ewrbasedpilot

There are OLD pilots, and there are BOLD pilots, but there are no OLD BOLD pilots. You've just moved to the "OLD" pilots category. Decision making is a big part of being a good pilot, and making good SOUND decisions will reward you with a long and wonderful flying career. Their will be plenty of flying opportunities for you in the future. Best of luck and Merry Christmas. Have some eggnog on me!!!!

FliFast

Not trying to be funny, but ever thought of shipping it on a boat ?

I know I'm weighing in at the end of this thread, but the North Atlantic, although shorter due to Great Cirlce routing has pretty harsh weather this time of year.

Love to hear more about this trip, the planning and after the fact.

Stay warm !!!

FF

WIFlyer

Good choice!! Making that choice puts you into the 'real aviator' column. Doing the Lake Michigan in winter would be a very good step for you. You said you have experience flying over water so if you take a few trips there you will get more good experience. I did it a few times in a single and in a Seneca both the short way and the long way and it was a great experience and fun. I haven't flown over the Atlantic so I can't speak for that wx but the Lake Michigan wx can change fairly rapidly and you can get some pretty good icing there.

You are still young so I am happy you will be around to get more experience and hop the pond eventually.

Roll Inverted and Pull

I`ve been following this thread from the beginning, and I`m glad that you have had the good sense to read and heed some of the voices of experience here. I was about to put in my two cents, but I see that "Wheels Up" has done that for me. Flying can be dangerous, but why take a big chance and put yourself in this kind of situation? Before you say to yourself that this is just the raving of an old retired guy, who doesn`t want to take chances, let me say this; I`ve flown international flights, flown off of dirt roads in Viet Nam, and flown off of aircraft carriers, but would never do something like this. Please heed all of the good advice that you have been given. Get you time and experience some other way. Merry Christmas to you and all on this forum.

friendlyskies

I remember reading that job posting, and if I recall correctly, they wanted someone who had T-atlantic crossing experience? I guess they couldn't find anyone with experience who would want to do this?

bubi352

Avanti - you will have plenty of opportunities. Pair up with an experienced ferry pilot. There are plenty of aircrafts flying across the pond. I ferry next summer a Yak 52 to Belgium.

bubi352

Here are a couple photos approaching Narsarsuaq in Greenland. This was during the summer with a high pressure system and light winds. Those are the best conditions we could get at that time. I can't imagine during the winter how it is.


Approaching Greenland.



The airport is below all this mess next to the glacier.



Landing towards the south with a nice downslope after the NDB approach. IcelandAir land at this airport with the B757. Excellent pilots!

Herkulesdrvr

My recommendation is to not fly a 172 across the pond period. I have flown the pond many times in a herc and I don't think I would want to be doing it in anything smaller than some type of two engine business jet. Seriously, do you realize what would happen if you had a problem in the middle of the Atlantic? You are talking about a life threatening situation here. It's really not worth it, ship that airplane, but please don't try flying it across the Atlantic.

seoceancrosser

Avanti, I am glad to hear that you made that decision. Try it in the summer time. It's warmer and there is more daylight to work with. The mental part is not as intimindating either. The freezing level is usually at 7,000 ft or higher. Cross with somebody that has done this before. Greenland is one of the most beautiful places in this world. The fjords and the ice cap are an overwhelming sight from the flight levels at which a Cessna 172 flies at. That conservative decision making is what makes a good ferry pilot. Most of the people that have died ferry flying died due to poor decision making and not due to sever engine failure. When I say poor decision making, I mean taking off in a 310 with min gas due to the price of fuel in Greenland. I mean taking off and flying into a known icing system with an aircraft that isn't made for that mess. I mean taking off in a Cardinal and trusting the BGBW forecast to be accurate and not having a plan B or being able to make an alternate. I mean taking off in a 210 out of Greenland with known partial panel, no heater on Valentines day with your daughter on board and trying to shoot an approach below mins into Goose Bay at night because the ferry operator will not pay for repairs. Your decision making abilities are something to be desired. You are not afraid to think outside the box to get the job done and you are not afraid to admit when you are in over your head or the situation is just wrong. Most people's decision making abilities are one or the other. Good luck to you in your piloting career. Ferry flying expanded my horizons and played a large role in getting in the right seat of my 757 flying international. Cheers!!!

DAL4EVER

Rather than use "aggressive diplomacy" as you would I prefer the "don't go" attitude. You have no business insinuating that a TATL crossing in a single engine recip with no wing or tail anti-icing capability can be done safely in the winter time with a pilot who has never flown a TATL crossing in her life. All the education won't help her when she ices up and ditches because she has NO options left. Telling her not to do it will save her life, not education on the intricacy's of a crossing during the summer time.