ZeroPapaGolf
Line Up and Wait
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2011
- Messages
- 647
- Display Name
Display name:
ZeroPapaGolf
Over the past few weeks, we have had the opportunity to donate some flying to get supplies down to Puerto Rico. Along with us was a PC-12 and a C-421B. Cargo in total consisted of water, shelf-stable milk, water filters, chainsaws, tools, tarps, and medicine. This was the first time I've really wanted a crew door on the Navajo. It would have been a lot easier to load the bulkier items without needing to leave a walkway.
We found great support at every step along the way. Signature at PBI, Provo Air in the Turks & Caicos (fuel stop), and Million Air at Isla Grande were all eager to help and provided fuel discounts and waived fees.
It was almost over before it began. What looked like simply a low strut ended up being a cracked trunnion.
A replacement was quickly located in California, and installed by Platinum at F45. I can't say enough good about them. We had wasted nearly a full day with a shop at Lantana by the time we pulled the plug and ferried over to F45. Platinum had it swapped in 4 hours; they were like a nascar pit crew, and the shop rate was very fair. Not often you get the bill and are surprised how cheap it is.
Due to the fuel stop in Provo, we had to clear customs each way. CBP was fantastic, 5 minutes and done, at every location except St Thomas. The CBP personnel at St Thomas were the most disgusting example of government power-tripping ignorance I have ever seen. The GA customs facility was severely damaged, so all must go to the cargo ramp to clear. The agents there had obviously never worked a private flight before. Their response to not knowing what to do was to scream and yell at everyone in sight, including their coworkers. If it weren't 120 degrees inside it would have been comical. We were eventually required to fill out the paperwork for a commercial flight. At that point, we said whatever, scribbled some crap down, and got out of there.
We were immediately repaid for the trouble by enjoying the VFR offshore transition from St Thomas to Isla Grande: 500' or less, follow the beach. It was some beautiful aviation.
[yt]
[/yt]
These trips would have been very difficult without onboard radar. There were substantial areas of embedded thunderstorms both near Florida and Puerto Rico on several occasions. FIS-B nexrad is useful, but doesn't cover that far south.
After going back and forth through Provo without stopping, on the last trip it was time for a few hours of beach time.
Overall, it was the flying experience of a lifetime. Not only was it great to go farther from the mainland than I've ever been, it was a great reason to be doing it, too. And I've got a list of beautiful spots in the Bahamas to check out in the future.
We found great support at every step along the way. Signature at PBI, Provo Air in the Turks & Caicos (fuel stop), and Million Air at Isla Grande were all eager to help and provided fuel discounts and waived fees.
It was almost over before it began. What looked like simply a low strut ended up being a cracked trunnion.
A replacement was quickly located in California, and installed by Platinum at F45. I can't say enough good about them. We had wasted nearly a full day with a shop at Lantana by the time we pulled the plug and ferried over to F45. Platinum had it swapped in 4 hours; they were like a nascar pit crew, and the shop rate was very fair. Not often you get the bill and are surprised how cheap it is.
Due to the fuel stop in Provo, we had to clear customs each way. CBP was fantastic, 5 minutes and done, at every location except St Thomas. The CBP personnel at St Thomas were the most disgusting example of government power-tripping ignorance I have ever seen. The GA customs facility was severely damaged, so all must go to the cargo ramp to clear. The agents there had obviously never worked a private flight before. Their response to not knowing what to do was to scream and yell at everyone in sight, including their coworkers. If it weren't 120 degrees inside it would have been comical. We were eventually required to fill out the paperwork for a commercial flight. At that point, we said whatever, scribbled some crap down, and got out of there.
We were immediately repaid for the trouble by enjoying the VFR offshore transition from St Thomas to Isla Grande: 500' or less, follow the beach. It was some beautiful aviation.
[yt]
These trips would have been very difficult without onboard radar. There were substantial areas of embedded thunderstorms both near Florida and Puerto Rico on several occasions. FIS-B nexrad is useful, but doesn't cover that far south.
After going back and forth through Provo without stopping, on the last trip it was time for a few hours of beach time.
Overall, it was the flying experience of a lifetime. Not only was it great to go farther from the mainland than I've ever been, it was a great reason to be doing it, too. And I've got a list of beautiful spots in the Bahamas to check out in the future.
