Today we face an important flight: the jump to Australia. The ground handling agents are exactly on time and wait for us at 05:30 in the hotel lobby. Though the calculated flight time to Broome, Australia is clearly below our maximum aircraft endurance we have to pay special attention to our fuel. That’s because our alternate is two flying hours away from Broome (the alternate has to be also a "Port of Entry" according to Australian regulations).

Though, normally the immediate refill upon arrival has the advantage that everything is prepared for the departure day. For Bali this consideration was a “no brainer”. In the hot sun unfortunately a part of the expensive fuel has disappeared via the tank valves and has spread on the concrete of the parking spot. We have to refill the remaining amounts from the barrels with a bucket in order to really fill up the aircraft to the max.

High air humidity and temperature make the climb out to become a matter of patience.  Additionally the approach controller didn’t positively respond to our repetitive requests for short cuts. We have to adhere to the filed route. Therefore we have a scenic tour close to the volcanoes of the Sunda Islands before we head towards the Indian Ocean. Approx. 3 hours of flight across the open sea are in front of us.  

For our safety reason we have contacted Oberstabsbootsmann Reinhard Lill of the German Naval Squadron Nordholz by Skype. Mr. Lill kindly had promised his support in case we have to deal with difficult passages during our trip. He currently works in the international SAR headquarters in Florida and follows closely our aircraft movements from there. In case of an emergency this would be a help of immeasurable value for our survival.

The navigation poses no problem with a functioning GPS. However, the radio communication is more difficult. Up to the FIR boundary of Pangnang (approx. 1 flying hour away from Sumba) the radio communication with the Indonesian radar controller is very well. Then he suddenly transmits a HF frequency of the Australian colleagues and obviously wants to get rid of us (our flight plan clearly showed no HF equipment on board). We inform him that we are only VHF equipped (with is sufficient according to AIP). We get the information that Brisbane Centre can receive our VHF signal only approx. 120 NM before the Australian coast. We planned for such a case and contacted the German Air Traffic Control Centre (DFS) in Frankfurt yesterday. DFS had kindly agreed to transmit our position via satellite phone to their Australian colleagues.

This plan perfectly works. The signal of our satellite phone is excellent. Without any problems we give our reports to the friendly DFS controller by using our headsets connected to the sat phone. She passes on two of our routine position reports: it really is a more comfortable feeling not to be completely without contact on open sea. Then, approx. 140 NM before approaching Australia the normal radio communication with Brisbane Centre stands again. The controller is well informed about our present position and already expects us.

… well, finally it is really good to have Australia in sight.

Once landed in Broome, we have the SRA spray ready for use (a kind present of Deutsche Lufthansa). Under the supervision of the customs and quarantine officials, who obviously are amused by our exercise, we end up in a cloud of this substance (for all incoming airplanes the application of this spray is mandatory). As soon as it can be assumed that all of our “blind passengers” have passed away, we are allowed to open the door. The entry to Australia happens completely easy. Not even our eVisitor visas are required that we applied for before we left Germany. Then suddenly we are left all alone - in Australia we decided to travel without the help of ground handling agents.

"No worries". The BP fuel attendant comes along and promises to fill up the airplane sometime during the next day. We would find the account slip under the cowling. He doesn’t leave without giving us the entry code of the airport security doors. We arrive at the General Aviation Terminal in Broome which is a small tiny building with no one attending – however you find a sign with the number of the local taxi company.
30°C, dry air appear to us very pleasant after weeks in 35°C++ and 90%++ humidity in South East Asia.

The visit at Willis Creek Pearl Farm takes place only because the road leading there through the Australian bush can only be mastered by using a 4Wheel drive.