What don't you know about "Adventure flying"?

Katamarino

Katamarino

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Dec 14, 2011
Messages
1,928
Location
Kent, UK
Display Name
Display name:
Katamarino
I get a lot of pilots contacting me (well, maybe not "a lot" but it's into double digits) asking for advice about undertaking adventurous flights like some of the ones I do from time to time. I've decided the easiest way to help people out is to add a section to my website covering all the stuff a pilot needs to know to do this kind of flying.

So far I'm planning on talking about the training/features needed by the pilot and airplane, as well as about equipment to take, how to plan, how to carry out the flights, contacting international destinations etc.

What kind of other things do you guys think should be included?
 
In addition to the items you mentioned, how about "lessons learned"; things NOT to do. BTW...I REALLY enjoy your travelogue... :)
 
Maybe a few example "adventures" that build up in complexity. For example, my brother is portaging into Canada fishing quite a bit (north of Minnesota). I have often wondered what a short trip up there would be like (fixed gear, not seaplane). Not only what to bring but perhaps you have been a few places and could make recommendations. Definitely doesn't have to be this specific example. But maybe like: "Here's a Saskatchwan Manitoba Ontario Trip" with places I've been. Or maybe "Here's a Hudson Bay Trip...". Smaller trips like those seem bitesized compared to "Africa" (jealousy) or "Around the World" (more jealously :)).

You are becoming the Rick Steve's of GA :D
 
How to find a mechanic or parts when away from home. How to deal with mechanic logbook entries away from home.

How to get VFR and IFR charts in random countries. How to get border crossing clearance and passport stamps in and out of random countries.

How to know the local rules of the road for random countries. (For example, I have a whole list about flying in Canada with things like mandatory frequencies and variations in airspace rules.)

Useful local language terms to know. Basically like a Lonely Planet word list except focused on aviation rather than food and lodging.

I probably won’t fly in a country other than USA and Canada, but if I wanted to go to, say Greenland, I wouldn’t know any of these things.
 
@iamtheari - is hitting on something. If the majority of people on this forum and more importantly, the majority of your website visitors - are from the US then a slight focus focus on Canada and Mexico might get more users who take action on it. I would think then a trip like western USA to Canda to AK would be popular. Maybe the same on the Atlantic side.

Definitely stuff like in your Aussie section of your current trip where the runway lighting via CTAF was different than the US.

You also take great pictures!!! You seem to have found a great balance between a quality photos and not overboard on camera gear. IIRC, you are mainly using a phone but maybe there are certain phones or settings that work better to keep it simple yet great quality.

Have to have something about bugs. Man I would think of all the places you've been you've seen crazy bad bugs/skeeters/etc.
 
About 15 years ago, I did a trip around the outback of Australia in a 172. My prep was to get a local flight instructor and go up in a 172 (I had not flown one in probably ten years before this). We also practiced landing on grass strips.
Once in Australia, it was a quick checkout with an instructor there and then we were given a bound set of WAC-scale charts, the Aussie equivalent of the A/FD, and a handheld GPS with the route in it. We had eight planes in our group and flew as a loose gaggle.
It was a blast. Lots of stuff you can't practically do in Australia without an airplane. We were the only plane on the trip with two pilots. Margy and I swapped legs. The rest of the couples were single pilot. I don't know how some of them managed it after some late nights at the RSLs.
 
Katamarino said:
...What kind of other things do you guys think should be included?
Click to expand...

Credit card protection?
Just sayin' :D

Seriously, this is a great idea!
Procedures to arrange or ensure fuel enroute (with 100LL becoming increasingly scarce in some places)?
Maybe some tips on medical pre-prep and things beyond the standard first aid kit to consider adding, depending on where one is headed or overflying?
 
The logistics overall fascinate me. From dealing with customs to arranging fuel to whatever.

Have read a lot of similar from ferry pilots over the years who tend to hold some of that stuff close to the chest, assumably because it’s stuff like that which keeps the riff raff out of getting into that biz, but very little from earth rounder types.

Not that there’s a ton of folk who do it.
 
How early you concoct an idea for a trip, before you execute it.

How long it takes you to plan the next day’s travel...at some point is it like just jumping in a car and heading down the road? The logistics is the hardest part?
 
Personally, I find customs and dealing with local officials to be the most intimidating part of all that. You just never know when you’re going to land somewhere and someone decides it’s time to pay the white tax.

But I’m a long way out from that so maybe that’s just me.
 
We all know that flying in general consumes a mini-fortune or more. Your kind of flying is definitely for the well funded. This is reality check time(literally) for anyone seriously contemplating adventure flying. Your insights would be welcome.
 
MajorTurbulence said:
We all know that flying in general consumes a mini-fortune or more. Your kind of flying is definitely for the well funded. This is reality check time(literally) for anyone seriously contemplating adventure flying. Your insights would be welcome.
Click to expand...
This is a good point. Maybe a brief cost overview. No need to hammer it home since we all know it ain’t cheap. But a good overview of 100LL costs/availability, maintenance support in the bush appropriate for how the AC is registered(FAA, CASA, etc.). If there is a maintenance problem in the field that can’t be fixed, how are you going to get your plane out of there?

Also, emergency evac options and insurance, in case you ball it up in the middle the Masi Mara and need 1st world medical care. Dealing with (greasing palms) local officials to help you in a pinch.

Insurance for your airplane if you are flying it abroad. Do you have coverage to transverse Russia? Doubt it.

Having been in some remote places abroad, and having had to medivac people back to the US after airplane accidents as to not go under the rusty knife in some jungle “hospital” it is a real concern.

So to sum it up, a general cost section. Insurance coverage section(if using own airplane), medical care/medivac section.

And for you, a disclaimer written by an aviation lawyer to protect you from the lawsuits of adventures who crash out in the bush, “following” your advice.
 
Geosync said:
This is a good point. Maybe a brief cost overview. No need to hammer it home since we all know it ain’t cheap. But a good overview of 100LL costs/availability, maintenance support in the bush appropriate for how the AC is registered(FAA, CASA, etc.). If there is a maintenance problem in the field that can’t be fixed, how are you going to get your plane out of there?

Also, emergency evac options and insurance, in case you ball it up in the middle the Masi Mara and need 1st world medical care. Dealing with (greasing palms) local officials to help you in a pinch.

Insurance for your airplane if you are flying it abroad. Do you have coverage to transverse Russia? Doubt it.

Having been in some remote places abroad, and having had to medivac people back to the US after airplane accidents as to not go under the rusty knife in some jungle “hospital” it is a real concern.

So to sum it up, a general cost section. Insurance coverage section(if using own airplane), medical care/medivac section.

And for you, a disclaimer written by an aviation lawyer to protect you from the lawsuits of adventures who crash out in the bush, “following” your advice.
Click to expand...
Reading thru Ross' posts, looks like he plans "relative civilization" routes, and not much remote areas for long periods of time. Yes, the Australia Outback is remote, but there's good communications, highways criss-crossing the country, and so on.
 
murphey said:
Reading thru Ross' posts, looks like he plans "relative civilization" routes, and not much remote areas for long periods of time. Yes, the Australia Outback is remote, but there's good communications, highways criss-crossing the country, and so on.
Click to expand...

You should read my Alaska and Africa trips :D
 
murphey said:
Reading thru Ross' posts, looks like he plans "relative civilization" routes, and not much remote areas for long periods of time. Yes, the Australia Outback is remote, but there's good communications, highways criss-crossing the country, and so on.
Click to expand...
Oh ok cool. I was thinking like 3rd world country adventures. NZ, OZ, Iceland, etc. would be sweet.
 
The draft of this is almost complete (minus the "example adventures" section which will come later). I've had it reviewed by a couple of flying friends who've been on adventures with me.

I'd appreciate it if there's anyone here who'd be interested in reviewing the draft for me - let me know and I can send the link! I'm most interested in comments around how accessible and easy to navigate/understand it is; there's turned out to be a huge amount of material to cover...
 
I'm extremely excited for this. I follow your blog quite a bit, and long trips are one of the long-term goal for getting a PPL, so the wife and I could do some similar things. Excited for the read.
 
Nathan Hyland said:
I'm extremely excited for this. I follow your blog quite a bit, and long trips are one of the long-term goal for getting a PPL, so the wife and I could do some similar things. Excited for the read.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nathan, I've sent you a link to the draft guide!
 
@Katamarino - I'd like to see the draft if possible!

ps. Aside - Dang the in-Reach Iridium text feature is awesome. Used it recently to coordinate my daughter being picked up after we landed. Cruising at 7500msl and standard SMS wasn't getting through. Saved me 40 minutes on my turn around - aside over.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top