This will be my first trip south of Panama. Any tricks or is it all straight forward? I spend most of my time in Asia. Thanks in advance.
fbh

 

Well, at least you don't have to worry about waking up and find that your right kidney has gone missing!

 

Yeah - down there they take em both and you dont wake up

 

Ernesto will find you!

H

 

It is pretty simple-the radio and radar coverage is sketchy until you get deep into Brazil. Many of the radio transmissions will have more feedback than a Jimi Hendrix concert due to timing of the relay stations.
VCP is non-radar and you will get a handoff from Sao Palo radar passing about 5000 feet. Runways and ramps are first class.
The city is very nice and the local infrastructure is more european than south american. There is a fair amount of street crime, so stick to the known good areas. The natives are very friendly, the food is good but stay away from the local cane liquor-it is made from JP-4 and weed-b-gone.

 

Caparinas and very hot ladies.

 

FBH,
Pretty straight forward trip, only a couple of curves. Chart notes require an advance call to Santo Domingo, Port Au Prince and Curacao on the way down, same plus Miami on the way back. Nobody really cares except Miami on the way back, make that call! Usually a late descent direct the CPN VOR. Hand-off to Sao Paulo approach, who will descend you to FL 090. Next hand-off is to VCP Tower. They will clear you direct to IK with a descent to 5000', and here it gets a little weird. If the winds allow a landing on RWY 15(the preferred rwy) they expect you to hit IK at 5000', do the holding pattern, descend to 3800' and intercept the LOC for RWY 15 inbound. When you call the field in sight they will clear you to land. However, if the field is VFR and the winds require a RWY 33 landing they will still clear you for the "Charlie One" (which is the holding pattern/ILS 15 combo) and ask you to call the field in sight. When you call the field in sight they will clear you to circle to land on RWY 33, left traffic. Rwy 33 has an RNAV GPS 33 that works well. Steep drop-off on the end of 33, you won't hear the 100' call. If the field is IFR and the winds require a landing on 33, Sao Paulo Approach will clear you for the RNAV 33.
Ernesto will call your room to ask if you want to go out that night, need coffee, manly vitamins, etc. Go eat at Cathedral or Trevisan (death by meat). Free drink card at check-in and free breakfast buffet. Also option for room service breakfast- they will always ask if it's for one or two people.
You can have as much fun as you want to in VCP.

 

Thank you to all! Great info MaddDogg and Jungle,...now I just have to remember my sun blocker
fbh

 

At Focus Air we used to go to Vira Copas often as a wet lease for Arrow Air (Big A). I don't remember the approaches there, but be ready for a lot of non-radar environment and full procedure turn approaches.

In terms of Panama, when I went there in the Classic, we all dirtied our laundry taxing to the Cargo ramp (up the hill). The taxiway seemed to me to be only 50 feet wide, and the 747 wing gear left-to-right distance is 47 feet if I remember correctly. I have heard that they widened that taxiway but I havent been there in 18 months so I wouldnt know.

Downtown Panama City is muy caliente. Lots to do, but keep a hold of your wallet and probably best not to walk alone if you are going to wear your levi's, white sneakers and have a paperback under your arm.

As I recall convective activity all year -round in both Panama and along the equator, so take your dramamine if you get air sick, and enjoy the booze and pretty woman..and keep and eye on your EGPWS and TCAS, it's a free-for-all down there.

FF

 

fbh, a thousand apologies for my less than meaningful post to your question. And I've never even been to VCP! With all the excitement about Age 65, I just wanted to do my share to lighten up the mood a little. Sorry. [However, if you do lose a kidney over there, I already warned you! ]