Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 17:16:35 GMT -5
Our operations in the west is now set up and ready to go. Mostly what Air Caribou does out there is cargo, with a fair bit of Air Ambulance work thrown in. However, we do have a few sched routes, largely going to places where other airliners fear to tread (or they don't deem it profitable enough - we're more about service than profits (and it shows 
)). Today was our inaugural flight for Flt 1031 from Victoria to Tofino then to Port Hardy and finally stopping at Bella Coola. The last destination is an "interesting one" as we have built a company RNAV approach into Bella Coola and have been testing it pretty extensively. It still needs a little tweaking but Transport has given us the go-ahead to use it, so we now have IFR capabilities into Bella Coola. Believe me, those tweaks need to come sooner rather than later as it's a bit heart stopping running between those mountains on the way down. It's not as complicated as Stewart (our other "remote destination") but for some reason this seems to get one sweating a bit more. Anyway, the flight came off without a hitch and was quite enjoyable. We were going to use B1900's for this route but found it's navigation system was not up to the demands of this type of flight so we are considering selling off the 1900's and using the Metroliner. It's the perfect size, flies well on and off autopilot (even though the A/P system is nowhere near as sophisticated as many aircraft out there now). So, a few pics for your viewing enjoyment below. Note the weather was largely IFR for most of the trip so not too many shots on this one. Enjoy.
At Tofino loading
Enroute out of Tofino climbing for 16000
Here at Port Hardy, we met "Bruce". Poor Bruce. He'd pick up this bag...
...and proceed over to the baggage cart where he'd drop in on the ground. Next thing he knew, it was magically back where he had just picked up from again, and back he'd go to retrieve it once again. This poor bugger was still at it when we taxied out for our next leg.
Enroute at 16K again over the coast of the BC Mainland approaching Bella Bella
We were right on course. Those mountains get pretty close on this approach. Not for the feint of heart!
Finally Bella Coola came into view through the mist. I think I lost a couple of pounds of sweat on this approach.
Just heading in for a Beer and couple of Scotch chasers before the flight ba... errr, I mean, just heading in for a COFFEE before prepping the aircraft for the trip back
.
Fun flight in all!
)). Today was our inaugural flight for Flt 1031 from Victoria to Tofino then to Port Hardy and finally stopping at Bella Coola. The last destination is an "interesting one" as we have built a company RNAV approach into Bella Coola and have been testing it pretty extensively. It still needs a little tweaking but Transport has given us the go-ahead to use it, so we now have IFR capabilities into Bella Coola. Believe me, those tweaks need to come sooner rather than later as it's a bit heart stopping running between those mountains on the way down. It's not as complicated as Stewart (our other "remote destination") but for some reason this seems to get one sweating a bit more. Anyway, the flight came off without a hitch and was quite enjoyable. We were going to use B1900's for this route but found it's navigation system was not up to the demands of this type of flight so we are considering selling off the 1900's and using the Metroliner. It's the perfect size, flies well on and off autopilot (even though the A/P system is nowhere near as sophisticated as many aircraft out there now). So, a few pics for your viewing enjoyment below. Note the weather was largely IFR for most of the trip so not too many shots on this one. Enjoy.At Tofino loading
Enroute out of Tofino climbing for 16000
Here at Port Hardy, we met "Bruce". Poor Bruce. He'd pick up this bag...
...and proceed over to the baggage cart where he'd drop in on the ground. Next thing he knew, it was magically back where he had just picked up from again, and back he'd go to retrieve it once again. This poor bugger was still at it when we taxied out for our next leg
.Enroute at 16K again over the coast of the BC Mainland approaching Bella Bella
We were right on course. Those mountains get pretty close on this approach. Not for the feint of heart!
Finally Bella Coola came into view through the mist. I think I lost a couple of pounds of sweat on this approach.
Just heading in for a Beer and couple of Scotch chasers before the flight ba... errr, I mean, just heading in for a COFFEE before prepping the aircraft for the trip back
.Fun flight in all!
. Oh, and I fixed the texture mismatch about halfway along the fuselage. I tried to get "Bruce" to fix it for me, but he was "busy" 
.