PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Aircraft down in Nepal 18 dead
View Single Post
Old 20th Dec 2008, 02:34
  #49 (permalink)  
Rockhound
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Indeed, it is inexpressibly sad. But you don't land in a cloud under VFR conditions, no matter if you're at JFK, LHR or Lukla.
For decades in the Canadian Arctic Islands, Twin Otters with low-pressure tundra tires have been involved in offstrip operations, landing on raised beaches, gravel pans and assorted tundra, often where no one has ever landed before. Six hundred feet of more or less level, dry ground is all you need for takeoffs and landings (1000' and you're laughing). With skilled and experienced pilots at the controls, these operations are routine. But they don't land if they can't see the ground.
Rockhound
Rockhound is offline