Microlighters

Can anyone provide some guidance on trip planning and logistics around a trip to Mozambique?

Routing, stop-overs, fuel, places to stay in Mozambique, admin (flight plans, etc.), rules & regulations (e.g. is landing on beaches allowed, what to be aware of, etc.)?

Also, what would be the best time of year to go with respect to flying weather (longest windows of opportunity for flight)?

I will be flying from Aeroden (Magaliesburg).

Also, anyone keen to come along??

Many thanks,

John

Oh, and what clothing needed? Costume . . . . what else?

Are you planning to fly to Mozambique?

John

A couple of us considered a trip up the Mozambique coast last June, but the more we researched it, the more the difficulties and red tape put us off. You need to apply weeks in advance apparently for flight clearances for trikes. We were going to fly from Howick to King Shaka (they kindly agreed to accommodate us, even without transponders) and would have routed up the coast to Maputo, cleared customs and carried on up the coast. But when we looked at costs of landing at places like Vilacoulos or Inhambane to refuel etc, there were huge landing fees involved (like up to $500 for 3 trikes) etc. Fuel would have been a schlep too, although we were going to fly with a Jerry can each and refuel that way, but at each stop you need to find a local to drive you to a petrol station, and they apparently take you for a ride (scuse the pun). So as appealing as the trip was, we eventually canned it after being told that it was a logistical and financial nightmare. In fact, I think I spoke to Mark Becker about it, and he had some good advice about Moz, but also mentioned huge costs and possible security issues with the planes, but I can't remember details.

In the end we went on a 4 day trip around Lesotho (it was going to be a 14 day trip, but a huge cold front sent us home). My 2c worth would be fly through Zim, up to Vic falls, along Kariba and back down. I fly into Bulawayo fairly regularly in our Mooney on business, and they are accommodating, friendly, pretty cheap and still an awesome flying community up there that would help you if anything went wrong.

I can give you some guidance on flying into Zim if you decided to go that way. I'd also love to fly with you, but both my partner and I don't have flying trikes at the moment!

Cheers
Craig

They do not like trikes in Moz..I think the war of recent and also lack of knowledge, main reason.
Dont venture where you are not welcome..
There are no private runways where you can land..All other runways are under controle of their aviation laws and those administrating those laws does not know the difference between a trike or a Sabre.
The moment you land at a runway an officer with a clipboard will rush to you and will demand you to complete a number of forms, You will probably be detained while they need to clear you with the CAA in SA...There after they will demand money from you..Landing fee plus,,plus..
Bear in mind also there are no trike pilots in Moz to assist you..( not to my knowledge)
We live in Africa..
In Nam the picture are completely different..There are trike pilots, Microlight and Light sport aircraft pilots and many people who are ready to assist..eg farmers with runways on their farms all wanting you to land there.
I planned a flight outing to Nam last year and had to abort after my trike was blown away at Reivilo in the Northern Cape.
So, to cut a long storey short: if you are a triker, seeking adventure, go to Namibie..
And maybe I will join you..!!!

You can talk to Paul "mulderpm" on the forum. He took his trike to Moz last year

Bulletjie wrote:Are you planning to fly to Mozambique?

Ya ou Bullettjie, but the more I read, the more I think I must drive!!!

Pity about all the negative stuff, its my dream to fly up and dive manta reef...

The fellows to ask are from Nelspruit and Swaziland. I have flown around Torfu and iNhambane back in 2000 and 2001. I towed in back then to avoid paperwork. Rigged at iNhambane and had the place to myself. Landed on the beach at Barra Reef and parked under a coconut tree. Hence CEW has still got a neat hole from bomb damage. Those days it was awesome with little paperwork and ATC was user friendly. I used to fly across the bay to buy pau from Maxixe..but now i am anal to paperwork and customs details...Bar babalaas was the best crab curry in the world and we bought sacks of oysters for R50!

Sad bit was flying over those russian sea bed vacuum cleaners, best bit was fish spotting for serra and watching the dhows early morning from the air and flamingoes in the evening. We spent several months on the beach...

We were in Mocambique last week (that is why I had to sit out on the Swartkop/Waterkloof fly-past )

I think it was last Tuesday that I heard the sound of an aircraft following the coastline from the south........ Rushed outside and lo and behold this green Bantam comes cruising by. We were plus minus 25 kilos south of Inhambane, and I guessed he was probably on his way to Inhambane..... I could not see the reg number.

It must be absolutely aewsome to fly that coast.....

John,

I went there in January this year. The flying was awsome and the scenery breath taking. I trailered across the border and riged her in Bilene. I then flew there for a couple of days and then flew up to Inhambane. I flew there for a week or so and then flew back to bilene and trailered her back to South Africa. Border crossing was no problem with her on the trailer, they did not even know what it was (one offical asked if it was parachute?)

Your ATF is only valid in the visiting country if you have clearance from their CAA. This was a mission to get and I only received my clearance the day before I left. Alow 3 weeks. Your point of contact is their Aero Club. Fax the following request to Aero Clube de Moçambique, Alves Gomes (Fax: 00 258 21 465 415) :

Application: CLEARANCE TO FLY IN MOZAMBIQUE

Aircraft Registration:
Aircraft Type:
Aircraft Category:
Aircraft Total Wight:
Aircraft Colour:
Pilot in Command:
Pilot Lic.No. :
Passenger:

Route:
Entry: 20th January 2012

We intend to enter at Resano Garcia on the 20th of January 2012 with the aircraft on it’s trailer. We intend to rig the aircraft on the 21st of January 2012 at Bilene airfield. We intend to fly along the coast to Inhambane Airport on the 23rd of January 2012. We intend to fly along the coast to Vilankulo Airport on the 28th of January 2012 and returning to Inhambane on the 29th of January 2012. We intend to fly back to Bilene on the 4th of February 2012. A total duration of 16 days.

Exit: 5th February 2012

Aircraft Details

The aircraft is a two seat Solo Wings Aircraft Windlass Aquila (type Z 159), registration ZU-XXX and with a cruise of 50knots and a maximum service ceiling of FL90. We have a range of 400kms (3 hours) and will be two crew only, Piet Pompies (owner) myself and Pietse Tjom, my partner.

Color is white, blue and green and licenced all up mass is 350Kg

Reason for flight: HOLIDAY
Flight Status / Rules: General / Visual

Piet Spanner Pompies(Owner & Pilot in Command)
Passport No: XXXXXXXX
Ph +27 12 XXX XXXX
Ph +27 12 XXX XXXX
Fax +27 XXX XXXX
Mobile: +27 81 XXX XXXX
e-mail address


Aero Clube de Moçambique, Alves Gomes, can be contacted on Cel: 00 258 82 30 12 520 or @ agomes@vialgo.co.mz. Be patient, he is often unreachable.
SA Aero Club (AeCSA), Kevin Storie, can be contacted on 011 082 1100.

You get a number that looks like the following: DTA XXX A2012. Memorise it!

All airfields charge Landing ($12), Naviagation ($15), parking ($5) fees per flight. You also pay for passengers ($10) but not for a co-pilot, say no more. Be sure that you go there with backup, like a trailer and more than one Trike. Also, for cross country trips,take all your emergency equipment with you on your Trike. First Aid Kit, Stripes, water, matches, dired fruit, biltong etc. There is no local backup. If you have to make an emergency landing (on the beach or tar road) you will not get her out without your own backup.

P.S. beach landings at the lodges is strictly for emergencies. Sorry, fun landing @ Barra Lodge/reef will get you in big trouble. Those days are over.

PM me if you need more info.

Hope you go there and fly.

My Avatar is on the beach in Moz near Quissico. Re-feul stop.

John,

Have you left yet?

To answer your un-answered questions:

Routing, stop-overs, fuel, places to stay in Mozambique, - There are very few private airstrips that I know of South of Beira. Here are some airfields - Vilanculos (Ogenu, 00 258 29 382 477, TWR 118.3Mhz), Pomeni (Lodge strip, Dave Krause 00 258 84 46 54 572), Inhambane (George Tembe, 00 258 82 97 22 150, TWR 118.4Mhz), Xai-Xai (??), Bilene (Bernado, 00 258 82 47 29 470, 00 258 84 38 91 430, unmanned 124.1Mhz)

admin (flight plans, etc.), - All flights out and back to an ATC airfield (Inhambane & Vilankulos) require a flight plan to be logged. Like in RSA. If you intend to fly from unmanned into Inhambane or Vilankulos phone them beforehand so that they expect you. Like RSA.

rules & regulations (e.g. is landing on beaches allowed, what to be aware of, etc.)? Not allowed. Beach surfaces are deceptable, causing you to flip your Trike very easily. Be very carefull!! The rural frequency or for unmanned airfields is 124.1 (like our 124.. I never heard anyone on this frequency except at the unmanned airfields.

Also, what would be the best time of year to go with respect to flying weather (longest windows of opportunity for flight)? Winter time is arguably the best time. I was grounded in late January for a week due to Hurricane Funso. But, after she left, the weather was perfect for the rest of my stay. Be prepared for turbulence and rain, any time of the year. Very different from Highveld flying.

I will be flying from Aeroden (Magaliesburg). - After some careful consideration and seeing that I was the only Trike, I trailered her in. This meant that I could always pack her up if things went wrong. I would also recomend that your vehicle is a 4X4 so that you can get to her with your trailer in the case of an emergency. There are very few sedan type roads. Sand tracks are the norm. In an emergency you can only realy land on the beach or the tar road, the latter is scarce. Stick to the coast.

Also, anyone keen to come along?? - maybe next year.

Oh, and what clothing needed? Costume . . . . what else? - When I was flying, I wore my flight suit with a costume underneath. I did take shorts & a T-shirt in my pannier bag. In Jan the temps were in the low 30's. In July temps are in the high 20's. Never realy cold. You only need one pair of long pants and a wind breaker (for when it rains) for the rest of the time.

Hope you go. You will enjoy it.

Hi John,

Why not fly to Oom Blue Max's place or Tribal Crocs place first....Awesome times my friend....

The Chain Gang is planning a trip for a saturday flight there and sunday flight back to Blue Max's place....

Your are welcome to join...

John, pse take your softness and her camera with you when you go. My bakkie's diff is still leaking!

Cheers,

Thanks everyone, especially Paul (mulderpm), for the excellent information and taking the time to pen it!!

Wow! Lots to consider!

PS: No, not flying yet!!

I arrived at this topic too late John.... was also going to suggest you contact MulderPM as above. (I still want your Reg No Paul! ZU AMH )

I'm glad you have some useful info and hope it gets you to fly Moz sometime......Must be awesome, but reading through this convinces me to rather fly to Sodwana (I absolutely Hate paperwork and officials who have a chip on their shoulder, always fishing for bribes. No doubt you will discover both. )

Good Luck!