Microlighters

Now that I'm staying in the Cape, was just wondering what is the legality with regard to landing on a deserted beach, in particular along the West Coast.

There is no reference to landing on the beach in the CATS or CARS as far as I know, and was wondering if there are any restrictions in place our friends at the Department of Environmental Affairs/Forestry?

Yup Deat says no go. But what to do when your engine starts misfiring

Thinkin' about it and just thought about this: A micro landing on a beach, using only about 150m of shoreline. That is less damage than 3 people walking along the beach for 1km. And you can only land on the hard wet sand wich gets damage by the incoming tide. So there's no damage to any ecosystem whatsoever.

Just do a precautionary before touching down. The sand can look safe from 50ft up, but it can bite you very hard.

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/ar ... pnews.html

This clever pilot in Oz tried it. Look how proudly he poses with his bent gyro. Apart from the mast and rotors, notice how the control-rods are broken and buckled. He claimed it was a gust of wind but I suspect another very similar situation which happened closer to home tells the real story in the CAA accident report below.

Incidentally the same Oz pilot pictured above repaired his gyro... but alas, during a subsequent flight it appears one of the control-rods / ball-joints came loose in mid-flight with tragic consequences.

Soft beach sand, gyros with their tricycle undercarriage and nice heavy rotors = high COG = rollover waiting to happen.

Speak to the locals regards Beach conditions and how to assess them - it can bite - even when at low tide, it is possible to have areas of soft mushy sand - ask Coyote.

The legalities - no one will give you permission - but IMHO if you stay clear of crowds, and do not make a public nuisance of yourself, you should be ok.

Glenn.
Haven’t seen or spoken to you for a while. Firstly, congrats on the little pink foot.
WRT beach landings, there are three spots that we use, isolated and with known conditions.
We have broad tyres and therefore leave negligible markings on the beach.
You whirlybirds should have no problem putting down, zero run? and the take off run at two of the spots are ample enough. Will gladly assist, alternatively visit Gert at www.ZU-DVE.com for info.
Safe flying.
Graham.

I had a look at the law some time ago. If I remember correctly it says 4 wheeled vehicles, and something about a steering mechanism. So officer, please write on that ticket how many wheels you see, oh and uhm officer, can you please pose for a picture at this here vehicle's steering wheel.

gertcoetzee wrote:I had a look at the law some time ago. If I remember correctly it says 4 wheeled vehicles, and something about a steering mechanism. So officer, please write on that ticket how many wheels you see, oh and uhm officer, can you please pose for a picture at this here vehicle's steering wheel.

Did you take a pic of w3.zu-dve.com??

In the environmental reg of 2004:

"vehicle” means any motorised conveyance which is designed to transport one or more persons on land
and includes a trailer.

Need to research the CATS and CARS to see what it says about landings not at an aerodrome.

Great so we dont have vehicles as we dont transport one or more people on land but we do so in the air

Regards
Sukkelaar

Need to research the CATS and CARS to see what it says about landings not at an aerodrome.

O yes, I don't say for one moment you should purposefully land on the beach. However, a precautionary landing is permitted.

A little bit further up the West Coast there is a hotel right on the beach. So a gaggle of microlighters used to land right in front of the hotel, have some drinks (coke I presume) and something to eat, and as they got back to the trikes they were accosted by the chappie from Coastal Affairs . They pleaded precautionary landing, with someone starting his enjin (mags off) to demonstrate. The chappie said, yes sir, I can see you have a problem, but why do you always have the problem on this beach?

"vehicle” means any motorised conveyance which is designed to transport one or more persons on land and includes a trailer.

Yes, that is the bit I remember from Kortbroek's regulations.

Landing on the beach

And the Officer can just put the ticket, under the wiper on the windscreen.

Landing on the beach early morning for a cup of coffee is very special but as Skybound says - it can bite hard and cost alot of money if you get it wrong (ask me)

Thought that might bring you out of hiding Coyote

In the older days when 4x4s were more plentifull was a great assistance to judge the sand condition as can be seen by this photograph of a coffee break.