Xcountry fuel requirements

[Henni]

Hi everyone,

Until now I've never had a microlight before that can go places, so please exuse my ignorance.

When you more advetureous guys go on very long cross country flights, what do you do to obtain petrol & two stroke oil along the way. Are there clubs & airfields that sell these, or do you make provisions by phone before each trip?

Just curious as I'd like to start to also go places for a change.

Henni

[Big-D]

Start off by coming to visit us at AP - You won't need to refuel, say when - Better yet, Bring Philip along and we will show you guys around

D

[Henni]

Hi Big D,

Thanks for the invitation. I'll take you up on that one soon.

My eldest (age 27) son normally flies with me but I'll see what I can do.

Regards,

Henni

[Henni]

Hi everyone,

Demon, thanx for the advice.

Big D, looking at my Google earth pic, would you use the Pinedene route from Siera Romeo to AP through Waterkloof or would you squeege through between Waterkloof & Wonderboom?

You're good at this, so please help me quickly with the correct radio procedures all the way to you & maybe I'll visit over weekend. I'll get used to this as I visit further & further. Up to now has been mostly around the patch for me in the MXII.

I know there's a similar thread, but I want a procedure that's specific for this flight.

Regards,

Henni

[Henni]

Maybe this says it all:


"Enter the FAWK CTR south-east of Microland airfield when flying from the east. Stay clear of the FAJS CTR. Contact FAWK on 124.1.

The biggest problem usually is that pilots do not know the correct radio procedure and then gets on the wrong side of the ATC. As always, knowing what to expect and what to say will make it a lot easier. The conversation will go something like this:

Pilot: Good morning, Waterkloof. This is Microlight ZU-ABC.
ATC: ABC go ahead.

If the ATC is busy he will reply and ask you stand by. Once he has acknowledged you, your reg is written down on the log so he won't forget about you.

Pilot: Microlight ABC, 2 on board, enroute from Petit to Hartebeespoort dam. Currently at the CTR boundary in the Bapsfontein area, altitude 5500 ft. Request routing via Pinedene for Hartebeespoortdam. ABC.
ATC: ABC routing approved. QNH 1021. Remain at 5500ft or below. Report overhead Pinedene next.
Pilot: QNH 1021, 5500 or below, report overhead Pinedene next. ABC.

You'll most likely be routed at 5500ft or below which is about 500ft AGL. Keep an eye out for the power lines that converge east of Pinedene station.

Pilot: ABC overhead Pinedene at 5500 ft.
ATC: ABC report outbound approaching Ultra City Next, remain 5500ft or below.
Pilot: Report outbound approaching Ultra City next, 5500 or below. ABC.

Pilot: ABC outbound you CTR at 5500 ft.
ATC: ABC contact GC on 122.8 . Goodbye.
Pilot: Thank you sir, goodbye.

Pilot: Good morning, Grand Central. This is Microlight ZU-ABC.
ATC: ABC go ahead.
Pilot: Microlight ABC, 2 on board. At the Waterkloof CTR boundary approaching Ultra City, altitude 5500 ft. Request routing for Hartebeespoort dam.
ATC: ABC cross the extended centreline of rwy 35 at 5500ft. Report overhead R28.
Pilot: Cross the extended centreline of rwy 35 at 5500ft. Report overhead R28 next. ABC.
Pilot: ABC Overhead R28, 5500ft.
ATC: ABC transmit on 125.8 in SRW. Goodbye.
Pilot: Thank you sir, goodbye.

On the return trip contact GC first and expect to be routed at 6000' usually. If there are other fixed-wing aircraft on the route already, you'll get a lower route."

Only question remaining: Would you use this route or rather fly through in between Waterkloof & Wonderboom?

Henni

[Big-D]

Yeah, I asked the question long ago and based on Cloudbase's info as you posted I did Pinidene the first time - After that have done it about 20 times!

Piece of cake

Let us know when you are coming - Sunday will be great

D
082five033eight93

[Morph]

To answer your original question

Carry your 2-stroke oil with you packed away somewhere. If one-up add fuel to the PAX seat. We usually have someone going by car, softnesses, mates etc that carry fuel, otherwise we often arrange fuel en-route or at the destination. This is only when we are going as a group to a fly in. Usually at fly-ins the organisers arrange for fuel for you

Additionally on really long trips you can safely fill up with Avgas. I have filled up at Worchester and Mosselbay with no problems. It is more expensive but a Rattex easily digests it and if you pre-mix use the same ratio of 2-stroke oil. Avgas is 103 Octane leaded petrol so it will gunge the plugs up a little bit quicker and long term use will cause some carbon build up. It also mixes well with standard fuel already in the tanks as well.

Get yourself the book on Microlight Airfields of Southern Africa by Jan and Elsabe Coetzee. It's got all the airfields, whether they offer fuel or not and contact telephone numbers. Phone first to confirm they will accept you. Stay away from the Heavy airfields like CTintl, OT, George, Lanseria etc . Some are just anal and wont admin you anyway such as Krugerdorp for example and Grand Central. Rand Airport does.

[RV4ker (RIP)]

Go Pinedene and if FAWK is unmanned, broadcast your routing. Call inbound Pinedene and Outbound at Ultra City. Woolworths has just completed a new distribution Centre (big Wollworths sign on side) which is easy to see from miles away just East of the ultra City. I usually call outbound there and this gives FAGC time to respond before I barrel through the extended centreline of 35. Also if FAWK is unmanned, call if you hear anyone else on the route and confirm their QNH is exactly the same as yours else can be a bit when you get close together. Separation will usually only be 500'. Also watch for traffic in and out of Fly Inn & Kitty, but they should be on same Freq...

The Pinedene station is a bit tough to see when the smoke is bad. I route just to the N of the power lines and call overhead the railway line running N/S if you can't see the Pinedene station..

Enjoy it...

[DieselFan]

Pinedene route is quick and easy, between Waterkloof and Wonderboom, you mean over Swartkop? Normally the routing that way is over the mountains so south of WB and via Kitty Hawk, Mamelodi.

My aircraft flies pinedene like others fly downwind on their home airfield, stupid auto pilot.

Only problem with the conversation mentioned above is that GC Tower is normally a chick Nice voice too and the best thing is you have her number Just be prepared for some odd reason my radio crackles big time over the powerlines but only by the Shell and this sucks when she's waiting for your reply...

I'm told she looks like the Ozzie pole athlete.

[Big-D]

Yeah, good advice from George

If Waterkloof unmanned don't do as DH and I did: (Flying from Petit to AP)

We called Waterkloof tower. Nothing

Tried again: Nothing - Oops, must be something wrong with radio so we routed past Cullinan to get home to AP - Twice as far :D Radio started working again on route to Cullinan

Finally get home, phone Demon - Tell him radio was broken there for a while, no he says - Tower was unmanned

If nobody answers keep broadcasting your position - Can do radio check with Central Radio on 122.80

D

[Henni]

Hi all,

Wow, thanks for all the replies. When will I be able to say that it's a piece of cake? But one has to start somewhere.

Big D, I'll see if I can arrange for Sunday then - I'll let you know.

Great to hear Rotax can burn Avgas, no problem. Sad to hear that a smallish airfield like i.e. Krugersdorp will not admin microlights - I've thought that that kind of stigma has been buried ages ago.

I'll prepare myself for some serious cross country flying in the future. Me & my Mizer will go places from now on. Now, If I can find hangarage closer to home, I'll be more central and would not have to cross through all these airspaces when going somewhere. And this might just all happen this coming weekend!

I know I post way too much here - but you're all a great bunch of guys and girls & I really, really enjoy this kind of communication. I think if one is based at an active airfield, all of this happens verbally over weekends, a privilage that I've not had up to now.

Take care,

Henni

[Morph]

I know I post way too much here - but you're all a great bunch of guys and girls & I really, really enjoy this kind of communication.

Talk about someone who posts too much look at my number of posts No you are welcome, the forum needs folks who use it, otherwise it remains static and boring

I think if one is based at an active airfield, all of this happens verbally over weekends, a privilage that I've not had up to now.

Yes this definately happens hence the name 'Hangar Talk' which is why we created our own version here for folks who do not have this social side.

We are very fortunate in the Western Cape because we have a great club, WCMC, (Western Cape Microlight Club) spread out over a number of airfields with the new club house opening soon at Morning Star. We also have great groups at each of our airfields as well especially Morning Star, Wintervogel and Goedverwagcht. The guys tend to arrange trips together and fly together which is what I love. I hate flying alone. Other airfields in the club are Grootfontein, Fisantekraal, Altona, Delta200 and Contemanskloof. We have a great social and flying community

[Gyronaut]

Great advice, thanks guys. I am going to the Carnarvon fly-in (weather permitting) and have been toying with strapping 2 gerry cans in the back seat & refeulling at Sutherland. I should have at least 25litres in the tank, fill up myself and go the next 133miles. Thats another 40 litres max burn so should still be left with 25 by the time I get to Carnarvon. Right? (this is on the safe side since not even a Rattex 914F burns that much!) Feel free to comment please, I have thought about expansion causing a possible leak and a helluva dangerous situation, so my rule is, if I smell petrol I land and check it out.

I was wondering if there are any safety regulations one might be inadvertantly breaching? Do you think steel Gerry cans with lockpins are ok from sea level to 5000ft if not too full? 18 litres max perhaps?

Len

[DieselFan]

I was wondering if there are any safety regulations one might be inadvertantly breaching? Do you think steel Gerry cans with lockpins are ok from sea level to 5000ft if not too full? 18 litres max perhaps?

Len

Good question, never thort about that, all I know is if they've been shaken they open like Champaigne

[Tumbleweed]

Yes, take your brand of oil, and your own fuel hose.

You never know if the oke has one or where it's been.