Date post: | 19-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | demarcus-overend |
View: | 217 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Planning an Air Adventure:Alaska Summer 2005
Ilan ReichCOPA 3rd Annual MigrationDuluth, MN June 3, 2005
Factors to Consider in Planning a Long Distance Trip
The Big Picture:Time of year: weather, weather, weatherAlone or with one or more buddy planes?Select activities enroute and at the destinationHow many flight hours in a given day?Allocate enough time to avoid “get there-itis”Develop contingency plans for weather or mechanical delays
The Devil is in the Details
As private pilots, we’re responsible for route planning, weather analysis, maintaining an airworthy plane, customs & visas, as well as contingency planningWe also need to arrange the lodging, transportation and activities for a trip, both enroute and at the destination
Develop an EffectivePlanning Technique
First, overcome the psychological impediments to a long-distance trip
It’s a sequence of many two to four hour cross country trips, spaced out over several daysVisualize covering a comfortable distance each dayPlan activities and stops along the way that will relieve stress and fatigue for both you and your passengers
Develop an EffectivePlanning Technique
Develop an EffectivePlanning Technique
Second, scope out the broad outlines of the trip: time commitment, locations to visit, activitiesThird, collect information and talk to others who’ve been there: COPA website is a great resource
Use a Planning ToolTo keep track of the myriad of details
“Stress is directly correlated to the number of last-minute tasks” (Confucius)“The more you rush around just before a big trip, the more you forget” (Chicken Little)
To split up responsibilities in planning the trip and making all the arrangementsTo ensure a safe journey, need to keep track of:
Pilot proficiencyAirplane readinessTrip-specific details Detailed daily itinerary, for both flying and non-flying days
Case in Point: The Alaska Adventure for Summer 2005
Alaska Flying Guide for Cirrus Pilots posted online several months before the trip
Contains information on how to get there, places to visit and things to do: also accessible to non-COPA members Includes suggested routes, approach plates, lists of equipment and charts, links to lodging and activities
Volunteers enlisted to lead the east and west coast segments: travel with many buddy airplanes Regular email communications from the group leaders, as well as among participants, with ideas about activities, lodging info, etc.
Screen shot of Alaska Flying Guide home page(www.cirruspilots.org/public/alaska)
Alaska Adventure Planning ToolSent by email to each participant four months before the trip, so that they could block out their own itinerary and keep track of group activitiesDesigned to serve as a checklist of issues that are common to every long-distance trip
Pilot and airplane preparedness; trip detailsDaily itinerary for both flying and non-flying days
Timeline covers the months preceding the trip, with target dates to be filled in for completing each itemAnother timeline covers each day of the trip as an aid to plan routing, lodging and activities
Screen shot of Planning Tool home page
Click here to open and save the full Excel spreadsheet (Yes to open macros)
Section One: Pilot Factors
Keep track of proficiency and set deadline dates to update any deficiencies (day, night, IFR)Update personal minimums for the trip
Flight hours per dayFrequency of stopsConsider unfamiliar terrain and airspace
Incorporates FAA’s PAVE checklist and COPA’s Critical Decision Making analysis
Screen shot of Pilot Checklist page
Section Two: Airplane FactorsKeep track of when updates are due (Garmin, Avidyne, Jepp, VOR checks): get them done before the tripTake care of maintenance issues before the trip
Open squawks, SBsOil change/50 hour/annual inspectionObtain extra consumables (oil, TKS, oxygen)
Bring along current charts: track expiration datesDon’t expect to find charts at FBOs in Canada or Alaska
Assemble all necessary survival equipment, clothing, travel documents Complete a projected Weight & Balance
Screen shot of Airplane Checklist page
Section Three: Trip Details
Set deadlines for making reservations (e.g., lodging and transportation enroute and in Alaska)Obtain legal documents (e.g., U.S. Customs sticker, passport, invitation letter & visas for Russia)Who minds the house while you’re away?
Pets & plantsSuspend newspaper deliveryPay bills before the trip
Compile a contact list of buddy airplanes, group leaders, emergency numbers
Screen shot of Trip Checklist page
Itinerary for Each Flying andNon-Flying Day
Details for flying days:Departure city/time, stops, alternatesFBO at each stop, transportation to reach hotel
Details for non-flying days:Hotel and transportation detailsActivities planned (e.g., fishing, glacier watching, hiking)Group activities (Mt. McKinley/Talkeetna fly-in, farewell dinner)
Dining arrangements: join group activities or go out alone?
Screen shot of Daily Itinerary page
Enjoy the TripPlanning Tool is available online for download and included in the package of materials on CD-ROM distributed to M3 participantsYour comments and suggestions are welcome: contact Ilan Reich (COPA username: ireich, or at [email protected])Bring your camera and take lots of pictures!
Homeward bound: Scenes of glaciers enroute to Yakutat, Alaska
Planning an Air Adventure Case StudySummer 2004Boston – Europe – San FranciscoCurt Sanford, SR22
Used the SRM Framework for Planning
PlanPlanePilotPassengers/PayloadProgramming
“It is a beautiful trip. But if things go wrong,they go very wrong.”
Weather – July / August for best conditionsRoutePublications – Jepp E. Canada, Transatlantic, European tripkits, Flightstar Worldwide update ($1500+)ATC Communications – Satphone in lieu of HFFuel – 674nm on longest leg (but 250nm to nearest alternate)
Pretrip – Planning
Pretrip – PlaneAnnual – Feb’04Full 100 hour – June’04Garmin European updates (cards)Avidyne Terrain update (flash card)Avidyne Airports update (zip disk)Jepp update delivery to Euro addressCritical spares, consumables
Pretrip – PilotCoursework:
“Flying the North Atlantic” – Ed CarlsonPrimary Aviation Survival School – Anchorage,AKWeather or Not – Scott Dennstaedt
CurrencyIPC, BFRFlight Simulator – key approaches
Pretrip – Passengers/Payload
Outbound – w/Torben Kiese, experienced Cirrus ferry pilotIn Europe – Touring with the familyReturn – SoloFull Maritime & Arctic survival kitWinslow 4-man Island Flyer Raft10,000kcal preserved food/person
Outbound – Canada to GreenlandPlanned – Goose Bay to NarsarsuaqDeparture – As planned, with live COPA coverage!
With two way internet:
Outbound – Greenland Arrival300nm out Narsarsuaq goes below minimums (per cellphone conversation with tower); 1500’ ceiling, 1800’ minsDiversion to Nuuk (800’ ceiling, 375’ mins) adds 100nmApproach to Nuuk as fog rolls in, 400’ ceiling:
Outbound – Crossing the IcepackIssues:
Low ceilings at departure airportMultiple layers aloftFreezing level 6000’Possible ceilings at destination
StrategiesAlternate at SondrestromPireps enroute on clear altitudesAir Greenland pilots on same routesFuel Mgmt to keep options
Outbound – Kulusuk GreenlandClimbed enroute staying on topDescent to warm air over waterOff-field NDB approach to gravel runwayFuel by the barrelUp-hill soft-field takeoff
Outbound – Greenland-Iceland-Scotland-LondonUneventful by comparison60kt headwinds on departure ReykjavikReentering controlled airspace in UK
Travel in Europe
IFRStraightforward to flyDifficult to fileQuestionable equipment requirements
VFRVaries dramatically by country; eg:France – like US (cardinal + 500’ altitude)UK – No VFR in controlled airspace. Period.
CostsIf you have to ask….
ReturnGet the family on the way homeProp repair, Oil changeReorganize charts, survival gearTake a deep breathPick some routes
Return
Holland-Scotland -Iceland
First leg a struggle with the systemGetting the clearanceAvoiding LondonGetting back into controlled airspaceDiverting when Wick below mins
Return Iceland-GreenlandFuel in Kulusuk or Sonderstrom Direct
Return – visiting Ilulissat (68˚N)
Return – Greenland – CanadaIqualuit options:
ILS/DME35 w/200’ minsBC/LOC17 w/600’
METAR 35035 4OVC
Return – Hudson BayRankins Inlet
Rwy 13T/31T 5000x150’Metar 040T25G30
After landing forecast 90km/h gustsNo tie-downs or hangars available
Interesting fuel
Return – The Road not Taken
Rankin Inlet – Cut Bank, MOFlightstar suggestion:
Lynn Lake(CYYL)Has AvGasConfirmed by phone
Rankin feedback:NOT SAFE!
La Ronge (CYVC)Fine choice
Return – Cut Bank, MOCivilization at last!
Lessons / ReflectionsDwight D. Eisenhower:
“Plans are nothing. Planning is everything.”
No substitute for local knowledgeInterview everyone you meet!
The return is as challenging as the outboundAvgas is a scarce & perishable resource