Bermuda Questions

[hmmm]

Just got back the email from the Oceanic desk manager and he didn't really address the question specifically on a pre-approval. I believe what LJ45 said that maybe only pre approved relief without HF is if it broke while at Bermuda... But we'll see.

91.511 doesn't say anything about flying VFR. So looking into that although it already seems dismal.

.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm headed to Bermuda in November and never been there before. Can anybody give some intel on what to expect, etc. I've actually never done anything that far out over the water. It's part 91, we have a raft.

Thank in advance.

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

 

[K.V.]

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

While I would never condone flying to an airport without enough fuel to make it to your alternate...in the event of the above situation, the taxi way there would act as an emergency runway. ("emergency" being the operative word)

From what I understand, the taxiway on the north end of the field use to be a runway back in the day...way before my time.

 

[ultrarunner]

I wouldn't plan on the taxiway being available. Or it getting cleared of emer vehicles responding to a disabled aircraft, etc, so you can come in and land....

An airport can close for any number of reasons that can actually prevent you from landing on any surface. And when the airport is as remote as that one...

Just take the fuel to come back. It's so easy!

 

[jonjuan]

PA31, your closest diverts are FOK, ACY and ORF. Each is about 630 nm or so from TXKF. Make DARN sure you carry enough fuel to get yourself back to one of those airports. For some operators, this necessitates a fuel stop before headed out, depending of course on the range of your bird. If one our our Limey friends aborts his SpeedBird out there and blows some rubber, you're not landing! So you gotta have the fuel to come back.

BS, man. The taxiways there are plenty long and wide. Put her down and go for some dark and stormy's.

 

[xrated]

Fuel, alternates, HF, landing on taxiways....all issues pretty much secondary to the important stuff. Just make sure you make it over to the Swizzle Inn.

 

[rice]

Fuel, alternates, HF, landing on taxiways....all issues pretty much secondary to the important stuff. Just make sure you make it over to the Swizzle Inn.

"Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out" you'll have fun.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

"Swizzle Inn, Swagger Out" you'll have fun.

Rookie, its "Swizzle Inn, Stagger out."

 

[K.V.]

I wouldn't plan on the taxiway being available. Or it getting cleared of emer vehicles responding to a disabled aircraft, etc, so you can come in and land....

An airport can close for any number of reasons that can actually prevent you from landing on any surface. And when the airport is as remote as that one...

Think about what you're saying man.

Nobody plans on landing on a taxiway. But in the event of an EMERGENCY combined with either a disabled aircraft or a runway closure for whatever reason, because the airport is so remote, the taxiway can be and has been used as emergency runway.

Just take the fuel to come back. It's so easy!

Wow, that does sound easy! Don't get the terms "emergency" and "piss-poor-planning" confused. While you can plan ahead of time for a million different situations, one should feel confident with contingencies like this for the thing that you can't plan for.

And as for the (operative) HF radio situation...It's my understanding that if you don't have one, the controllers in Bermuda won't even give you a clearance to depart. I think that's where the "one time" waiver comes into play.

 

[xrated]

Rookie, its "Swizzle Inn, Stagger out."

Sorry but Rice was correct, it's "Swagger".