User manual

Limesim Antarctica X 1.00 Antarctica X 1.00 Manual
Page 15 of 59
distant volcanoes look quite serene when seen on the approach into Puerto Montt. Watch out for the Very
Large Telescope on the hilltop at Cerro Paranal-they look like four large white cubes on the ridgeline, and also
the recently famous Chilean volcano at Puyehue-Cordon Caulle. When you arrive at Puerto Montt, park here.
Flying the last leg from Puerto Montt to Puntas Arenas is one of the most spectacular segments of the journey,
flying high up at 17000 feet on oxygen; you get a wonderful view of the Torres del Paine mountain peaks
between waypoint Kilak and Puerto Natales, on the left hand side of the aircraft. If the weather is bad it can be
hidden from view within the clouds. Strong winds from the west may bring turbulence over this area with
strong up and downdrafts which can exceed the performance capability of a heavy weight ferry aircraft.
Coupled with the potential for picking up clear and rime ice due to the moist supercooled air from the sea,
rapid airframe ice build-ups are a further hazard of flying this section of the route. Careful study of the en-
route weather systems is advisable here. If the weather looks bad, best to wait another day.
The last few hours of the flight fly over barren hills leading into boggy and rocky windswept landscapes which
are a feature of the arrival into Punta Arenas. The airfield here is almost always windy, but there is a triangular
pattern of runways which gives plenty of options for an into wind landing. Park here.
At Punta Arenas, a day is then spent fitting skis to the aircraft and making any final adjustments before
heading out on the last long leg over the Drake Passage and down into the Antarctic. Chillean Air Force
Dragonflys A-37'Bs can be seen along with a residential Ilyushin IL76 transporter which runs expeditions from
here down to the blue ice runway at Patriot Hills and the Union Glacier on behalf of Antarctic Logistics and
Expeditions.
Once stocked up with last minute supplies, and the aircraft are fuelled up for the last long flight, take a last
look back at Punta Arenas, as you climb up and head "south" over the bay. It is the last look at civilisation,
greenery and vegetation you will see for six months.
The final ferry flight sector must be undertaken with special pre-flight care. The flight is a PNR or point-of-no-
return flight, up to which point a turn-back may still be made. After the PNR, the flight must be continued
come hell or high water, and if the weather at destination were to deteriorate, a landing on a clear patch on
the Antarctic continent may have to be considered, until conditions improve. To this end, Antarctic survival
equipment and survival rations are carried on board.
A careful study of the satellite weather charts is advisable, along with the meteorological forecast for the
destination. The flight is usually carried out with the crew wearing survival suits and lifejackets, although a
ditching in such a tempestuous sea would have a slim chance of survival for long, let alone a successful rescue.
Radio position reports are made by high frequency HF radio, at designated 30 minute waypoints, once out of
range of the shorter very high frequency VHF radios, used in commercial airspace.
After 8 hours of flying-welcome to the Antarctic, you have completed an amazing ferry trip and can now begin
the hard work of the Antarctic flying season for the next 6 months.
Recommended addon sceneries for the way south are ORBX’ “NA Northern Rokies” and “US Central
Rockies” for coverage of the first leg from Calgary about half way down to the next touchdown.
Unfortunately there are only few sceneries for the Latam area (yet) but add-ons like “FS Global – The
Americas” offer a good chance to spice up the Rockies all the way down a bit (because they are not that soft
hilly landscape south of the US as you see them in default FSX). “My Traffic” is a good product to bring you
lots of typical local air traffic.
Last but not least the freeware series “Photoreal Chile” seems to be the best scenery available for this flight,
since it covers a large chunk of the route flown, is for free and has a resolution that looks very decent at the
altitudes flown. Unfortunately most of this scenery’s files seem to have been lost after the server crash at
AVSIM.com and recovery of them in is doubtful.