General aviation is under perpetual scrutiny by a judgmental, demeaning cohort of the unknowing public. No surprise there. The message: small airplanes are the indulgences of a wealthy bunch of one-percenters. The irony is that to the uninformed, a “small” airplane can be anything from a Piper Cub to a Citation X. And the truth is that general aviation—especially the turbine segment—represents a valuable, hard-working contributor to the economy.
And so there’s nothing wrong with pilots of owner-flown turboprops and jets taking a few days off, and using their airplanes to the fullest. Enough with the guilt-tripping editorials and political machinations already—let’s go have some fun! That’s the theme behind this month’s “South America by Way of GA” on page T–12, a story about an Air Journey tour group flying to some of that continent’s most attractive locations.
We look at a very different sort of long-range expedition in Neil Singer’s “A Crossing Gone Wrong” on page T–6. Those of us who have made the trip know that a transatlantic crossing can be among the most challenging, rewarding, and fun flights we’ll ever have in our lives. But risks abound. Yes, you have turbine reliability on your side. However, the role of fuel burn in flight planning assumes a huge importance, as do winds aloft. Especially if you are flying westbound against the prevailing winds, and in or near jet stream cores. Sure, you might be able to fly lower and perhaps avoid the worst of the winds, but at the risk of a significantly higher fuel burn. Other issues also may tempt you to fly at lower-than-optimal altitudes, like a loss of engine power or a drop in cabin pressure. Now throw in an unfamiliar destination airport with stress-inducing weather and you’ve got a situation that can turn ugly.
So anyone thinking about a transatlantic crossing should check out “A Crossing Gone Wrong”—a must-read accident analysis, particularly if your airplane isn’t RVSM-approved and thus restricted to lower cruise altitudes. —Thomas A. Horne, Turbine Pilot Editor
Flying down to Rio
What better place to stay during a stop in Rio de Janeiro—the Copacabana Palace Hotel, right on the beach of the same name. Here’s the view out your hotel window.
Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Photographer: Mike Fizer
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