kimberlyanne546
Final Approach
So just when I thought I had seen or done most of what there was to do in a small plane (fly outs, cross countries, spot landing contests, flour bombings, aerobatics, coordinated formation flying, uncoordinated / improv formation flying) . . . .
I discovered something completely new and different to do in an airplane!
I've read about this for at least two years, since I remain on the 99s mailing lists.
In January (roughly) a "whale watching" fly-out is planned. This was really interesting to me in the way that it was coordinated (and told to ATC etc).
Since the location of the whales would cost me more than 4 hours of flying time in my tiny rental 150 - I found someone willing to take a passenger instead.
We departed in a 182 from San Jose International (a class Charlie). I think that is the only time I have departed from a class Charlie. I could not even park my car, walk to the bathroom, or move around without an escort. Definitely a higher level of security than I'm used to.
I just stared at all the Southwest Jets like a child since I barely see them let alone share runways and taxiways with the big 737s. I was pretty excited.
(We even got to land on a parallel runway with one Southwest Jet coming home but they were too far behind us for me to look out the passenger window and see them.)
So the plan was to meet up with about 25 - 35 people (anywhere from 2-4 people per plane) for lunch in Watsonville around noon. Whale watching either before or after (or both) was encouraged.
I don't have a lot of "air to air" transmission experience, so it was a treat to hear the pilots announce their rough positions to one another.
In the email briefing, it was encouraged that one person JUST FLY THE PLANE and that only the passengers look out for whales. It was also suggested that we communicate on a frequency which was predefined. In addition, those planes headed south were to be more inland, and those headed north were to be further out towards the water, with all turns of the rectangular "pattern" to be announced.
In reality, there were lots of planes, most not announcing at all on frequency, and several going the wrong way. Oh well.
If a whale was spotted, the pilot was to fly a 360 around it or a "turn about a point". This was to make the location of the whale pod more obvious to other pilots.
Because Point Sur is near Monterey (another class Charlie) - ATC kept us on a sqwak code even when we told them we were leaving their frequency, but then ATC told us to call them back on frequency when we were within 10 miles of the Charlie's outer ring of airspace.
This would be when we were headed back to shore for lunch.
Rules for marine protection indicate that you must be 2000 feet AGL (or higher) when over certain parts of the ocean.... which is why the email briefing suggested we keep in constant contact with one another. Several planes, 1-5 miles out over open ocean, at the same altitude . . . can be tricky. Heads were to be kept on a swivel.
Of course, in training, it is not recommended you take a single engine out over open water when you are not within gliding distance of land . . . so that too added to the risk.
I'll upload pictures in a minute. We left SJC in a female piloted 182 with 4 souls on board, flew south of Monterey and into a "whale watching pattern," saw many whales, headed back inland to land at Watsonville, had lunch with 35 people, then took off from Watsonville for a very short flight back to San Jose.
It was PERFECT weather and everything went off without a hitch. I bought the pilot lunch and washed her windows and leading edges after the flight as a thank you.
Just wanted to share because Saturday reminded me that there is so much you can do out there in an airplane.
This pilot had over 2000 hours and I continue to learn and grow by simply watching other pilots fly planes. She was very safe and professional.
I discovered something completely new and different to do in an airplane!
I've read about this for at least two years, since I remain on the 99s mailing lists.
In January (roughly) a "whale watching" fly-out is planned. This was really interesting to me in the way that it was coordinated (and told to ATC etc).
Since the location of the whales would cost me more than 4 hours of flying time in my tiny rental 150 - I found someone willing to take a passenger instead.
We departed in a 182 from San Jose International (a class Charlie). I think that is the only time I have departed from a class Charlie. I could not even park my car, walk to the bathroom, or move around without an escort. Definitely a higher level of security than I'm used to.
I just stared at all the Southwest Jets like a child since I barely see them let alone share runways and taxiways with the big 737s. I was pretty excited.
(We even got to land on a parallel runway with one Southwest Jet coming home but they were too far behind us for me to look out the passenger window and see them.)
So the plan was to meet up with about 25 - 35 people (anywhere from 2-4 people per plane) for lunch in Watsonville around noon. Whale watching either before or after (or both) was encouraged.
I don't have a lot of "air to air" transmission experience, so it was a treat to hear the pilots announce their rough positions to one another.
In the email briefing, it was encouraged that one person JUST FLY THE PLANE and that only the passengers look out for whales. It was also suggested that we communicate on a frequency which was predefined. In addition, those planes headed south were to be more inland, and those headed north were to be further out towards the water, with all turns of the rectangular "pattern" to be announced.
In reality, there were lots of planes, most not announcing at all on frequency, and several going the wrong way. Oh well.
If a whale was spotted, the pilot was to fly a 360 around it or a "turn about a point". This was to make the location of the whale pod more obvious to other pilots.
Because Point Sur is near Monterey (another class Charlie) - ATC kept us on a sqwak code even when we told them we were leaving their frequency, but then ATC told us to call them back on frequency when we were within 10 miles of the Charlie's outer ring of airspace.
This would be when we were headed back to shore for lunch.
Rules for marine protection indicate that you must be 2000 feet AGL (or higher) when over certain parts of the ocean.... which is why the email briefing suggested we keep in constant contact with one another. Several planes, 1-5 miles out over open ocean, at the same altitude . . . can be tricky. Heads were to be kept on a swivel.
Of course, in training, it is not recommended you take a single engine out over open water when you are not within gliding distance of land . . . so that too added to the risk.
I'll upload pictures in a minute. We left SJC in a female piloted 182 with 4 souls on board, flew south of Monterey and into a "whale watching pattern," saw many whales, headed back inland to land at Watsonville, had lunch with 35 people, then took off from Watsonville for a very short flight back to San Jose.
It was PERFECT weather and everything went off without a hitch. I bought the pilot lunch and washed her windows and leading edges after the flight as a thank you.
Just wanted to share because Saturday reminded me that there is so much you can do out there in an airplane.
This pilot had over 2000 hours and I continue to learn and grow by simply watching other pilots fly planes. She was very safe and professional.
