SeaPort Airlines starting Burbank - San Diego service on October 1st

Portland Oregon based SeaPort Airlines has announced that it will begin a new California route between Burbank (BUR) and San Diego (SAN) starting October 1st 2014. 

The airline will be using C208B Grand Caravans for the 65 minute flights between the two cities and will begin the service with four roundtrip flights per weekday, one roundtrip on Saturday and two on Sunday.

SeaPort, which is short for Seattle-Portland, also announced that it is awaiting approval from U.S. and Mexico governments to begin service between San Diego and San Felipe. If approved, that route will start November 1st 2014.

Caravan Pilots - Featured Pilot of the Month - Kathleen from SkyLink Express

This is the first in a series titled "Featured Caravan Pilot". It will start out here on the Caravan Pilots blog and will eventually move over to my site CaravanPilot.com after it has been relaunched. 

Meet Kathleen, our very first Featured Caravan Pilot! She is the only female and the youngest out of 40 pilots that her company employs.

Name: Kathleen

Age: 22

Total Time: 1500 hrs
Company: SkyLink Express (Canada's largest cargo feeder airline!)

Location: Halifax, NS Canada

Years flying the Caravan: 2 years this fall

What do you like most about flying the Caravan? 

The list of what I like most about the Caravan is lengthy as I've spent the majority of my professional life flying it. As a young pilot who began flying the 208 with relatively low time, I couldn't have chose a more forgiving aircraft to learn on. The Cessna Caravan is incredibly capable and unbelievably versatile. For me, learning IFR, SOPs & turbine theory was a steep learning curve. 

The C208 has been an excellent starter aircraft for many reasons! In learning all of these areas, the 208 was fast enough to challenge my abilities yet slow enough to teach me the basic skillset that I'll carry with me throughout my career. I learned everything from hand-flying an NDB approach to power and system management in challenging (and sometimes slightly scary) icing conditions. 

Along with the learning curve, I can honestly say that I doubt I'll ever have as much fun flying another airplane as I have with the Van. It handles well, it responds to pilot inputs very well, and has wildly impressive performance numbers (when it comes to takeoff and landing distances). I'm proud to call the Scare-a-Van "My First Turbine".

What are your goals? 

Throughout my career, I hope to spend some time in various capacities of the industry, including MEDIVAC operations, Corporate (Jet) flying, and eventually either large passenger airlines or large cargo operations.

What is your advice for younger pilots? 

Advice I could give to younger pilots is limited, in that I'm fairly young myself (or so I've been told). What I'd pass along to future hopefuls, is to seize (and make) every opportunity possible. Talk to pilots you meet, explore different aircraft, network as best you can, and NEVER burn bridges; the industry is FAR too small to make enemies. Keep your nose to the grind, and see every flight as a learning experience. Pilots log hours, aviators log lessons.

Thank you Kathleen for your great answers and advice! If anyone knows of a Caravan Pilot that you feel should be spotlighted send me an email chris@caravanpilot.com

Former Penta Airlines Caravans at Santarem Brazil

I was upset to see these ex- Penta Airlines Grand Caravans: PT-MPB, PT-MPD and PT-MPG piled up in a field in Santarem Brazil, seen in the photo below. They should be in a hangar or at least properly tied down on a ramp. It obviously was not a pilot that ordered them to be tossed into the weeds like that. According to my friend Gustavo Bonato these "Caravans are waiting for a court decision before being sold. That decision has been delayed for at least 7 years and there's no perspective of it happening soon."

Photo by Michael Rodrigues da Silva

Penta Airlines was a Brazilian airline that operated from 1995-2005. They offered domestic flights all over Brazil and to neighboring French Guiana. It started out as an air taxi company named Pena Taxi Aereo and is where it derived its name Penta from. At its peak in 1998, it was servicing 34 cities and flew 235,000 passengers in: 7 Cessna Grand Caravans, 3 Embraer Brasilias, 2 Embraer Bandeirantes and 2 Bombardier Dash 8s.

Photo by Ricardo Hebmuller

The airline went out of business because of two main reasons. A currency exchange devaluation crisis that occurred in 1999 and then a year later the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency temporarily suspended their operational license because of supposed maintenance issues.

Airframe icing and 600 lbs of excess weight led to C208B Caravan crash

Caravan C-GAGP operated by Gogal Air Services

On 18 November 2012 the Caravan pictured above crashed after loss of control due to an accumulation of Rime Ice on its wing surfaces. Accidents like this should serve as a reminder to us pilots that we need to be extra vigilant while operating in icing conditions. 

The Grand Caravan, operated by Gogal Air Services, was headed to Winnipeg when it crashed into a wooded area soon after take off. The crash killed the pilot and seriously injured the seven passengers on board. The 600lbs of excess weight and airframe ice increased the aircraft's stall speed and reduced its take off and climb performance.

According to the Canadian Transportation Safety Board:

"Although the pilot made an attempt to remove the ice before [the final] flight, a significant amount of it remained on the aircraft. No de-icing or anti-icing fluids were applied to the wing or horizontal stabilizer and no tactile inspection of the upper wing or tail surfaces was observed. The ice on the leading edges of aircraft's wings and tail would have reduced available lift, added extra weight, increased aerodynamic drag and thereby reduced its take-off and climb performance, increased its stall speed and impaired the protection afforded by its stall warning system, which is activated at a pre-set angle of attack based on a clean wing."

Caravan C-GAGP

After reading this, I encourage my readers to review the AFM or POH for the specific aircraft that they fly (difference between AFM and POH), specifically the sections pertaining to Icing and the Emergency Procedures - Icing. As far as the Caravan, you can also find this information in the Pilots' Abbreviated Checklist. But remember that the AFM or POH takes precedence over the PAC.

If you are a Caravan pilot, I also highly recommend that you complete some of Cessna's E-Learning courses on this topic. Courses such as "Caravan Cold Weather Ops" and "Caravan Vodcast Ground Icing Conditions". There are many other interesting courses available, most of which are free and are all available at cessnaelearning.com.

My fellow pilots, please remember to Review Often and Fly Safe so that you can continue to Have Fun!

- CaravanPilot.com

New Grand Caravans and routes for Mokulele Airlines

Last month Mokulele Airlines began its expansion plans for 2014 by offering nonstop flights between Kahului, Maui and Honolulu, O'ahu. Mokulele will also start offering service between Kalaeloa Airport/ John Rodgers Field (formerly Naval Air Station Barbers Point) and Kahului, Maui starting July 1st.

Route map Mokulele Airlines

According to Mokulele, "Kalaeloa, will provide hassle free commuting between O'ahu and the rest of the Hawaiian Islands. This includes: avoiding heavy traffic on the H1, no TSA screening and free parking with a valid permit. Kalaeloa will also provide an easier access to the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa on the southwestern coast of O'ahu."

The airline is also reminding its customers that they are not part of Go! Airlines, a company that stopped operating on April 1st. TransPac Aviation, Mokulele's parent company purchased the turbo prop division of Mesa Air Group, the operator of Go! Airlines.

Mokulele has added 3 new Grand Caravans to its fleet to accommodate the new routes.

Cessna Aircraft sells its 100th Grand Caravan EX!

Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced that it has sold its 100th Grand Caravan EX. The latest model received FAA certification in January 2013 and is powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140 which gives it a 38% better rate of climb, a 350 foot shorter take off roll and a 12 knot faster cruise speed.

Photo by Cessna Aircraft Company

The owner of the 100th Caravan EX is Hussain Ali Rashid Almoalla who plans on personally flying it all the way back to Abu Dhabi, a 9000nm trip. 

Mr. Almoalla stated, "I am delighted to add the Cessna Grand Caravan EX to our fleet. The Cessna Grand Caravan EX is reliable, efficient and ideal for my needs. My expectations of this aircraft have far been exceeded. I am very impressed with the power it displayed on the first flight, as well as its ease of maintenance, impressive Garmin G1000 avionics and spacious interior. It is abundantly clear I have made the right decision."

I am sure that it will not take Cessna very long to sell its next 100 Grand Caravan EX's. It's an amazing aircraft that has virtually no competition.

Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In and Expo 2014 - Celebrating 40 years this week!

The annual Sun 'n Fun International Fly In and Expo is celebrating its 40th birthday this week April 1 - 6! Held every year at Florida's Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (LAL). It is one of the largest airshows in the world. If you plan on flying in, don't worry about the airport being full, they have never had to turn airplanes away. 

The theme for this year is "A Fair in the Air to Remember". Some of the highlights include:

• Airshow performers everyday this week
• A performance by the Blue Angels - Fri., Sat. & Sun. - April 4-6 (4pm-6pm)
• Historic and current aircraft static displays
• Take a flight in the world's first mass produced airliner the 1929 Ford Tri-motor ($75)
• Attend the 1st annual Dinner with Legends Banquet
• Visit 100s of exhibitors including, AOPA, EAA, Pilatus, Beechcraft, Soloy Aviation, Cessna, Piaggio, ForeFlight, Garmin, Flying Magazine, Quest Aircraft, SiriusXM just to name a few.
• See one the few Night Airshows in the world. Includes a fireworks show - Sat. April 5  7pm-9pm
• Attend the job fair. Recruiters from major, regional and corporate flight departments will be there.
• Fly in a B-17 Flying Fortress. 1 of only 11 still flying! ($475)
• Hot Air Balloon launch - Sat. April 5 (rides available)

General admission ticket prices are: Adults - $37, Youth (11-17) - $15, 10yrs and under - Free. Preferred seating is an additional $20. Well worth it I think. It gives you seating on the flightline, bag storage, a shade tent, access to bathrooms and free water all day. You can purchase your tickets online here.

If you're flying there and have an extra seat or two or if you need a seat, Sun 'n Fun has a page/forum to help you out. Here is the link.

Unfortunately I will not be able to make it out there this year. But I hope some of you can!

When Blades Creep

What happened to the Caravan pictured below?  Turbine Blade Creep - the movement of a turbine blade from its normal alignment, causing it to strike the casing.  Caused by stress from high temperatures and high centrifugal forces.

When Blades Creep!  It sounds like the title of some horror movie, doesn't it?  Well, if you don't know what it is... it just might become the title of your very own horrific day.  Read on and study more.

On June 1st, 2008 Grand Caravan N102VE operated by Skydive Greensburg in Indiana experienced a total loss of engine power.  On its second load of the day, it was climbing through 7,000 feet MSL with 14 skydivers on board when there was a CT (compressor  turbine) failure caused by blade creep.  The pilot reported hearing a loud explosion followed by a metal grinding noise coming from the engine.  The aircraft began to vibrate and then smoke filled the cabin when the pilot began emergency shutdown procedures.

He leveled off at 5,000 feet so that the skydivers could exit, which they all did.  He attempted a forced landing at the airport, however he was too high and fast (a common problem during such situations) and landed in an adjacent cornfield upside down, after the left wing and propeller struck the ground first.  Luckily the pilot and all skydivers survived.

The engine manufacturer, Pratt & Whitney Canada had issued Service Information Letters (SILs) recommending borescope inspections of the CT blades to look for blade creep and fatigue cracks.  However, the owner of this aircraft said that he was unaware of the SILs and did not perform the inspections.

We as pilots can all learn from this accident.  Do not ever assume that the owner of the airplane that you're flying is in compliance with all of the required Airworthiness Directives AND recommended Service Information Letters.  I know a lot of you had never even heard of a SIL.  Stay sharp.... fly safe!

Shark spotted at Skydive the Beach!

Skydive the Beach in Wollongong Australia and their Caravan with the cool paint job takes skydivers to the highest altitudes in all of Australia.  In case you're wondering that's 15,000 feet high!  This company that started out with just two guys and a Cessna 206, now has 10 drop zones all over Australia with more openings planned! 

If you're ever out near their drop zones (especially if you've never gone skydiving) do yourself a favor and be sure to get in the airplane, enjoy the ride up and then.... SHUT UP AND JUMP!

Photo credit Phillip Higgins

Caravan vandalized at Skydive Byron Bay Australia

I don't know about you, but this is the very first airplane that I have ever seen that has been vandalized with spray paint. This incident happened at Tyagarah airport in Byron Bay NSW Australia to a C208 Caravan operated by Skydive Byron Bay.  

Apparently some airport neighbors that don't like the supposed "noise" armed their 9 year old kid with some spray paint and a knife.  I say a knife because the fuel tanks were found to have been punctured as well.  I'm hoping that the local police find the kids and their parents that are responsible for this disgusting act and throw them straight in jail and order them to pay back what it cost to fix it.  Which will be well into the tens of thousands of dollars, which for an uneducated low life family could take a decade or more to pay back.  

I am also hoping that the Caravan owner has since installed cameras and a lot of lighting on and around the ramp and tie down area. Ideally the owner would like the airplane hangared, but that would be a much greater expense.