Archive > EuroHarmony Main Forum
Leg #56 SAWH - YSRN
EHM-2097 Andrei:
EHM-2097 Andrei:
This is the most northerly leg of the tour. Because of this, the first thing to consider is the flight date. If it's summer, no problem, but if you fly it in the winter like I did, take time to consider the very short daylight time and plan your flight to arrive within this interval.
Navigation to Broughton Island is relatively easy (even in polar half-darkness) but landing there is another thing. The runway is very short and the island has mostly rough terrain. Darkness (even partial) adds a lot to the landing difficulty, so ensure you have all the daylight you can get on arrival.
The route I suggest is a straight flight from BGSF across Davis Strait to Baffin Island, followed by visual shoreline orientation to Broughton Island.
The most suitable (magnetic) bearing for the first part is 310, which leads approximately to Cape Dyer. This is not only the shortest crossing of the Davis Strait, but the cape itself is easy to recognize. Note the wide fjord just south of the cape; with the three islands (a larger one and two smaller ones) at its end, this feature is easy to spot from above.
Once you have Cape Dyer positively identified, follow the coast to the northeast. Durban Island, Padloping Island and even the smaller islands are easy to recognize. Broughton Island itself is easy to spot from the distance (by the way, according to Wikipedia the place is no longer named like that, the official name since 1999 is Qikiktarjuaq).
Now that the island is in sight, it's time to plan the approach. No matter the runway direction you plan to use, approach is partially "blind" because the runway is on the remote side of the island, behind a steep mountainside.
In my first landing attempt I crashed with the Fokker after an "almost good" (but a little too long) landing; failing to brake completely before the eastern runway end, the aircraft rolled into rough terrain and felt down a steep slope.
After my second – and successful, with the Beech this time – landing attempt, also in a westerly direction, I noticed that terrain is smoother east of the runway than west of it. Thus I strongly suggest the approach from the west, which gives a better chance of safe landing even in case you roll past the runway end (of course, it still depends on the speed you have while doing so…)
This is when daylight comes handy, because darkness makes very difficult to assess terrain elevation and roughness around the runway.
(to be continued soon)
EHM-2097 Andrei:
From CYVM mostly shrouded in darkness at this time of the year, this leg leads straight south – towards daylight. Starting at dawn gives a good timing to arrive in daylight (which already lasts longer at CYKG).
However, don't just head south because this leg gives the opportunity to explore a very impressive looking region of the Baffin Island. In fact, it looks so impressive in FS (default scenery) that I can only guess how impressive it should be in real life!
For the first part of this leg, my suggested route is along the Weasel River until Pangnirtung airfield (CYXP). To benefit from the landscape, make sure you fly below 5000 ft (that is, as much below as you can and want).
From CYVM, follow the strait between Broughton Island and the mainland to the south. After passing over a few smaller islands, you get to a kind of fjord "crossroad"; follow the fjord that starts southwards then bends eastwards.
The fjord is continued with the Weasel River, within a very deep valley. On both side of this valley mountains are very impressive. The most well known are Mount Asgard and Mount Thor, the latter being famous for having the highest vertical drop on earth. In fact, most of its western side is overhanging at 105 degrees average, but this is a feature that cannot be rendered in FS (or so I suspect).
After passing Mount Thor, there is a saddle with a steep slope on its southern side. Follow this slope and shortly another fjord is in side. Be sure you locate CYXP on its left bank.
After CYXP the terrain changes dramatically (flat with LOTS of small and larger lakes) and features are much heavier to recognize, so it's a good idea to climb higher in order to see the "big picture".
There is no 100% sure VFR route over this terrain; as a direction, try to leave Imigen Island and Drum Islands on your right, then keep that heading until you spot a large triangular lake (could not get its name) then the southern shore of the Baffin Island.
Once you get to the shore, terrain features become easier to recognize. Follow the shore to the southeast to the Big Island (a well deserved name, it's easy to spot). Once there, cross the Hudson Strait to the southwest.
The southern side of Hudson Strait is also easy to follow. Aim for the Wivanhoe and Wales island group, follow the fjord behind these and CYKG will appear in sight on its eastern bank.
The runway is not much longer than at CYVM (and it's made of gravel as well), but it's situated in high and flat terrain so the approach is way easier to handle. Welcome to mainland Canada!
EHM-2097 Andrei:
This leg is about following the shoreline while "cutting corners" to shorten the path.
From CYKG, if departing on runway 33 just follow the runway heading, otherwise make a 180 turn after takeoff. Though this is not really dangerous with a decent climb rate, pay attention to the high terrain across the fjord just west of the airport.
The southern coast of Hudson Strait has distinct features (especially fjords) that are easy to recognize for orientation.
Near one of these fjord is the Salluit airport (CYZG), easy to spot too.
From Salluit you may continue along the shoreline, but I suggest a handy shortcut. Follow the general fjord direction and, soon enough, the Hudson Bay shores will appear in sight.
These shores, however, are not so good for orientation as most features are difficult to match with the map. With one notable exception, the Smith Island that extends from the coast almost perpendicular to it. Thus, be sure to reach the Hudson Bay shore north oh Smith Islands, follow these southwards until you spot the island and you will now your position for sure.
If 100% sure is still not enough, on the shore near the island you can spot the Akulivik airport (CYKO).
Further south of Smith Island, orientation becomes difficult again so it is hard to predict where the destination airport is. However, if you fly low enough (below any clouds, that is) and reasonably close to the shoreline, you will have the airport in sight soon enough.
The approach itself is easier (then in the previous legs) because of two bonuses: a slightly longer runway and PAPI lights if you can use runway 19.
EHM-2097 Andrei:
This legs starts – again – along the shoreline of Hudson Bay, but later things become a little spicy with some island hopping in order to teach CYSK without too much of a detour.
I don't recommend flying this leg at too high altitude (except if you get "clear sky" weather) because some of the islands to spot are really tiny. Also, the distance to fly is rather short (around 250 nm along the suggested route).
From CYPX, follow the shoreline to the southwest, until it bends dramatically to the southeast. I recommend flying parallel to the shoreline before reaching this bend, because it's the best bearing to keep afterwards. (OK, if you missed it, I can reveal this optimum bearing, it's 235).
At this point, when heading deeply into Hudson Bay I was a little nervous because at first there was absolutely no feature ahead to aim at, just water and more water.
Eventually, some tiny islands become visible in the vicinity, it's the Marcopeet Islands. The exact number of islands that appear in FS does not match the maps on GoogleEarth but I suggest looking for one distinct feature that is recognizable in both places, that is two twin islands close to each other. When you have these in sight, just be sure to fly towards them or close enough.
While flying over these twin islands, the next landmark should already be in sight further south: the Sleeper Islands. However, don't expect to recognize any island shape et this time, you must get much closer to be able to do so.
After reaching Sleeper Islands, the islands to fly over are much closer to each other so there is no risk of missing the destination. However, I suggest a particular end to this leg route, which has proved very handy for the visual approach into CYSK.
The southern (and smaller) Sleeper Islands form a line that extends southwards. Follow this line until you get the next group of islands in sight.
Locate and follow the Laddie Island (a long and narrow island clearly visible, "heading" slightly to the left). When reaching the southern end of Laddie Island, you should have in sight a very distinctive feature of this archipelago, a "circle" of islands just north of the destination airport (more precisely, the airport is located on the island that makes the southern part of this circle).
If the wind direction allows it, just fly over this circle clockwise and this will align you all right for finals.
The runway is short again, but this is no surprise in these remote islands…
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version