poadeleted3
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2005
- Messages
- 2,055
I've been having an interesting discussion with another pilot regarding the desirability of using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel as an emergency landing area.
Looking at the sectionals, I've always thought that the bridge would be a good "out" if you lost your one and only engine while flying north/south over the bay, but now I'm not so sure. On the way back to Philly from South Carolina, we abandoned I-95 for the express purpose of driving over the bridge, because we'd never seen it before. That sucker is awfully skinny, with a LOT of light poles. I'm not at all certain a successful landing could be made there. But, as my pilot friend points out, if you don't land there, there are points where you won't be able to glide to shore, and this leaves ditching next to a boat as your only other option. Ditching isn't all that high a percentage maneuver in a small, fixed gear plane either.
For those who've seen the bridge, if you lost your engine over the bay and couldn't make land, would you try for a landing on the bridge, or try ditching in the bay?
Looking at the sectionals, I've always thought that the bridge would be a good "out" if you lost your one and only engine while flying north/south over the bay, but now I'm not so sure. On the way back to Philly from South Carolina, we abandoned I-95 for the express purpose of driving over the bridge, because we'd never seen it before. That sucker is awfully skinny, with a LOT of light poles. I'm not at all certain a successful landing could be made there. But, as my pilot friend points out, if you don't land there, there are points where you won't be able to glide to shore, and this leaves ditching next to a boat as your only other option. Ditching isn't all that high a percentage maneuver in a small, fixed gear plane either.
For those who've seen the bridge, if you lost your engine over the bay and couldn't make land, would you try for a landing on the bridge, or try ditching in the bay?