Back to not a Myth #4. See here: http://www.casa.gov.au/download/orders/cao95/9508.pdf Section 4:

Except with the written permission of CASA, and in accordance with any conditions set out in the permission to minimise hazard to other aircraft or to persons or property on the ground or water, a person must not fly a hang glider:

(a) at a height in excess of 10 000 feet above mean sea level; or

(b) at a height in excess of 300 feet above ground level unless a serviceable altimeter which meets the standards specified in section 103.3 of the Civil Aviation Orders and set to QNH is carried in a position so as to be easily read by the pilot at all times whilst in flight; or

(c) within an area designated by CASA as an area where the operation of hang gliders would constitute a hazard to other aircraft; or

(d) within 8 kilometres of a military aerodrome; or

(e) except in:

(i) Class G airspace; or

(ii) Class E airspace in V.M.C.; or

(iii) Class C or D airspace that is below 300 feet above ground and not within 16 kilometres of a controlled aerodrome; or

See also here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10653. BTW, can you make out what the rule above actually says, with its exception? Does it really say there are exceptions to (a) through (d)? What does V.M.C. mean?

Myth #5: There is a 8,500' airspace ceiling that we can't go above especially in areas around Mt. Beauty, Bright and the Pines.

Fact: There is Class E airspace, East COA control area, at 8497' to FL 125 over most of the area that we fly during the Bogong Cup (other than the Emu launch and up into the mountains). There is also Class C airspace above this Class E airspace (South EA control area), starting at FL 125 going to FL 180.

Hang gliders are not restricted from flying in this Class E control area, according to Rohan Holtkamp, and I believe Rohan (and it is confirmed here: http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10653). This is because hang gliders (and sailplanes) are not capable of carrying transponders and are therefore exempt and not restricted in this Class E airspace.

Check out the international airspace database as displayed in SeeYou: http://www.naviter.si/download/airspace/index.php?Itemid=27.

You can find out more about these airspaces here:

http://www.auf.asn.au/navigation/airspace.html

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/aboutus/airspace/ourairspace.asp

http://www.vatpac.org/vat-dean/australia/austair.htm

Myth #6: We may not fly in Class C controlled airspace around Albury, which is especially an issue if we launch from the Pines.

Fact: The meet organizers can contact the control tower at Albury and obtain permission for us to fly through Class C controlled airspace. Sailplane pilots do this all the time as they have aircraft radios on board and can contact the tower directly and tell them their course, altitude and flight plan. Meet organizers can contact the tower by cell phone and hopefully get permission given our flight plans for the day. The meet organizers have to be as specific as possible giving the times, course, estimate altitudes, etc, so that the tower can plan for the flights. Otherwise they might not be so accommodating.

If you have SeeYou, you can look at all the Australian airspace. This map is very detailed and useful. Just download the data file from the SeeYou web site. I started writing about thee myths because when I went to the air space charts to check out what I had been told, the charts didn't reflect the stories. Of course, airspace charts can't reflect all the special restrictions, for example, the ones for hang gliders.

Have I cleared up the myths, or just added to them? Write to me if you disagree or have additional information.