FAO Blog Readers

Hello. Due to other commitments during the summer, updates will be sperratic and inconsistant. However, I am not discontinuing the tour or the blog. Please keep checking for updates. I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read the blog, and I can't wait to keep you posted on new portions of the tour.

Antonio Rivera Rodríguez-Benjamín Rivera Noriega

This next flight is the first of several that take me straight from one traffic pattern to the next. After taking off from runway 9 at Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS/TJVQ) on Vieques, I continued on runway heading until I leveled off at 1100 feet. I then turned to headed 040 to make a base leg for runway 13 at Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport on Culebra (CPX), the second biggest of the Spanish Virgin Islands. My approach was terrible (high and off-center). It was, surprisingly, one of the smoothest landings I've ever made.

Note: This is the first leg where I used Irfanview to reformat the screenshots. They will be a bit bigger and definately higher quality. If you have any feedback, let me know.

TJVQ-CPX

Luis Muñoz Marín International-Antonio Rivera Rodríguez

Next I headed southeast for Vieques, in the little-known Spansh Virgin Islands. After taking off from runway 8 at Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU/TJSJ), I turned right to a heading of about 120. I continued across Puerto Rico, and almost as soon as I crossed the Puerto Rican coast, It was time to enter the pattern for Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport (VQS/TJVQ) in Vieques. I entered a base leg for runway 9, and made a crappy approach. All because I was trying to get a screenshot.

TJSJ-TJVQ

Rafael Hernández-Luis Muñoz Marín International

After a quick layover in Aguadilla, I taxied back out to runway 8, and took off for Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU/TJSJ) in San Juan. After leveling out at 1500 feet (I decided to stay low as I would be shortly beginning my descent), I turned right to heading 105. I continued along this heading for about 30 minutes. As I approached San Juan I was given clearance to fly the straight-in approach for runway 8. I remained 1500 feet and heading 105 until I intercepted the end of the ILS feather on the GPS (I wasn't actually using instrument procedures), when I turned to ruwnay heading and began my descent. My approach was better than the one into Punta Cana, and after landing I taxied over to General Aviation parking, satisfied with another great leg.

TJBQ-TJSJ

Punta Cana International-Rafael Hernández

After a relaxing break in Punta Cana, it was time to head east to Puerto Rico. I was anticipating being able to fly straight across the Mona Passage on runway heading, but it turned out Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN/TJBQ) was a bit further south. I banked a bit south, but that ended up not being enough. About 20 miles out from runway 8 (I had selected the runway for a straight-in approach-strangely this commercial airport is uncontrolled in FSX) I entered a pseudo-base leg. I lined up for the final approach just north of Isla Desecheo, an uninhabited Island to the west of Puerto Rico. I flew a decent approach and taxied through the uninhabited airport to a parking stand by the terminal. I need to turn my AI up.

MDPC-TJBQ

Las Américas International-Punta Cana International

After the debacle that was my previous leg, I needed a vacation. No better place to do so than beautiful Punta Cana. After pushing back, I taxied out to runway 35 at Las Américas International(SDQ/MDSD) in Santo Domingo behind a World Travel 737. After holding while the comparitively huge 737 took off, I taxied out and took off from runway 35. The climb and level out went smoothly. I turned to a heading of around 095 to head towards Punta Cana. The rest of the flight went smoothly. After about 35 minutes cruising at 2500 feet, I began the straight-in approach to runway 9. The approach went well, and was definately my best so far. If only I could flare well.

MDSD-MDPC

JAGS McCartney International-Las Américas International

My next leg ended up being a lot more hassle than I bargained for. I ended up flying the leg three times. The first two resulted in fatal erros, and then I had to download new drivers for my video card. After that (which entailed an hour on the phone with tech support), I flew the leg for a third time. Fortunately, this one proved to be successful. After taking off from runway 29 at JAGS McCartney International (GDT/MBGT) on Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos. After reaching 500 feet AGL I banked left to heading 154 and continued my climb to 2000 feet. I leveled off and cruised relatively fast at 117 KIAS for the hour and a half flight to Las Américas International (SDQ/MDSD) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I began my descent as the sun finished setting, and I flew the straight in approach pretty well. I taxied to my parking stand and shut down the engine, glad to be done with the leg after it took so much to complete.

MBGT-MDSD

Pine Cay-JAGS McCartney International

Sorry it's been awhile. Exams have been taking up most of my time recently. However, thanks to my not being able to sleep one morning, I was able to fly my first sunrise leg (I fly my legs at the actual time, so sunrises don't happen often). I took off from runway 29 at Pine Cay (PIC/MBPI) and (after stalling on takeoff in the process of getting a screenshot), I followed the pattern to head east. I continued over North, Middle, and East Caicos. After about 45 minutes I entered the pattern for runway 29 (coincidence?) at JAGS McCartney International (GDT/MBGT). The pattern went well, and I landed on my first approach, although it did take some adjusting to get lined up. Another beautiful Carribean leg.

MBPI-MBGT

Salt Cay-Pine Cay

Next, I headed west across Turks and Caicos. After taking off from Salt Cay (SLX/MBSY), I climbed to around 2400 feet. The flight was short and before I knew it, it was time to descend into Pine Cay (PIC/MBPI). I flew the pattern decently, but missed the turn for final (again) and made a go around. I flew the second approach much better, and landed on the coral (yes, coral) runway. They have those?

MBSY-MBPI

Constanza-Salt Cay

My next flight took me north to the beautiful Turks Islands. After taking off from Constanza (COZ/MDCZ), I headed north and climbed to 6000 feet (2000 feet AGL). The air was a little rough over the mountains, which made leveling off tricky. After I passed the mountains and was over the coast, the air got smoother. Clouds were broken at 6000 feet, and I flew through several. According to the logbook, I spent more time in IMC than in non-IMC. I descended into the Turks Islands rather rapidly, and entered the downwind leg for runway 25 at Salt Cay (SLX/MBSY). The pattern went well, until I missed the turn for final. As a result, I made a go around, and landed successfully. Hopefully the next leg goes better.

MDCZ-MBSY