Cessna 182  Skylane II
for self-fly private hire

Q1. Are you (and your passengers) tired of getting into rented aircraft that look dirty and shabby?
Q2. Have you ever booked an aircraft well in advance only to find it was unserviceable on the day?
Q3. Is it fair to be charged 2 or 3 hours minimum each day, even when you haven't been flying?
Q4. Why don't aircraft rental companies offer standby (waitlist) bookings?
Q5. Why haven't the people who hire out their aircraft learnt from the car rental industry?

And here are our answers to those questions:
 
A1. Our Cessna 182 is cleaned and vacuumed before each rental booking, just like a rental car. We've had it detailed inside and out by Australian Aviation Detailers. And when we bought the aircraft, we had all new windows fitted and the interior refurbished including leather seats, 3-point seatbelts, and a high-contrast instrument panel (and yes, all the panel lights work).
 
A2. Safety-conscious pilots will appreciate that our Cessna 182 is maintained to IFR/Charter standards, and our company's 6½-year reputation has been built on safety, quality and reliability. If the aircraft develops a snag, we'll call you as soon as we find out about it.
 
A3. We don't require you to fly a minimum number of hours each day — we just have a low ($27.50 including GST) daily charge when the aircraft is not flown.
 
A4. We offer standby bookings — if you're on the waitlist, we'll contact you when a prior booking is changed or cancelled. Ideal for IFR pilots when a VFR booking cancels due weather.
 
A5. We like the standards set by the car rental industry and apply them to our own aircraft. To help you with cost-sharing, we endeavour to provide one invoice for the entire flight at the end of the flight. And, like a rental car, we have an inclusive price which you know in advance and can rely on. That 'package' price includes headsets, lifejackets, and many more items — check our consolidated rental terms and conditions for the details in plain English.

Here's more information about the aircraft ...
 
Who we rent to
Pilots: We rent our Cessna 182 to properly licensed, qualified and capable pilots for their personal use. We are appreciative of pilots who take good care of our aircraft and fly it as per the Operating Handbook.
Advanced training & Charter: Because the aircraft is maintained to higher safety standards, we can also cross-hire it to flying schools and charter companies on a contract lease basis.
 
Aircraft registration: VH-VMA.
 
Aircraft type
Cessna 182Q Skylane II. Manufactured in 1977, the airframe is a "young" 4100 hours (approx). The engine was Blue Seal overhauled in 2000, and after many years of overhauls a new propeller was fitted in 2006.
· Equipment standard: Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
· Maintenance standard: Charter.
· System of maintenance: Log Book statement.
 
Number of seats
4 seats. Dual controls mean 1 pilot + 3 pax, or 2 pilots + 2 pax. Please refer to the following documents for the safety and information briefings.
· Pilot briefing card and welcome letter.
· Passenger briefing card.
 
Insurance cover by Vero Aviation
Hull and AUD$10m Legal Liability only for private pleasure and business uses, to be flown by company-approved pilots only, within the geographical limits of Australia.

Pricing
The inclusive 'casual wet hire package' price is $495 per tacho hour including GST. The package includes up to 4 headsets and lifejackets, Australian VFR charts with ERSA and AIP Book, fuel carnet cards, most aerodrome and airways charges, GPS-equipped personal ELB, mobile phone with intercom interface, music input to intercom, 21 litre "fridge" (food cooler/heater), digital carbon monoxide detector, pulse/oximeter, and more!
· Please refer to our consolidated rental terms and conditions for the details including other charges.
· We charge on tacho — tacho time means you don't have to rush because it's saving you money when taxying and waiting for clearances.
· Wet hire means carnet card fuel only.
 
Recommendations
From Australian pilot Joy Sutton, "As usual, the aircraft was spotlessly clean and sparkling when we arrived for our flight. We loaded her up with bags and even a wheelchair and everyone settled in comfortably. She leaped off the runway in her usual sprightly fashion, despite the load, and eagerly climbed skyward. In the murk (and later at night) VMA's flight instruments, lights, etc all got a good workout. And with her 6-cylinder Continental purring away up front, what more could an aviator want?"
 
From Australian pilot Gareth Davey, "Safety is important to me when I hire a plane. I prefer to fly 'Victor-Mike-Alpha' because it has a refurbished interior, all new windows, and a low-time engine. It's IFR-equipped and maintained to Charter standards. The autopilot is hooked up to the VOR and GPS receivers. The safety features include 3-point seatbelts fitted on all seats and a 406 MHz position-reporting ELT — you don't find that on many rental aircraft. My friends and their kids feel safe and comfortable in 'Victor-Mike-Alpha'."
 
Gallery/Visitor's Book
2008 Night flight from Wagga Wagga  waiting  ready
2007 Coastal Cairns to Rockhampton  Gee whiz story
2006 Angel Flight  mission 862 profile  pax pic
2006 ABC-TV Stateline program  Anzac Pilot (flying over Canberra in VH-VMA)
2005 Christmas treat for Canberra family  Canberra  Merimbula
2005 Iandra Castle  aeroclubs fly-in
2003 Toumbaal Plains beachhouse  parked  sunset  takeoff

VH-VMA is based in the General Aviation area of Cairns Airport in north Queensland. UBD map 9 grid K10. Cairns Airport is about a 10 minute drive north of Cairns city.

Drive yourself suggested route — Cairns Airport does not charge to park your car on the General Aviation side of the airport:

• From Cairns city, drive north on the Captain Cook Highway and ignore the sign to "Cairns Airport" at Airport Drive. Keep going north on the Highway to Aeroglen (about another kilometre), then turn right at the Whitfield Street traffic lights where there is a blue sign "General Aviation". After turning right, turn left into Tom McDonald Drive, then next right into Royal Flying Doctor Street. There is parking immediately on your right. There is also short-term parking about 100m down the road on your left near the General Aviation passenger terminal building — this is where VMA is parked, through Security Gate V11.

• From north of Cairns, drive south on the Captain Cook Highway and through the Machans Beach roundabout. Continue south on the Highway for about another 2 km to Aeroglen. At the Whitfield Street traffic lights, turn left where there is a blue sign "General Aviation". After turning left, turn left again into Tom McDonald Drive, then next right into Royal Flying Doctor Street. There is parking immediately on your right. There is also short-term parking about 100m down the road on your left near the General Aviation passenger terminal building — this is where VMA is parked, through Security Gate V11.

Taxi: Phone Black and White Taxis on 131 008.

Rental cars: We recommend calling Billabong Car Rentals on 1800 354 299 (or 07 4051 4299) because they offer free pickups and dropoffs on the General Aviation side of the airport by prior arrangement. Tell them we sent you.

Bus: Catch a Sunbus northern beaches service. Ask the driver to drop you at the General Aviation entrance on the Captain Cook Highway (opposite Whitfield Street, Aeroglen) — look for the blue sign "General Aviation". Suggested bus routes are 1C, 1D, 1E, 1G, 1H, 1X, 2, 2A and 7.

Company-approved pilots should click here to check the aircraft's availability.

How to become approved: Pilots interested in flying VH-VMA for the first time are required to meet all of the following company requirements.
 
Step 1 — Flying credentials
Submit their licence details, flying history (including rental references) and experience here.
 
Step 2 — Aircraft familiarisation
Satisfactorily complete a CASA endorsement questionnaire specific to the 1977 Cessna 182Q and submit it for review and feedback.
 
Step 3 — Terms and conditions
Sign a written agreement accepting the terms and conditions of aircraft rental in force at the time.
 
Step 4 — Flight check
Satisfactorily complete, to CASA Aeroplane Flight Review standards, at least one check flight with a company-approved instructor or check pilot. (The instructor may charge a fee for his time; the aircraft will be charged at normal rental rates.) Pilots can elect to have this entered in their log book as an Aeroplane Flight Review.
 
Step 5 — Self-evaluation
Be familiar with CASA's personal minimums checklist and be prepared to use it before flight.

Company-approved pilots will be provided with a Cessna Pilot's Operating Handbook for the 1977 182Q Skylane II at no charge, theirs to keep while approved to fly VH-VMA.