GSAAA Update #6 Vallenar, ChileJanuary 24, 1996

 

 

January 18, 1996

 

Flew from Chillan to Puerto Montt. Tried to go further south but the weather

won't cooperate. Freezing rain and no break in forecasted conditions caused

Kevin and Paul to look for other options to reach Tierra del Fuego. Taking a

commercial flight to Ushuaia would require the pilots to cool their heels in

Puerto Montt for four days. They immediately rejected this option as too

passive and decided to take a possible alternate route; over the Andes and

south through Argentina.

 

January 19, 1996

 

To change the flight plans and enter Argentina from Chilean airspace a stop in

Conception, Chile for clearance. Flew north to Temuco. Local pilots told

stories of flying through the Andes and the hazards of shifting winds and

dangerous flying conditions (read on for Paul and Kevin's validation of the

stories).

 

January 20, 1996

 

Continued north to Conception to get clearance for Argentina, then back to

Temuco. Conducted Checks of the plane and prepared for crossing the Andes.

The pass Kevin and Paul chose for the crossing is at about 4,000 ft and is

guarded by two prominent peaks. Local pilots have pretty much confirmed that

west to east traverse is the most achievable since the prevailing winds

usually lift through the pass and generally help in maintaining control of the

plane.

 

January 21, 1996

 

Made it through the Andes. No unusual problems through the pass; winds were

high but favorable. Landed at Neuquen, Argentina. Once again Paul and Kevin

were thwarted in attempts to fly further south; the weather forecast is still

for freezing rain and no letup in sight. Commercial flights are unavailable

and the three days spent getting to Neuquen didn't pay off, as far as getting

further south. Paul and Kevin reluctantly made the decision to head home.

Puerto Montt is the furthest point south the GSAAA is to reach. The pilots

investigated a flight path on the eastern side of Andes, but did not have

enough confidence in airfield locations and fuel availability to take the

eastern route through South America. Too many logistical problems to decide

any other course than return through the pass to Chile for the trip north.

 

January 22, 1996

 

All the conditions favorable for a west to east passage through the Andes

combine to make the east to west passage difficult. On the way west, toward

the mountain range, headwinds severely limited the pilots progress. Average

ground speed over the leg from Neuquen to Zapala was less than 18 knots; a

ninety mile trip took 2« hours. At Zapala Paul and Kevin had to land for

fuel; once again they had to carry fuel from town, but that has become normal.

The airport operator at Zapala was swamped by the paperwork required of an

international flight landing at the airport. Over the border flights must

originate and end at an international airport; Zapala isn't one. The

frustration level finally got so high that all paperwork was torn up and

everyone agreed that "Hobson's Choice" never landed at Zapala.

 

The pilots took off to shoot the pass back to Chile. They approached the pass

at about 6,000 ft but had trouble maintaining level flight and tried to climb

to 7,000 ft. The winds were unbelievably strong and Paul described the plane

as being tossed around "like a leaf" in the breeze. The pilots hit a "sink" or

down draft that resulted in a rate of descent of 1,000 ft per minute. They

described the feeling of being on an express elevator to the ground floor.

With less than 30 seconds to respond, they had to start a 180ø turn and try to

get out of the down draft. Good luck and good piloting decisions kept the

plane in the air and allowed another try at the pass. Kevin and Paul used

several thermal currents to spiral up to 13,500 ft and managed to stay at

10,000 ft for the crossing attempt. Even at this altitude the plane was blown

backwards and sideways on several occasions and required all of the available

piloting skills to keep the plane level and control surfaces in play,

especially when between the two peaks. Paul said this was the hardest flying

he had ever done and described the soreness in his shoulders due to the

tension and grip on the controls during the crossing. He also said the

plane's constant up angle and worry about approaching stall speed increased

the tension in the plane. I think even describing the flying conditions must

have caused Paul to recall some of the tension. After outlining the story of

the crossing to me, Paul paused and summarized with: "it was fun!"

 

Kevin and Paul landed in Temuko; they didn't have enough fuel to make it any

further. The distance between Zapala and Temuko should serve as an indication

of how strong wind conditions were. Average ground speed was about 30 miles

per hour for the leg. Refueled and flew to Los Angeles, Chile.

 

January 23, 1996

 

Flew from Los Angeles to Chillan to refuel and to Santiago. These are stops

which are familiar to the pilots and didn't result in any new challenges.

 

January 24, 1996

 

Left Santiago for La Serena against strong headwinds. Refueled at La Serena

and traveled to Vallenar. Paul anticipates a rapid and untroubled trip back

to Panama based on the lessons they learned on the way down. Best estimate

unless the weather changes, is arrival in Panama City on the 29th or 30th.