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Question for AMF PDX pilots

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deemee boosgkee

deemee boosgkee

But it's a dry heat!
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Posts
44
Wondering what your personal limitations are on winds for takeoff and landing. I see some of the costal airport TAF's are forecasting gusts to 42kts as a big storm system is moving onshore. As for those traversing the range what are your limitations for winds aloft (to minimize exposure to possible severe turbulence in rough terrain.) I noticed at 12,000 tomorrow morning the winds are foreceast at 80 kts give or take in the Cascades. Is it routine to fly in those conditions?


Pardon my ignorance as I am a relatively low time flatland pilot, not to mention a bit buzzed from a nice 40 of Bud!!
 
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I'm not based in PDX anymore, but I spent 9 mo. flying the 'Jo on the coast runs. I've never not gone due to winds aloft, but got the crap kicked out of me many times. I never saw AMF wind speed limitations get exceeded by winds at the airport, although it's possible and it has come close. For the most part the wind was straight down the runway or a slight crosswind in Newport, North Bend and Crescent City. I've done ILS's in North Bend with close to 80 degrees of crosswind gusting to 35 kts, but was able to make it in. Nevertheless, practice makes perfect. Don't hurt yourself or the plane...

Yes, I'd say it is routine to fly in rough air on the coast, especially during the winter. It gets pretty bumpy, but I don't think I ever went through anything that was beyond the capability of the aircraft. Talk to some of the experienced 99 drivers in PDX, they will have some good advice.

If its beyond AMF limits when you check the ASOS, then divert, or maybe hold for a few minutes... Check the OPS Manual on the specifics.
 
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deemee boosgkee said:
Is it routine to fly in those conditions?
Click to expand...

Yes.

-A former PDX coast run pilot :)


Edit: Not implying that you should attempt anything that you feel is beyond your or the airplane's capabilities, though. Don't let you-know-who in the morning in PDX push you around. :uzi:
 
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40kts max. above 50kts we are not to even taxi.

I've only had a run cancelled once due to wind. Use your best judgement though. Stay safe.
 
Every day was a sucky day to hang out in Tillamook. What a hole. :0

The only thing that run had going for it was getting home early at night!
 
deemee boosgkee said:
Saw a METAR for AST a few hrs ago and it was [FONT=Monospace,Courier]20031G60KT[/FONT]!! I'll bet that a nice cold beer is in store for the evening instead!


Thanks for the replies everyone.
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Well if it makes anybody feel any better, the current pilot on tillamook got pulled out of there a little after noon, so I don't think he needs any beer. Personaly he got off way too easy, especialy since I had to put up with it tonight, my plane might need a new interior.
 
You AMF PDX types are in luck that Gary got rid of the Caravans you had, I spent years out of PDX in the van and it handles like crap in the wind. I would take the Navajo, 99, 402, low wing any day. Fact is I hear some vans were damaged in PDX yesterday, no details, anyone hear the same?
 
DZ BUM & EFS said:
You AMF PDX types are in luck that Gary got rid of the Caravans you had, I spent years out of PDX in the van and it handles like crap in the wind. I would take the Navajo, 99, 402, low wing any day. Fact is I hear some vans were damaged in PDX yesterday, no details, anyone hear the same?
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No idea, I made it in around 7, got lucky and was one of the first AMF's in, it looked like all but maybe 3-4 of empire's vans were parked. One of the rampers said that watching one of the vans on final looked like an aerobatics show with lots of wing movement.
 
I was lucky and escaped the bullet by being diverted from having to cross the Cascades. Listening to the sesoned 99 pilots in front of me trade details of icing vs. turbulence ahead of me, left me with a choice of which sounded better/worse? Following their route with my double digit ground speed PA31 was not looking like fun.

As soon as Ops told me to divert I felt some relief, but there was little comfort in the rest of my flight. While being vectored for the approach the controller had to put me in a box pattern to get me down with my fast ground speed.

While on final with a 400 foot ceiling I listened to the tower report the winds every 30 seconds or so, each time it was a different intesity from a different direction. A smarter man would have thought of windshear before it hit me. As the ASI crept over 140, I thought "AMF is 120, but what does the POH say?" As the ASI went below 80 and the stall warning horn was blaring, my concern for the gear doors went away. Then the ASI went to the mid 100s again before finally settling down. Then things were calm and quiet again and I thought that wasn't so bad. When I looked at the needles they were both pegged, with the GS pegged to the top of the HSI, I thought "Where am I?"

With assistance from ATC I managed to go around without hitting anything and shoot an approach in now VFR conditions. The airport was easy to find and I could of seen it a long ways out if I had looked out the copilot's side window earlier.

I came away with a new respect for wind shear.
 
RefugePilot said:
With assistance from ATC I managed to go around without hitting anything and shoot an approach in now VFR conditions. The airport was easy to find and I could of seen it a long ways out if I had looked out the copilot's side window earlier.

I came away with a new respect for wind shear.
Click to expand...

I was talking with MW yesterday and now I know what he was saying about some of you guys getting some big experience points in your flight bag.
 
Any of you PDX'ers (or former for that matter) hear the story of a former PDX'er we lovingly called "BANK BAG"??? Rumor goes he took a Shart in a USBANK bag when flying the 402 on the coast. Couldn't hold over ONP for that long I guess...

Ask SPBRIAN about it. I'm sure he remembers the story.
 
Any freight pilot who doesn't consider Immodium tablets as part of their essential equipment earn lovely names like Bank Bag. Take note young pups. Also, any combination of Chipotle burritos and Kashi cereal should not be consumed within 24 hours of a flight. Things you learn when you are master of the Golgothan. That is all.
 

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