AVIATEUR EXPRESS # 823 - May 13, 2020 

IN THIS NUMBER:

  • Simon Contant opens the North  this summer 
  • Post-lockdown: a few questions to ask yourselves
  • WIndy, a superb application to better understand the weather
  • You got it in your bag of chances.
  • Your virtual library (new publications dated March 26, 2020).
  • 2020 photo competition.

Simon Contant opens the North  this summer

Following the end of Air Saguenay's activities, access to northern Quebec was compromised for airmen. We have just learned that Mr. Simon Contant has made an agreement to operate some of the bases formerly operated by Air Saguenay, thereby offering the possibility of exploring northern Quebec.

These are the bases of: Havre St-Pierre (CTE3), Natashquan-Lac de l'Avion (CSY8), Manic5-Lac Louise (CSH8) and the Mirage outfitter (CPM3). Two other bases should follow in the summer, that of Caniapiscau-Lac Pau (CCP6) and Wabush (CCX5). There is a possibility that the Sept-Îles hydrobase may also be added.

Mr. Contant, pilot and young dynamic entrepreneur will offer, through his company Air Tunilik (airtunilik.com) , access to northern Quebec with his 5 Beaver and 2 Otter. It is a point of honor to mention that Air Tunilik, which has been in operation since 2002, has no incidents in its file and focuses on safety first. "If we arrive the next day for security, it will be the next day, but we will not compromise on security."

It is obvious that in COVID times, many outfitters have had cancellations for the summer. However, Mr. Contant confirms to us that the bases will be operational to offer gasoline to the airmen, always according to the ministerial recommendations and according to a PPR formula at a minimal cost which will be used to defray the displacement of the personnel. A website will soon be available to aviators, but in the meantime you can contact Mr. Contant at the email address: info@airtunilik.com

This is excellent news for the Quebec aviator community, which will be able to take advantage of its wide open spaces after hard confinement!

Contribution by Sophie Dufresne and photos by Simon Contant

Post-lockdown: some questions to ask to ask yourselves

So there you go, I made the leap: I joined the family of Aviateurs Québec. And you gave me a really warm welcome, thank you. We need relief and I invite others to follow in my footsteps.

Born out of a desire to improve aviation safety after the too many events of summer 2019, I am keen to participate in training and exchange, to create a place where all aviation enthusiasts, whatever whatever their favorite toy, can meet, exchange and grow in this beautiful French-speaking community of aviaphiles in Quebec. To get there I need to contact you, dear members, that's why I was put in charge of taking care of you. I invite you to contact me with your ideas, questions and suggestions.

Today, I wanted to tell you about the aftermath. Post-containment. With this pandemic that has cloistered us and nailed us to the ground for weeks will inevitably come the moment of deconfinement. And as you have studied human factors, what happens after enormous stress? A relaxation. And this is the trap that must be avoided. Not only will the start of the season this year coincide with the deconfinement, but with a significant need for escape. In short, you have to get in the air ... and come back.

I suggest 5 questions to ask yourself:

  1. Am I up to date on my knowledge? Legally and personally.
  2. Am I up to date on my `` checks '' (5 poses-takeoffs in the last 6 months to have passengers!)
  3. Is my device ready after staying on the ground for so long? Pay special attention to the pre-flight inspection: especially in the spring period, you could find beautiful hidden nests!
  4. Are there any changes in my flight zones related to COVID? Check NOTAMs and provincial regulations, especially if you are traveling outside the province.
  5. As after a fast you have to go in small doses, it is the same for the flight: the reflexes are less sharp, mixed all that on the first flight after confinement can be a recipe for great fears.

Be careful, and have a good flight!

Sophie Dufresne, dufresnes@aviateurs.quebec

Photo : Québec Aéronature

Windy, a superb application to better understand the weather

Whether for the pure pleasure of exploring the weather around the world or inquiring about local weather conditions for the next few days, there are all kinds of applications that exist on the web. But there is one that stands out for aviators and it is Windy. This app is available on the web, Android and IOS ( www.windy.com ).

I must warn you before we go further in our discovery of Windy. No weather application can replace a weather briefing from your FIC. In the case of FIC Quebec, the number is 1-866-541-4105. So before taking off, a final check with these experts is essential.

Windy is a Czech company providing interactive weather forecasting services worldwide. The portal was founded by Ivo Lukačovič in November 2014. Currently, the weather forecasts are based on data from GFS (Global Forecast System models from the American National Weather Services agency, ECMWF (European Center for Medium-Range Weather) Forecast) and NEMS from the Swiss company Meteoblue [1] .

The Windy portal presents several weather parameters such as winds, pressure , direction and wind direction, relative humidity , cloud base and additional panels with more advanced data.

 

One of the most interesting features of Windy, at least for the pilot, is being able to obtain weather conditions such as temperature and winds at different altitudes.

It may also be interesting to compare the conditions reported by Windy to those published in the Nav Canada / Environment Canada GFAs. Windy's information can thus help better decipher GFAs.

In addition to the physical airport data and applicable NOTAMs, Windy also provides METAR and TAF information when available

To better appreciate all of Windy's capabilities, the best approach is to experiment. So go for a spin on windy.com but don't forget that a weather briefing from your friendly FIC specialist and the filing of your flight plan are essential before taking off.

Image: windy.com website

You got it in your bag of chances?

Here is the experience that Denys Cloutier kindly shared with us:

It is Saturday September 5, 2015.

It takes a radiant weather, and a heat worthy of the most beautiful summer days.

I decide to go to the Casey RVA, 184 NM from the Charlevoix CYML airport.

In preparation for the flight, I add 50 liters of mogas. My tank can hold 100 liters and displays 45%. So I have 90 @ 95 liters, for an outward flight of 1h50.

The flight is going well. In Casey, there are almost a hundred devices.

Nice friendly meetings.

At 1 p.m., I prepare for the return. The gang of aviators from Charlevoix meet every year at the private track in Clermont, corn on the menu and hot dog on the menu. Meet at 5 p.m.

My fuel level indicator shows 50%, which corresponds to a consumption on the outward journey of + - 40 liters, which is normal, considering that at the start, the time to warm up the engine, waiting to let go one aircraft and let another land have consumed fuel.

So I take off for a return to La Malbaie.

I fly over the Hautes-Gorges of the Malbaie river, when I see the fuel level needle go down at an abnormal rate. I start to worry and maybe suspect a gas leak to justify this behavior.

I am at 4,500 ft. I still have 15 NM to reach the runway. At 5NM I announce myself on Unicom, which confirms that there is no traffic announced. I announce that I am starting a slow descent to arrive directly in the final. I am 3500 ft, 2 Nm from the runway. I have just gone over the vertical of route 138, when the engine stops. Immediately I turn on the electric pump. The engine restarts, but stops again after a few seconds. Of fuel.

I am too low to reach the track (altitude 970ft), especially since there are high voltage Hydro lines not far ahead.

All around is the forest. My only option is route 138.

I take a 180 ”turn to join the road behind me.

I monitor my angle of descent and my speed so as not to put myself in a stall situation.

It's Labor Day Saturday. Traffic is important.

Fortunately at this point of the 138, the 3-lane divided road. There is spacing between 2 groups of automobiles. I fly over the first group, one eye on my speed, pass about 2 ft above the lead car, put 15 degrees of flaps, and touch gently.

But here I am on the downhill part of the road, and there is a pickup in the left lane. He's stopped, but I'm unable to brake enough, and I'm afraid of hitting him with my left wing. I hit the left hand pedals and hit the street chain. The right gear gave way under impact, the plane swiveled and the left wing hit a small roadside fir tree. The plane stops. I am not injured, I injured no one and did not harm others.

Immobilized traffic, police, ambulances, fire engines, dozens of spectators with their cell phones in video mode. I'm a little ashamed.

My cell phone rings: it is Trenton who calls following the triggering of my ELT 406. Then it is the TSB's turn to inquire about my version, ask a police officer for his version, ask for a photo of the damage before authorizing moving the plane.

I have significant damage, but the plane is recoverable. The carbon fiber cell is broken in three places. The left wing has a notch at the leading edge. The carbon fiber main gear is also scrap.

Aviation R. Goulet de Bromont is responsible for repairs.

The aircraft was returned to flight in July 2017.

The tank still empty, I decided to check the accuracy of my fuel indicator. I make a mark every 20 liters, to realize that at 50%, there is only 37 liters of gasoline, and not 50.

That's why I ran out of fuel.

The probe has since been removed and recalibrated, but the suspicion is still there, and I add gas after each flight, and refill the cap for a traveling flight. My gas tank is behind the seats, and it is impossible to check with a wand.

I realize today that I got a lot out of my lucky bag, and that probably my time had not come. This incident made me an ultra careful pilot.

I hope I have not emptied my bag, because no one is immune to an unexpected glitch.

Denys Cloutier, Sky Cruiser C-IHVW

We invite you to do like Florent Gagné and share with us this moment that you lived where you picked up your bag of chances? How did you end up in this situation? How did you do? What lessons have you learned?

Write to us about your experience via email securite@aviateurs.quebec .

Photo : Facebook page Denys Cloutier

Your virtual library

Updated March 26, 2020 - New publications of the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and the Nav Canada Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

Here are links that will take you to the latest editions of some publications.

Click on the title of the publication to view and download it:

2020 photo competition

Congratulations to Jacques Dorion for the winning photo of March!

Jacques wins one of the following awards: cap or polo shirt.

The 2020 competition continues!

Now is the time to vote for the April round, the third round of the 2020 contest!

You have until 10 pm Monday, May 18, 2020 to vote by clicking on the photo (or photos) of your choice. To vote, click on the photo (or photos) of your choice by going HERE

It's time to submit a photo or two for May. Send your photos to photos@aviateurs.quebec before May 31 at 10 pm

We are currently accepting photos (related to aviation, read the rules) for the April round.

The full contest rules can be viewed HERE

Do you know our FACEBOOK page?

Our Facebook page is intended to be informative on general aviation subjects and in particular on what could be of interest to our members and those who are waiting to become one.

It is also the place where Jean-Pierre Bonin, our loyal collaborator, deposits the photos submitted as part of the Photo Contest.

We invite you to come and visit it and why not register for it.

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