WestWind Airlines

Just had a wonderful flight into KBOS from KORD via KCLE!  Glad to be in our hub in Boston.  Beautiful views of downtown from runways and taxiways.  Beautiful views of Atlantic ocean from the air. 

 

I plan on spending some time here in the beautiful city of Boston.  I will be taking on a couple of endeavors while stationed here.  The first is some Cargo Charters for C015 Fresh Maine Lobster.  For these flights I plan to use the L188 Electra from KBOS to KAUG and back.  I may take on the KBOS to KMDW portion of the C015 charter in the B722 but I will wait until the guys get some stuff ironed out and I get my Saitek Pro Flight Yoke and rudder.

I also plan to fly passenger routes into and out of Nantucket Island for WWA I will include Martha's vineyards into that mix and may make trips from those two up to the New York area as well.  I will be living out my dream to fly for Joe Hackett from the TV show Wings!  

 

I have really enjoyed my time flying from KDFW but I really look forward to flying out of KBOS for awhile!  I will also maintain my B738 flying at least once every two weeks or so to keep the skills sharp! 

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Had a beautiful flight out to Nantucket Island yesterday morning!  Sunny day with a great view of the coastline.  Dash8-300 is a real flyer.  Very easy to control and super easy to land! 

 

Left Nantucket this morning at 1228 zulu.  Lots of clouds overcast at about 6000'.  Flew to KBOS at 8000' skimming the clouds.  I hate that FSX ATC won't let me fly the route I filed and placed me on vectors 15 minutes out of KACK!  Was assigned ILS RWY 33L for KBOS.  Dialed in the freq. 110.70 on my Nav1 and set course needle to 330 deg.  For some odd reason Autopilot was backcoursing that vector on the VOR without the BC switch on.  In fact I couldn't even get the ILS indicators on the PFD to give me glideslope or course indications that were correct.  Ended up circling 20nm on the approach leg until I figured out the problem.  I let AP line the runway approach up with GPS then at 10nm outside of RWY 33L, then I landed VFR on 33L.  Have to figure out what was wrong with that runway frequency or whatever.  Again Dash8-300 was a great flyer.  And super easy to land even with VOR trouble.

 

Next flight should be L188 to KAUG augusta ME for my cargo charter.  I will probably deadhead to KAUG first.

 

What are your guys thoughts on the Cessna 208B as a cargo plane for the fresh maine lobster charter?  Will it have enough capacity? 

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

The C015 charter says several flights by smalled aircraft, and list the DC-3 and L100 as examples.  The 208B is a smaller aircraft, and it would definitely takes several flight to get it near the cargo limits of the 727.  Go for it with the 208B.  Let us know how many flights it took to get to the 57k pounds the 727 can carry. 

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Tony Yonek
WWA 1996
Command Captain
KDFW HM

Flew the first leg to KAUG this morning.  Nice flight in the Cessna 208B.  Not sure how many lobsters I'm gonna be able to carry in this thing!  Easy flyer and real nice landing.  Flew this leg deadhead but I've been working on some leads for cargo flights into KAUG from KBOS.  I may be carrying lobster traps on my next trip over...if not I'm very certain I can carry ropes that will be needed here in Augusta.  Good to be in Augusta this morning.  We'll see how much weight the chowder heads can load up on this bird for my return trip to Boston.

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

On Friday I was able to return from KAUG with a load of lobsters in the Caravan.  I was only able to get 3000# of cargo onboard as I was not sure what my exact fuel would be and hesitated to drop below 50% in each tank.  I think I can pinch about another 15% from the tanks for more cargo.  Still all in all it would take me forever to haul lobsters in the Caravan.  What with the weight of water in the tanks I bet my live load was not above 50% of the total weight if that at all!  I believe I will be using the L188 Electra on my next flight.  I really don't have a cargo load lined up for a plane that big to go into KAUG as I was planning my load of fishing supplies based on the Caravan.  But it's better than nothing I guess.  Didn't get much of a chance to fly this weekend! :(  I was hoping to get a few flights in to Nantucket, and maybe a Narrow body route out of KBOS but that didn't happen.  We will see what this week holds for me.  Real busy this morning so I couldn't get over to KAUG in the electra but I might be able to tonight!

 Caravan flies real well and landing was super easy.  Very nice stable plane to fly.  I think my overall landings have been much better since I've had left seat time in the B738.  I'm landing the smaller aircraft much better since I've been flying the 737!

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Real good flight into KAUG.  Quick and easy.  Sorry FSX ATC didn't even let me fly my route at all!  They just gave me a vector of 050 from KBOS and vectored me in from 47nm out of KAUG.  The landing was interesting.  The localizer and GS are tough to read on the L188 and no DME info for RWY 17.  Came in high and fast but did a real nice job of landing and didn't take much strip!  My landings really are getting much better.

It will be interesting to see what a take off is like with a full load of lobsters!

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Managed a good takeoff with 30K+ lbs of lobster onboard.  Just cleared the end of RWY 35.  You need all of that runway but it's a safe takeoff.  Real easy flight at FL180 all the way.  Assigned RWY 33L in KBOS...ILS still not functioning correctly.  Made pilot error by trying to land it anyway in the dark.  No GS was available and the localizer is reversed with correct course set.  Came in too fast and too high.  With the weight of cargo I wasn't able to compensate fast enough and the flare up didn't do much.  Main gear right and left collapsed on impact with the runway and the plane slide on it's belly luckily I'd manage to get airspeed just less than 120kts IAS.  Underbelly was torn up but the cargo only had minor damage.  The lobster tanks cracked and were leaking but the superb WWA ground crew managed to salvage >90% of the cargo.  My name is mud now though with the Cargo division.  Not too happy with the state of the L188.  Extensive damage to all undercarriage.  3 of the Props will have to be scrapped and the 4 engines are in horrible shape and will need to be rebuilt.  Luckily no fire.  Crew took some minor impact damage and was sent to the hospital for monitoring!

 

Sorry guys I put a huge dent in a nice Electra.  Wolf was right when that thing drops it drops like a rock.  I'm gonna stop accepting landing on RWY 33L until the ILS gear is replaced?

Was planning on transfering the L188 electra to Memphis via KCVG with supplies for the FEMA relief effort.  Unfortunately that Electra isn't flying anywhere for awhile.  We shall see if KBOS staff can wrangle me up a new L188 for the FEMA effort or I may just be assigned a passenger craft to aid in the evacuation effort from New Orleans.

 

P.S.:  Can anyone explain the trouble I've been having with RWY 33L localizer lately?

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Flew FEMA cargo charter relief flight from KBOS to KMEM.  Left with 93% fuel and ended with 45% or so fuel.  I say ended cause I crashed short on approach to ILS RWY9 KMEM.  Finally used Ctrl+Q to raise my seat but I was disoriented and dropped like a rock hit the fence leading to the threshold.  I'm gonna have to practice with a full cargo hold in this L188.  This is the second time in 2 attempts I've slammed it into the ground.  Hopefully the Memphis ground crew can salvage some of the 30,530#'s of relief supplies onboard. 

Well I'm in KMEM and awaiting instructions for where to fly for relief aid cargo.  Although Cargo ops may have me grounded?!  I'm here and ready to fly to the gulf coast with supplies!

 

Man what a rough landing that was!

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

You should skip Relief flights and fly straight to Denver for training in the L188.  2 crashes in 2 flights is not good!!!

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Phil Cohen WWA1573
Sr. Command Captain
EVP - Charter Operations
VP - Hub Ops - Europe & Pacific

As per instructions I am leaving Memphis at 2038z on a jumper flight to Denver for training in the L188.  We'll see how that goes but I should be training tomorrow.  Hopefully I can get comfortable with the L188 with a load so that I can help with the next tropical storm in the Atlantic.  Thought it was best to take a jumper flight to Denver rather than fly out there myself.  I'll return to Memphis when I have checked out okay.

 

Edit:  I may wait until Thursday to begin my training, as that is when my Saitek Yoke/throttles/rudder show up from UPS!!!  Sorry about the loss of confidence guys!  I was doing fine in the L188 until I loaded it to the gills?!

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Jose,

It is not a loss of confidence in you, it is the loss of 2 aircraft.  I took the L188 out for a spin at TJSJ last night in the wake of Hanna crossing what a wild ride that was.  Make sure you are at the correct speeds for your Glideslope descent or you could stall out!!!

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Phil Cohen WWA1573
Sr. Command Captain
EVP - Charter Operations
VP - Hub Ops - Europe & Pacific

Zaroj:

Flew FEMA cargo charter relief flight from KBOS to KMEM.  Left with 93% fuel and ended with 45% or so fuel.  I say ended cause I crashed short on approach to ILS RWY9 KMEM.  Finally used Ctrl+Q to raise my seat but I was disoriented and dropped like a rock hit the fence leading to the threshold.  I'm gonna have to practice with a full cargo hold in this L188.  This is the second time in 2 attempts I've slammed it into the ground.  Hopefully the Memphis ground crew can salvage some of the 30,530#'s of relief supplies onboard. 

Well I'm in KMEM and awaiting instructions for where to fly for relief aid cargo.  Although Cargo ops may have me grounded?!  I'm here and ready to fly to the gulf coast with supplies!

 

Man what a rough landing that was!

45% fuel seems like a lot. Some of these aircraft are real sensitive to the landing weight. I know the Connie will crash every time if you are over weight on landing.

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WWA1702 Senior Command Captain +3
RWP SEL Instrument Rating (almost)
WW Test Pilot
Monster Driver

Thanks guys again.  Not worried about it...and you are correct about me needing to get a few training landings loaded up in KDEN.  I didn't trust the fact that the L188 is supposed to have 2200 mile range and loaded up the fuel.  I think Mike may have something there as in the previous flight I left KAUG with 60% and I think I had too much fuel in that case too.  Do you guys know where to get the fuel loading stats for our planes?  I have the one for the EMB-120 from its POH.

 I can't wait for my yoke and rudders to show up.  I think it's gonna make a huge improvement in my flying!

When departing KBOS I got up to altitude and had 59kt cross winds and that was a fun ride too.  I didn't know what the heck was going on at first I thought the AP had given out.  But she rode that storm out.  I think a majority of my problem is my weight on landing and my GS speed.  A few rounds of touch and goes and I think I'll fly to Springs for a short duration flight and landing and then turn around and head back for a repeat!

Phil thanks for the advice before I lost my confidence!

 

Jose

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV

Well I got in the Saitek Pro Flight set yesterday afternoon.  Got it installed this afternoon.  I tested it in KDEN on the L188.  It's tough getting used to steering on the ground with your feet...LOL.  I did a few touch n goes RWY 26 and did a good job.  I like the feel of the yoke on my approach.  I feel like I have more control over the plane than with the joystick!  I also love the control of having the throttles!  I'm still having trouble getting used to the rudder pedals.  I get confused and get my feet backwards of what I want to do!  I think I'm gonna take a 172 up and give it a few touch and goes and maybe a short hop to centennial.  I can't wait to try this out on a jet with the VC!  Feeling much better about the L188 after using this setup.  I'm still gonna stick to the plan of flying a couple of rounds of touch and goes then a quick flight to and from Colorado Springs.

Super excited!

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Jose Lopez
AHM - KDFW
WWA2149 CAT IV