HELP NEEDED! Transatlantic Ferry C172
12-21-2008, 05:21 PM
#1
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HELP NEEDED! Transatlantic Ferry C172
I need help and advice from anyone out there with any experience flying across the north atlantic. The plane is a 2002 C172 with 175 gallons fuel and a KLM94 GPS and no autopilot. The season is NOW December/ Jan.
FROM Bangor Maine
TO Delhi, India
Which route is better-
(a) via St Johns, New Foundland, to Santa Maria in the Azors PORTUGAL then Malaga SPAIN, Malta, Luxor, EGYPT Muscat OMAN, Dehli INDIA
or
(b) via Goose Bay CANADA, then Narsarsuaq GREENLAND (BCBG) then Kefelvick ICELAND (BIKF) then Wick SCOTLAND (EGPC) then same as above
Please send any info. THank you.
FROM Bangor Maine
TO Delhi, India
Which route is better-
(a) via St Johns, New Foundland, to Santa Maria in the Azors PORTUGAL then Malaga SPAIN, Malta, Luxor, EGYPT Muscat OMAN, Dehli INDIA
or
(b) via Goose Bay CANADA, then Narsarsuaq GREENLAND (BCBG) then Kefelvick ICELAND (BIKF) then Wick SCOTLAND (EGPC) then same as above
Please send any info. THank you.
12-21-2008, 06:48 PM
#2
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Not a good part of the year to be in a C172 going across the pond but if you must then I would use plan B.
Good luck and have a safe trip.
Good luck and have a safe trip.
12-21-2008, 07:42 PM
#3
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Why do you say Plan B is better? What is your rationale? Would your answer change if it was summer? I always thought going east at this time of the year is easier.
Admittedly, I have never crossed the Atlantic in a C-172 before. That's a pretty daring and adventurous thing to do. If I had known sooner (and assuming many other things), I would ask if you'd like company!
Admittedly, I have never crossed the Atlantic in a C-172 before. That's a pretty daring and adventurous thing to do. If I had known sooner (and assuming many other things), I would ask if you'd like company!
12-22-2008, 03:49 AM
#4
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Originally Posted by vagabond
Why do you say Plan B is better? What is your rationale? Would your answer change if it was summer? I always thought going east at this time of the year is easier.
Admittedly, I have never crossed the Atlantic in a C-172 before. That's a pretty daring and adventurous thing to do. If I had known sooner (and assuming many other things), I would ask if you'd like company!
Admittedly, I have never crossed the Atlantic in a C-172 before. That's a pretty daring and adventurous thing to do. If I had known sooner (and assuming many other things), I would ask if you'd like company!
The last place I want to put down is in the Atlantic during the winter.
Btw one more bit of advice for you ,and that would be to try and get your hands on a sat phone just in case you need it .
Merry Christmas
Fred
12-22-2008, 04:19 AM
#5
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Having made many North Atlantic crossings...albeit in C-130's my suggestion is to go the B route.... you could have problems either way with the wx.... but if you go the A route there just arenot alot of places to land in the Azores... Lajes being the other main airport. PLUS the wx can change in the Azores at the drop of a hat..... but hell it can in Greenland and Iceland as well. Frankly you might have to make your way to Goose Bay and sit until you get a good wx window to make the jumps to Greenland and Iceland. SE to the Azores....ONLY if the WX was perfect.
*Sat Phone
*Exposure Suit... ( might consider flying in it )
*Sat Phone
*Exposure Suit... ( might consider flying in it )
12-22-2008, 06:11 AM
#6
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I will have a sat phone, a personal locator beacon (apart from the plane's ELT), an immersion suit which I will wear up to the waist while flying, and a life raft. I intend to bring multiple water bottles, and a guy I talked to who has done this says to bring lots of candy bars and nuts (chewing evidently keeps a person awake better than sucking for example) and be ready to chuck that stuff in the immersion suit should the unthinkable occur.
Due to the increased possibility of icing over the northern route, some people not on this thread have suggested the southern route is better. This would mean 12 hours over 1500NM of water, as opposed to 7-8 hour legs with the northern route.
Someone else said there are some islands with airstrips west of the azores. What are the names of those islands? Are there instrument approaches? Whats the identifier for Lajes?
Yes I wish I could have company, experienced company with deicing fluid! But the plane is alreday 30% over gross.
Also does anyone have any advice on ICING. Another pilot who does this says with 3/4 inch I will be down to the top of the white arc, and with 1 1/4 inches down to 70 knots, in that case to descent to 2 or 3000 and melt it off, assuming temps above freezing at that altitude.
Does anyone know how to make position reports across the ocean? I heard every 5 degrees, or 2 hours.
I need more info. Thanks.
Due to the increased possibility of icing over the northern route, some people not on this thread have suggested the southern route is better. This would mean 12 hours over 1500NM of water, as opposed to 7-8 hour legs with the northern route.
Someone else said there are some islands with airstrips west of the azores. What are the names of those islands? Are there instrument approaches? Whats the identifier for Lajes?
Yes I wish I could have company, experienced company with deicing fluid! But the plane is alreday 30% over gross.
Also does anyone have any advice on ICING. Another pilot who does this says with 3/4 inch I will be down to the top of the white arc, and with 1 1/4 inches down to 70 knots, in that case to descent to 2 or 3000 and melt it off, assuming temps above freezing at that altitude.
Does anyone know how to make position reports across the ocean? I heard every 5 degrees, or 2 hours.
I need more info. Thanks.
12-22-2008, 06:20 AM
#7
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avanti, I'm going to move your thread to Major then Cargo in hopes of getting it more exposure since you seem to have a tight deadline for departure. Good luck!
12-22-2008, 06:23 AM
#8
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Posts: 867
Having exported a couple of 172's and in talking with the ferry co's, I'd wait a couple of months, or put the plane in a box.
12-22-2008, 06:29 AM
#9
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Joined APC: Nov 2006
Posts: 585
EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE - Outdoors Gear, Survival Equipment Review & Survival Information
If you want that survival suit to do you any good, you need it on, not "to your waist".
Best of luck.
If you want that survival suit to do you any good, you need it on, not "to your waist".
Best of luck.
12-22-2008, 06:30 AM
#10
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Thanks Vagabond. Can anyone offer any firsthand advice on how a C172SP (180hp) performs under icing conditions. I only have experience with light rime and light freezing rain, maybe 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of ice. Would anyone who has experienced more be willing to talk specifics?
Also, this might be of interest- the story of two pilots who ditched in the NAT.
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=101
Also, this might be of interest- the story of two pilots who ditched in the NAT.
http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=101
Last edited by avanti; 12-22-2008 at 06:42 AM.
