"Tony" wrote in message
ups.com...
A long time ago (about 1980?) someone told me a special rating was
needed to fly over the outback, that my USA Private SEL Instruments
wasn't good enough. Did he have it backwards? It sounds like the rating
needed for flying in uncontrolled airspace there is easier to get than
one that might be used for controlled.

Tony, no special rating is required to fly in the outback, although
certainly there are some special procedures to follow like mandatory ELB
requirements in designated remote areas. The outside controlled airspace
license is basically identical to the normal PPL with the exception that you
are not tested on controlled airspace procedures and thus you do not have
the priviledge of entering them. A key part of the training and testing is
obviously the ability to know where these areas are. Crossing into
controlled airspace is an automatic failure on the test. If you have a need
to use controlled airspace you can simply do this training seperately , get
tested on it and have your PPL endorsed.
I have not flown into the real Aussie outback myself but I plan to in the
next couple of years. Probably the best way to do this is on organised
tours. There is at least one outfit here where you can tag along in your
own plane with a group of very experienced outback pilots , with
accomodation, meals tours etc organised. They typically last 10 to 12 days
with 3 to 4 hours of flying each day. I have read some great trip reports
from these tours.

terry