Sunday, March 09, 2008
Solar Winds
Position: 75 west of GAV radio beacon
Destination: PANC (Anchorage)
Altitude: 38,000 feet
Fifty miles behind our six, my dispatcher sent an email advising that I take a look at the ozone charts for this time of the year. Seasonal winds bring higher concentrations of ozone from the North Pole to latitudes and altitudes that could affect air carrier ops in this area. Sure enough, my chart suggests we should be no higher than 35,000 feet for a flight that exceeds four hours. That would be us... So, down we go to 34,000. The loss of 4,000 feet decreases fuel on board at PANC, but not by a significant amount. The winds are actually lighter down here...
Overhead, though, the solar winds are blowing hard enough to cause a spectacular aurora borealis display. In fact, it may be the best I have ever seen... Ever. The heavenly veil is moving as if the solar winds are whipping a gossamer like sheet of light. It is, in fact, indescribable. The cockpit is dark as we slide underneath this alien light. My geezer glasses are low on my nose; the wing tip strobes are reflecting off the inner surfaces. Words cannot describe the sight; the co-pilot and I remain mostly silent.
How does it get any better than this very moment? This is the leading edge of a time continuum riding the leading edge of a swept wing cutting through the night sky at eight miles per minute, or something like that.
Life on the Line continues...
Comments:
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How or why exactly do elevated ozone levels affect flight operations?
# posted by 
: 9:43 PM, March 11, 2008
: 9:43 PM, March 11, 2008
You didn't need to be up there in the upper reaches of the world to see the Northern Lights on that Sunday. I had quite the number of pilots check in over upstate NY with "damn, center, you should see the northern lights up here!". Under the overcast in Nashua, I was quite envious. Oh yeah, we don't have any windows anyways :)
DM - ZBW
DM - ZBW
I would have loved to have seen it. This evening I went down to KSMO to take my little plane (DA40) up for a few turns in the pattern to keep my night currency. It was a clear enough night that the carpet of lights that is the LA Basin seemed to stretch forever even just from 1,400MSL. I would bank and just marvel at being able to be up there, seeing so many people below going about their night, heading home for a dinner or a look at the television.
It's great to be in the sky. Glad you are still enjoying it.
It's great to be in the sky. Glad you are still enjoying it.
Hi Dave, I am far from your experiance as a pilot. I was wondering if the chart you were referring to has to do with radiation levels due to a thinner atmosphere up north versus a thicker atmosphere towards the equator? My memory recalls the picture of this in my private pilot book. Any insight is great. Thanks Dave. Blake.
# posted by : 1:22 AM, March 12, 2008
: 1:22 AM, March 12, 2008
A couple of things I wanna see before I climb Jacob's ladder...one is the display of northern lights, and your photos and descriptions make the yearning worse. And, I want to see the starry sky the way I remember it from my youth in the early 1950's, and see the massive carpet of white lights unspoiled by big city challengers.
Hey Dave --
Great stuff, as always, thanks for writing, and for sharing your love of flying with all of us.
On a different note -- as an AB jockey, I'd be curious for your comments on the crosswind 320 approach in Hamburg that's making the rounds on the web:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bzWnoT0c30
Cheers and keep it up!
Great stuff, as always, thanks for writing, and for sharing your love of flying with all of us.
On a different note -- as an AB jockey, I'd be curious for your comments on the crosswind 320 approach in Hamburg that's making the rounds on the web:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bzWnoT0c30
Cheers and keep it up!
# posted by : 8:01 PM, March 12, 2008
: 8:01 PM, March 12, 2008
anonymous 943- elevated ozone levels can make the crew sick, i.e., headaches and respiratory problems.
anonymous 801- my comments on that landing: Thank gooodness it wasn't me. This is a perfect example of the Catch-22 scenario that crews face on a regular basis. The airline expects you to operate at the limits of the aircraft. They paid for that aircraft and they want their $ worth...
anonymous 801- my comments on that landing: Thank gooodness it wasn't me. This is a perfect example of the Catch-22 scenario that crews face on a regular basis. The airline expects you to operate at the limits of the aircraft. They paid for that aircraft and they want their $ worth...
Lucky you actually get those charts. We have a limitation about ozone concentration on the RJ, but I've never even seen a chart for it. During my upgrade oral the POI asked about it and he didn't even know where the charts for that were.
you wouldn't happen to be the "Captain America" flying from phoenix to las vegas on the short flight friday night (march 14th) would you?????
Oh maaaan! Now how am I going to post my northern lights photos after those? Incredible. I'll just say mine aren't as good because I was standing out in -30C weather to take them.
Fantastic views of the Northern Lights. I have yet to travel far enough North to see them that clearly. Every time I've visited Edmonton or Calgary, they've just been very faint in the Northern skies.
Another thing I'd love to have images or video of is St. Elmo's Fire (aircraft static discharges). I never seem to have a camera with me when we're flying through snowstorms that are dry enough to cause the phenomenon to occur.
Another thing I'd love to have images or video of is St. Elmo's Fire (aircraft static discharges). I never seem to have a camera with me when we're flying through snowstorms that are dry enough to cause the phenomenon to occur.
Northern Lights?
These are the Northern Lights:
http://www.fotocommunity.it/pc/pc/mypics/417992/display/1132391496
:)
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These are the Northern Lights:
http://www.fotocommunity.it/pc/pc/mypics/417992/display/1132391496
:)
# posted by : 12:51 AM, March 28, 2008
: 12:51 AM, March 28, 2008 << Home
