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

[GravityHater]

Air Vagabonds I think it was. They used to do it full time in this book, a regular occurrence

 

[Steve]

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.

If you dont mind me asking, how did you get into the biz and what is your background? You can PM me

 

[ToiletDuck]

My professor did it. Not only was it a single engine but it was a single engine running off Ethanol that he had built himself and used to prove it was possible. I'm actually amazed he lived. His aircraft that he did it in is the only one left of that model because all the rest have crashed.

 

[psysicx]

Does anybody know what companies or websites that offer employment?

 

[414Flyer]

If you are doing it for a dedicated ferry company, you will probably be an independent contractor, and not a true employee. You also buy your own equipment (personal ELT, survival suit, extra radio, raft, life jacket, handheld GPS, charts, etc).

A couple of the major companies are based in FL.

 

[PastFastMover]

Took an F-4 across the North Atlantic and an F-105 across the Pacific to Thailand. Liked two engines rather than one. Both were cramped and very uncomfortable. Was young then, doubt I would do it again at my old age. May have done a light civilian aircraft when I was young, now that I am old, let someone else do it.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Yea I'd do it. Only live once.

 

[NookyBooky]

Sure, why TF not? It beats the airlines IMHO.

 

[NookyBooky]

Does anybody know what companies or websites that offer employment?

When you find out can you tell me about the pay and QOL?

 

[DisPatchThis]

Survival suit, raft, gps and satcom...I'd do it no problem.

 

[Hawker rider]

Sign me up!

 

[mayday1]

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.

yeah, good book.. very inspiring.

 

[AA717driver]

I agree with FastMover. Maybe 20 years ago, but not now. I do have a friend who did a lot of that on his days off from the airline job. He said it was no big deal with good preparation and knowing the plane he was ferrying.

All I know is when you look down from 35,000' and see the whitecaps and waves, that's not somewhere I'd want to ditch.

Knock yourselves out guys! TC

 

[AKAAB]

C210R - KLN90B - New engine (which I had to insist got a full 25 hours and an it's first oil change before I'd take it across the pond). Gander to Shannon in March, 1994. 8.9 hours and landed with another 3-4 hours of fuel if I recall correctly. The only excitement was about 230 miles off the coast of Ireland when the engine quit. Seems the ferry tank was a couple of gallons smaller than they said and it coughed a few minutes earlier than I expected. Pumps on, all valves open, and she fired back up. I don't think I even lost a hundred feet.

I think I was the last guy that had to go through Moncton to get the Canadian waiver. The guy up there told me they were discontinuing the requirement since everyone had GPS.

 

[414Flyer]

C210R - KLN90B - New engine (which I had to insist got a full 25 hours and an it's first oil change before I'd take it across the pond). Gander to Shannon in March, 1994. 8.9 hours and landed with another 3-4 hours of fuel if I recall correctly. The only excitement was about 230 miles off the coast of Ireland when the engine quit. Seems the ferry tank was a couple of gallons smaller than they said and it coughed a few minutes earlier than I expected. Pumps on, all valves open, and she fired back up. I don't think I even lost a hundred feet.

I think I was the last guy that had to go through Moncton to get the Canadian waiver. The guy up there told me they were discontinuing the requirement since everyone had GPS.

Looks like you had some pretty nice winds for it on that trip. During the winter you can have great winds, but also just really crappy weather too, forcing planes to go via the Azores to Europe.

I know of one pilot who was making a winter crossing, and the oil breather tube froze shut, driving up the oil pressure until it blew the prop seal out, and all of the oil. There next few hours were pretty cold, waiting for rescue in the north atlantic, luckily they lived.

 

[nickfaith]

Unless there are 2 engines burning Jet A... not on your life. Having flown all over Texas.. that's kind've like flying across an ocean. Nothing there unless you're near one of the large metro's.

I guess I'm just a wuss.. but it beats being stuck in a boat in freezing temperatures in the middle of nowhere.


Nick