Final Thoughts on Crossing the Tasman

• Fly with others

Many brains focussed on the same challenge ensure nothing is missed.  There's a reasonable amount of planning associated with a crossing of the Tasman Sea and it's good to be able to divide that up.

Even though you may only be a mile apart in flight and unable to help directly if one aircraft encounters difficulty, it's comforting to know you're flying with others who will do everything they can to assist and liaise with the authorities if the worst occurs.

It's fun to be able to chat in flight, compare aircraft performance, winds at different altitudes and your thoughts and observations.

• Only fly to a destination that has stable or improving weather.

When flying to Norfolk Island or Lord Howe Island there are no alternate airfields and most aircraft do not have the range to be able to return to their point of departure.  Therefore it's foolish to try and "race the weather".

My decision making process begins with building a picture of the weather systems in the Tasman Sea using the synoptic charts published by the New Zealand Meteorological Service and Australian Bureau of Meteorology.  Then check the TAF at the destination.  If that indicates stable or improving weather during the planned period of flight then consider the enroute winds.  I used the NZ Met Service's MetJet to get the enroute winds but they can also be sourced from the Bureau of Meterology's Grid Point Wind Forecasts.  I have found both the general and aviation weather forecasts for the Tasman Sea to be very accurate.

If you decide not to fly due to unacceptable weather - relax!  There's no point checking the weather every hour as it doesn't change that quickly.  Take the time to explore wherever you're stuck.

• Allow 1 week to cross the Tasman Sea in either direction.

Weather systems normally take 3 - 4 days to cross the Tasman Sea.  Based on my 2014 and 2016 experiences, you'd be lucky to encounter a stable weather system that would allow a crossing on successive days.

• Take your time and enjoy the experience.

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Intrepid adventurers at Port Macquarie
L to R: Dave Wilkinson, Peter Merwood, Bill Luther, Don Wilkinson

This concludes this blog for now.  I'm very grateful for the help and support Dave & Don Wilkinson, Bill Luther and I have had from our many flying mates and interested friends and family.  I'm not overtly religious but I offer a prayer of thanks on behalf of us all for having the means and ability to accomplish a safe return crossing of the Tasman Sea.  I know there were aviation friends who have passed on that were looking over us - thanks Clive Stephen, Brian O'Hagan and, most of all, my Dad.

I hope you've enjoyed this blog.  My mind is always full of potential aviation adventures.  You just never know - there might be another one to read about in the future 😏

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things

 - Antoine de Saint Exupery