Hello Trekkers,
You've helped set up all the radars and you have loaded them into the
plane and tested them. You're ready to fly in the twin otter airplane
over areas of West Antarctica Ice Sheet using flight plans, BUT there is
more to it than just getting on the plane.
Let me introduce you to your pilot and co-pilot
Here in Antarctica there are some very specific rules that are followed
to ensure safe flying.
A pilot can work 14 hours per day with 10 of these hours flying. Then
they need 10 hours off work.
Weather is, once again, one of the most important factors in determining
a mission plan. There must be a 1000 foot ceiling. This means any
clouds must be 1000 feet above the ground.
Visibility must be 4800 meters. You have to be able to see that far
into the distance.
There are also limitations placed on the Twin Otter airplane.
1. The Twin Otter can take 2300 pounds of fuel on our science missions,
although it can actually hold more.
2. 2300 lbs of fuel allows for 4 hours of flying with ½ hour reserve.
3. Our CReSIS Twin Otter flies at a speed of 125 knots/ hour when
collecting data.
4. With 2300 pounds gallons of fuel the plane can travel 500 nautical
miles at 120 knots/hour
5. Every 200 pounds added to the plane reduces the travel time by 20
minutes.
6. The plane carries all the equipment, two pilots, and two members of
the CReSIS team.
So now that you have these parameters here is a flight plan for you to
study.
This is a sample of a flight plan. Now flying is not as simple as it
looks. There are many factors that have to be incorporated into the
planning of a successful mission.
1. Calculate how far it is to fly this grid. (Hint: Every minute of
latitude or longitude is a nautical mile, but a minute of latitude or
longitude is not a minute of time.)
2. Knowing the flight plan is (Insert your answer from #1 here) nautical
miles, how long will it take you to fly this grid?
3. Will the team have to refuel? (Refer to the information about the
plane.) If so how often?
4. Calculate how long it will take to fly the entire grid.
a. Take your answer from #2
b. Be sure to add 30 minutes for each fuel stop.
c. Also add 45 minutes to get from Byrd Surface Camp to WAIS Divide Camp
where they refuel before flying the grid.
MOST IMPORTANT: Will Pilot Lexi and Co-pilot Lee have enough on duty
time to fly this grid if they began their duty day at 7 o'clock in the
morning??
Trekkers, hopefully you have done all the planning correctly and we'll
be ready to fly tomorrow, weather permitting. Check back tomorrow. You
will not want to miss flying day!
Mr. W
