Flight Log: Montevideo SUMU -- Trelew SAVT 31.01.2018/01.02.2018/02.02.2018

01 February 2018, Montevideo — Trelew

Our driver picked us up at the Belmond Hotel punctually at 6.30 a.m. and saw the two of us as somewhat pale figures (because we hadn’t had much breakfast) standing in front of the door with our luggage. Nevertheless, we threw everything quickly into the boot and arrived just a quarter of an hour later at the airport where our handling agent immediately got to work. We had to sign the general declaration and the handling agent also collected our passports and disappeared. He returned ten minutes later having completed the immigration formalities.

Then we had to deal with the flight plan and pay the usual fees of course. But a less pleasant surprise was waiting for us. The flight would take at least one to one and a half hours longer than planned. Because there was strong side wind and headwind of between 25 and 40 knots. But we had fantastic weather nevertheless. Due to the wind, we pondered whether to fill another 100 litres of aviation fuel into the extra tank at the back. Our handling agent tried to organise that too. But this took quite some time as we subsequently noticed. We’d finished preparing Marie but there was still no aviation fuel vehicle in sight. I had to work out whether we could take off without any extra aviation fuel and came to the conclusion that we could. We still had enough fuel with about an hour to spare. But, as we all know, it’s good to err on the side of caution. Just as we’d started to prepare the plane to taxi, the aviation fuel vehicle arrived and we decided to interrupt our preparations again and fill the plane up with 100 litres more aviation fuel. As it turned out, it was to be very reassuring later on that we still had plenty of fuel in the tank.

After taking off, we flew over Montevideo and bid it farewell before soaring over the wide expanse of Patagonia. For long periods of time, we were virtually only able to see pampas, interspersed by the odd small town, a few clouds, an irrigated market garden, a lake area, irrigated soy fields and tree-like structures in the river bed. And there were incredibly large salt fields that had salt fan Kurt in raptures. However, the wind forecast proved to be right. We intermittently had over 40 knots of side wind, with 35 knots coming from the front and flew over the landscape of Patagonia at a ground speed of only 85 knots. Eventually, the Trelew tower came into range and we were able to agree on an approach. As the wind was still coming from the ground at about 250 degrees and 35 knots, runway 25 was definitely the right one. We made an ILS approach and unfortunately at just 1,500 feet the air traffic controller told us that the wind had turned drastically from 250 degrees to 150 degrees at 32 knots and that we could now no longer use runway 25 but runway 07 opposite for the approach. And now it’s all about circling to land. You carry on the approach and at about 1,000 feet you turn right past the airfield and then follow an oval-shaped flight path to fly to 07 from the other side. However, this wasn’t quite as easy as it sounds because the wind was coming from about 150 degrees at approx. 32 knots, making a side wind landing the correct option. During side wind landings, the pilot has to incline the plane towards the wind. In other words, if the wind comes from the right, the right-hand side of the plane has to be a lot lower and in an oblique position. The plane’s side rudder doesn’t direct it towards the runway, without lifting the right wing, until the very last minute before landing. This means that the main wheel on the right hits the runway first, then the main rear wheel on the left and the nose wheel last. Despite the strong wind, we pulled it off and Marie made a soft landing. Handling was again very easy and the people were friendly. We were able to fill up the plane at the aviation fuel pumps, carry out the immigration formalities and were sitting in a taxi in no time. We two slim pilots were accompanied by an overweight taxi driver and an equally overweight customs officer who had asked if she could share the taxi to town with us. But we weren’t heading for Trelew because that’s pretty much a village in Patagonia’s pampas. We drove over 45 km to Puerto Madryn where our hotel was located. After the obligatory landing beer, we started to relax and settle down for the night.

Bye.