Originally Posted by
ACMS
oh don’t be stupid, box ticking?
there’s stupid risk and acceptable risk. They flew that way at low level to avoid Class C and D airspace.....
Most people would rather forced land at night on land than in the cold dark sea. Much easier for rescuers to find you as well.
Not only that higher Altitude gives you a lot more time and choices.....4,000’ and its all over in 5 mins .......
There’s plenty of places that they can go at night better than that.
if they want dark night circuits then fly down there in daylight and wait if it’s so important, or better still wait and do that trip in the Twin DA42......simple
Perhaps a couple of points worth noting:
- Flying at A040 does not exempt them from having to talk to AD approach. They would still have to fly through class C airspace after departing PF CTAF.
- The short flight between PF-KSC might not permit enough time for a climb to A100. For a normally aspirated DA40 to make it to A100 in such a short time, you would need very favourable conditions like high pressure and very low temperatures.
- Do not forget that light training aircraft like the DA40 are susceptible to airframe and engine icing. Freezing levels down south can easily be as low as 4,000 or 5,000 feet at this time of the year, so it would not make sense to climb into icing conditions.