When we set out on our third day of flying, after a day in Goose Bay, I wasn't 100% sure we'd be able to get through. My main concern was whether we'd be able to get on top of the overcast layer out of Goose Bay without icing. If not, then at least the choice was easy; just land again. We'd taken some fuel in the ferry tank, and with 12 hours endurance could actually have flown all the way to Narsarsuaq and back to Goose Bay. With conditions at Goose Bay and Kulusuk forecast to be excellent later in the day, we had two solid options for diversion, so off we went.
The day's flight. Ignore the distance and avg speed numbers, they glitched again.
Ready to depart from Goose Bay
We lumbered down runway 26 fairly slowly, and climbed out at a steady 500 feet per minute, eventually reaching 9,000ft for the cruise. Every now and then we caught a glimpse of the ground; snow covered mountains, giving way to fractured sea ice. A couple of hours in to the flight we were well out into the Labrador channel, and had descended to 5,000ft to pick up another 20 kts ground speed. Winds up high were not helpful.
Over a thin overcast, heading for the coast
The only real break in the undercast on the entire crossing!
Narsarsuaq here we come.
The ETA settled at around 4:15pm, comfortably before closing time, and we received regular updates on METAR and TAF at Narsarsuaq via the Garmin InReach. Things were only looking better. We climbed to 10,000ft for the final section, approaching the coast, before dropping down through multiple layers on possibly the most impressive GPS approach I've even had the pleasure of flying!
Just past the IAF on the RNAV GPS Y approach to Narsarsuaq
View north from the GPS approach
Even on the GPS approach, the ground comes uncomfortably near!
First glimpse of Narsarsuaq in the distance
Looking south at the FAF
Looking north from the FAF
Right downwind for 24
Turning on to final for 24. The glacier has apparently receded a lot in recent years.
Refueling at Narsarsuaq
Ensconced in the Narsarsuaq hotel.
Safely on the ground, fuel was immediately provided, and we walked the few minutes to the strangely enormous Narsarsuaq hotel. That evening we had dinner with 2 Brits and a Luxemburger who were about to set out to kite-ski 2,400km north across Greenland! It made our adventure seem tame by comparison.
