Bermuda?

[Ernie Martin]

For those concerned about this Bermuda trip -- 4 hours on a twin, in sunny weather, with GPS and 2 hours of fuel margin -- ask yourself if you'd rather be flying at night on a single over mountainous terrain, something which people do all the time.

Given the twin engines over water, a ditching is hugely unlikely, but if I have to ditch I like the stats that ditching has ~ 95% survival rate. Maybe it's because I'm constantly flying over water, but I'd much rather do the Bermuda trip than fly a single at night over the Rockies.

Ernie

[tropical]

Originally Posted by Ernie Martin

For those concerned about this Bermuda trip -- 4 hours on a twin, in sunny weather, with GPS and 2 hours of fuel margin -- ask yourself if you'd rather be flying at night on a single over mountainous terrain, something which people do all the time.

Given the twin engines over water, a ditching is hugely unlikely, but if I have to ditch I like the stats that ditching has ~ 95% survival rate. Maybe it's because I'm constantly flying over water, but I'd much rather do the Bermuda trip than fly a single at night over the Rockies.

Ernie

You are use to flying throughout the Bahamas which has many landing points usually within 30 minutes or so of most routes and you're usually never out of site of land. What makes Bermuda "different" is it's almost 600 miles of open water with no diversion points, lack of VHF communications for a huge part of the trip. It takes due diligence to plan and execute a trip like this.

[Ernie Martin]

Agreed, but I'd still prefer that to flying a single at night in mountainous terrain. Also, VHF comm isn't that bad. Aside from the number of airlines that overfly that part of the Atlantic to/from Europe (see one track in the image below), at 10,000 feet you should be in contact with aircraft flying over land at all times. Here's why: an aircraft out of JFK headed to Florida at 30,000 ft will have good VHF comm (line-of-sight) with you for 386 miles and then when you're 218 miles from Bermuda you will have the same good VHF comm (line-of-sight) with any aircraft flying over Bermuda at 3,000 ft.

Ernie

[jchronic]

"It takes due diligence to plan and execute a trip like this."

Absolutely, and I think that's what we're all saying...even if we're talking past each other a little. I think if he equips the airplane properly, plans the route carefully, briefs the family and/or passengers on what to expect and ditch procedures, goes feet wet from the east coast with a full load of fuel and good weather forecasts (and BDA NOTAMS checked!), it should be a walk in the park.

I'd lay out a GPS track with :30 min user-defined waypoints, plus the calculated PNR on it. Prudence would also suggest maintaining a DR plot on a North Atlantic chart and comparing the fixes at each waypoint (you can tell I'm old school!). Recheck the wx and airport status just prior to the PNR and if all's well, press on.

I would give fair warning that if you haven't done it before, it can be a bit of a 'lonely' somewhat intimidating feeling sitting out there with nothing around - a good reason for having something to do - like navigate! Bottom line: I'd be just as comfortable, probably more, trucking out to Bermuda at 10K as I am a hundred miles offshore at 700' on a survey track.

Due diligence, and Bon Voyage-
Ahab

[Skymaster337B]

Be prepared for water survival, and you'll never need it. Not just a raft, but personal flotation devices and anti-exposure suits for everyone -- hypothermia is the #1 killer once in the water] , plus water desalination pumps x2, food, signaling devices (mirrors, radios, flares), fishing kits, etc.

[tropical]

Originally Posted by Skymaster337B

Be prepared for water survival, and you'll never need it. Not just a raft, but personal flotation devices and anti-exposure suits for everyone -- hypothermia is the #1 killer once in the water] , plus water desalination pumps x2, food, signaling devices (mirrors, radios, flares), fishing kits, etc.

Consider if a ditching happens with all the right conditions and you're at the halfway point, it will be at least an hour and half before you may see a CG helicopter, that is if you got a distress message off in time with a position.

[Ernie Martin]

I agree that it will probably take 1 - 2 hrs before rescue arrives, but I think a) it's a near certainty that your distress message will be heard, and b) given the relatively short time you will be in the water, some of that equipment is nice to have but not necessary.

From 10,000 feet to a controlled ditching there's lots of time to make calls. You have hand-held aviation and marine band radios if you've lost all power, and an always-on, hand-held GPS.

The two water desalination pumps can be dispensed with if you take the water I suggest in the Ditching page, in the containers suggested. Depending on when you go, the anti-exposure suits can also be dispensed with, especially if you carry a raft; for instance, today's water temp for the area ranges from 78 deg near the mid-point to 73 deg near Bermuda (see www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/satl_tmap.html), and in August those temperatures rise to over 80 deg (see http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_his...?station=41048). Remember that you're not just depending on your distress call being heard, but that SAR will be dispatched within one hour of your failure to arrive. I would be comfortable with that, but for even greater comfort consider Ahab's suggestion to rent a satphone.

Ernie