, but it's a good site. Nev

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

Link to the ultralight flying school in Mt.Isa

 

http://www.raa.asn.au/school/aeroskill-flight-trainingfly-mount-isa/ Bill Grieve is the CFI

 

Mount Isa Instructor:- Andrew Hurst mobile zero458 one54 two68 (disguised in case he didn't want it harvested by web bots)

 

 

 

The RFDS pilots are also a good source of info about training, where, who and when. A CFI friend of mine boarded with RFDS staff a few years back.

 

 

 

Sue

 

 

[rankamateur]

I just messaged Bill's details to Dave. Didn't read the second item on the list http://www.raa.asn.au/school-states/schools-qld/ sorry Dave. Lucky we have Sue!

 

 

[Dave.]

Thanks for the information, I flicked off a couple of emails I'll see what happens.