mjanicki
05-16-2009, 08:03 PM
After yesterday's flight I didn't plan to spend much time in Amapa; so, around 7:00 A.M. local time I headed back out to the airfield for today's flight from Amapa, Brazil (SBAM) to Zanderij, Suriname (SMJP) by way of Guyane (French Guyana). I had hoped for a touch-and-go somewhere in Guyane to make it official, but the weather didn't cooperate so I won't be stopping in Guyane today, although I will make use of it's airspace. Flight time is about 4 hours and I'm expecting MVFR or worse all the way.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_01_taxi.jpg
Taxiing at SBAM gives a look at the kind of skies I'm expecting today. Not quite complete overcast, but heavy coverage. Forecasts are for 20% chance of rain here, with 70% chance of rain in Suriname. But, somehow I keep missing the rain and stay hot and dry today.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_02_depart.jpg
Climbing out from SBAM I get a better idea of where the cloud tops lie and can see I'll be up at 6500 or 8500 for today's flight. I don't mind too much because at least it will be cooler at altitude -- it's 84 F here in Brazil at 7:30 A.M.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_03_jungle.jpg
Every so often I get a look at the ground below and can see that as I head West toward Guyane the landscape is turning to thick jungle.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_04_guyane.jpg
There is not much break from the clouds today, but over Guyane I manage to spot at least a few changes in elevation reminding me why I decided to head above the clouds today, rather than below them.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_05_brokopondo.jpg
I'm well into Suriname and crossing Brokopondo Lake, South of Zanderij. This is a massive lake. I had planned my route with the hope of getting a nice look at it from the air, but there are only a few spots along the way where I'm able to spot the lake.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_06_chart.jpg
14nm out from Zanderij and the clouds haven't let up, so I'll be flying one of the published instrument approaches today. I know, I know, I'm not really IFR on this flight, but it's a simulator so let me have some fun.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_07_final.jpg
Well into the procedure with only a light wind from the front-left. Is that runway in sight? Or do I need to see more than just lighting?
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_08_in_sight.jpg
Regardless -- this is definitely runway in sight.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_09_short_final.jpg
So with not much further to go I get a quick look at the local foliage now that I'm below the cloud layer.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_10_smjp.jpg
And with a reasonably decent touchdown I arrive in Zanderij, Suriname after spending the last 5 or so flights in Brazil. Next will be a very short flight into Guyana.
Thanks for viewing.
-- Mike
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_01_taxi.jpg
Taxiing at SBAM gives a look at the kind of skies I'm expecting today. Not quite complete overcast, but heavy coverage. Forecasts are for 20% chance of rain here, with 70% chance of rain in Suriname. But, somehow I keep missing the rain and stay hot and dry today.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_02_depart.jpg
Climbing out from SBAM I get a better idea of where the cloud tops lie and can see I'll be up at 6500 or 8500 for today's flight. I don't mind too much because at least it will be cooler at altitude -- it's 84 F here in Brazil at 7:30 A.M.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_03_jungle.jpg
Every so often I get a look at the ground below and can see that as I head West toward Guyane the landscape is turning to thick jungle.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_04_guyane.jpg
There is not much break from the clouds today, but over Guyane I manage to spot at least a few changes in elevation reminding me why I decided to head above the clouds today, rather than below them.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_05_brokopondo.jpg
I'm well into Suriname and crossing Brokopondo Lake, South of Zanderij. This is a massive lake. I had planned my route with the hope of getting a nice look at it from the air, but there are only a few spots along the way where I'm able to spot the lake.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_06_chart.jpg
14nm out from Zanderij and the clouds haven't let up, so I'll be flying one of the published instrument approaches today. I know, I know, I'm not really IFR on this flight, but it's a simulator so let me have some fun.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_07_final.jpg
Well into the procedure with only a light wind from the front-left. Is that runway in sight? Or do I need to see more than just lighting?
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_08_in_sight.jpg
Regardless -- this is definitely runway in sight.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_09_short_final.jpg
So with not much further to go I get a quick look at the local foliage now that I'm below the cloud layer.
http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/mikejani/C152%20World%20Tour/Leg%20028%20SBAM-SMJP/028_10_smjp.jpg
And with a reasonably decent touchdown I arrive in Zanderij, Suriname after spending the last 5 or so flights in Brazil. Next will be a very short flight into Guyana.
Thanks for viewing.
-- Mike