South America Trip

[zab1001]

Flew a P-3ACH to the tip of South America last week. About as cold as I've been in a long time (sice Misawa, maybe). Went to Punta Arrenas and Puerto Williams, two small navy towns. Not a lot there, but beautiful scenery. Here's some shots of the Andes, Tierra del Fuego, and the general area.

Plus a PBY that just happened to be on the ramp when I got back home.

 

[A4sForever]

Great shots ... who/what/where is/was that PBY ??? Chilean Navy Air ?? I am a member of the local PBY Assn. and they are seriously looking for a flyable example. Probably too much to hope for --- but whoever is flying it is gonna get rid of it sometime .....

Have you been to Buenos Aires? Rio? Any plans ...??

 

[zab1001]

The told me they were "bomberos", firefighers.

If the Chilean Navy actually flew those I'd be kissing a$s left and right to get into one. I'm settling for my 1962 classic.

I know, it blew my mind as well, seeing one that actual flies. I walked around it a little, the waist bubbles were removed completely. Still, very cool.

Argentina? Eventually, maybe August for vacation. Trying to fly my 19 yr old brother down so i can booze with him and show him the big bad world. Professionally, my next big "trip" is to scenic Willow Grove for annual simulator runs. Hey, free ticket to my home state, can't complain.

 

[A4sForever]

The told me they were "bomberos", firefighers.

I know, it blew my mind as well, seeing one that actual flies. I walked around it a little, the waist bubbles were removed completely. Still, very cool.

If you can get the name of the company that flies it, please let me know ..... we'll contact them directly.

 

[zab1001]

I'll go to base ops and the tower on Friday and ask 'em.

Plus, the guys/gals in the tower can finally meet the clown that tries to speak espanol on the radios.

 

[A4sForever]

I'll go to base ops and the tower on Friday and ask 'em.

Plus, the guys/gals in the tower can finally meet the clown that tries to speak espanol on the radios.

Great, thanks ... and maybe YOU can meet the clowns who try to speeeeeek-a de Ingles ??? Or do they do it all in Espanol? When I flew in SA with B.ig I.diot --- all the towers/controllers spoke "passable" English.

 

[DanMa1156]

Great shots.

 

[zab1001]

Great, thanks ... and maybe YOU can meet the clowns who try to speeeeeek-a de Ingles ??? Or do they do it all in Espanol? When I flew in SA with B.ig I.diot --- all the towers/controllers spoke "passable" English.

If you check in "en ingles", they respond to you in english. However all military and light civilian traffic use spanish 90% of the time. Pretty scary, if you consider how busy Santiago International is with the big boys coming in, using english, and controllers using both languages.

Part of general SA (IMHO) is listening to the calls other guys get and being able to build your own mental picture and possibly anticipate what could happen next. Switching languages back and forth leads to confusion and error. Already I've heard folks use left/right, izquierda/derecha and meaning the exact opposite. Add to that a general lack of radar control, full approaches (picture me on my first flight down here digging into the cranium to recall procedure turns and holding entries), and crazy terrain. I don't feel bad on days when I don't have much ground work to do, I know I've earned my paycheck on my last flight.

I spend a good 2-3 hours a day reviewing a gouge packet I had to make with commonly used communication terminology. 15 pages and adding daily. Funzo.

DanMav- thanks. I post this stuff to show the wannabees/gonnabees/about-tabees some of the possibilities.

 

[DanMa1156]

Zab, I hope you were being serious. I was, they are really awesome shots. I can't wait until I'm in your shoes, I'm trying my hardest, right now it's really just a waiting period to graduate high school. But for real, I am amazed really by most of the photos on this site, and yours too, were really cool.

 

[snow85]

are you planning on going back to the island (del fuego)? my dad spent his high school years there.... still talks about how beautiful it is....

 

[Brett327]

Part of general SA (IMHO) is listening to the calls other guys get and being able to build your own mental picture and possibly anticipate what could happen next. Switching languages back and forth leads to confusion and error. Already I've heard folks use left/right, izquierda/derecha and meaning the exact opposite. Add to that a general lack of radar control, full approaches (picture me on my first flight down here digging into the cranium to recall procedure turns and holding entries), and crazy terrain.

Ahh, reminds me of the good old days in Japan and the teeth sucking controller after making what I thought was a relatively simple request. Ahh...too hard...too hard...you cleared direct (insert destination).

Brett

 

[A4sForever]

Part of general SA (IMHO) is listening to the calls other guys get and being able to build your own mental picture and possibly anticipate what could happen next. Switching languages back and forth leads to confusion and error.

Absolutely ... think about flying in/around the Pacific Rim and the different "versions" of English you might encounter -- Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, Taiwaniese, Malay, Moke, Australian, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai, Tagalog, even Guamanian -- just to name a few. You always have to stay "ahead" of them and anticipate what is coming. The funniest thing is to get a new guy and put him on the radio --- it will bring subject new guy to tears while trying to understand controllers radio calls.

 

[A4sForever]

Ahh, reminds me of the good old days in Japan and the teeth sucking controller after making what I thought was a relatively simple request. Ahh...too hard...too hard...you cleared direct (insert destination).
Brett

Very true ... I've found what works best with foreign controllers (when you know the program and the issue is 'understanding') is to "just say NO" ... and TELL them what you are going to do. Works every time .... the Ugly American is still alive and well in my cockpit.