Although I've been interested in a solo Transatlantic in my T-Arrow I always believed that these single engine crossings occurred in July - Aug time frame. But checking a flight on Flightaware today I see that a PA46, two SR22's, a C182 and a C208 departed Goose Bay, Labrador for Narsaruaq, Greenland this last week. Intrepid flyers certainly.
I've done it in an Arrow, Lance and Duke, all on deliveries to Europe. I would bet most of these flights are deliveries, as well. Did I mention I was young and intrepid back then?! Wouldn't dream of it now, but glad I did it then.
I was scheduling my introductory flight and asked one of the gentelman there, operates a charter company from the FBO, about crossing water. He was stating that he always goes around lake Michigan and would not advise one to fly over it with a single engine.
Being as I am just starting my education I said ok, but how concerned would you guys be about crossing a body of water 118 miles at the widest? Since my wife and I live in WI we would be regularly traveling accross/around it and would definatly like to go for the shorter route.
Troy, I fly out to the Bahamas fairly often and at times cross about 50 miles of open water. Some folks won't do that and think we are nuts. We keep vests and a raft with provisions on board for the crossings and put them where they can be easily reached. However, the Gulf Stream is a whole bunch warmer than the Great Lakes and if you survive the landing and get out of the plane you have a real decent chance of making it home in time for dinner. I would probably go around the long way if'n I were in your shoes (or plane). FWIW, a couple of folks ditched a couple of months back down in the Florida Keys (off the end of KMTH - Marathon Key) with no injuries AND, believe it or not, that was they're second time in the same place.
Well Sac - that was the reasoning behing getting a raft rather than just bobbing up and down in just the vests and thereby trolling for sharks. Raft comes with food, water, fishing stuff, first aid kit, etc and I added a small bottle of single-malt Scotch (one should not be without some comforts whilst awaiting salvation).
There was a time that 4 engines was the "plane du jour" for atlantic flights. Today 2 engines will do the job and I bet you in a few years "VLJ ER's" will be making over water flights. With proper planning, over water flights can be done safely. The real question is your "pucker factor" and how much confidence you have in YOUR airplane.
We started learning in New Orleans and always went around lake Pontchartrain. Then, working on my IFR, my instructor said if your gonna fly IFR a lot you'd better get used to flying over water (the N.O Lakefront ILS all over water). Admittedly that's not a lot of water but you are low.
