This Challenge is a complete remake of the MV Challenge by the same name for FS2000: in particular, it includes many more flights to different destinations and with variable weather.

You are invited to pilot scheduled round trips with intermediate stops at small airstrips in the spectacular tropical Solomon Islands, with variable rough weather, very few navaids and several system failures. The trips simulate Solomon Airlines flights out of the Henderson airport of the capital Honiara to various outlying islands. The real flights use Twin Otters or Islanders.

The challenges of these flights include the inclement weather, sometimes with poor visibility, turbulent winds and wind shear, a scarcity of navaids, and small rough runways as well as aircraft system failures.

These are mainly visual flights. You may use ATC in flight following mode.

Each of the 5 round trips takes from 3 to 6.5 hours, including 2 to 4 intermediate stops, according to the official schedule.

No add-ons are required.

Use the default FS2002 Pro Cessna Grand Caravan.

For realism, you may optionally replace the aircraft with a De Havilland Twin Otter in Solomon Airlines livery or a Britten-Norman Islander (see under Installation).

Included are: flights with preset weather, regional maps.

It is assumed that you are familiar with: using FS2002, flying this Challenge's aircraft, using its autopilot, navigating with navaids, using ATC.

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HOW WE WILL FLY

AIRCRAFT

The default aircraft will be the Cessna Grand Caravan. It flies with a cruise speed of about 135 kt IAS or 164 kt TAS at an altitude of about 20000 ft, and has a range of about 1100 nm. It has all the standard navigational equipment (NAV/VOR, ADF/NDB, GPS). Use the kneeboard (press F10) to look up flight instructions.

(IAS is the indicated airspeed normally shown on the airspeed indicator. TAS is the true airspeed relative to the air, as shown, for example, by the GPS map when there is no wind. You can also make the airspeed indicator show TAS through menu Aircraft | Realism settings | select Display true airspeed; but this is not realistic since the TAS cannot be shown on real aircraft.)

The recommended add-on DHC6 Twin Otter has similar flight characteristics and equipment. The recommended panel, however, does not seem to work perfectly in FS2002 (the PROP RPM and TORQUE gauges don't seem to work properly, and the fuel is not consumed, at least on my system), but the aircraft can be flown under the conditions of this Challenge.

The recommended add-on Britten-Norman Islander cruises a bit more slowly (about 120 kt IAS or 140 kt TAS) at an altitude of about 12000 ft. Its panel does not have a GPS.

To install these add-on aircraft, see under Aircraft.

If you want to change the flight number (used by ATC) in FS2002, select Change… under Select Aircraft (the real flight numbers are given below for each flight). Note that this change will be permanent, even after exiting from FS2002, until you change or blank out the flight number again (this change is recorded in the plane's aircraft.cfg file, and can be edited directly within that file).

NAVIGATION

There are very few navaids (VORs, NDBs) in the Solomon Islands in FS2002, so the flights will be largely flown visually or by dead reckoning. Honiara has a powerful long-range VOR and an NDB, useful for all flights out of and into Honiara. There is one NDB at distant Santa Cruz, and one closer in at Auki (see the map). There are no ILSs to help with landing.

You have a choice:

1) You can use the GPS map (press Shift-3 in the Caravan, Shift-2 in the Twin Otter), as a guide to direct you, and to estimate when to start your descent (see below): by displaying the airports, the GPS map makes finding an airport easy. You may also use the navaids, where available.

2) Or you can ignore the GPS map and navigate with the navaids where available, or by dead reckoning otherwise. Outside the reach of Honiara's VOR and Santa Cruz' NDB, you will generally have to fly by "dead reckoning", which means: estimate your heading (including crabbing to compensate for crosswind), and estimate when to start your descent (mainly by estimating the time when you should start descending; see below).

ATC

You may fly under ATC with flight following. You will not be vectored by ATC. (No flight plans are included, so you can't fly IFR.)

CRABBING

To stay on course despite a crosswind, you have to "crab" into the wind by a certain angle that depends on the crosswind component and on the aircraft's true air speed (TAS). This is particularly important in cruise, especially when you are aiming for a small island! You can see the current wind direction and speed by pressing Shift-Z. Typical TAS values are given above. A simple estimate of the crab angle is:

crab angle (degrees) = 60 x crosswind (kt) / TAS (kt)

For example, a 10 kt crosswind component across the flight track and a 150 kt TAS give a crab angle of about 60 x 10 / 150 = 4 degrees.

BEGINNING OF DESCENT

It is always difficult to estimate when to start a descent for landing. A simple rough estimate is given by the 1:3 rule of thumb:

descent distance (nm) = descent height (ft) x 3 / 1000

For example, to descend from 20000 ft to sea level requires about 20000 x 3 / 1000 = 60 nm.

Knowing the descent distance is only useful if you know the distance from your current position to your destination (as you do when approaching a VOR, if it includes a DME for distance measurement, or when you use the GPS map to estimate the remaining distance).

If you can't measure the remaining distance, you need to estimate the time at which you reach the beginning of descent. You do that by subtracting the descent distance from the trip distance (given below for each flight) and dividing by the average ground speed GS that includes the effect of headwind or tailwind (you get the GS by adding the headwind component to the TAS or subtracting the tailwind component from the TAS):

time to beginning of descent (hours) = (trip distance - descent distance (nm)) / (average GS (kt))

Note that this estimate will be very rough, because it is quite hard to estimate the average GS (it also should include the slower climb). So descend a bit early, or be prepared to loop near the airport if you arrive too high.

For example, if you make a 200 nm trip at 20000 ft at 180 kt TAS with a 20 kt tailwind, your descent distance will be about 20000 x 3 / 1000 = 60 nm, according to the formula for the descent distance. So the time to beginning of descent will be roughly (200 - 60) / (180 + 20) = 140 / 200 = 0.7 hours or 0.7 x 60 = 42 minutes from the time of departure.

For this estimation to be useful, it is important to record the time of your departure, or to start a stopwatch at departure!

RETURN TO CONTENTS

SELECTING AND LOADING A FLIGHT

To select and load a flight, do the following:

· either start FS2002, and click on SELECT A FLIGHT;

· or terminate your current flight (by pressing Alt, then F, then F);

· under "1. Choose a category", click on "Challenge - Tropical Solomon Islands 2";

· under "2. Choose a flight", click on the desired flight.

If you wish to fly a different aircraft, select it after loading the flight.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

FLIGHT SUMMARIES

I suggest flying the provided flights in the order listed in this document (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a, 2b, …). But you are free to pick and choose the flights as you like.

The first round trip (flights 1a-1d) is meant primarily to familiarize yourself with the terrain, navaids, aircraft and weather: it consists of 4 relatively easy flights, but requires avoiding crashes in tall mountains and finding a small island in the ocean. In good weather, you will pilot flight IE120 to the south from Honiara via Bellona to Rennell. In worse weather, you will command flight IE121 back the same way.

The second round trip (flights 2a-2e) starts with clouds and rain and goes to islands with sunny skies but gusty winds. It will also suffer a couple of failures during the flight. You will take flight IE142 to the west from Honiara via Seghe and Munda to Gizo, and flight IE 143 back via Munda.

The third round trip (flights 3a-3d) takes you from sunny weather to a distant windy island with low visibility: if you can't land safely there, you will have to turn back to a place with better weather. You will command flight IE118 to the east from Honiara via Kirakira to distant Santa Cruz and flight IE119 back the same way.

The fourth round trip (flights 4a-4e) starts stormy and gusty and leads to other sunny and windy islands relatively far to the northwest. However, aircraft system failures will occur on the last two legs of this round trip. You will pilot flight IE154 from Honiara via Gizo to Mono and Ballalae, returning as flight IE155 via Gizo.

The four preceding trips are all normally flown by Twin Otter in reality. The next flight is flown by Islander.

The last and toughest round trip (flights 5a-5c) experiences very cloudy and low skies, with very poor visibility, especially on the first and last legs! Furthermore, the last leg will suffer a complete electrical failure. This trip goes as flight IE276 north from Honiara to Fera and Suavanao, returning direct to Honiara as flight IE277.

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Flight 1a: HONIARA - BELLONA: GOOD WEATHER

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE120
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	113 nm / 178°
Flight level	15500 ft
Fuel at start	40%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

2001/11/20

07:00 local

30'

6 asphalt

no ILS

060/08

rain

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

Arr: Bellona

AGGB (BNY)

07:55 local

40'

11 dirt

no ILS

060/08

rain

Start here for your first flight in the Tropical Solomon Islands! You will first simulate Solomon Airlines IE120, a twice-weekly morning flight from Honiara to the tiny island of Bellona, then Rennell, and back.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-1a-Honiara-Bellona-Caravan".

This will place the default FS2002 Grand Caravan on the ramp at Honiara's airport. You may load a Twin Otter now, if you wish. You may also adjust the flight number.

The weather is preset. You have enough fuel for the round trip.

Start up the plane and taxi to runway 6. Adjust lights, flaps, altimeter, radios, etc.

If desired, tell ATC you want to depart to the south.

Take off, then turn right 180° to join the HN VOR radial 178, while climbing to the cruise altitude of 15500 ft. Make sure you clear the mountains: these top out around 8100 ft (2447 m at Mt. Makarakomburu).

By following the HN VOR radial 178, you should find Bellona despite its small size. Remember to crab into the wind to stay on course: see the crabbing instructions above.

Start your descent by judging your distance from Bellona with the HN VOR (the Honiara - Bellona distance is 113 nm, as listed above): see the instructions above to estimate the descent distance.

There are no navaids around Bellona, so you approach entirely visually. You may broadcast your position and intentions via ATC.

Land on (dirt) runway 11, due to the wind direction.

Taxi to a spot off the runway and shut down the plane, to let your passengers off and on.

Start the next flight given below to continue the trip.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 1b: BELLONA - RENNELL: GOOD WEATHER

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE120
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	21 nm / 124°
Flight level	3500 ft
Fuel at start	30%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Bellona

AGGB (BNY)

08:05 local

40'

11 dirt

no ILS

060/08

rain

Arr: Rennell

AGGR (RNL)

08:25 local

82'

12 dirt

no ILS

060/08

rain

After 10 minutes on the ground in Bellona, you resume flight IE120 to Rennell, only 21 nm to the southeast.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-1b-Bellona-Rennell-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

You may follow the same ATC procedures as before.

Start up, taxi and take off.

Fly almost straight out toward Rennell at 3500 ft. Rennell lies on a larger but fairly flat island.

Land on (dirt) runway 12.

Taxi and shut down.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 1c: RENNELL - BELLONA: BAD WEATHER

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE121
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	21 nm / 304°
Flight level	2500 ft
Fuel at start	28%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Rennell

AGGR (RNL)

08:35 local

82'

12 dirt

no ILS

090/10g15

rain

Arr: Bellona

AGGB (BNY)

08:55 local

40'

11 dirt

no ILS

090/10g15

rain

You have 10 minutes in Rennell, before starting the return trip via Bellona to Honiara as flight IE121.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-1c-Rennell-Bellona-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

The weather has worsened, with stronger gusty winds, rain, more clouds and lower visibility.

Use runway 12 for takeoff from Rennell, and runway 11 for landing at Bellona.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 1d: BELLONA - HONIARA: BAD WEATHER

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE121
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	113 nm / 358°
Flight level	16500 ft
Fuel at start	25%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Bellona

AGGB (BNY)

09:05 local

40'

11 dirt

no ILS

090/10g15

rain

Arr: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

10:00 local

30'

6 asphalt

no ILS

090/10g15

rain

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

After 10 minutes at Bellona, return to Honiara.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-1d-Bellona-Honiara-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Take off from runway 11, and fly north.

When you catch the HN VOR, join its 358 radial.

As you descend into Honiara, watch the 8000+ ft mountains about 15 nm south of Honiara.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 2a: HONIARA - SEGHE

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE142
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	139 nm / 282°
Flight level	16500 ft
Fuel at start	50%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

2001/11/21

13:00 local

30'

24 asphalt

no ILS

150/12g15

rain

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

Arr: Seghe

AGGS (EGM)

14:00 local

11'

10 dirt

no ILS

190/15g18

sunny

The next day, you fly an afternoon round trip from Honiara via Seghe and Munda to Gizo, and back via Munda to Honiara. The weather is quite cloudy and rainy at first, and then clears up but becomes windy and gusty to the west. This will give you spectacular views over the many islands strung along today's flight path.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-2a-Honiara-Seghe-Caravan".

This will place the default FS2002 Grand Caravan on the ramp at Honiara's airport. You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

The weather is preset. You have enough fuel to safely reach Gizo.

Fly as before, using the data given in the tables above.

Just before Seghe, you pass over a mountain of about 6000 ft. So you could descend to 8000 ft when you see the mountain, and then dive down to Seghe after that mountain.

The crosswind will make the landing interesting!

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 2b: SEGHE - MUNDA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE142
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	40 nm / 283°
Flight level	4500 ft
Fuel at start	39%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Seghe

AGGS (EGM)

14:10 local

11'

10 dirt

no ILS

190/15g18

sunny

Arr: Munda

AGGM (EGM)

14:30 local

25 dirt

no ILS

190/15g18

sunny

You continue from Seghe to Munda, a short low flight between islands.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-2b-Seghe-Munda-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before, using the data given in the tables above.

Taxi to Munda's ramp, near the pump (you don't need fuel).

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 2c: MUNDA - GIZO

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE142
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	28 nm / 291°
Flight level	2500 ft
Fuel at start	35%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Munda

AGGM (EGM)

14:40 local

25 dirt

no ILS

190/15g18

sunny

Arr: Gizo Nusatupe

AGGN (GZO)

14:55 local

14'

14 coral

no ILS

190/15g18

sunny

You continue from Munda to Gizo, an even shorter and lower flight.

Choose the flight named " TropSolomons-2c-Munda-Gizo-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 2d: GIZO - MUNDA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE143
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	28 nm / 111°
Flight level	3500 ft
Fuel at start	50%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Gizo Nusatupe

AGGN (GZO)

15:05 local

14'

14 coral

no ILS

200/18g22

rain

Arr: Munda

AGGM (EGM)

15:20 local

25 dirt

no ILS

200/18g22

rain

You now start the return, as flight IE143, from Gizo to Munda. The weather has degraded somewhat, with some rain, more clouds and stronger winds, and especially stronger gusts. You will unfortunately suffer a vacuum failure in flight, which will disable the autopilot.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-2d-Gizo-Munda-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

The tanks have been filled to 50% of capacity, enough to safely reach Honiara.

Fly as before.

When you reach cruise altitude, prepare a vacuum failure as follows:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· arm Vacuum from 1 to 2 minutes;

· fly with the normal 1x simulation rate.

(The reason for the 1x simulation rate is that the time to failure is measured on the computer clock, not the simulation clock: if you flew with a 4x simulation rate, you would fly 4x farther before the failure would occur.)

Soon, the attitude indicator will fail; more importantly, the autopilot HDG and ALT modes fail in turn.

Disconnect the autopilot, if you are using it, and fly the remaining distance manually.

The vacuum failure is easily fixed on the ground. After landing, you should:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· uncheck Vacuum failed.

(This is needed to avoid keeping the same failure in your next flight.)

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 2e: MUNDA - HONIARA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE143
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	178 nm / 103°
Flight level	18500 ft
Fuel at start	47%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Munda

AGGM (EGM)

15:40 local

11'

25 dirt

no ILS

200/18g22

rain

Arr: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

17:00 local

30'

24 asphalt

no ILS

190/12g20

t'storms, 5 mi visib.

The return flight skips Seghe, and goes direct from Munda to Honiara, but with another failure.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-2e-Munda-Honiara-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

The weather in Honiara includes thunderstorms and a lower visibility of 5 miles.

Fly as before, passing well above Seghe.

When you reach Seghe (about 140 nm from Honiara), prepare a NAV failure as follows:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Radios;

· arm each NAV from 2 to 4 minutes (the Caravan has two NAVs, the Twin Otter one);

· fly with the normal 1x simulation rate.

Soon, the NAV or NAVs will fail; the NDB should still work.

Now fly by dead reckoning, until you pick up Honiara's NDB on the ADF. And make sure you start your descent early enough.

Watch the mountain at the northwestern end of Guadalcanal Island.

After landing, you should:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Radios;

· uncheck each NAV failed.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 3a: HONIARA - KIRAKIRA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE118
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	125 nm / 110°
Flight level	19500 ft
Fuel at start	70%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

2001/11/25

07:00 local

30'

24 asphalt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

Arr: Kirakira

AGGK (IRA)

08:00 local

28 dirt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

The next Sunday, you fly a longer round trip from Honiara via Kirakira to Santa Cruz, and back the same way. The weather is sunny and gusty on this first leg.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-3a-Honiara-Kirakira-Caravan".

This will place the default FS2002 Grand Caravan on the ramp at Honiara's airport. You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

The weather is preset. You have enough fuel to safely reach Santa Cruz, and even to return to Kirakira if you can't land at Santa Cruz (but more about that later…).

Fly as before, using the data given in the tables above.

You can estimate when to begin descending by using the distance given by the Honiara VOR/DME.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 3b: KIRAKIRA - SANTA CRUZ

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE118
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	230 nm / 084°
Flight level	21000 ft
Fuel at start	60%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Kirakira

AGGK (IRA)

08:20 local

28 dirt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

Arr: Santa Cruz

AGGL (SCZ)

10:05 local

11'

23 dirt

no ILS

270/18g30

t'storm, 5 mi visib.

NDB GB 370

Continue from Kirakira to Santa Cruz, mostly over water, as the weather worsens seriously down below, while you are pushed along by a good tailwind. Conditions at Santa Cruz are marginal: don't be surprised if it is too gusty there to land. It all depends on your flying skills! If you divert, return to Kirakira (or to Santa Ana some 40 nm before Kirakira), but be aware that the tailwind becomes a stiff headwind.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-3b-Kirakira-SantaCruz-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Record your takeoff time. During flight, calculate when you should start your descent, using the instructions to estimate the beginning of descent.

Fly on the course indicated above (but take into account the strong wind at cruise level: see crabbing).

Some 30 nm from Santa Cruz, you should be able to pick up its NDB, listed above, and then home in on it.

If you manage to land safely, shut down the aircraft and continue with the next flight. Otherwise, fly back to Kirakira (or Santa Ana and then Kirakira): there you can pick up the following flight back to Honiara.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 3c: SANTA CRUZ - KIRAKIRA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE119
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	230 nm / 264°
Flight level	20000 ft
Fuel at start	70%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Santa Cruz

AGGL (SCZ)

10:25 local

11'

23 dirt

no ILS

270/18g30

t'storm, 5 mi visib.

NDB GB 370

Arr: Kirakira

AGGK (IRA)

12:05 local

28 dirt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

Assuming that you did land at Santa Cruz, and after taking enough fuel, return as flight IE119 from Santa Cruz to Kirakira. In this direction, the weather will improve markedly, even though you will still face strong surface winds. You now encounter a stiff headwind during cruise: it may be hard to respect the schedule!

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-3c-SantaCruz-Kirakira-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly on the course indicated above, guided by the NDB at first.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 3d: KIRAKIRA - HONIARA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE119
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	125 nm / 290°
Flight level	18500 ft
Fuel at start	50%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Kirakira

AGGK (IRA)

12:25 local

28 dirt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

Arr: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

13:25 local

30'

24 asphalt

no ILS

250/15g20

sunny

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

You return to Honiara from Kirakira with much the same weather as you experienced here earlier in the day.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-3d-Kirakira-Honiara-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 4a: HONIARA - GIZO

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE154
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	206 nm / 283°
Flight level	20500 ft
Fuel at start	40%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

2001/11/28

07:00 local

30'

6 asphalt

no ILS

350/10g15

thunderstorm

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

Arr: Gizo

AGGN (GZO)

08:30 local

14'

32 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

The next Wednesday, you fly another long round trip from Honiara via Gizo to two small islands, Mono and Ballalae, at the far northwest end of the Solomon Islands (close to the island of Bougainville, part of Papua New Guinea); the return leads from Ballalae via Gizo to Honiara. The weather starts stormy and gusty on this leg, and becomes sunny and windy along the way.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-4a-Honiara-Gizo-Caravan".

This will place the default FS2002 Grand Caravan on the ramp at Honiara's airport. You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before, using the data given in the tables above.

On this relatively long flight, you have a strong crosswind from the north: crab appropriately to compensate for this.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 4b: GIZO - MONO

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE154
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	87 nm / 289°
Flight level	10500 ft
Fuel at start	40%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Gizo

AGGN (GZO)

08:50 local

14'

32 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Arr: Mono

AGGO (MNY)

09:30 local

35'

22 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Continue from Gizo to Mono on its tiny island. The weather remains sunny and windy.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-4b-Gizo-Mono-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before.

RETURN TO CONTENTS

Flight 4c: MONO - BALLALAE

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE154
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	32 nm / 028°
Flight level	3000 ft
Fuel at start	32%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Mono

AGGO (MNY)

09:40 local

35'

22 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Arr: Ballalae

AGGE (BAS)

10:00 local

22 dirt

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Make the short hop from Mono to Ballalae, on another tiny island (Bougainville lies off to the left). The weather is still sunny and windy.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-4c-Mono--Ballalae-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before.

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Flight 4d: BALLALAE - GIZO

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE155
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	88 nm / 130°
Flight level	9500 ft
Fuel at start	28%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Ballalae

AGGE (BAS)

10:10 local

22 dirt

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Arr: Gizo

AGGN (GZO)

10:50 local

14'

32 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Start the return via Gizo to Honiara, as flight IE155. The weather remains sunny and windy.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-4c-Mono-Ballalae-Caravan". You may load a Twin Otter now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before to Gizo.

During the climb to cruise, prepare a pitot static failure as follows (the pitot tube measures airspeed):

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· arm Pitot static from 2 to 4 minutes;

· fly with the normal 1x simulation rate.

As a result, within minutes, the airspeed indicator will fail. If you used the autothrottle in the Twin Otter, disconnect it now.

From here on you will have to set your (unknown) speed by adjusting the throttle!

After landing at Gizo, the cause of the pitot problem is found and easily fixed: a bird hit the pitot tube and blocked it. You should:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· uncheck Pitot static failed.

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Flight 4e: GIZO - HONIARA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE155
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Twin Otter
Distance / course	206 nm / 103°
Flight level	19500 ft
Fuel at start	40%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Gizo

AGGN (GZO)

11:10 local

14'

32 coral

no ILS

010/20g22

sunny

Arr: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

12:40 local

30'

6 asphalt

no ILS

350/10g15

thunderstorm

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

On the final leg of this trip, from Gizo back to Honiara, the weather turns stormy and gusty again.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-4e-Gizo-Honiara-Caravan". You may load another aircraft now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Fly as before.

When you reach 100 nm from VOR HN, prepare a vacuum failure as follows:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· arm Vacuum from 2 to 4 minutes;

· fly with the normal 1x simulation rate.

Within minutes, the attitude indicator will fail; more importantly, the autopilot HDG and ALT modes fail in turn.

Disconnect the autopilot, if you are using it, and fly the remaining 100 nm manually.

After landing, you should:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· uncheck Vacuum failed.

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Flight 5a: HONIARA - FERA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE276
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Islander
Distance / course	84 nm / 331°
Flight level	9500 ft
Fuel at start	50%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

2001/11/30

14:30 local

30'

24 asphalt

no ILS

300/25g35

rain, visib. 3 mi

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

Arr: Fera

AGGF (FRE)

15:10 local

36 dirt

no ILS

300/25g35

rain, visib. 3 mi

The next Friday, you fly a tough round trip from Honiara via Fera to Suavanao, returning non-stop to Honiara. The weather is the worst so far, with low clouds, strong gusty winds and very poor visibility. This first leg to Fera will be especially dangerous because of mountains just before its airstrip. In fact, I strongly discourage taking any passengers with you…

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-5a-Honiara-Fera-Caravan".

This will place the default FS2002 Grand Caravan on the ramp at Honiara's airport. You may load an Islander now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Because of the low visibility, precision in navigation will be essential here.

Take off on runway 24 and join the 333 radial of the HN VOR: to make sure you set 333°, hold the mouse pointer over the HSI gauge (the leftmost gauge with a compass rose) until you see what Course value it shows; the Course should read 333, or you may miss the destination!

You have a strong headwind, so you will definitely arrive late, if you arrive at all.

Fera lies on a small low island right beyond the high cliffs of the large island of Santa Isabel, which has mountains topping out around 4000 ft in this area: you must fly over those mountains and drop steeply down those cliffs if you want to make a straight-in landing.

A pilot who has not flown under these conditions before will have a hard time. But you are fortunate to have a co-pilot familiar with the area, who suggests:

· about 23 nm before Fera, start your descent to 5000 ft (use the HN VOR/DME and the leg distance tabulated above to figure this out);

· as you reach the jagged cliff edge (zig-zag-like) and see water ahead, dive toward the water, flying straight;

· when you see the shore of Fera's island ahead of you, turn toward the left end of this stringy island to find its runway;

· make a right turn to line up with the runway 36; crab strongly to the left when landing!

If you prefer a gentler approach, fly to overhead Fera (at about 84 nm from the HN VOR, but beware that you lose contact with this VOR when you fly low) and descend to the northeast, over water. You can then figure out a way to land on runway 36 by yourself: it should be fun!

If you choose not to land, continue to Suavanao (see directions in the next flight).

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Flight 5b: FERA - SUAVANAO

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE276
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Islander
Distance / course	59 nm / 292°
Flight level	6500 ft
Fuel at start	41%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Fera

AGGF (FRE)

15:20 local

20'

22 dirt

no ILS

300/25g35

rain, visib. 3 mi

Arr: Suavanao

AGGV (VAO)

15:50 local

30'

22 dirt

no ILS

280/20g22

sunny

VOR HN 112.6

NDB HN 348

After 10 minutes, continue from Fera to Suavanao. The weather will clear up as you approach Suavanao, but the winds will still be strong.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-5b-Fera-Suavanao-Caravan". You may load an Islander now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Since the weather will clear up, you need less precision in navigation. One way to fly is to follow the spectacular coast of Santa Isabel Island to the west. Suavanao lies on a peninsula (promontory) of Santa Isabel right across a pair of small islands.

Take off on runway 36 and head along the coast (about 292°).

One way to decide when to begin descending is to use the HN VOR/DME: you may start descending at a distance from HN of about 116 nm.

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Flight 5c: SUAVANAO - HONIARA

Flight	Solomon Airlines IE277
Aircraft	Cessna Grand Caravan optional: Islander
Distance / course	136 nm / 135°
Flight level	13500 ft
Fuel at start	35%

Airports

Schedule

Elevation

Runway

Surface wind

and conditions

Navaids

Dep: Suavanao

AGGV (VAO)

15:20 local

22 dirt

no ILS

280/20g22

sunny

Arr: Honiara Henderson

AGGH (HIR)

15:50 local

20'

24 asphalt

no ILS

300/25g35

rain, visib. 3 mi

After 10 minutes, continue from Suavanao to Honiara. The weather is still clear for the departure, but will turn bad again as you fly to the southeast.

Choose the flight named "TropSolomons-5c-Suavanao-Honiara-Caravan". You may load an Islander now. You may also adjust the flight number.

Honiara's VOR will guide you for this return flight, despite the poor visibility, at least until your aircraft suffers a complete electrical failure...

When you reach 80 nm from VOR HN, prepare a total electrical system failure as follows:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· arm Electric system from 2 to 4 minutes;

· fly with the normal 1x simulation rate.

As a result, within minutes, several instruments will fail: radios (and thus ATC), autopilot, and compass (but the compass still works in the Islander). You will still be able to use: altimeter, airspeed, vertical speed indicator, attitude indicator, and compass (in the Islander).

You main challenge now is to find and line up with Honiara's runway 24. One suggestion: veer slightly to the right of the direct course to Honiara. That way you should find the coast of Guadalcanal and you will know that you need to turn left along the coast to find Honiara (otherwise, you would not know whether to turn right or left when you hit the coast; this is called "aim-off" navigation).

After landing, you should:

· press Alt, then A, then L;

· select Systems;

· uncheck Electric system failed.

You have now flown many of Solomon Airways' domestic routes, and have become quite familiar with this territory. How about applying for a pilot's job with Solomon Airways?

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