Chopper Joyflights

[stepbystep]

I was up at Rhona the other day and a chopper came in banked low around the lake less than 100m off lake surface, then hovered as low as 15-20m off lake surface before buggering off.
A bloke at the lake said it was an army chopper having a bit of fun
Is this legal? Should I report them?
I have some video footage also, they were buzzing around the area all day, at first I assumed it was because of fires in the area, or an EPIRB activation but they weren't fighting any fires, and haven't heard of anyone being pulled out of the area.
Cheers, sbs

[Drifting]

oh man that would make me grumpy!!!!!!!!!

[tastrax]

I suspect it may well have been Parks doing a quick check to see how many tents were at the normal campsites in the Denisions (and other areas). Probably part of a preliminary Incident Management Team assessment of the Battlement Hills fire. Better to know in advance if there are large numbers of people in the area that may need to be evacuated. Its an unfortunate side effect of fire management post lightning strikes but generally people are not all that grumpy if they are later offered a "free helicopter flight" out of the path of the fire.

[Drifting]

Well.....I guess that is ok then.....

[wander]

While buzzing about I do not suppose they picked up the dunny tanks?

I met a bloke once who was buzzed about by a heli over Federation way. the chopper even hovvered just at the peak as if you were standing on the peak. Turns out they were from forestry and looking to see if some planned loogging coupes were visible from the Eastern Arthurs and Federation.

[Azza]

When I was up at Lake Rhona the year before last - must of been around regatta day the RAAF were doing a fly over of the regatta grounds or something in Hobart. Anyway they must of sent the Hornets down from Melbourne.
Their flight path took them over the Denison Range, at the time we're out on the button grass walking out.
I think we saw 2 planes chasing each other and circling around Reads Peak.
They pretty much buzzed past the summit and directly over Lake Rhona before disappearing.
They were very low - maybe even below the summit.

A couple of minutes later we could hear a massive rumble coming up the valley, and they shot over our heads - follow the leader style maybe only a 150m off the ground, they were seriously low and going fast. I only had enough time to video the 2nd plane just as it was going out of sight.

I'd say that was probably a bit of a joy flight for them, stunning scenery to be flying over in a jet..
Made a huge racket though..

[stepbystep]

I suspect it may well have been Parks doing a quick check to see how many tents were at the normal campsites in the Denisions (and other areas). Probably part of a preliminary Incident Management Team assessment of the Battlement Hills fire. Better to know in advance if there are large numbers of people in the area that may need to be evacuated. Its an unfortunate side effect of fire management post lightning strikes but generally people are not all that grumpy if they are later offered a "free helicopter flight" out of the path of the fire.

Don't recall them hovering over the campsites, but they did 2 very low banking circles around the lake and then hovered over 1 end of the lake, it was when I turned up on the beach pointing a camera at them, they disappeared - looked more like a bit of fun, than reconnaisance. Who do parks hire their choppers from Phil?
The fella I was talking to, v. experienced bushwalker was positive it was army - said he'd seen them before.
I've got no dramas with them checking out campsites etc, that's quite reassuring - but if it's just some lads-on-the-lark, then I've got issues.
Cheers

[Son of a Beach]

Parks have posted regarding chopper at Lake Rhona in this topic. As posted by tastrax, it was probably this chopper that you saw, albeit with some strange behaviour (from your point of view).

[tastrax]

I will take this one offline until we can determine who was in the flight.

[stepbystep]

No worries Nik, hopefully IF it was parks an internal slap on the wrist or a few appropriately pointed questions might prevent the type of flying I saw.
When I get it together I will put together a little video blog of my trip with chopper vision.
As for briefing campers I assume that means the sign placed at Richea Creek - no-one came to the campsite itself on Saturday unless the chopper action was some sort of coded message I'm yet to comprehend
sbs

[tastrax]

Quick update - this was a PWS flight (Northern tasmanian helicopter company) and as I suspected they were looking to find a suitable landing site should they have to evacuate walkers (around 20 walkers had logged in at the registration books as being in the general area). The hover at the end of the lake was the site chosen (and gps recorded) as a possible helipad. The next day that selected site was used to land a different chopper (Rotorlift chopper) and speak to walkers about the fire and what was happening.

[stepbystep]

At least the motives were noble

[tastrax]

maybe next time you will get the joyflight? It would make a trip into the region extra special albeit for the wrong reasons.

[jwalker]

The only distraction we had 2.5 weeks ago in at Rhona for two days was "Ben" the tiny marsupial trying to thieve from our food bags. We were the only ones there til the last evening and perfect weather! The chopper's presence could of given me more confidence in not aborting my trans lake swim partially across though. Need to do some pre trip training next time. It is tantalizingly doable!

[geoskid]

At least the motives were noble

Hi Sbs - I saw this thread when it first came up - why were you so peed off when you first saw the chopper?

[geoskid]

I was up at Rhona the other day and a chopper came in banked low around the lake less than 100m off lake surface, then hovered as low as 15-20m off lake surface before buggering off.
A bloke at the lake said it was an army chopper having a bit of fun
Is this legal? Should I report them?
Cheers, sbs

My reaction would have been " Geez, wish I had their job". Sounds like you need another week or so in the bush before going back to work

[stepbystep]

At least the motives were noble

Hi Sbs - I saw this thread when it first came up - why were you so peed off when you first saw the chopper?

Why, pretty obvious I would have thought, I go to wilderness areas to get away from buzzing machines - and it wasn't the presence of the chopper that annoyed me, just the flying techniques it employed, just a bit self indulgent IMHO, this is why Cradle Mtn is spoiled as a wilderness experience in summer with the half hourly joyflights for tourists with too much weight in their back pockets and their bellies.
Maybe it's just me

[wander]

The extreme end of this is Milford Sound. The sound of aircraft is endless all day everyday. They must have a control tower there by now.

[stepbystep]

The only distraction we had 2.5 weeks ago in at Rhona for two days was "Ben" the tiny marsupial trying to thieve from our food bags. We were the only ones there til the last evening and perfect weather! The chopper's presence could of given me more confidence in not aborting my trans lake swim partially across though. Need to do some pre trip training next time. It is tantalizingly doable!

HaHa - I am counting my blessings the first day there I had the lake to myself, not a cloud(or a chopper) in the sky, 40degrees and the water was positively balmy for swimming - until the dropoff point that is

[Buddy]

I fully sympathise with Stepbystep on this. Recall some years ago walking into Gordon Gorge and having our tranquility shattered by an Army chopper on a jolly at low altitude. Then a certain well known businessman cum helicopter pilot LANDING at L Timk. Relev Govt. Dept. denied knowledge as he had not radioed his intent to land. The cheek!

[ILUVSWTAS]

doing a good job to land at lake timk!! looks pretty scrubby down there!!!

[hotspots]

It's unfortunate that your quiet was shattered by the helicopter. Most bushwalkers including myself dont' appreciate being buzzed by a helicopter so I can see why you'd be upset about it.
However, in this case there was a fire to the NW of the Denison Range at Battlement Hills that had the potential to run down the Denison Range. The PWS need to establish how many people may be in the path of such fires and look at the options for warning them and extracting them if the fire does a run. Have a look at the proceedings of the Victorian Royal Commission into the Black Saturday bushfires to see what happens to fire agencies if the public isn't warned or protected from fire.
As Tastrax says the flight that you refer to flew over the campsite to get an idea of the number of tents (and hence people) at Lake Rhona and to select a suitable landing spot that would be safe to load passengers from. As it was approaching last light there was not sufficient time to land, talk to those on the ground and return to base before dark. This task was assigned to a staff member to undertake the next day.
You are right the helicopter did a couple of tight turns over the area. Flying around in an area such as Lake Rhona with a steep mountain next to it requires the machine to turn in tight every decreasing circles to loose altitude, otherwise you risk running into the mountain. This might appear as hooning to those on the ground.
Unfortunately the incidence of lightning strikes causing fires in the TWWHA is increasing and we'll always have to come and have a look at any fires to ensure that people are safe.
Hope your next walk is a bit more peacefull.

[stepbystep]

Good one hotspots,
like the shot of Rhona from the air.
I wasn't as peeved as it may have seemed, particularly after finding out the reasoning behind the flights.
And it wasn't that quiet by then - 2 other parties had turned up and the wind was howling.
If it had have been the day before while skinny-dipping on my lonesome then maybe I would have been peeved

As for PWS staff needing to check walkers are safe, that is a vexed issue IMO - I don't expect anyone or any organisation to look after me in these areas.
If I'm foolish enough to be out there without thinking of escape routes/PLB's etc then too bad for me - but that's just my opinion

But, you were just doing your job according to your job description and that's fine, and I've got no idea how to fly a helicopter so probably should keep my trap shut regarding flying techniques!

Oh, and it was the fella next to me on the dunes who swore B+B that it was an army chopper, "and they are always taking joyflights" - so keep up the good work(I think).

Cheers, sbs