3 1/2 hours of water across the gulf would you do it?

[MTpilot]

Do it man, These guys are a bunch of pussies.

I can't believe all the guys on this board that wouldn't do it.

Do you guys even leave your houses.

3 and a half hours over water and your scared to death.

Makes ya ashamed to be a pilot.

 

[wrxpilot]

Do it man, These guys are a bunch of pussies.

I can't believe all the guys on this board that wouldn't do it.

Do you guys even leave your houses.

3 and a half hours over water and your scared to death.

Makes ya ashamed to be a pilot.

Like I said before... If it's the only way across, that's one thing. If there's a way over land, it's another. Then again I'm used to rentals that break all the time, so maybe I'm jaded.

 

[PAPA FOX!]

How many of you who said no would attempt it in a PC-12 or TBM 700? Just curious.

 

[USMCmech]

Oops!

I didn't look at the origional post closely enough. (prys foot out of mouth). :0

The origional poster was talking about flying to central America (Cancun and points south) not the Caymans.

I stand behind my origional post about flying to Grand Cayman as not being a overly large risk. There isn't any way to get there without flying over the open ocean. However the amount of time over water is realitvly short. Take the proper precautions and you should be fine.


However flying through Texas and down Mexico only adds a few hours on the flight to Cancun and avoids the risk of flying over water. I personaly would take this route if possible.

Flying Key West to Cayman to Cancun is a lot of over water flying 5 hours worth including a 3.5 hour leg with no land. That's more than my comfort level if there is any alternative.

 

[JimNtexas]

Ask Santa for one of these 406mhz personal locators with the built-in GPS.

 

[flint4xx]

Go the short route. http://www.awesometrvl.com/cuba_overflight_permit.htm

One mile offshore or 100 is the same if you aren't prepared. Take the money you save on not flying those 10 hours and get some good survival equipment, starting with an EPIRB. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirb.htm
http://www.sportys.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&did=19&product_id=7279

 

[User546]

Do it man, These guys are a bunch of pussies.

I can't believe all the guys on this board that wouldn't do it.

Do you guys even leave your houses.

3 and a half hours over water and your scared to death.

Makes ya ashamed to be a pilot.

No we're not pussies, it's just called minimizing your risks. You'll be more likely to have a longer flying career (and lifespan) by assesing and minimizing the risks you take. Why take all the risks of crossing the Gulf with so many unknown factors, and very little "outs", when you could simply do the safe thing and not get so far out from land?

Just because people have flown through thunderstorms before and survived doesn't necessarily mean you should go out there and try to pick your way thru one next time one's sitting in front of your flight path.

MTPilot... what's the longest time you've ever spent over an open expanse of water in a light single-engine airplane?

 

[MTpilot]

Have a little fun why don't ya!

5 and a half hours, then I ran out of gas.

Seriously though, the only overwater flying I have done is some island hopping in the bahamas.

There is always risk in life, It sounds like fun to strike out across the gulf.

I really would do it if I had an airplane.

You can just keep minimizing risk until you never go anywhere or do anything or have any fun at all.

Hey where can i get a t-shirt like your avatar, that is quality.

 

[Lead Sled]

...you need to build time. take the long way.

That was my thought exactly. 75 MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH RESERVE FOR THAT FLIGHT. That is of course, unless you can get some sort of guarantee from Mother Nature that she will bother to read and adhear to the weather and winds aloft forcasts that day. 75 minutes in a 470 KTAS jet is one thing. 75 minutes in a 100 something knot piston single is totally different. Personally, I think that it would almost smack of "careless and wreckless".

'Sled

 

[hoover]

Lindbergh was asked if he was worried about his one engine quitting. His response? "NO. I don't worry about my heart stopping do I"

 

[gkrangers]

Whats worse...ditching in a heavily wooded forest or in the gulf of mexico.

 

[Famous Dave]

You have flown single engine at night right? Well what's the difference? At night or over water, any way you look at it, it is a leap of faith.
If you are that worried about it (might be a bit uncomfortable but) just wear this when you fly haha
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&&storeId=10001&langId=-1&productId=92690&ref=81902

 

[MTpilot]

Fun Fun Fun!

Ditching in a heavily wooded forest is better than ditching in water. In the forest even if you get hurt bad you can wait for help, in the water if you are hurt and can't crawl out the wreckage.......you drown.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[Lead Sled]

Ditching in a heavily wooded forest is better than ditching in water. In the forest even if you get hurt bad you can wait for help, in the water if you are hurt and can't crawl out the wreckage.......you drown.

That's my 2 cents.

If you crash in the forest and there's no one around to hear you, did you still crash?

'Sled

 

[citabriapilot]

I've flown a 182 to and from Brazil via Ft.Laud, Exuma, San Juan, Barbados, Cayenne (fr. guyana), Belem. Longest leg was 5.1 and the garmin screen was nothing but blue.

Safe? Sure, if you prepare correctly. The airplane doesn't know its over water. Risky? Absolutely. Take the right survival gear, do some good planning and go for it if you feel comfortable with the plane.

 

[Lead Sled]

I've flown a 182 to and from Brazil via Ft.Laud, Exuma, San Juan, Barbados, Cayenne (fr. guyana), Belem. Longest leg was 5.1 and the garmin screen was nothing but blue.

Safe? Sure, if you prepare correctly. The airplane doesn't know its over water. Risky? Absolutely. Take the right survival gear, do some good planning and go for it if you feel comfortable with the plane.

I bet you planned on more than 1:15 reserves at the end of the long over-water leg.

'Sled

 

[citabriapilot]

1.5 hour reserve... Plus a satellite phone, dont' leave home without it. Survival in open water is very do-able with the right equipment. If you have a good epirb, sat phone and a raft (and can get it out of the plane and inflated) your chance of survival is pretty good.

 

[Almerick07]

Sure hope mountain flying isnt this dangerous

 

[Lead Sled]

1.5 hour reserve... Plus a satellite phone, dont' leave home without it. Survival in open water is very do-able with the right equipment. If you have a good epirb, sat phone and a raft (and can get it out of the plane and inflated) your chance of survival is pretty good.

And what did you actually land with? As far as the raft goes, the egress will be the issue - you're going to end up on your back in a 182.

'Sled