Microlighters

I have been in consultation with both Rand and Grand Central Airport management. Initially they wanted to charge gyro's as fixed wings, because we use the runway.

I pointed out to them that gyro's are rotorwings, and should be billed accordingly, after all, if a helicopter is heavy, and uses the runway for take off by building up some forward speed first, do they charge him fixed wing rates, of course not!

Helicopter landing fees are also MUCH CHEAPER! Instead of +-R50 for a fixed wing, a helicopter or gyro pays R4.50 for landing fees, and R4.62 for approach fees!

If anyone has any hassles with this, contact Joey Kilian from Rand Airport Management accounts (011 827 8884/5/6) or Sarah at Grand Central Airport (011 805 3166).

These two ladies have also instructed ATC to log our landings as rotorwing landings! MAN I LOVE FLYING ROTORCRAFT!!!

If there are any other landing fee disputes at other airfields, use the name of these two ladies, and they can phone them to verify this.

Hi Glenn

Thank you for making the effort to point out to the ATC where we should be.

Does the same applies to Wonderboom?

Hi FO Gyro,

Thanks for this info, during December i flew down in Margate,
they billed me R25-00 / landing, total cost for holliday period
R850-00, 34 landings

Regards
Willie

Hi Gerrit,

I haven't spoken to Wonderboom management yet. I think the best is to phone them prior to flying in and clear up the matter. At least Rand and Grand Central have set the precedent. If they argue, just mention Rand and Grand Central's policy.

Kind regards
Glenn

Hi FO Gyro

I second Condor but find the reference to Grand Central quite interesting.

A few months ago Condor and I were considering flying into some controlled airfields to gain experience with ATCs. My suggestion was Grand Central but when I telephoned the tower I was advised that gyros are not permitted to land there.

Perhaps they have revised their policy or have realised that gyros are not microlights. I will telephone them again when I remember and report back here.

Gyros have always been accepted at Grand Central. I know of at least 2 gyros that are based there. I also did my conversion from fixed wing PPL to gyro at Grand Central but that was 7 years ago and may be this has changed since. But what about the 2 machines that fly from there right now ?

Hi VT

Don't know. I was just relating what the tower told me.

I will find out more though.

I had the experience of flying into Grand Central about 5 years ago, and was told microlights weren't allowed there. I then turned back not knowing any better, and not wanting to argue.

When I then phoned the then SAGPA chairman, he made it quite clear that gyro's weren't microlights. I took it up with FAGC management then, and since then I think things have been ok for gyro's.