Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration WP13
PARADISE FOUNDFLYING IN HAWAII
By Greg Marshall

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

"You fly over the ocean in a single-engine airplane?" Having flown in Hawaii for over 20 years, I am still amused when visitors, pilots, and non-pilots alike, are surprised to find out that small airplanes, especially singles, fly inter-island. Like many pilots living here, I learned to fly in Hawaii, so over-ocean flying is second nature to me. Actually, I get more nervous flying over timberland and mountains on the mainland, and I find myself constantly searching for bodies of water where I can ditch in case the engine quits. In an emergency, unless there's an airport or a big empty highway nearby, I'll always opt for a water landing. No unseen wires, rocks, potholes, fences, or cows. And no post-crash fire. Several airplanes a year make water ditchings, and most everyone survives without a scratch. Good planning, flight procedures, and proper safety equipment are as necessary in Hawaii as they are elsewhere.

PLANNING FOR WINDS

Most of the time, Hawaii's tradewinds blow at a steady 10-12 knots just enough to erode the fuel reserves of the average rental airplane to the critical stage. Every year, a couple of airplanes come up short, usually ditching in shallow water just off Waikiki Beach, about five miles short of Honolulu Airport. Fortunately, almost all of these ditchings are survived without injuries to anything but the pilot's pride. Usually, the pilot is a tourist who simply lost track of winds and fuel while preoccupied with sightseeing.

In the usual M.O. (modus operandi) of these foreshortened flights, the pilot has calculated his fuel so that he can make the round trip to another island without refueling. The pilot calculates the point-to-point distance and may even factor in some wind. Occasionally, his wind calculations fail to take into account the usual increase in wind velocity that takes place as the day progresses between his outbound flight and his return flight later in the day. Then, while flying back in spectacular VFR, he diverts slightly to sightsee along a spectacular coastline. Or to see a pod of whales breaching just a few miles out in the channel. Or a fresh flow of lava streaming into the ocean. Hawaii is full of visual distractions allow extra fuel for them.

STRONGER WINDS

It's also not unusual for tradewinds to blow extra strong for several days20 to 25 knots is not uncommon, occasionally with higher gusts. Maui's main airport, Kahului, is noted for frequent strong winds. Fortunately, though, Kahului's runways are situated such that the winds are generally directly down one of the runways. Local pilots are accustomed to this, and you should view it as cause for caution. Properly handled, it is rarely necessary to delay or cancel flights.

Turbulence, of course, goes part and parcel with higher winds, and flight precautions are occasionally issued for "light to moderate turbulence on the leeward side of all mountains." Pilots visiting from other states, such as Colorado, where mountain flying is regular practice, understand the phenomena and the care necessary when flying over or in the vicinity of mountains and ridges. For sailplane and hangglider pilots, Hawaii is a double paradise.

Since most flying in Hawaii is done between islands, it is rarely necessary for a pilot to traverse multiple mountain ridges or ranges. Therefore, one of the riskier aspects of mountain flying is generally not encountered. However, because of the locations of airports within the islands, pilots will almost always encounter leeward (downwind) turbulence in the islands. Often, because of the strength of the winds and the sharp height of the volcanic mountains, disturbed air can reach 10 to 20 miles out to sea. Keeping an eye on the sea's surface can often give a pilot an early warning to both turbulence and occasional wind shear.

THE "MOLOKINI BUMP"

Between the island of Maui and the uninhabited island of Kahoolawe (formerly R3104B, a military practice target area), there is a tiny volcanic crater, Molokini Island, that barely protrudes above the ocean. Just to the east "lives" (it is alive) what I call the "Molokini Bump." Airplanes flying southeast to Kona approach the "bump" sheltered from winds by the 10,054 foot Haleakala mountain. Suddenly, bingo, the airplane meets the full force of the winds diverted around the mountain in a classic windshear. After ramming my head on the cockpit ceiling a few times, I came to notice that the shear line was depicted clearly on the ocean's surface below. Since then, I've been able to impress pilots and passengers alike by saying, "Tighten your seatbelts, we're going to hit a windshear in two minutes." "How did you know that?" they always ask after the bump. "Pilot's intuition," I reply sometimes that's sufficient to blur their memory of my last bounced landing.

HOW TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE "NEW" FAR PART 61

1. You may retrieve an electronic copy of the revised rule via the Web address: http://www.faa.gov/avr/AFS/FARS/far-61.txt

2. You may request a printed version of the 4/4/97 Federal Register by calling the FAA's Office of Rulemaking at (202)267-9680. Expect a lengthy delay because of the high demand for this final rule.

3. For $59.00/year subscription, you may order a copy of FAR Part 61 from the Superintendent of Documents, Attn: U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. For further information, call (202)512-1800 (U.S. Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.).

4. For approximately $7.95, you may order a supplement from Jeppesen Sanderson at (303)799-9090 (Retail Sales) or at 1-800-621-5377.

 There will be no safety seminar in November, because the fourth Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. We hope all of you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

AVIATION MAINTENANCE SYMPOSIUMS

The FAA's Western-Pacific Region in partnership with the Aviation Industry is hosting five FREE symposiums designed specifically for maintenance education.
Expect more information soon. Mark your calendar for:
Hawaii January 30-31, 1998
Southern California February 27-28, 1998
Northern California March 6-7, 1998
Arizona March 13-14, 1998
Nevada March 27-28, 1998

OPERATION TAKEOFF
An FAA Pilot Education Program
The FAA Honolulu Automated Flight Service Station (HNL AFSS) will conduct a free two (2) hour seminar on how to use the automated services available at the HNL AFSS to your advantage.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 1997
TIME: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
LOCATION: 28 Lagoon Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii
This is your opportunity to learn some time saving techniques, insightful tips and how to use the new system to your advantage. For more information and to make your reservations please call the HNL AFSS at 808-839-5086.
Space is limited, So call today!!

WINGS PROFICIENCY AWARD PROGRAM

 PHASE I
Jack E. Beene

PHASE V
Ute Hoelscher

PHASE VII
William A. Schauer, Jr.

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