Bangkok's east side VFR route

by **MichaelP** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:45 am

On Sunday I went for a flight from Pattaya Eastern to Tantawan and I wrote it up.

Time moves on and this article has been removed.
I'll put it back later when I complete this trip to Thailand.

'Did some flying over Christmas: http://www.mpaviation.com/2012.htm

by **dppintr** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:18 pm

I planned to make a flying trip in Thailand in 2007, which I prepared well. I even prepared my own Thailand VFR Guide. Unfortunately, the plane I was going to hire in Chiang Mai was withdrawn the month before I was going there. Good luck, and nice trip report!

Regards

by **MichaelP** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:19 am

Probably the Cessna 172 I'm guessing?
This one with a a few fundamental mistakes: overloaded, with the flaps set full down, 40 degrees:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nb845lDWMk

I remember your VFR Guide. Paul carries on with his excellent guide to this day. We are able to get good information on flying in Thailand, AeroThai and the DCA do their job well with the AIP which can be found online and maps were produced in Singapore with airports and zones. These are better than the 1984 maps we had!

by **BlackheathBloke** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:03 pm

Nice write up, I normally grab an hour or two from Bang Phra (although the last visit was about 2 years ago) and I can't recall ever paying for full membership on any of my visits.

I normally just ring ahead and they arrange for an ex-Thai milatary pilot to fly with me to keep me out of trouble!

by **MichaelP** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 4:05 am

It's when you do a Thai Validation through TFC to be able to fly solo.
They have an annual fee, but no temporary memberships. They don't try very hard to get anyone's business.
I do a fair amount of flying when I'm here and I like to feel legitimate in a way and that is why I try to validate my licence.

Yesterday I sat down and wrote up radio procedures for the pilot I flew with.
The Thai PPL does not yet have English Proficiency attached to it, but if you come here they expect EP to be on your foreign licence.
I sent these procedures to a couple of people for comment and this morning I learned that they have been published in the flight guide here!

Bang Phra is a sad place apparently.
Friendly Khun Worawoot has gone, and it's not a very enticing place for me now.
I was annoyed that they did not process my validation this time, especially as I have given them my support in the past and done a couple of favours... But the new person in charge of validations at TFC does not know me.

I still have validation applications in the DCA for two other clubs.
You need a validation of your licence for each club you fly at, there's no ICAO blanket validation. It's a 2,000 Baht fee for each validation.
As far as I can see, the CAA were the only authority that signed the Chicago Convention (7th December 1945) and kept to it for the most part!
FAA, TC, and DCA among others do not accept other signatory licences as was spelled out in the ICAO document.
Yet you can drive for up to six months on a foreign driving licence.

Unless there's a huge change of heart on the part of the Thai authorities I think our form of general aviation will be reduced considerably if not ruined altogether.
It's strange, there are a considerable number of people in the DCA and Aero-Thai who are really enthusiastic about flying, but then there are those who 'hate' us and it depends upon who occupies the positions of power.
I've had a validation done over the counter when the person in charge of that department favoured General Aviation in Thailand with considerable enthusiasm.
But there are staff changes, last time it took a couple of months, and with another personnel change it now takes (in my case) more than four.
I think I have demonstrated that I fly safely, that I am not a criminal, and that I maintain my licence and medical well within the regulations. But yet after so many validations they treat me like this, perhaps with a smile

You need to read the history of a people to understand their culture.
When you read of Thailand in the days of Suriyothai, Naresuan, and books such as "Falcon at the Court of Siam", you get a feel for the culture and this culture of intrigue still exists today.
It's fascinating. I love it here even if I am frustrated by bureaucrats who are very much the same as those you read of in history.

by **BlackheathBloke** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:38 am

I suppose that the average Thai has absolutely no chance of ever being able to afford to fly (including those working for the DCA) so really have no incentive to enable 'rich' farangs to be able to play in their sky.

Hopefully as the country continues developing and the wealth starts to filter down to the middle classes things will improve. Unfortunately that won't be in the short term.

by **MichaelP** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:49 am

I just learned that the validity of the letter stating my licence is in good standing from Transport Canada will expire this month and so I would need another one!

I see plenty of Thai people flying, but it is more expensive for them if we don't get to do any flying here!
Farangs help make flying more affordable for Thais.

by **BlackheathBloke** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:09 pm

MichaelP wrote:I just learned that the validity of the letter stating my licence is in good standing from Transport Canada will expire this month and so I would need another one!

I see plenty of Thai people flying, but it is more expensive for them if we don't get to do any flying here!
Farangs help make flying more affordable for Thais.

Hmmm, not sure I'd agree with that.

I've never met one Thai that flies (Even at TFC, it's always been me there on my own)

by **MichaelP** » Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:51 pm

It was about 30% Thai/70% Farangs at Chiang Mai Flying Club, there are a few at Pattaya, and at Tantawan I think the majority are Thais.
Thai people are getting better off and Rotax engines coupled with very light aircraft is making it a lot more possible for them to fly.
Every light aircraft has to have a Thai owner, we can't own aeroplanes here, nor land and houses.