I thought I would find it
interesting to chronicle a couple of my days at work, to contrast the
difference between when I fly and when I don't. I have to say, though, that the
flying day is not exactly my average outing!
 |
| Our Kodiak & helicopter fleet |
0545: Arrive at work. I
should have been in earlier, but I should be ready as I spent yesterday
preparing for this flight and if I arrive too early then I risk exceeding the
12 hour duty limit if there are any delays.
The loading is complicated - split over 3 aircraft, so I go over its division with the loaders, who'll also weigh and prepare it. Cargo that was dropped off yesterday is loaded into the helicopter whilst it is still in the hanger.
The loading is complicated - split over 3 aircraft, so I go over its division with the loaders, who'll also weigh and prepare it. Cargo that was dropped off yesterday is loaded into the helicopter whilst it is still in the hanger.
When it gets light, I start checking the weather on the couple of web-cams that cover my route. I need to decide whether to track more-or-less direct to my first destination, or take the longer but more likely to succeed coastal route. The critical area isn't visible, so I decide to think about it for a while, hopeful that the Kodiak will get airborne first and then I can ask them for weather. A report over the radio from the destination says that conditions are good there. So at least I know that if I can get there, I can land.
Go to chat to the Kodiak
pilot. He's sick - a replacement pilot
will be on their way in soon. So much for asking the Kodiak ahead of me for
weather! Our home airstrip is
currently sitting in fog, so everything's going to be delayed! Go and pass on
the 'good news' to the passengers.
Push the helicopter
outside and load the rest of the baggage so we'll be ready when the weather
clears up.
Look at more weather
information to try and decide which route to take. I need more fuel to be able
to take the longer route, but if I take extra fuel and then can route direct
I'll arrive too heavy to be able to carry my cargo for the next leg. Text a
friend who lives in that area to see what he can see, but no reply. The edge of
Australian weather radar shows a fair amount of cloud around where I need to
cross a 7200 foot high 'gap' in the mountains, so I decide to take more fuel.
The replacement Kodiak
pilot is nearly ready to go and the fog is lifting, so I load my passengers and
start up.
 |
| Leg 1 |
0736: Get airborne. I am 35 minutes late, but couldn't be helped, given the weather. A few minutes later the Kodiak gets airborne, too. Just as well, as I need them to overtake me and drop my cargo for the next leg at my current destination! Thankfully they go quite a bit faster and are able to go direct, through the weather, rather than going around it like I expect to.
The weather isn't quite as
good as I'd hoped. I have to follow the 'low route' out into the main valley,
and even there I have to be wary to keep clear of cloud, both vertically and
horizontally. I look towards the more direct track - it is totally obscured by
rain and cloud; I am glad I've taken the extra fuel.
I'm now in controlled
airspace and have an aircraft taking-off towards me. Eyes peeled to make sure I
don't get an unpleasant surprise from a medium-size jet appearing out of one of
the clouds around me!
I am getting pushed lower
and lower. I cross overhead the airport to the south-side of the valley so I
can follow a river. Having taken off at 5100', I am now down at 300' peering
through the rain to avoid the birds and find the coast. My passengers had
expressed an intent to sleep on this flight. It would seem they have changed
their minds!
The corner looms up and I
turn south. One of the webcams had shown that things should improve down the
coast, but no sign of that yet.
A few minutes later the
coast is still shrouded in rain and cloud, but up to my right the mountain tops
are clear with blue sky visible beyond. I contact the Kodiak, which is now
ahead of me, to check the weather there. I decide to cut inland to investigate.
I am fortunate - after a bit of climbing and weaving to find the best route
through, the cloud allows me pass over the ridge and down into the valley
beyond.
 |
| Our first stop |
0907: Gratefully, we
arrive at stop number 1. The Kodiak is still on the ground, but thankfully has
offloaded its cargo which enthusiastic locals are carrying up into the village.
I land in the village to collect it and have a chat with the guys who have been
storing cargo which was dropped-off for us yesterday. They agree to have it,
and a fuel drum, out and ready for my return as I need to fly this leg twice to
be able to carry everything.
.jpg) |
| Leg 2 |
0920: Depart my first stop
and head out towards the coast. Thankfully the weather isn't as bad as it was
further north, but I still have my fair share of cloud to work around and
under.
Shortly after taking off I get a message that the delays with our initial departure mean the plan needs to change, or the second aircraft I am to meet won't finish before dark. They want to drop my second trip to the village I am going to until the next day. I have a quick think about the fuel implications and check with my passengers (whose stuff it is) and say that it is fine by us.
 |
| Our second stop |
0947: Drop off my
passengers and cargo. Part of their cargo is Scripture portions (a few books of
the Bible) that they have just finished translating and had printed. There is a
small celebration to welcome them.
 |
| Boxes with Scripture portions in |
 |
| Leg 3 |
1016:
Depart stop 2. Thankfully the weather is now much better and I can pretty much
track direct.
1044:
Land at stop 3. The Kodiak that dropped cargo at my last stop also brought some
passengers and cargo for me to this airstrip. Unfortunately I can't carry it
all on my next leg as it is too heavy (which was planned), so I leave some for
the following aircraft to collect and bring to us later. I speak to them on the
radio to ensure they know to bring the bags we left. They were a bit late
leaving due to a maintenance problem, so I am able to take my time getting
ready - nice in the heat and humidity of the lowlands.
After
re-fuelling, we load up and go.
 |
| Leg 4 |
1142:
Depart for our next village. Weather again is good, so apart from following the
coast to avoid going too far out over the sea, we can go direct.
1212:
Land to another small ceremony. The village translators have arranged for one
of the doctors from our centre to visit for a week, so the villagers are
honouring their guest's arrival. The doctor plans to have immunisation clinics,
before doing as much General Practice as time and supplies permit.
Load my one remaining passenger for departure. As the Kodiak meeting me at my next stop is carrying Jet fuel, they are not allowed to take passengers as well, so I have to fly the passenger between our two meeting places.
 |
| Leg 5 |
1244:
Land and find some shade. It is going to be a while before the Kodiak arrives,
so I relax and chat to my passenger.
 |
| Waiting |
 |
| Leg 6 |
1412:
Depart on leg 6. As I have no passengers, I take the opportunity to try to do
some fuel planning for the cargo run which was cancelled earlier and put into
tomorrow. Where am I best to take fuel from and how much? How much fuel do we
have where and how old is it?
 |
| The landing site cut out of the jungle |
1509:
Land to collect the translator. This is my first time into their helipad.
1520:
Depart back to where I've come from. Chat a little to my passenger; the
translator is leaving the village so that they can help another language group
by checking some of the work they've done so far.
I
call ahead to the shop near the airstrip - they are to bring out supplies for
me to carry into my final destination for the day. I also text the waiting
Kodiak to let them know when I will arrive. They too have goods to unload for
me to take on.
1626:
Land back with the Kodiak. I finish off the second drum of fuel and we load the
empties into the plane. They take my passenger, I take their cargo and they
head off. The van from the shop arrives and I load the goods onto the
helicopter.
1709:
Depart back to the village I left the doctor in. The doctor may only be staying
a week, but the translators will be there a while longer, so I am taking them
food and supplies.
1722:
Land for the night. We unpack the cargo and I 'put the aircraft to bed' just in
time to remain under my 12 hour duty limit.
Then
it is our turn to eat and get ready for bed.
 |
| I slept under the translators' house |
.jpg) |
| The full day |
The
following day I re-trace my steps, doing the cargo run I missed out and collect
another translator from their language group along the way.
 |
| The following day's route |
No comments:
Post a Comment