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 ilanreich@nyc.rr.com)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