Amapa to Zanderij FS2002

**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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Regardless -- this is definitely runway in sight.

So with not much further to go I get a quick look at the local foliage now that I'm below the cloud layer.

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