Dodging Storms and Cyclones
Hello everyone!
The plane spotters and flightradar24 enthusiasts among us might have been a bit surprised to see me depart Townsville…. with a flight plan lodged for Mt Isa!
I’ll remind you of a little piece I’ve put on another part of the website, “With November heralding the build up to the wet season in the northern parts of Australia, there is a possibility that it may not be safe for me to fly to some of the top-most destinations such as Darwin.”
I can also be quoted in a media interview 3 weeks ago, saying that in aviation “It’s important to have a plan, but also accept that plans do change”.
And this flight marks the official start of a changed flight plan!
Why am I doing this? Well….
In the tropical region, weather is dictated by the two general phases of a wet and a dry season, with the wet usually occurring from November to February. Conditions in these times are marked by rain, storms and low pressure systems- extreme lows are what we also call cyclones.
Flying in the wet season, I was well aware of the potential risks that could arise. I was also aware that there is a lot that I don’t know. Growing up in Sydney, I’m not intricately attuned to the particular patterns in weather and systems of a completely different climate, and I have a deep admiration for aviators with hundreds or even thousands of hours of experience in the north, as that level of experience and understanding requires years of flying to build up. That’s why I have taken into consideration to a great extent the advice offered to me by pilots around the country, with a local knowledge which can only be acquired after actually living in a place.
Working off the advice I’ve been given and the information I have from my own research, safe command decisions and a deep respect for the weather of Australia’s north, as it is a power much bigger than myself, are the driving factors of this flight.
Off the coast of Queensland, Cyclone Jasper is brewing, and whilst it was yet to strike the coast, it is already causing mayhem, with most afternoons featuring crosswinds too strong for little November! Even if you aren’t in aviation, I’m sure you’ll understand that tropical cyclones and aeroplanes go together like… well… tropical cyclones and aeroplanes - it’s not pretty!
My primary published goal of the flight was to circumnavigate Australia, but first and foremost my aim is to conduct it in a way that is safe and legal. So I made the decision to break away from the coast and track west.
This is a disappointing outcome, and not a choice that I made lightly. Cairns, for example, was only 90 minutes from Townsville, and felt so tantalisingly close and achievable. I had media engagements lined up, I had planned to visit the control tower, and I had also just received a heartwarming message from a young woman and aspiring aviator based there too! However, the idea of “I must get to a place” is a dangerous mindset, especially in visual flight, and whilst I’m so grateful and thankful for what would have welcomed me on the ground there, none of it is worth putting myself at risk for.
About an hour after my departure, the east coast winds became too strong for me to land at Cairns, so it was definitely the smart choice to head inland. Perhaps in another universe I would have made it with no worries, but “perhaps” is not good enough for aviation.
I’ll be trying to stay true to the original costal route as best as I safely can, and whilst the total flight won’t be a complete circumnavigation anymore, it is so much more than the track I actually take. I can still push forward to achieve my goals of raising funds for A Start In Life, and encouraging young people. The flight inland gets me away from the worst (but certainly not all) of the weather, but also presents unique challenges, mostly due to the availability of fuel in extremely remote regions. I hope that through showing that I make good decisions and am adaptable to conditions, I can continue to inspire people and show that it is possible to overcome challenges!
Today, I planned for Mount Isa, with refuel in Richmond- thank you Michelle and Dick for helping me organise fuel, and for Dave who came to meet me at the bowser. It’s good to be extra prepared, especially when fuel isn’t always available, so Dave lent me a fuel pump in the chance that I’ll need to refuel from a drum. There were storms forecast for Isa in the afternoon, and it became apparent that I wasn’t going to beat them in, so I diverted to and landed at Cloncurry- even inland, I’m still dodging thunderstorms!
Cloncurry was a great overnight stop, and again I was so thankful for the hospitality of the people there- especially the two French waitresses who brought me apple pie! J’ai fini mes études au lycée il y a quelques semaines et c’était génial de utiliser la langue française dans le monde <<réel>>
Whilst this flight has changed from its original plan, I’m still so grateful for all your support!
