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Australia


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Charlie
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Tim Dawson - 6/18/2025 12:00:43 PM
Hello Charlie, and first of all thanks for your kind words about SkyDemon.

Given our foray into Australia must have been around 10 years ago now, we wouldn't even have a record of the dialog. I barely remember it, other than that it was not a good time for us. I do remember that what it comes down to is being unable to operate in that territory without paying a large amount of money both up front and in royalties to authorities, and for insurances, all while having to slap a "not for navigation" sticker on the product.

You are of course welcome to initiate discussions there to ascertain whether the mood/market has changed in the meantime, but I suspect it has not. One of our competitors tried to get established out there and ended up having to acquire an incumbent to get anywhere.

No problem Tim.

I've opened a general enquiry initially, to see if I can be directed to the right location within AirServices.

I've also reached out to a widely known Aus/UK GA YouTube influencer, who I'm hoping can support the journey.

Regards
Charlie


Tim Dawson
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Hello Charlie, and first of all thanks for your kind words about SkyDemon.

Given our foray into Australia must have been around 10 years ago now, we wouldn't even have a record of the dialog. I barely remember it, other than that it was not a good time for us. I do remember that what it comes down to is being unable to operate in that territory without paying a large amount of money both up front and in royalties to authorities, and for insurances, all while having to slap a "not for navigation" sticker on the product.

You are of course welcome to initiate discussions there to ascertain whether the mood/market has changed in the meantime, but I suspect it has not. One of our competitors tried to get established out there and ended up having to acquire an incumbent to get anywhere.

Charlie
C
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Tim Dawson - 8/26/2015 9:24:26 AM
We have pulled out of the Australian market entirely, I'm afraid. Our Australia chart will be updated and remain available for existing subscribers until January when the last subscription to it runs out. In the meantime it is not possible to license it if you haven't already.

AirServices make it an absolute nightmare to operate in Australia.
Hi Tim,

I can fully understand how difficult the conversations must have been with AirServices Australia.

I'm an Australian residing in the UK and have the utmost respect for how SD have changed GA forever, for the better. In fact, I would not fly without it, encompassed with PilotAware (another amazing integration, thanks to you guys). 

I've also trialled a couple of the Oz products, but they are very sub-standard by comparison.

I believe Australia has managed to acquire the most powerful anti-progressives with a bureaucratic mastery of counter-productive cooperation. Sadly, the repercussions of this have far-reaching effects across any considerable form of forward-thinking organisation.
Please don't be offended... I’m only stating a true reflection of the facts. Just take a look at Pauline Hanson!

I am actually hoping to retire back to the Sunshine coast in QLD in a couple of years and wish to assist in every way I can to ensure SkyDemon is kangarooing across the GA market, keeping everybody safe, out of trouble, and hopefully in visibility of other airborne operators.

So, I am wondering if it would at all be possible to privately share the dialogue with AirServices, with an attempt to add fuel to the opportunity of pushing SD into the Oz market. Perhaps with a fresh attempt, supported by collated evidence, and some financial sponsorship towards conversations with AirServices Australia, we might manage to persuade the powers that be, to reconsider the possibilities of doing something sensible.
 
Crikey, if the Kiwi’s managed to do it, there must be a path we can learn from them (don’t tell anyone I said that!).

Please let me know if this is viable. I can line up resource on the ground – of both a legal and a flying brotherhood.

KR
Charlie

RV12Flyer
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Hopefully operating SkyDemon in Australia will be revisited.

I fly both UK and OZ and love my SkyDemon. 

Currently trialling all the other software programmes and they don't come anywhere near.
Closest for me is Ozrunways with RWY so it can be used on Android.




Tim Dawson
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We have pulled out of the Australian market entirely, I'm afraid. Our Australia chart will be updated and remain available for existing subscribers until January when the last subscription to it runs out. In the meantime it is not possible to license it if you haven't already.

AirServices make it an absolute nightmare to operate in Australia.
Fredo
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Hi everyone,

I live in Sydney but regularly fly in Europe and have been impressed by SkyDemon capabilities this summer.
What is the latest status on Australia development?

Australia is listed in chart coverage as "not for use in air navigation" so I understand there is no additional subscription required but it comes with some limitations. Is it only due to the non-certification by CASA (discussed earlier in this thread) or are there other features not available in Australia?

Thanks,
Fred

Tim Dawson
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Thanks for getting in touch. We will definitely investigate this as we grow in Australia, but we haven't reached that point yet. Our charts are vector based which makes them superior to paper charts in many ways, but it isn't clear whether certification for use as an alternative to paper charts would be forthcoming since the requirement may be for a specific chart to be carried, whether on paper or scanned into a device.

The ERSA will (again) be integrated into SkyDemon but only once we have achieved a certain measure of growth in Australia.
eight10man
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Hi SkyDemon team!


The vector charts on SD are far better and clearer than any other navigation app out there, and the 'global' coverage easily trumps local country-specific apps when flying around a bit.

Now for Australia there are some real legislations in place regarding the use of EFB - which actually fully approve tablets the size of iPad mini, and up, to replace paper.
But each app needs approval as far as I understand. Now for IFR I use the CASA-approved JeppFD with active subscription, but on the VFR side of flights I'd like to keep sticking to SD.

Any chance you could endeavour to approach CASA about CAR 233(1)(h) approval so to make SD fully and truly legal to replace paper??
Like OzRunways did here https://www.ozrunways.com/approved/

A full briefing on the topic here http://www.casa.gov.au/wcmswr/_assets/main/download/caaps/ops/233_1.pdf



On another topic: the ERSA is available here https://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aip/aip.asp?pg=40&vdate=6-Mar-2014&ver=2

Thanks, and keep up the good work!
Tim Dawson
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Ah, I see. We would consider integrating this document within SkyDemon in the future as we grow in Australia.
sarge88cube
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En Route Supplement Australia. A book updated every 6 months by air services australia , info req for every airfield in australia, eg surface type , length, freq , direction, direction of circuits down to phone no of fuel person. Both major nav packages made in oz have it in the programme, but they are not worrying about android so far, I would not fly without it, I am sure you have to have it if you are selected for a ramp check by CASA. Barry
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