Codrington-VC Bird International

Now that I've gotten comfortable with VFR flight in the Cessna, I thought it was a good time to start to doing simulated IFR flights. I used the FSX flight planner to plan an IFR flight from Codrington (BBQ/TAPH) on Barbuda to VC Bird International (ANU/TAPA) on Antigua, the other Island in the federation. I would take off from Codrington and climb to 2500 feet. I would intercept the 189 course to the VC Bird VOR (ANU). From there I would fly the VOR approach to rwy 7. This had me fly outbound on the 262 radial , to a procedure turn to the right (still at 2500 feet), then track back in on the 082 course. The initial line-up with the VOR didn't go so great, but eventually I got it. ATC then asked me to climb to 4000 feet. I continued along until I was about 10 nm out, when ATC asked me to do an expedited descent to 2500 feet. I continued at 2500 feet and before long I was over ANU. I turned to the 262 radial (again with some difficulty) and tracked outbound for aboug 7 nm. I turned right to heading 307, flew that course for a minute, turned back to heading 127 to interecept the 082 course. The final line-up went great. The approach went great as well, and I made a beautiful landing on runway 7. Not bad for the first time.

Vance Armory International-Codrington

My next leg took me east for one of the longest flights since Puerto Rico. After taking off from runway 10 at Vance Armorty International (NEV/TKPN) on Nevis, I turned to heading 070. This would put me just south of Codrington Airport (BBQ/TAPH) on Barbuda. After about 25 minutes I was closing in on the island, and entered right base for runway 10. The approach went ok considering the airport was unlit. Which means it was an all out nose dive to get down. At least my flare was good.

TKPN-TAPH

Robert Bradshaw International-Vance W. Armory International

My next leg took me straight from one traffic pattern to another. After taking off from runway 7 at Bradshaw International (SKB/TKPK) on St. Kitts, I climbed to 750 feet and tuned the tower at Armory International (NEV/TKPN) on Nevis, the other Island of the island Federation. I immediately asked for landing clearance, and was told to enter left base for runway 10. I did so, and continued on that heading (190) for about 10 minutes, by which point it was time to turn onto final approach. The approach went beautifully, and I landed right in between the 1 and the 0 on the threshold. And with a full moon out as well.

TKPK-TKPN

F.D. Roosevelt-Robert Bradshaw International

My next leg took me east to the Island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis. After taking off from runway 6 at F.D. Roosevelt airport (EUX/TNCE) on St. Eusatius, AKA Statia, I turned right to heading 175. This led me along the south side of St. Kitts and would set me up for the base leg for runway 7 at Robert Bradshaw International Airport (SKB/TKPK). Before long I was on final for runway 7. I made a decent approach, landed, and parked my aircraft at GA parking, glad to be at an airport that had it.

TNCE-TKPK

Juancho E. Yrausquin-F.D. Roosevelt

This leg started with a bit of a hiccup. After selecting to start on the active runway a Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB/TNCS) on Saba, the game loaded, only for me to find myself parked on the terrain next to the runway. I wasn't surprised after encountering problems with ATC at the airport on the way in. I taxied back onto runway 30 (which proved to be an interesting trek) and took off. I climbed to around 900 feet and turned to heading 150, which would lead to the base leg for runway 6 at F.D. Roosevelt Airport (EUX/TNCE) on St. Eustatius, better known as Statia. I flew at about 90 knots since it was a short leg. The line up was iffy, but the glide went great and made a smooth landing at TNCE. There were no parking spaces there, but perhaps after TNCS maybe its not such a bad thing.

TNCS-TNCE

St. Barthelemy Island-Juancho E. Yrausquin

Next I headed east to Saba, home of Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport (SAB/TNCS/SABA), which in turn is home to the world's shortest commercial runway at 1300 feet. Fortunately I was in my C172, so I shouldn't have had any problems. Or so I thought. I took off from runway 10 at St. Barth's (SBH/TFFJ) flying a full departure leg, than an extended right crosswind leg, than turning due west for Saba. After about 20 minutes in the air, it was time to start the pattern. I flew the pattern way too high and way too short. I put myself in a nosedive to land, but realizing (at about 50 feet AGL) that I'd never stop on the runway, I decided to make a go around. I actually made a proper go around, climbing to 800 feet and flying the pattern, as opposed to my usual loop around at 300 feet. I flew a wide pattern, but do to terrain on the approach path for runway 12, my next approach needed to be vacated as well. Realizing that the approach to runway 12 (which in real life would be against the winds-hence I decided to use it her) wasn't going to work out, I climbed and looped around to make and approach to runway 30. This one was pretty low, and at the last minute I had to swerve around a tree that was right in front of the threshold. I managed to stop with a little bit of runway left. At least it isn't Balcony Downs.

TFFJ-TNCS

Princess Juliana International-St. Barthelemy Island

Once again, after a long break, it feels good to be back in the air. After a long layover in St. Maarten (SXM/TNCM), I taxied back out to runway 9 behind a Boeing 737 (coming a bit too close for comfort at times). After waiting for it to take off, I took off from runway 9, climbing to 1200 feet and turning to heading 135 for the short flight over to St. Barth's (SBH/TNCM). I entered the base leg for runway 10. The approach went quick and smoothly, and after stopping near the end of the runway and back taxied to GA parking. It is good to be back indeed.

TNCM-TFFJ