Would you fly a single-engine airplane across the Atlantic???

[Flying Illini]

I would if given the opportunity. Take the proper precautions and you should be ok. It would be a fun trip. I would prefer to do it with someone who has crossed before before I do it solo.

 

[User546]

Take the proper precautions and you should be ok.

Should implies you should, but you might not! I don't think fighting to save my life in the Atlantic is worth it to me to be wrong! I'm all for a little adventure and fun, but when you weigh risk vs. benefit - this whole process doesn't seem that necessary for me!

Besides, I'm one of those people that is always the "1" in the 99 out of a 100 people statements. If it can happen, it probably will happen with me. I know my limitations based on that theory!

 

[TurboS7]

1) Since I am a professional pilot (whore) I will say for the right price I will do anything.

2) I am very familiar with the North Atlantic, would I do it without being paid for it. Maybe. There is a lot of cold water but it is an adventure so in that light I would like to do it. I feel that you can do anything safely and I would go to extremes to make sure I had a chance if the 1% chance became a 100% chance.

3)As for the weather in KEF. a zero, zero approach is a piece of cake, 80kts and just fly the airplane till the tires hit the pavement. KEF has CATIII approach and lighting, simple for a light aircraft.

4)The winds aloft would be my main concern hence a big fuel tank and a lot of fuel would be a must. I have seen things change aloft and on the ground in a nano second.

 

[Draginass]

Not no, but hell no.

 

[Lead Sled]

User, interesting links. I didn't even think a C-150 had that type of range. How many miles are we talking here???

If you take a northerly route the longest over-water distance is roughly 600 NM - certainly a doable distance for many light aircraft. Certainly there are many singles that make the trip without incident each year. There are also several cases of singles having to ditch in open water each year. Statisically, you can make the trip without expectations of problems - after all, how many engine failures are you going to experience? I've got my share of oceanic crossing under my belt and I've looked down on the North Atlantic and wondered how Lindberg had the cajones to take that trip - looking down at scattered icebergs in whitecapped waters takes away any desire that I might have in making the trip in a single. Even with a survival suit, your life expectency isn't very long. The suit would probably only prolong the inevitable.

I've made a career out of minimizing risks. There was I time when I wouldn't have given much thought about flying a properly maintained and equipted single anywhere, anytime - those days are long gone. In a single you have absolutely no redundancy of the only component that will keep your keester dry.

Now, let's discuss the trip in a Twin Commanche or other light twin. I think that that would be a hoot - provided my wallet could withstand the price of 100LL in Europe.

'Sled

 

[AdlerDriver]

USAF F-16 guys do it. Not that they have any choice. The first time I did, I was glad I had chosen to fly the F-15. At least 2 engines make for a much more relaxed crossing.
:beer:

 

[banned username 2]

think about the old days and tha nads the settlers did years ago crossin the country with only 1 horse

Yeah, but when the horse croaked, they just pulled over and ate it... When the engine dies and you are bobbing in the North Atlantic, you are dinner...

 

[siucavflight]

I have nine Atlantic crossings in a TBM 700, did not even break a sweat.

 

[jknight8907]

I have nine Atlantic crossings in a TBM 700, did not even break a sweat.

Cool; who do you work for to do that, Socata? Also, what kind of times are they looking for for that?

thanks

 

[Flying Illini]

Should implies you should, but you might not! I don't think fighting to save my life in the Atlantic is worth it to me to be wrong! I'm all for a little adventure and fun, but when you weigh risk vs. benefit - this whole process doesn't seem that necessary for me!

Besides, I'm one of those people that is always the "1" in the 99 out of a 100 people statements. If it can happen, it probably will happen with me. I know my limitations based on that theory!

Do a Vmc demo properly and you SHOULD be ok. Cross the mountains single engine, follow the highways and you SHOULD be ok. SHould applies to alot of stuff. look both ways before crossing the street and you SHOULD be ok. Sure, there is risk involved in dooing a single engine crossing, but there is risk in everything. Do whatever you can to minimize the risk and go for it. To each his own. You wouldn't, I would. Doesn't make either one of us better than the other.

 

[Metro752]

I bet TDTurbo has flown his 182 over

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Turbine, probably....with a survival suit on the entire time over water, North atlantic waters are Cold! Very Cold!

Piston??? Probably in my younger days, before I ceased being bullet proof and such. Not now with family and kids.

Does it make me a wuss? Well maybe, I still ride very fast on dirt bikes and love big jumps, but I make sure the medical insurance is paid up. I bought a bigger boat primarly so I had two engines when I was 50 and 60 miles out at sea hunting that whopper Tuna. If I do not want to be 50 miles out with one piston motor, in something that will not sink just because the engine quit, I sure do not want to be 600 miles out in a single engine Mooney or similar!!!

The North Atlantic looks mighty unforgiving looking down from the cockpit of a 747.........I will stick with my current mode of transport across the pond!

Guess I am just turning into a big wimp in my mid thirties!!

 

[Ralgha]

Because I've had an alternator/total electrical failure on an XC flight before. Over the ocean, at night, 1200nm from my alternate, with no real navigation on board (ok, presumably I have a handheld GPS for this trip) doesn't sound worth whatever I'm being paid to make this flight.

So have I, I'd probably make the crossing anyway.

 

[AdlerDriver]

Turbine, probably....with a survival suit on the entire time over water, North atlantic waters are Cold! Very Cold!........

Hitting the water after an ejection, the general gouge when I was doing it was the survival suit might buy you an extra 15 minutes. Maybe civilians have better suits - you know the rep of government issued stuff. If you could get in and stay in your raft, you might have a chance. If the water was rough, most guys figured they'd be better off just unzipping the suit so they could go quickly. It was going to take a while for some helo out of Kef to get there and find you (maybe).

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

Hitting the water after an ejection, the general gouge when I was doing it was the survival suit might buy you an extra 15 minutes. Maybe civilians have better suits - you know the rep of government issued stuff. If you could get in and stay in your raft, you might have a chance. If the water was rough, most guys figured they'd be better off just unzipping the suit so they could go quickly. It was going to take a while for some helo out of Kef to get there and find you (maybe).

Yeah not much chance long term without a raft. I had a boat engine quit about 25 miles out before, even in radio range of the Coast Guard and warm water the thought of being out there without power was not a good one. Got it running with the tools and spare parts that I carry aboard, however I decided that day to work out the finances to get something with twins hanging on the transom. Costs me more in gas on a yearly basis, but I can fish now without getting a bad feeling everytime the engine loads up a little and coughs.

Gotta respect the ocean, it plays by it's own rules.

 

[KigAir]

Because I've had an alternator/total electrical failure on an XC flight before.

Oh my, how did you ever find your way home?

 

[johnpeace]

Oh my, how did you ever find your way home?

It was no big deal...I wasn't in the middle of a 2000nm leg over the featureless ocean.

It did give me some insight into the kind of crap that can happen in little airplanes though, and was the first thing I thought of when considering the question of would I fly a single across an ocean.

At this point in my experience continuum...not a chance.

 

[onthebeach]

An important safety factor

Besides having a dry suit on (uncomfortable, but necessary) AND easy, dependable access to a raft, a very important factor is whether or not the gear retracts. A successful ditching in a fixed gear airplane is unlikely, no matter how favorable the sea conditions.

 

[KigAir]

It was no big deal...I wasn't in the middle of a 2000nm leg over the featureless ocean.

Gee, how did the pilots of the early trans-atlantic flights ever make it across the pond without GPS.....

 

[siucavflight]

It was no big deal...I wasn't in the middle of a 2000nm leg over the featureless ocean.

It did give me some insight into the kind of crap that can happen in little airplanes though, and was the first thing I thought of when considering the question of would I fly a single across an ocean.

At this point in my experience continuum...not a chance.

I think he was being sarcastic.

 

[johnpeace]

Yeah, whatever.

Kigair, have fun doing an ocean crossing in a 152 or something...with your head stuck out the window so you can use the sextant. After all...if Ernie Gann did it in a DC-2...surely you, me or anyone else can.

Pilots flew in IMC with no wx radar, no FSS, poor forecasts, no convective outlooks, no TAFs or METARS, no strikefinders...etc. So, surely then it's just part of the flying experience that we all ought to be endeavoring in, right?

 

[Hugh Johnson]

In 1996 i flew a non-turbo 182 from wichita to South Africa. Had a 220 USG aux tank in the cabin. Two guys I worked with flew 172's, 152's, mooneys, bonanzas, cherokee 6, all over the pacific. it was 26 hours to hono in a 172. they went in a large group and only one had the hf radio. great way to see alot of nothing. the north atlantic in nothing. bangor, gander, narsarsuuaq, kef or reykavic, prestwick. all about 700 miles. there used to be an outfit in fla that had the exclusive delivery for piper vero beach and flew all their single engine stuff. if you ever get to the bangor fbo, look at the sign in book. you'll be amazed at what goes through there and where its going. cheers.

 

[414Flyer]

In 1996 i flew a non-turbo 182 from wichita to South Africa. Had a 220 USG aux tank in the cabin. Two guys I worked with flew 172's, 152's, mooneys, bonanzas, cherokee 6, all over the pacific. it was 26 hours to hono in a 172. they went in a large group and only one had the hf radio. great way to see alot of nothing. the north atlantic in nothing. bangor, gander, narsarsuuaq, kef or reykavic, prestwick. all about 700 miles. there used to be an outfit in fla that had the exclusive delivery for piper vero beach and flew all their single engine stuff. if you ever get to the bangor fbo, look at the sign in book. you'll be amazed at what goes through there and where its going. cheers.

That outfit is still there in FL, still taking new singles across. I took a new Piper warrior across in August for them, and was in the process of taking a new 172 over 2 weeks ago, but paperwork issues put a stop to it for now.

I have taken a Cheyenne from India to North Dakota, and that Piper from Fl to Denmark. My longest leg was about 12:30, from St Johns to Reykjavik in that piper. And yes, Icelandic women are hot. there is a certain Icelandic customs woman in Reykjavik, who can frisk and handcuff me anytime.

There is a unofficial club for those who have been in a flight more than 24 hours, its called the Over a Day club, or something like that.

One can actually take many kinds of GA airplanes across the most northern route untanked, however you will be much more dependent on good weather and favorable winds, and it can end up taking you longer, and costing you more, than if you had the plane tanked up to go all the way across.

 

[cezzna]

I think the general consensus is.........

Young with no obligations or family--- yes I'll do it

Been around the block, family, obligations, etc.-----hell no

Put me down for a hell no.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

414Flyer, I salute you. There are those of us who have flown GA in India, and there is everyone else. Here's to the sh!%@$ing fields in Mumbai (Bombay). Here's to the 26 stamps on your flight plan that have to be in the right order. Here's to head waggers. Here's to landing at an unfamiliar airport and looking for the yellow customs sign. Tiger beer for you my friend.

 

[nikoz1200]

I do about 2 trips a month across. Don't ask me why... except that I always said I want to see the world before I get a real job. This certainly fits the bill. The company I work for does everything from 172s and PA28s to BE20s. Closest trip was to England, and the furthest to China. Just got back from taking a Warrior to England and a c208 to Africa. It is a lot of fun, but definatly isn't for everyone.

I respect those that want no part of a single engine crossing as much as those who do it all the time.

 

[414Flyer]

414Flyer, I salute you. There are those of us who have flown GA in India, and there is everyone else. Here's to the sh!%@$ing fields in Mumbai (Bombay). Here's to the 26 stamps on your flight plan that have to be in the right order. Here's to head waggers. Here's to landing at an unfamiliar airport and looking for the yellow customs sign. Tiger beer for you my friend.

Yeah I had the "pleasure" of flying in India for 5 months last year. About a week after I got back, then I got asked to go back and take two of those Cheyennes out of India to Oman. Then an experiened ferry pilot met me in Oman, and we each brought one back from there.

Dont forget about the carbon copy flight plans done in triplicate, signed off by weather office, communications office, tower, etc. Crappy enroute ATC, YA numbers, just a staggering amount of bureaucracy.

I did get to see a Indian SU-30 had an emergency landing, was interesting how IAF denied it all, eventually claiming it was a practice drill. sure, if one practices a drill by sending an SU-30 on fire with no brakes, into an arresting barrier.

 

[EatSleepFly]

I'd do it- only if I was being paid though.

I already fly 850+ nm legs in Caravans pretty regularly, and spend a whole lot of time looking down on the great lakes. Don't really enjoy it, but hell- it would be cooler going across the Atlantic than going to that miserable hole known as Texas and all the other "exotic" auto parts destinations in the U.S. and Canada all the time. :nuts:

 

[QueensPilot]

There is a good book called The Cockpit by Paul Gahlinger. A true story about a university professor who quit his job and flew his single-engine Cessna from California to South Africa.

 

[QuasarZ]

At this point in time with my little experience.. Heck NO... that doesnt mean that later on down the road if the opportunity came up I would say No...