Any one interested in going for earthrounder trip?

[earthrounder]

I always wanted to go around the earth with piston aircraft now I have a Piper Aztec well equipped and want to do it next spring.

For more info about the idea please go to http://www.earthrounders.com/

I am looking for one or two experienced pilots with ME-IFR to join and share the expenses and at the same time build transatlantic PIC IFR twin time will be a great experience in the resume when applying for a job

Trip will take around 4 weeks if we go east, route is listed on that website

We can go to Iceland or green land and back first just to try Atlantic crossing and learn how to navigate over the Atlantic and then we can go for the big trip

PM if interested.

[Dagwood]

Not trying to rain on your parade, but...

You mention this time would look good on the resume. That's right, but I wouldn't think this is the kind of a trip for a fresh CPL. There is a lot more to oceanic and transcontinental flying, foreign air regulations, and survival skills then are taught to the average student pilot.

We can go to Iceland or green land and back first just to try Atlantic crossing and learn how to navigate over the Atlantic and then we can go for the big trip

Are you sure you don't need to learn how to do that before you depart?
I would be hesitant replying to an new user on an anonymous forum for such a trip when some basic planning seems to be missing. But, whatever floats your boat.

As the dragons say...

I'm out.

[KK7]

I agree that the idea of this trip sound really cool, but just a quick browse of this earthrounders website and I feel it doesn't really do a good job at informing you of what you're going to be up against. I have done a fair bit of international ferries in a BN2B Islander (also a piston, and a slow one at that), and here are some pointers I'd like to share:

- the 4 week estimate is very optimistic. Plan longer and don't have a time set in stone that you have to be back home for.
- Bring lots of $$$$$. Landing fees, fuel, accommodation are astronomical in places like Iceland compared to the pennies we pay for here at home. General Aviation gets a lot on the house here. Leave the GA friendly countries and expect to pay through the nose.
- Bring more $$$, cash in both USD and Euros. Some places credit cards and fuel cards are a foreign concept. Bring small bills to pay for taxis and people to guard your airplane at unsecured airports.
- Hide money in the airplane.
- Make a fancy looking laminated ID so that you can be allowed to get back to your airplane.
- Make sure you have all overflight and landing permits before you take off.
- MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AVGAS ARRANGED AND CONFIRMED. My biggest problem in the Islander was being promised fuel over the phone, then getting there and discovering they last had it 2 years ago or they are refurbishing their Avgas tanks. Outside of GA friendly countries, there is little need for Avgas, so any piston operators keep a meagre supply for their own use (often out of barrels).
- You may be a ME-IFR pilot with a machine that can do IFR, but for transatlantic stick to VFR. The north atlantic is a cold cold place and if you go in the drink your chances of rescue are pretty slim. I suggest a cold water survival suit and a life raft as well.
- Wait for good weather.
- BRING LOTS OF PATIENCE

Get someone who has done this kind of thing to sit down with you in person and comb over your route, planning, contacts, phone numbers.

I've done these trips with virtually no support and it takes a long time at each technical stop to get anything done. Some places will want to search the plane, get you to go through immigration and fill out paperwork and without a local handler, nobody is in any rush to get you going in good time. I've done these trips with professional support and even then there are lots of hurdles and headaches. I've always done this with the backing of deep pockets, and I've seen the $$$ flow out like water out of a fire hose. I personally would never endeavour to do this trip unless I won the lottery! I can't emphasize enough how much money you're going to spend!

After all this, HAVE FUN, and take the time to enjoy the places you stop at.

[Jungle Jim]

Guys,

Don't rain on his parade. I think back a few years ago when the two local guys flew the AN-2 from England to Canada with only PPL's and virtually no prep, no flight plans, etc.( the AN-2 that was at Buttonville) They got nabbed in Gander and had to fly back to Toronto commercial. When they were told that they could not continue any further in Canada they offered to fly back to England if it was too much trouble for the Canadian authorities to deal with.


Jim

[Beefitarian]

"virtually no prep, no flight plans, etc."?

Where did they do their PPLs that they wouldn't have been taught the importance of those things? That sounds like an exaggeration, they are lucky everything went so well.

The reason flight plans are a legal requirement is it is difficult to do search and rescue with them. Without the information from a flight plan it would basically be nearly impossible.

When you're in a place that does not care if you submit a flight plan I would suspect it's because they don't have any SAR.

[Darkwing Duck]

Take the advice of KK7. While I have not done a round the world trip I have worked with many that have tried.

- You NEED overflight permits for a majority of countries. Get a reputable company that can arrange these for you. Trust me, having a company like this will eliminate a lot of headaches.
- Have your avgas arranged well before the flight and make sure it is in place prior to arrival. As said by KK7 a lot of these non friendly GA countries do not have avgas and need to bring it in barrels. Very expensive to do. A lot of countries in Africa and Asia do not carry avgas.
- REALY make sure your aircraft has the range to get from point A to B and an alternate with avgas. Weather, higher than forecast winds, mistake on planning your burns, anything may result in you getting down to fumes just when you really do not want to.
- Countries like Saudi Arabia may not let you fly over their country below a certain altitude or file VFR. Could be afraid you may see their women without their burkas on. Check on the MEA you are planning through and make sure your Aztec can get to that altitude.
- As stated, bring lots of cash. Also for bribes and lubricating the process of getting things done.
- Do not assume everything is tickityboo prior to arrival. I have heard of numerous situations where everything is handled and someone in some bass awkward airport never got that message you were coming.
- Also as stated, Patience. This is not North America where everything happens fast. A lot of these countries could care less how fast you need something done.

That is all I can think of off the top of my head.

[Beefitarian]

I'd be into this big time but like KK7 said I'd want to have the plane plus at least a million dollars spare change or some sort of sponsorship.

What routing are you thinking about?

[DanWEC]

Guys,

Don't rain on his parade. I think back a few years ago when the two local guys flew the AN-2 from England to Canada

Is that the AN-2 on floats??
How? The 2300 mile mission is almost 3 times the range of the An-2.

[AllClutch]

I ve done the crossings before, although not
Impossible by any stretch it usually isn't the place for a fresh cpl or PPL.
It will take at least a week to do a north atlanti crossing this time of year if you play it smart and avoid the ice.
Bring money, lots and lots of money.
It cost 3000 Canadian to park and fuel a Seneca for 1 night in Viborg, Denmark.
You have to pay to play, For someone who can't handle the cost like a fresh CPL or someone who doesn't have the company credit card the sense of "get-home-ist before I become insolvent" would be absolutely crushing.
Euro-control, airspace issues, customs; all things best experienced with someone who has done it before.
I wouldn't envy the person who hasn't done it before.

One last anticdote the describes the Europe GA experience;
2 am, in Norway buying a "borrowed" case of aeroshell out of the back of a unlit hanger, $40 cash a quart.

[Beefitarian]

Should we notify SAR this guy is missing?

[White Bird]

Not so sure this quest belongs in the Flight Training section... There has to be a millionaire playboy pilot with no family/job commitments section somewhere around here