Exporting an aircraft to Australia

[wingnut]

I would like to know what the procedure and paperwork required is for exporting an aircraft (in my case a collapsed microlight in a shipping crate) to Australia.

Can I just let CAA know that I am doing this so that they can cancel my SA registration and then use my CAA airworthiness and registration certificate in Australia to register it there?

I am specifically interested in what I need to obtain (if anything) from the South African CAA before I go. The registration in Australia I will sort out with them. But if I am going to need some paperwork etc. from CAA, I need to get it now, as I am leaving in less than 6 weeks.

Any advice or a pointer in the right direction would be very much appreciated.

Thanks
Werner Fourie

[tsotsi]

Hi Wingnut

Get hold of Cloud Warrior, he should be able to assist you.

Regards

[skybound®]

You will need a DA 550 and an F178 or NEP (Bank Forms). Go into your bank they will help you with those.

After that - CAR47A (CAA forms) to deregister and the bux.

May require and export CofA or the equivalent for registration on the receiving side.

[Cloud Warrior]

Hi Werner

I have sent you a PM. Only thing RAA or HGFA want from you wrt SA CAA to register the trike here is your deregistration cert (can be a copy). The Solowings manufactured aircraft have already been type approved here in Oz (thank you so much whoever that was!) so it is deemed to be a standard type here.

You will also need to pay GST (10%) on the trike. Make sure the person who does the valuation gives you a very conservative estimate of value! A/c are exempt from all other duties and taxes.

Export paperwork should be handled by your freight forwarder. Trike will also have to be cleared by AQIS - the quarantine and inspection service - make sure your trike is clean - especially your wheels! This is normally done before you have to go and pick it up. They might charge you a fee to inspect. You can appoint an agent to clear the a/c for you or do it yourself. Takes a bit of time and patience but not too bad an ordeal. Bureaucrats / civil servants over here are actually quite efficient - makes a nice change.

All everyone is really interested in is getting their slice of the pie so as long as you pay your money you will get your aircraft through without a hitch. :D

Good luck - give us a shout if you run into difficulty and I will help out where I can.

[Peg Leg]

My 2 cents worth Wingnut

Make very sure NO fuel and oil anywhere near the trike - clean the engine with a degreaser before shipping in ZA - Quarantine can easily charge you heaps here to clean the engine from old oil, grease & fuel.

Like cloud warrior suggested, make sure you clean the trike as well, escpecially the wheels and around the inside of any mud gaurds - they are bound to inspect there.

You should also contact the RAA http://www.auf.asn.au/ in Oz for latest requirements - I believe they are very helpful. In oz you can appearantly register your Trike in HGFA or RAA - not quite sure what is the difference or which is best, but worth your while finding out - http://www.hgfa.asn.au/HGFA/HGFA.htm

Lastly, there are several clubs around Oz, do you know where you are going? (sorry if it sounds like a stupid question), but if you can get in touch with a local club, it might also help

[wingnut]

Thank you very much Pegleg, Cloud Warrior, Skybound.

The info is very useful, I am slowly but surely beginning to understand the process.

I do not know for certain where we are going yet, it could be Brisbane, Melbourne or Adelaide!

Hope to find out soon!

Thanks again
W

[skybound®]

If going by sea - it will probably be quite a while between engine runs. Would be a good idea to inhibit the motor as best you can.

When I shipped my 582 powered Kitfox by sea, I took two 100ml syringes and filled them with mineral 2 stroke oil . I took the air filters off, and with motor idling squeezed each syringe full into each carb simultaneously.

I thought this action would flood and kill the motor - but it did not.

In fact shut down, refilled and did action a second time, this time squeezed faster. Still did not die, BUT hell there was tons of smoke Then closed off all openings, intakes and exhaust.

[Mc Guyver]

[ The Solowings manufactured aircraft have already been type approved here in Oz (thank you so much whoever that was!) so it is deemed to be a standard type here.

I imported my Aquilla into Oz October 2003 and registered it with HGFA:D

[wingnut]

Thanks for the advice once again. I was also thinking about putting some oil through the carbs to "moth-ball" the engine a little bit.

McGuyver, can you confirm whether or not you needed an export airworthiness certificate or any other fancy paperwork? Or just de-registration certificate from CAA, and your old registration from CAA, and old Authority to fly?

I know of some Aquilla's in OZ, and that they are type approved in Oz, but can someone confirm that is also the case for the Windlass?

Where do I get a shipping crate?

Thanks
W

[Cloud Warrior]

Werner

They won't know the subtle difference between a Solowings Aquilla / Windlass I assure you. Wait until you tell them that you have something like a Piet De Necker prop fitted! They are still battling with that spelling!

I don't think you will have a problem as long as it has been manufactured by Solowings.

You will only need a deregistration cert from CAA. Your local Level 2 maintainer will airworthy the trike when you get here.

[Cloud Warrior]

Civil Aviation Order 95.32

CAO 95.32 is an operational standard which provides exemption for factory/kit built single place and two place weight shift controlled aeroplanes ('trikes' or 'powered hang gliders' or 'microlights') and powered parachutes, registered with RA-Aus – or the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia in the case of trikes – from some provisions of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The manufacturer of the aeroplane, or kit, must hold a CASA approval, usually in the form of a 'Certificate of Type Approval'. Trikes have a MTOW limitation of 450 kg and stall speed not greater than 40 knots. Powered chutes have weight and stall speed limitations of 300 kg and 10 knots.

[wingnut]

Thank you so much for all the advice. Basically all I am going to do is the following:

1) Go to CAA and ask for a de-registration certificate. (They then take my original certificate of registration and Authority to fly from me and they keep it)

2) Pack my microlight and "post" it to myself in Australia.

3) In Australia, present my de-registration certificate and register it in Australia, with their forms and paperwork.

Hope this plan works.....