Thursday, April 03, 2008
Dark Duck
Position: South of the US/Mexican border
Destination: MMMX (Mexico City)
Destination: MMMX (Mexico City)
My little rubber pilot ducky is on-duty as we wing toward MMMX. When I first laid eyes on Mexico City, as a 737-100 co-pilot, it was the largest city in the world. I am not sure if that is true now, but, regardless, it is a huge city. In fact, you have to see it to believe it. The terrain surrounding MMMX is formidable, in other words, high and dangerous. The airport elevation is 7,300 feet and on a good day the surface visibility is 5 miles with smog. The approaches into MMMX require that the aircraft be configured and on speed (gear down/flaps down/<170 mph) well before the runway's outer marker, which is why I usually fly all the approaches into MMMX. It has been my experience that half of the co-pilots I fly with do not grasp the importance of this concept going into MMMX, even though I brief it beforehand. It is easier for me to be the flying pilot; no hurt feelings that way.
Five years ago, one of my captain buds had a hair greying experience on this very flight. They flew down to Mexico City and discovered that the field was flooded due to heavy tropical rains, so they diverted to their alternate of Puerto Vallarta. When they arrived at PVR, they discovered that airport was also closed because of tropical storms. There was no communication with the PVR company station or PVR ATC, so they were essentially clueless. Because of the storm, the crew was unable to raise Mother on the separate company comm system. The captain decided to divert to Acapulco, instead of wasting fuel over PVR hoping things would improve. The co-pilot was able to relay a message through a Mexican airliner via Matzalan center to Albuquerque center... "Call Mother and tell her we are heading for Acapulco." When they arrived at Acapulco, they were able to land in marginal VFR conditions with 30 minutes of fuel remaining. The captain had no weather for Acapulco; only a gut feeling from the MMMX weather package beforehand. This was a fairly impressive display of airmanship.
Tonight, though, it is dry as a bone in MMMX. Should be a routine Mexico City arrival...
Life on the Line continues...
Comments:
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Dave, thanks for the great blog and this story. Just curious, is there any technology today that would save you if you found yourself in a similar situation to what your captain bud experienced 5 years ago? Some kind of satellite phone or equivalent? Or are you guys just out of luck when another country's infrastructure fails, and you have to fall back on superior problem solving skills?
Marty
Marty
# posted by 
: 10:07 PM, April 03, 2008
: 10:07 PM, April 03, 2008
I flew out of MMMX 2 years ago in a 737 on a hot afternoon. We took off in high/hot conditions and there was about 10 feet of runway left when he rotated. We were all looking at each other like, "wow, we should be airborne by now!" Longest and scariest takeoff roll ever, I thought we'd never get in the air.
# posted by : 5:13 AM, April 04, 2008
: 5:13 AM, April 04, 2008
Great blog Dave, however wouldn't it be a good idea if you have the same co-pilot a 2nd time to let them fly the landing so that when they are captains they have had the experience?
# posted by : 7:09 AM, April 04, 2008
: 7:09 AM, April 04, 2008
marty- my airline had then and has now (excuse this term... I hate it)"state of the art" comm technology. Yeah, basically it failed because of the country's infrastructure being underwater. It has been my experience that when you desperately need to talk to Mother, you will be on hold...
anonymous 709- yep, that's correct. The airline requires that co-pilots fly every other leg, unless the captain thinks it should be otherwise. There are a few airports that do not have any wiggle room for mistakes, MMMX being one of them, so if I am not sure that the co-pilot can do it right the first time, I will fly that leg. It's just easier that way. Having said that, I fly with a lot of the same guys/girls over and over. Most of this group can fly as well or better than I, because they are younger and quicker. It is the co-pilots I don't know or have never flown with that worry me on these special airports.
anonymous 709- yep, that's correct. The airline requires that co-pilots fly every other leg, unless the captain thinks it should be otherwise. There are a few airports that do not have any wiggle room for mistakes, MMMX being one of them, so if I am not sure that the co-pilot can do it right the first time, I will fly that leg. It's just easier that way. Having said that, I fly with a lot of the same guys/girls over and over. Most of this group can fly as well or better than I, because they are younger and quicker. It is the co-pilots I don't know or have never flown with that worry me on these special airports.
Another great post Dave! I am currently aircrew in the USAF and considering my options after my commitment is up, your blog is something I always turn to to get a feel for what life could be like should I choose your path. I'm looking at nearly 1000hours in the past 365days (almost unheard of in the AF) and loving every second, how many hours do you guys fly per year on average?
# posted by : 9:32 PM, April 04, 2008
: 9:32 PM, April 04, 2008
Thanks, Dave. Just FYI, wikipedia says Mexico City is 8th largest in the world, but the largest in North America.
As a retired fractional guy let me tell you...MMMX is a place you would rather not be. As a rule, the west coast of Mexico is usually a safe bet as an alternative.
What can I say? Glad the landing went well...hope you never have to face the go-arounds due to smog and/or other "stuff". But then again, I'm sure you have.
Great blog, Dave, keep it up.
What can I say? Glad the landing went well...hope you never have to face the go-arounds due to smog and/or other "stuff". But then again, I'm sure you have.
Great blog, Dave, keep it up.
Great write up - love your blog.
I flew into MEX a few years back on Mexicana. I remember cruising along, and it seemed we (not literally) dive bombed into the city.
A much more rapid decent due to the surrounding mountains? In any case we swung low around the city, and over the distinct skycrapers onto the hill.
A neat ride -
james http://www.futuregringo.com
I flew into MEX a few years back on Mexicana. I remember cruising along, and it seemed we (not literally) dive bombed into the city.
A much more rapid decent due to the surrounding mountains? In any case we swung low around the city, and over the distinct skycrapers onto the hill.
A neat ride -
james http://www.futuregringo.com
Wow, I am new to this site and what a find!
For you other aviation enthusiasts, this site from Halogen Guides has some great information about private jets: http://jets.halogenguides.com
For you other aviation enthusiasts, this site from Halogen Guides has some great information about private jets: http://jets.halogenguides.com
# posted by : 3:24 PM, April 10, 2008
: 3:24 PM, April 10, 2008
Dave,
What's your take on the ramifications of the AA situation? I'm not totally convinced it's safety related, but whatever it is it isn't good for the state of affairs in the airline business.
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What's your take on the ramifications of the AA situation? I'm not totally convinced it's safety related, but whatever it is it isn't good for the state of affairs in the airline business.
# posted by : 6:18 PM, April 10, 2008
: 6:18 PM, April 10, 2008 << Home
