ASSI has arrived today
 

The first jet a Bombardier Challenger 300 registration ZS-ACT has landed today at HLE.
Next will most likely be Comair 737-800 implementation and first scheduled passenger flights before Royal guest HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex will land. And then the Dutch might return to the Island:oh:

Thanks for that news volare. If you would like to see some pictures of the event go to: http://whatthesaintsdidnext.com/2016...-on-st-helena/

Thanks are due to to Darrin Henry for the photos and article.

Comair implementation flight 18 April
 

Comair Boeing 737-800 expected to land at HLE Monday 18 April 14:00 GMT
(as per a tweet by an invited 'VIP') :D
Return to JNB planned for Wed 20 April.

A cockpit video of the recent landing of a Challenger 300 has been uploaded:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HJ7Dbcg4s

I just noticed that an AD chart has been published for FHSH as well: http://www.atns.com/downloads/FHSH%20AD%202-11.pdf

But why the hell are the runway numbers 02/20 when the direction is 179° and 379° respectively?

A first test flight with a B738 operated by Comair is expected to touch down on April 18th.

Cost of flights etc.
 

Thanks for that info Volare.

Follow the link for more info from Darrin Henry (keep up the good work)

http://whatthesaintsdidnext.com/2016...helena-island/

Those are the true headings (I believe you mean 359°?) - the magnetic headings are also given as 016° and 196° hence the runway numbers.

Variation is clearly still 17°W as it was when I was there in 2007 (I looked up my old Nav Workbook/sight book)

Inquisitor - the convention is for runways to be designated by their magnetic bearings because aircraft basically use a magnetic compasses for navigation. VORs for example are calibrated to give magnetic bearings rather than true (except I believe for a few in polar regions where magnetic compasses are useless!). In the UK where magnetic variation is small, the magnetic and true headings are close, but in St Helena the variation is around 17 degrees - the runway headings are taken to the nearest 10 degrees and then the first 2 digits used as designators.
So for the runway on 179 degrees true, the magnetic heading would be about 196 degrees, taking the nearest 10 degrees makes it 200. Hence the designator "20".


That aerodrome diagram is interesting in that it gives the threshold elevations in metres (above sea level). Usually aircraft are given this figure in feet as that is the unit used normally for altitude or height information (except in places such as Russia where metres are used). So runway 20 has a threshold elevation of 1014 feet and 02 an elevation of 997 feet.


Chance of a bit of confusion there "QNH 1025, threshold elevation 1014 feet" - the ATCOs will have to be sure aircraft get it right! Get the QNH and elevation swapped around and you could have an error of 330 feet on approach.

I see that ATNS, the South African ATS provider who are contracted to handle St Helena's aeronautical info, have now published the charts and other information regarding the airport. It is at ATNS: AIr Traffic Management
(or search ATNS St Helena project).


A couple of things stand out - the runway 20 VOR/DME procedure is presently "intentionally blank" - I wonder if the VOR is still considered a bit unreliable? There is also a comment that its range is "severely limited" from 210 to 010 degrees - obviously the effect of the terrain, but I'd have thought it might be OK at cruising altitudes.


The other interesting thing is that there is a separate DME associated with the Localizer (i.e. 109.3MHz paired with DME channel 30X). This means that pilots do not need to tune in one frequency for the localizer and another for the other DME which is co-located with the VOR.


There is no NDB/DME approach to runway 02 - only an RNP one. The NDB must be quite a powerful one as its range is quoted as 200nm.


No mention of GBAS apart from it is annotated on the aerodrome chart - there are four positions marked which maybe the GPS receiver locations (although I am surprised to see them so close together).


Various notes mention "Severe turbulence may be experienced close to terrain on approach" - not surprising for this cliff top location.

Good to see that "fastened high viz are required on the apron" - welcome to the world of high viz nazis.

ATNS Aerodrome Chart
 

Is it just me or have the runway magnetic directions been mislabelled in the aerodrome chart? Typically I would expect Rwy 20 to have a bearing of 195-204 Mag yet it's listed as the reciprocal. Same goes for RWY 02.

P2C - Well spotted, they've swapped around the numbers in the table on chart FHSH AD 2-11

The same error is in the FHSH AD 2.12 (Runway Physical Characteristics) section of the AIP.

On its way??

B737-8LD ZS-ZWG Flight no CAW 8427 en-route as at 0755z crossing from Botswana into Namibia may be what you are expecting to arrive at HLE today 18-Apr-2016.

I'd say it was pretty certain, last waypoint crossed 2110S, can't be anything else.

I see that FR24 does not know the destination and the new airport is not yet in their database. They are now over the Atlantic.

No worries, it is OK
 

On FR24 you won't hear a cheep from now on in because the service area is unsupported. They will report at 1800S/1800W whichever precedent you prefer as they cross hemispheres and at about S16 12 W005 and my estimate HE R130/40 is "heads up forty to go".

I spoke with "Auntie" Pika about an hour ago. [My passport says "Australia" but once a Saint always a Saint] and wow everyone is excited. If the Governor was a man he could expects a ducking but she is a woman. Mind you, she is a Brit... you never know and all the police, all ten of them, will be at the airport...

Yes, I could see them vanish from FR24. Perhaps, now, some enthusiastic Saint will set up a receiver and help join up the dots.

Video and Pics First landing Comair 737
 

Thanks to Darrin and Sharon Henry for these pictures and report :

http://whatthesaintsdidnext.com/2016...-on-st-helena/

St Helena first landing
 

Great video of first commercial aircraft landing at St Helena: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQiQ...g#action=share
Any thoughts on why there was a go-around at the second pass? Training or other issue perhaps?

Very nice.

The first one looks like a PR flyby, the second a bona fide go around after a bit of a float in the flare.

The 738 is a proper little bitch with Flap 40 in a gusty crosswind even without the unique terrain profile on offer so I don't envy crews flying in there one bit. I am guessing every approach will be max autobrake max reverse and plant it on the markers or go around .

I hope not too many Saints or tourists are nervous flyers!

Looks like conditions were a bit sporty - noticeable wingflex visible during the first flyby. A lot of dust on that runway also.