Aztec Driver
Line Up and Wait
I can definitely understand the problem JFK jr had when he flew to the Vineyard.
Had a charter the other night coming home from Nantucket to New Jersey. Visibility was 4 miles in haze, with a clear sky. The moon could not penetrate the haze enough to light up the water. As soon as I lifted off, I lost all visual reference. Fortunately, I was ready for it, but I can see where a VFR only pilot could easily have lost control in the first few seconds, let alone climb to altitude.
There was really no visual references for about a half hour, when I finally got within sight of Long Island lights. There was no glare off the water, very few boat lights, and certainly no visible horizon. Looking out, one could only see hazy blackness, with the occasional boat or aircraft lights breaking up the scene.
Even though I was ready for it, having seen it several times before, it was still a chore to force oneself to obey the instruments as I had the instant leans on takeoff.
After all that, then I just had to plan for the possibility of a deer on the runway at my destination. Watched a King Air land there one time and hit a deer. Bent the prop and damaged right main gear, but, otherwise, a safe landing. Had thought of doing a low pass along the runway, but the field is right next to the runway, so the possibility was there of actually chasing one onto the runway instead of the opposite. In the end, I just opted for a rude charter pilot dreaded straight in approach and be ready to react if I saw something.
Had a charter the other night coming home from Nantucket to New Jersey. Visibility was 4 miles in haze, with a clear sky. The moon could not penetrate the haze enough to light up the water. As soon as I lifted off, I lost all visual reference. Fortunately, I was ready for it, but I can see where a VFR only pilot could easily have lost control in the first few seconds, let alone climb to altitude.
There was really no visual references for about a half hour, when I finally got within sight of Long Island lights. There was no glare off the water, very few boat lights, and certainly no visible horizon. Looking out, one could only see hazy blackness, with the occasional boat or aircraft lights breaking up the scene.
Even though I was ready for it, having seen it several times before, it was still a chore to force oneself to obey the instruments as I had the instant leans on takeoff.
After all that, then I just had to plan for the possibility of a deer on the runway at my destination. Watched a King Air land there one time and hit a deer. Bent the prop and damaged right main gear, but, otherwise, a safe landing. Had thought of doing a low pass along the runway, but the field is right next to the runway, so the possibility was there of actually chasing one onto the runway instead of the opposite. In the end, I just opted for a rude charter pilot dreaded straight in approach and be ready to react if I saw something.
