mandag 21. august 2017

Solformørkelsen i USA og luftfart - AVweb


  • Text size:
     
    • A
    •  
    • A
    •  
    • A
Aug. 21 will likely go down in history as one of the most
interesting for pilots, the FAA and airports across a middle
swath of the country that will include the path of totality
for a solar eclipse. The level of activity expected at airports
along the path is pretty well documented but what is not
know is how many aircraft are going to launch in the near
darkness to experience the phenomenon from an airborne
perch. And since most of the route is in uncontrolled
airspace the level and nature of traffic will depend a lot on
see and avoid and position reports. Eclipse flights do not a
ppear to be directly addressed in any of the FARS but
common sense would suggest that those without at least a
night VFR endorsement might want to watch it from the
ground.
There are plenty of more organized attempts to capitalize

on the eclipse. Those who haven’t picked an airport to fly
to might be out of luck, especially if they’re looking full
services and maybe lunch and a latte. Many airports are
already out of tie-down space. The well-heeled will be well
served with many bizjet management companies organizing
flights (Dom Perignon included) either to the eclipse path
or along the eclipse path at altitudes as high as 45,000 feet.
But the title of most elaborate eclipse experience goes to
Orlando-based aviation photographer Mike Killian. He will
be in the back seat of one of two Navy E/A-18 Growlers as
they do a supersonic run westward over the Pacific toward
Oregon. It will cap an effort Killian started organizing
months ago. “We’ll intercept it over the ocean, fly a few
photo maneuvers with the second aircraft, and then race it
a supersonic speeds for 30 seconds or so,” Killian told
Wired. The Navy is calling it a training flight.

 




The pilot of a homebuilt Wheeler Express was killed when the engine reportedly “sputtered” in the traffic pattern, and the aircraft subsequently crashed in rugged terrain about a mile from Madras airport. The San Carlos, California-based aircraft was traveling to Madras, Oregon, for Monday’s solar eclipse. News reports originally stated that two people had been killed in the crash based on 
parking reservations made at the airport, but family 
members confirmed that the pilot was the sole person
 on board. Airports near the route of the eclipse in 
central Oregon—with their predictably clear skies and 
reasonably close proximity to Seattle, Portland and 
San Francisco—have been bracing for an onslaught 
of general aviation arrivals over the weekend and 
into the big day. Most airports are requiring parking 
reservations for transient arrivals and are sold out.
San Carlos Airport staff reported that the aircraft 
departed around 11 a.m., and Oregon officials report 
that the aircraft crashed around 1:50 p.m., evidently 
making the flight nonstop. Although homebuilt, and 
therefore subject to extensive modification, the 
Wheeler Express customarily has sufficient useful 
load to fill its 92-gallon fuel tanks with 800 pounds to 
spare. An area resident told Oregon KTVZ News that 
the aircraft was engulfed in flames and black smoke, 
starting a small wildfire in the canyon where it came
 to rest.

Ingen kommentarer:

Legg inn en kommentar

Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.