Bouquets for ATC!
 

I've arrived back in YBTL this morning after about 8 hours of flying around Qld (YBTL-YBUD-YLRE-YBTL) in the FTDK in the last couple of days, 7.8 hrs of it in solid IMC - RNAV Appr into YBUD, GPS Arrival into YLRE (just), ILS into YBTL.

Gotta give the guys and gals of generic ATC bouquets for their professionalism and for looking after us all. I have thrown a few brickbats in the past when I felt I had been dealt with poorly.

The weather over much of Qld was CR*P!. It sounds like TL was well beyond cr*p at times (200+ mm rain in 24 hrs and I was told winds gusting to 60 kts at one point) yesterday. Interesting to listen to the conversations as jets of a number of persuasions "missed" at YBRK yesterday morning.

My plan was to go to YLRE where I could refuel and be within striking distance of YBTL. If I back the FTDK off a bit I can get 6 hrs endurance and YLRE-YBTL is about 2 hrs. The forecast for YLRE was good when I left YBUD but about an hour into the flight the SPECIs started flying thick and fast. The weather over much of Qld was clearly deteriorating quickly. At one point Birdsville was starting to look like a real possibility.

On landing at YLRE and a check of the Townsville weather, the guy on BNE Centre sounded somewhat relieved when I cancelled the remainder of my plan.

Dinner and a good bottle of red in Longreach was much better than fighting with nature (embedded CBs frighten me) - the flight up this morning was a non-event - but its now rumbling outside - don't know where that one came from!.

Interesting couple of days! The last time I had the FTDK wound back for max range was Ayres Rock to Leonora last year - the weather was pretty cr*ppy on that flight also.

Thanks all!

Dr :8

Have to agree with all that Doctor! I was out and about yesterday and today, and the weather, to say the least, was absolute RUBBISH!! After many hours in the soup, several instrument approaches, diversions, holding, I must commend ATC for putting up with me and the help I received when requested, while still dealing with everyone else in the same predicaments.

Well done guys, :ok::ok:

morno

Yair, ditto; 8 hr flt time yesterday, in the clag for the majority of it, ATC are pretty damn good here anyway IMHO and when the Wx turns crap, they really shine.

BTW FTDK, I noticed your triple redundant GPS systems the other day.....you need a HD alternator to drive that lot????;)

Nearly 8 Hrs in sold IMC in SINGLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG Dr yr my hero:E

Am stunned, hope no one tells the 'Conty' that :E

ATC do mostly a great job given what they have to deal with, poor wx, poor pilot skills (from poor training) & I thank them a lot, but not all the time, sometimes they seem to be obstructive. (those that I love I still love:))
Now Dr lets not have anymore of this 'tom foolerish' nonsense about flying SE with yr eyes closed !:)

CW

"BTW FTDK, I noticed your triple redundant GPS systems the other day.....you need a HD alternator to drive that lot????;)"

Jamjar - seems to drain very little current - the alternator has no difficulties powering it. The LS800 has a solid state Hard Drive and the computer itself has no cooling fans etc. The power supply to both the computer and the 296 seem to be just keeping a trickle charge up to the respective batteries.

Dr :8

And the only other option is a lead weight in the nose bowl:}