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Those of you who have flown my past features may have noticed a slight penchant toward seat-of-the-pants, out the window flying that calls for more stick and rudder skills than procedural expertise. While I have no plans to abandon my love for flying a snaking approach between a couple of mountain peaks toward a half mile final and a 2000 foot runway, I also enjoy the challenge of navigating the waypoints and flying an approach or departure by the numbers. So since this is obviously all about me, we're going to combine both of my inclinations in this month's flight.
In my last flight you were pressed into service as a Part 135 charter pilot hopping in and out of small airfields in northwest Oregon. After performing yeoman duty in that role and not losing either aircraft or passengers, "FlightClub Executive Jets" has invited you to fly left seat on one of their corporate jet aircraft. Having demonstrated your ability to negotiate tricky approaches and landings, you are just the person they are looking for to replace the pilot who had this route before you (ate one too many dirt sandwichs we understand).
This is also going to be a little different than most past flights in that just like the real world biz jet drivers, you will be type rated for a single aircraft and fly it on all of your routes. Since you come so highly touted, you have the luxury of choosing the plane you want to fly. (See the list at the bottom of this page for aircraft recommendations/availabilities.) The only requirement is that it be turbojet or turbofan powered and capable of operations at the scheduled airfields.
On this day's work you will have four flights that will give you a
fair look at what it's like to fly biz jets for a living and test
your skills in a number of areas. First off, even though your plane
may be FMC equipped, "FlightClub Executive Jets" encourages its
pilots to navigate by waypoints in order to keep their skills fresh.
You will also need to pay attention to the proper approach, departure
and ATC procedures because CEO Flounder REALLY hates getting those
nasty calls from the FAA. Charts for each of your scheduled airfields
are available through
www.airnav.com.
Since you are a pro, we won't take up your time with instructions on
how to fly your routes. We have however compiled your flight plans
for you so all you need to do is file and fly them. Be sure to check
your destination and enroute METARs.
You will begin your day (or end it, depending on where you are flying in from) with an arrival at Aspen-Pitkin County to pick up your passengers. You will be flying in from the origin of your choice. If you are not familiar with KASE, it is one of the more notoriously dangerous approaches in the USA, demanding strict adherence to procedures and great pilot skill even in the best conditions.
While enroute to Aspen, you will need to phone ahead to the FBO and advise them to expect the catering order you have placed for your passengers and make sure that they have the necessary ice and amenities. If you will be arriving late in the day, you will also need to make sure that they have a call-out service available to get your rental car or crew shuttle after closing time.
The usual approach is to runway 15 which is challenging enough but if the winds turn on you, you will find the approach to 33 tighter than a gnat's you-know-what.
Your passengers are going to be in Santa Fe, New Mexico only long enough to pick up a sculpture at one of the local art galleries so you will need to call ahead to make transportation arrangements for them. Hopefully the FBO has good coffee and a supply of flying magazines to keep you occupied while they are on their errand.
This is a pretty simple, straightforward flight and if the winds co-operate, you will have a nice ILS approach into KSAF. At 224 nm, it should only take about 45 minutes from ramp to ramp. Be advised though, this airport is 6271 feet high and altitude density can be an issue.
Routing:
KASE > MVI > TAS > KSAF
White not especially difficult, the approach into Sedona can be tricky since the published approach allows landing from only one direction and there are noise abatement procedures in effect. There is no ILS or DME so landing is strictly a visual affair.
Routing:
KSAF > GUP > INW > KEYKE > JUWSO > EXUTY > KSEZ
Finally, everybody has de-planed and their party was there to take them off of your hands.
This one will test not only your endurance of difficult passengers
but also your ability to gracefully put a jet down just about
anywhere while under the watchful eyes of a planeload of eccentric
critics. Lackey Ranch isn't exactly KLAX... in fact it is a
3000 foot long grass strip nestled 5000 feet up in the Cascade
Mountains that no one in their right mind would try to land a jet on.
No one that is, but you! Here's where all of that short field and
mountain flying experience will come to your rescue. Just remember
to make sure that there are no cows or ducks on the runway before
landing. Coming from Sedona, you will want to fly the Wizard One DSD
transition approach to runway 16 (circle to land 34 if winds are from
the north).
After successfully bringing your beast to a stop before the end of the runway, taxi over to the cabin to unload your passengers and call it a day with a cold pint of Bachelor Bitter or Black Butte Porter at the Lackey Lounge. By the way, you will need to download Peter Stark's KTRR scenery package to fly this.
Routing:
KSEZ > NAVHO > J11 > CORKR > FREDD > BCE > J523 > ELY > REO > ILR
> FUFQO > DSD > DRACK > KTRR
Good luck!
On behalf of Tony Radmilovich
Ron Blehm
pretendpilot@yahoo.com
Aircraft Recommendations:
Cessna Citation 550
Dassault Falcon 2000
Lear 35
Rockwell Sabreliner
Lockheed Jetstar II
Embraer EMB-170
Other Recommended Aircraft (Leaseback):
Beechjet 400A
Gulfstream I-IV
Cessna Citation (all models)
Canadair Challenger
Dassault Falcon 900
Lear 45/60
Hawker XP
Eclipse 500
Scenery recommendations:
1- Aspen-Pitkin County Airport:
kase.zip (FS2004) by Todd Lucas
2- Colorado terrain mesh:
guc30m10.zip by Orlando Sotomayor
3- New Mexico terrain mesh:
abq30m10.zip by Orlando Sotomayor
4- Sedona terrain mesh:
sez30m10.zip by Orlando Sotomayor
5- KTRR by Peter Stark available from
www.toomuchfs.com
or
http://peter.r.stark.googlepages.com/myscenerypage
