PIREP Leg 22 - Mataveri Intl (SCIP) to Toteggie Airstrip (NTGJ)

[Jess-b 420]

 

Like Alice’s white rabbit, I’m late. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t fly Leg 6, and now I find myself jet lagged, thousands of miles from home and waiting for dawn to get going on leg 22. I’m also down a friend today. Lenore, my faithful 737-900 is pouting back at Cardiff, getting a C check. It’s just as well, as the flight down to Easter Island would have been very interesting with her needing to stop for fuel every now and again. So with Lenore out of commission I found myself short of a choice of aircraft. The upcoming route is not what I expected. I had hoped to fly something more GA themed, or even the Dash-8, But with little between me and my destination. The few Islands that are there are without even a dirt strip. So instead of an adventure, island hoping, I find myself wandering over to the BA Maintenance hangar at Cardiff to ask for a favour. The guys there are nice and grudgingly I manage to “borrow” one of their T7’s for the trip. I works out well as I can make the trip from Cardiff to Easter Island in one go, Albeit one long flight. But as dawn creeps over the island, and baton in hand, I board ‘Edgar’ (The name I gave the T7 en route. It was a very long flight.). 

 

 

Easter Island’s ramp is hardly built for the T7’s bulky frame and I’m glad not to be flying the -300ER model, purely for the difficulty in parking. Still, Edgar is terrifying the local wildlife, looking like the eagle from hell. I’m really hoping not to ingest any wildlife once the engines are running. The powerful GE90’s may ingest the tree’s if I’m not to careful. For now though, Edgar is sleeping peacefully, dreaming of sting Cessna’s for lunch. I sit in the captains seat, order a coffee and begin the startup sequence. Edgar is a little sleepy and with the battery on and the APU set to run, Edgar slowly wakes up. Whist he’s doing his thing, I check the weather. It’s a beautiful day, with little worry on the horizon. A few clouds will be present for takeoff, with arrival at Toteggie predicted to be in near perfect weather. 

 

 

With Edgar now wiping the sleep from his eyes, I program the route in and sip my coffee. Thank god for double Expresso’s at first light. I get a bit of breakfast whist Edgar makes sure he knows where he is, and as the let mouthful of Croissant passes my lips, Edgar indicates he’s ready to get started. I call the tower whist I clear the remaining crumbs from my lips and get clearance for push and start. The Push will see the tail enter the runway, but it’s quiet and its not a problem.

 

 

Once I'm far enough from the boundary fence, I start the first engine and keep an eye out for a flying palm tree heading towards the intake. All’s well though and I start the second engine and call for taxi Clearance. The tower clears me for taxi to 28 which means a bit of backtracking on 10. so with the sun up, Edgar and I begin the slow taxi out to the runway.

 

 

 

At the top we turn gently onto the centreline and I run the pre takeoff  checklist. With takeoff clearance, I advance the throttles and Edgar starts down the runway. The powerful engines do a fantastic job of hurling Edgar along and were off well before the threshold.

 

 

 

I climb to 1000 feet before letting Edgar take the strain.

 

 

We circle over the field, enjoying the view as we pass over the jungle below as we climb up to our cruise of 35000 feet. With Easter island disappearing behind me, and 35000ft coming up quickly, I settle in for a bit of sightseeing. After five minutes, I realise that sightseeing isn't really going to be a thing, so I decide to monitor the instruments instead. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s two hours and a step climb to 37000ft before I get to see the sight of land below. The island of Pitcairn passes off to my left. Sadly I suspect that there’s not a soul on the whole island below. Pitcairn settlement is actually further off in the distance and out of my sight. Still with Pitcairn passing underneath, it means that my destination is ahead. somewhere.

 

 

 

To pass the time Edgar and I try to play ‘spot the aircraft’, but after a slow thirty minutes play, we give having only spotted Edgar. Well the sun is up and below the sea is billiard ball smooth. its nearly three hours since I left Easter island before the top of descent comes up and in a fit of excitement, I contact ATC for descent instructions. Cleared down to FL280, Edgar and I push the first button that hasn't been the ‘Pilot response’ one and we head down.

 

 

Further descent instructions follow, and All to soon we’re passed of to local controllers for a visual landing on 12.

 

 

I drop to 3000 feet as the tiny piece of land appears off my left hand side. Turning on to base I contact the tower to discover this to be uncontrolled. I'm not shocked given the location,

 

 

so I line up on approach, announce final and Edgar and I start in.

 

 

The strip looks so small and I’m concerned that stopping could be an issue. I needn't have worried. With his wheels on the tarmac, we stop in plenty of time and taxi down to what I’ll call the shed at the bottom, but it’s probably what passes for the terminal. The airfield is empty which is just as well for us, as once again parking becomes an issue. I slide Edgar into the space with great care and begin the engine shutdown.

 

 

All told this was almost 4 hours of flying. It was also one of the emptiest routes I’ve ever flown. Apart from a single island, the view has been nothing but sea for the majority of the trip. The good weather is welcome, but I can’t help but wonder how much fun a cyclone would have been. Either way I close down Edgar and He goes back to sleep. Myself, I want some lunch whist I wait for Dai to get here to pick up the baton for his flight. tonight I may enjoy the hotel bar as I ponder how to get Edgar back out of here and whether we should call in to Rio on the way home.

 

[brett 2,315]

Edgar is one lucky plane, it is always a pleasure to be treated nice and have someone that understands him.   An enjoyable read considering this was another 'nothing but water' run, so thanks for the entertainment.

 

I guess the best part of these across the Pacific flights is getting to laze on the beautiful beaches. Having tropical drink service right to your beach chair is icing on the cake. 

 

I hope Dai comes in on a shortstopper since Edgar's tail is half in the runway.

[jaydor 345]

That was a cracker of a trip Jess, so you deserve a trip into Rio for a bit of RnR.  But there's a bit of a commotion back in Cardiff as the CEO and the auditors have turned up and guess what?

 

Their down one T7..     

[allardjd 1,853]

Jess,

Great write-up with not much material to chew on. Over-water flying is like that I guess and at least you didn't have to fight dirty weather along the way.

John

[ddavid 149]

Well, I was there to witness that exciting landing, having been here a few days organizing my charter for the flight to Papeete. And, I'm afraid I lost my bet, and will have to pay Jess's landing fee out of my own pocket! I had bet she wouldn't make it before having an early bath at the end of runway 12, but I didn't reckon on her using reverse thrust before touch-down! Also, the wheel marks in the sand are a warning to anyone crazy enough to be swimming when she arrives next time - that is, if there is a next time... The take off's going to be interesting, but we'll leave that question unanswered.

Meanwhile, the shrimp boat captain has just offered to take us to dinner on the main island (Gambier), so Jess will have a few hours to work out how she'll get away, tomorrow. She's already organized 250 forty gallon drums of AV-Gas to be delivered to the ramp - be fun pumping that into the tanks by hand!

Anyway, Thanks for the Baton, Jess - A Votre Sante! The local beer's excellent...

Hwyl - Dai.

[Jess-b 420]

Thanks guys, and Dai, thanks for sorting the airport fees out. Lol.

[stu7708 244]

Bravo Jess!

 

Never actually thought you would go for the T7 even though I joked about it... I do hope you can log the hours over on BA Virtual

 

Now, one question remains, was it "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket" you were reading on the trip down from Cardiff, or did you bring a poetry collection by "Edgar" to keep you occupied??

[Jess-b 420]

It was an anthology of mr Poe's best work.

[rosariomanzo 545]

Nice one!

[Kasper 14]

Good to you back in the captains seat Jess. Good write up of the flight with a landing in style. You do like to take big planes to small airfields as I recall corerctly.

[Jess-b 420]

Its true Kasper, I do like walking where angels fear to tread. My favourite was a 767 into Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island up in canada. I had to take off very light to get back out of there. Lol

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Nice choice of aircraft there Jess!

[rob16584 42]

Cracking PIREP jess