October 11, 201213 yr OK... First try... Be gentle! A story if you will with pics... -------------------------------------------------------------------- Pilot: NLA348 - Jeff S Date:10/10/2012 Flight Number: GNAS12 "Gold Nugget" Flight 12 Conditions: WX 3/4 to 1 mile viz - Snow Heavy at times, Blowing and drifting, Ceiling 100ft AC: DH8-Q400 N225NL Scenery: Aerosoft PAFA-X and PANC-X Preface: A brief PIREP (ok not so brief) on my first "full on" flight with heavy weather since the PC rebuild. I am now able to fly Aerosoft's PANC and PAFA! . Anyway... Another "day at the office." AC is N225NL painted in the "ASA Rainbird Glacier" scheme.... (fictitious) And so it goes.... We arrived at the airport about and hour and a half before planned push-back. My First Officer was somewhat new to NLA and I wanted to make sure he got the feel of the weather issues we had to deal with up here... No showing up at 25 minutes before the flight for NorthLink jocks... but you all know that.... Weather was iffy at best and worsening... Not that bone-chilling awful cold, but an unusual marine influenced moisture-laden air mass swinging in from the WNW and down.... A recipe for heavy snow... Luckily it was a system that was somewhat broken up by the time it got to Fairbanks and offered fairly low tops and only marginally bumpy air... Weather brief done... so now, the pax manifest and W&B sheets.... Our LOG SHEET: Scoping the weather we had a decent tail push all the way with the odd wind pattern... so along with the pax and mail the bird was going out pretty fully loaded.... As we boarded the flight crew... had a few minutes in the cockpit doorway to comment on the frisky weather... Knowing full well it was just starting to get "better" for us in the north... No job is complete until the paperwork is done.... or so they say... The ramp agent boarded... took her manifest copies...compared head count... wished us luck and told us she would be home in her log cabin in front of "a warm fire" in 45 minutes or so... Glass of wine in hand no doubt.. and of course she chuckled.. we did have a ways to go yet... So, let's get this bird pushed and de-iced....! Clearance obtained... push and start... ground directs us to the de-ice "hockey box" on the north side of the airport... Nice job done by the de-ice crew as always...then, taxi to "hold short" and shuffle passed we were, over to tower.... directed to line up.... we did... Fairbanks current lack of traffic got us onto the active and airborne in no time..... But boy did the viz and ride go downhill fast... The snow was so heavy it sounded like hail on the Dash's skin.... watched the OAT drop 20 degrees by the time we hit 500'agl.... First officer handling the take-off... eyes wide open! He did a nice job keeping us on the straight and narrow as we got the automated stuff online.... seems like forever on a departure like this but really not that long.... It was not long before we broke out at exactly the altitude the weather guys said we would.... We are lucky to fly in some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.... Alaska offers weather, people, airport, temperature and many other types of "extremes." But it is all made up for by views like this.... The pax on the right side had a "camera ready" moment of Mt Denali, and MT. Foraker ~ whichat 17K feet no slouch at all, and of course the incredible lesser mountain ranges that leads to them... Even to the west the view for our passengers is from a tour book... I never get tired of flying here... It is incredible! We had smooth sailing most of the way with our passengers being treated to the NorthLink complimentary micro brews and wine.... PLUS...The outstanding views and the incredible quiet the Q4 NG offers... As we throttled back we did have to connect with our partners in the back to let them know to close up the beverage service and buckle in as the approach into Anchorage was being reported as a "little ragged." Oh Boy! UNDERSTATEMENT As we broke through the top layers they each gave way to voids where the horizon was not visible and pink to the eyes.... Telling which way was up or down was up to our technologically advanced all-weather plane.... It was rough as a cob and got worse from 9 down to 4 when we were handed off "when established" for 14.... Then it got real lonely as we had heavy snow again and essentially zero forward visibility with full de-ice going in every respect.... Flying ice cube? Nope... luckily the Dash is a Northern Bird! I was thrilled to see this as we got closer to PANC's longest runway.... Some comfort in that I must add... even though I was PIC in a very capable aircraft.... The FO was nervous and I could hear it in his voice as echoed my runway in sight with "have the runway..." He was doing a good job letting the plane do the work... His moments were coming... only seconds away... "minimums... 100-50-40-30-20...... And next... a very smooth and passenger pleasing touchdown... You could hear the FO's sigh of relief as we used a short burst of reverse and then lifted up the flaps and slowed to make the second high speed taxiway... Ground gave us a fast-lane to B1... Passing the near empty end of "B".... That cabin and glass of wine (or whatever) was starting look like it may be in sight... soon... But only after the plane was tucked and the paperwork was done.... So tonight...225NL will sleep in the weather with her siblings... The NorthLink passengers went home... safe... and happy.... Our FO learned a little more about being an airline pilot... and I went home to the cabin... knowing I truly love what I do for a living... Jeff ~ NLA348 PS: The Flight Log is actually posted "post" flight... Hope you enjoyed... NorthLink VA - Commerce & Community in Northern North America!
October 11, 201213 yr Wonderful narrative and the last four "foggy" shots are amazing. Hope you'll be doing more in-depth presentations like this. John
October 11, 201213 yr Had me reading every entry which is rare for me as I'm an impatient guy! <_< Very refreshing and immersive narrative ^_^ Sascha Rieger | EVO Developer What is EVO • How to get Evo 2016 • FS9 Evolution Forum
October 11, 201213 yr Author Thanks guys!!! Appreciate the feedback. Jeff NorthLink VA - Commerce & Community in Northern North America!
October 11, 201213 yr Sweet shots! Is that the Majestic DH8 beta? ORBX- the way to go Sincerely, John McGee
October 11, 201213 yr Author Hi Delta747Man.... Oh how I wish it was... :Drooling: That is a much massaged Dreamwings ported to FSX... But I am waiting.... Wallet is ready. Jeff NorthLink VA - Commerce & Community in Northern North America!
October 11, 201213 yr Hi Delta747Man.... Oh how I wish it was... :Drooling: That is a much massaged Dreamwings ported to FSX... But I am waiting.... Wallet is ready. Jeff Yeah, me too. I haven't had any time lately, so I wasn't sure if they had a beta out yet. ORBX- the way to go Sincerely, John McGee
October 11, 201213 yr Author Thanks Ben...!!! Delta747Man... Used to live in Tumwater and worked out at OLM for Capital Airways.... way way way back in the Cascade Beech 99 days.... Over in Spokane now.... Small world! Jeff NorthLink VA - Commerce & Community in Northern North America!
October 12, 201213 yr Thanks Ben...!!! Delta747Man... Used to live in Tumwater and worked out at OLM for Capital Airways.... way way way back in the Cascade Beech 99 days.... Over in Spokane now.... Small world! Jeff Yes, waht a small world it is. Tumwater is a great place! We are still trying to get some form of commercial service (beyond an Intel shuttle) for Olympia. Problem is, SEA is way too close. ORBX- the way to go Sincerely, John McGee
October 13, 201213 yr Commercial Member Wow Jeff, WHAT a narrative... enjoyed this! Thank you :good: Tim FuchsManaging PartnerREX SIMULATIONS website: www.rexsimulations.comsupport: www.rexaxis.com
October 13, 201213 yr Awesome Jeff. Great attention to detail in the narrative and outstanding pics. Loved the read! Thanks for posting. Regards, Steve Brayford Windsor, ON Canada Delta Virtual Airlines - DVA 2299, Captain 767 Program
October 13, 201213 yr Author Most welcome fellow Captains... Updated my PSP today and will be posting more stories and pics as the awesome winter unfolds... Thank you all so much for the kind words... Jeff :Pumpkin: NorthLink VA - Commerce & Community in Northern North America!
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