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Post by beagle on Nov 16, 2006 19:59:24 GMT 12
Anyone from down south been out to check out these big blocks of ice, either by fixed wing or whirlybird.
See TV3 landed there yesterday on one.
They said on tv tonight that one guy took his plane out there with pax without life jackets.
mmmmmmm thought all over water flights had to have lifejackets.
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Post by beagle on Nov 16, 2006 20:06:15 GMT 12
Do you think the Air Force will be doing extra patrols of those areas just to keep updated on them.
Maybe operate out of dunedin or chch for a week.
Did not see any at chc today
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Post by turboNZ on Nov 16, 2006 20:08:20 GMT 12
I saw the reporter doing his broadcast there. Now that would be an experience and a half.
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Post by corsair67 on Nov 16, 2006 20:16:15 GMT 12
If 'Mr' Helen Clark hadn't 'murdered' the Air Combat Wing, then they could be out using them (the 'bergs - not the idiots without life jackets!) for target practice!
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Post by beagle on Nov 16, 2006 20:18:23 GMT 12
From memory reading about the problems with regards Erebus, would the icebergs actually be seen on the skyhawk radar  ?? |
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Post by corsair67 on Nov 16, 2006 20:21:01 GMT 12
Maybe not, but all the other aircraft circling the bergs would show up okay on the radar.  |
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Post by beagle on Nov 16, 2006 20:25:00 GMT 12
In the future if we have more of these, the navy could tow the berg at a faster rate and take it to Auckland to put into the new NZ Stadium (situated by the new international low fares airport, aka whenuapai) for the world ice hockey cup 2012
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 16, 2006 21:30:55 GMT 12
Hmmm, now you're thinking Beags. I suggest you email Trevor Mallard with that one. He may put some of his billions towards the defence budget to facilitate this...
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Post by beagle on Nov 16, 2006 21:39:38 GMT 12
Ok if Infratill ends up getting control of Whenuapai and uses the money to completely upgrade the main runway, it will be only that one runway, so there would be heaps of land left to put the stadium.
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Post by corsair67 on Nov 22, 2006 10:22:29 GMT 12
From stuff.co.nz.
CAA 'keeping an eye' on iceberg tourist flights
21 November 2006
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) inspectors are monitoring flights to the flotilla of icebergs off the Otago Peninsula as air operators take advantage of a windfall tourism opportunity.
Many southern commercial aviation companies are ferrying tourists to and from the icebergs and charging passengers up to $500 a seat for a glimpse of the Antarctic rogues that are rarely seen off New Zealand shores.
Business has been brisk over the last week, with small airlines and helicopter companies inundated with inquiries from passengers keen to view the icebergs.
But despite the extra air traffic offshore, the CAA says it has few concerns and operators appear to be following the rules.
Commercial flight operators certified to fly within New Zealand's domestic aviation region may fly to the icebergs if they stay within 185km of the coast. Aircraft must be fully equipped with lifejackets, liferafts and safety equipment.
CAA spokesman Bill Sommer told NZPA today the increased number of offshore flights was "nowhere near the same amount of traffic between Queenstown and Wanaka every day".
Mr Sommer said several companies appeared to be "jumping on the bandwagon" but the skies over the icebergs were not becoming overcrowded and the Airways Corporation, which provides radar coverage throughout the country, was "unlikely to set up iceberg control".
"There's not really all that many (flying to the icebergs) and I think they'd be lucky to see one another down there, there's so few," he said.
CAA had no real concerns as the companies offering the sightseeing trips were all commercial operators.
"They're aware of all their responsibilities under the rules and as far as we can see they're sticking to them," Mr Sommer said. "It's a bit of a novelty at the moment."
However, CAA flight operations inspectors were already in Otago for routine spot checks and were "keeping an eye on the situation".
Mr Sommer said while the iceberg flights were operating in uncontrolled air space, it was no different to aviation companies flying in New Zealand's remote backblocks.
The CAA made regular spot checks throughout the aviation industry "to ensure air operators are doing what they're supposed to".
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Post by skyhawkdon on Nov 22, 2006 14:16:05 GMT 12
From memory reading about the problems with regards Erebus, would the icebergs actually be seen on the skyhawk radar ?? Yes I'm sure they would have shown up very clearly in both Ground Map and Maritime modes. Most civilian aircraft radars (including the DC-10 that flew into Erebus) have weather radars which work on the principle of a moisture gradient (i.e. the more moisture in the cloud the better the radar return). As Antarctic ice is very dry I doubt most weather radars would pick them up in weather mode at least - if they have a ground map mode they might work OK - just like the Skyhawk radar would. Most ship radars should also have no trouble "seeing" them (the bits sticking out of the water at least!). |
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