many collisions, it is a north-south
magnetic track rule.
The second major difference is
the requirements for distance from
cloud. It’s 2 km in NZ (Class C and
D airspace below 10,000 ft –there
is no Class E, and Class G between
3000 ft and 10,000 ft), whereas in
Australia it is 1.5 km in Class C, E
and G, and 600 m in Class D.
Special VFR in NZ requires 1.5
km visibility (and a minimum ceiling
of 600 ft), whereas in Australia it is
1.6 km and clear of cloud.
Transponder codes for VFR fixed
wing aircraft in NZ include 1200
for VFR, 1400 in general aviation
areas, and 2200 in the circuit of a
controlled aerodrome. In Australia,
there are different codes like 3000
for Class C or D control zones like
Moorabbin, and 0100 at Essendon.
In Australia, under normal
conditions, the transition altitude is
10,000 ft, well above Mt Kosciuszko
at 7310 ft, whereas in NZ it is
13,000 ft, enabling south-bound
VFR at 12,500 ft to clear the highest
point of Mt Cook at 12,218 ft.
Australia requires four documents
to be carried: the maintenance release,
flight manual, pilot’s licence and
medical. For NZ the list also includes
the airworthiness certificate, weight
and balance data and radio licence, but
excludes the licences and medicals.There is a two-hour difference
between Australia and NZ so it
is necessary to convert to UTC
and back again in both places in
standard and daylight saving time.
The magnetic variation difference
between the two countries is
significant: 11.4° East at Moorabbin
and 19.3° East in Auckland.The Australian AFR
Aeroplane Flight Reviews in Australia
are generally a multi point cross-
country flight involving controlled and
uncontrolled airports and airspace.
A flight plan and weight and balance
are required and a diversion requesteden route by the instructor is to be
expected. The other exercises are
fitted in during that flight.
The reasons for the navigation
emphasis are no doubt twofold.
In Australia it is easy to get lost.
Unlike NZ where you can simply
turn east or west and quickly find
the coast, if you turned west at
Bankstown you would run out of
fuel long before Perth. The distances
in Australia are huge and instructors
want to be sure you know how to
navigate and where you are at all
times. For this reason a simulated
lost exercise is common.
The airspace in Australia is busier,
more complicated and variable.australianflying.com.au 37
March – April 2015 AUSTRALIAN FLYINGMAIN: Paul Southwick gets VH-
DDS ready for his Aeroplane Flight
Review at Moorabbin.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Ardmore
Aerodrome in Auckland, where the
author did his NZ flight review.