----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Sad, but true. It isn't well known, but there are huge alligators in many
Florida lakes, including Okeechobee, and Parker (near Lakeland). A test
pilot friend of mine, now deceased, did FAA certification tests for the
float-equipped MAULE aircraft, and told me of the real danger of "getting
et" by a gator, should he crash, survive, and flounder around in the water
awaiting rescue. Yes, there are no Part 91 REQUIREMENTS for flotation in a
Coupe flying to the Florida Keys, even over open water. Also, aligators and
sharks shouldn't be a factor in deciding whether or not to carry flotation
in those waters. You would be picked up pretty quickly, if you survived the
dead stick water landing, and exited the Coupe with a life jacket on. I
don't mean to be an alarmist - I'm an excellent swimmer, but my wife is not
- so I do carry two inflatable life jackets on Keys flights. The Fort Pierce
FBO rents them @ $4/day. Rafts are another matter. They are too heavy and
bulky for us, and would only be reasonable to carry if you were flying
(solo) to the Bahamas. They rent for $18/day. I tried a fight from Ft Pierce
to Nassau, Bahamas in my former airplane, a MAULE COMET, with plenty of fuel
and a 180 hp Lycoming. I had to climb to 11,500', fly south over the Forida
coast, then se over Bimini and Andros. Even so, there was about 15 miles
when I was out of gliding range approaching Andros from the wet. I don't do
that stuff anymore. Heck, they even sell straw baskets and t-shirts here in
Ft Pierce!
SEMPER FIDELIS
Don Bowen
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----Original Message Follows----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Fwd: [COUPERS-TECH] Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Sun-N-Fun itinerary - Plan
A
Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2006 16:52:50 -0500
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Hi, guys from Ercoupe N415BZ. I'm writing in relation to the over water
flight and questions about survival gear. Not telling anyone what to do, but
consider this:
I'm fortunate enough to fly a corporate Canadair Challenger as my day job.
One not so fortunate day
we were on Milwaukee approach control as a pilot in a Cherokee killed
himself. He was attempting to cross Lake Michigan (80 miles) in an Archer at
11,000ft. about 30 miles out he reported engine trouble, and was sure he
could glide back. Over the next several minutes I got to listen to the guy
descend to his death. It is something that haunts you just listening to it.
For a long time. Engines don't quit often, but they do quit. Think twice
about overwater, glide ratios in an Ercoupe, about "just doing it". You
don't want to hear the phrase "I guess I'm not gonna make it" from one of
your own.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sydney Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 20:05:48 -0600
Subject: [COUPERS-TECH] Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Sun-N-Fun itinerary - Plan A
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Hi Don,
You're right, I've never been to the Keys, and maybe I've assumed too
much. I sure wouldn't want to ditch my plane in the ocean, and I'm sure the
others would feel the same way. Maybe we should reconsider flying to the
Keys. I didn't know how few options we would have.
You're also right about landing at Crystal River at 7 pm. We should
probably plan to stay overnight in Camilla, GA, and refuel at Crystal River
the next morning before flying to Sun-N-Fun.
Thanks for your suggestions. It's always nice to have another set of eyes
look over my work.
Syd
DONALD BOWEN wrote:
> Hi, Syd,
> To land where, Syd? You seem to assume excellent visibility, no low >
cloud cover, and glide ratios that our Coupes don't have. Moreover, > let's
not confuse "need" (as required by regulations), with "need" as > required
when your engine quits and you are immediately in deep doo- > doo. The
"land" in the Keys is narrow, densely populated with trailer > homes and
fish camps and mangrove swamps and a heavily -traveled > single highway. I
recognize that you have put a good effort into your > flight planning, but
prudence dictates (in my opinion) a > conservative approach. . For example,
your plan to arrive at Crystal > Riverat 7 pm (impending darkness) doesn't
leave much room for error. > Why all the hurry ? In that vein, I'd guess
that some of your flying > group will "hang their hat and asses" on your
calculations, and > potentially just plan to "follow the leader". It is only
a guess, but > I have led many yacht cruises to and from the Bahamas, and am
> consistently amazed at the captains who don't carry appropriate or >
update charts, spare fuel filters, etc. They just follow. Try that in > the
Miami Terminal Approach Area, and your wingmen would be in deep > trouble
the minute they lost sight of the leader, and didn't know > EXACTLY where
they were, and where they were going. Incoming and > departing huge
commercial jets are everywhere ! Yes, I believe you > have " been there and
done that", but the responsibilities of > leadership can weigh heavily on
your shoulders, when others of lesser > experience have their lives are at
stake and (might be ) completely > depending on you.
> I do not mean to second guess you, Syd, and will now butt out, wth the >
suggestin that you and your flight slow down a bit and take time to > smell
the roses (aka swamp cabbage) here in beautiful, but not always > VFR,
Florida. Good luck.
>
> .
>
> SEMPER FIDELIS
> Don Bowen
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>
> ----Original Message Follows----
> From: Sydney Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Reply-To: Sydney Cohen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> CC: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [COUPERS-FLYIN] Sun-N-Fun itinerary - Plan A
> Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2006 18:22:37 -0600
>
> ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following >
any advice in this forum.]----
>
>
> Not true, Scott. You need lifesaving equipment (life preservers or >
raft) if the flight is beyond gliding distance to land. Our flight > crosses
only about 5 miles of water, so with enough altitude, we can > easily glide
to land.
>
> Syd
>
>
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
>> You only need flotation devices if the flight is operating >>
commercialy. Is it a good idea to carry them anyways? Yes. But if you >>
dont have room, and you are following a highway, just have fun and do >> it.
>> Scott
>> N94428 '50 G
>
>
>
>
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