Lake MI Crossing

[wiguy]

I normally evaluate any potential water crossing individually, don’t have a right or wrong answer about doing it. I’m more likely to go when solo, nice weather, ‘warmer’ water helps.

The other day I had reason to go to Grand Haven, MI, 105 NM direct, alluring. I was checking some ship tracking sites, shows freighters in almost real time. The mid-lake buoy showed the surface temp at 43.7 degrees, not ideal I know.

Anyhow, I donned my preserver, had a winter jacket & flew high with FF. Once the shoreline was out, my plan was an ATC relay then plan a mile or so in front of the ship. Of course no intention of testing the plan.

I still have areas needing improvement(panel), but I have confidence in the newer IO-390. Anyway, just a post about a recent adventure. Grand Haven was hopping & nice.

http://www.n8dnx.org/live-ship-tracking/

 

[AVIATOR.CYFD]

Cool adventure thanks for sharing... I really like the live shipping site. I've looked at the Michigan stretch of water before on Foreflight. Looks like you have made good plans and considered your emergency options. Most boats monitor 121.5 also so a good plan. I guess the only addition would be a raft... but even a one/two person rig is pretty heavy.

 

[jukelemon]

Very cool. I really enjoy flying over water...except when you lose oil pressure lol.

But other than that it is so peaceful and beautiful.

My logic, or lack of, has been this. I fly over mountains (Apps) quite a bit and think nothing of it. Why would I worry about water. Plane doesn't care either way.

I carry a PLB in either case but I would sure rather land in water than in the Smokeys

 

[N4843W]

I have crossed countless times. the two best places as Manitowoc to Ludington the further north across the islands. Of course both are considerably north for a direct route from Burlington, WI to Grand Haven. I get up to 12 or 12.5K and can eliminate or very nearly so the open water glide distance, on those routes, but you have to take winds into account carefully. At Manitowoc to Ludington you could also time it so you meet the Badger Ferry about half way across. You'd have a boat that can turn and stop quickly, unlike a freighter. Plus a nice crowd to cheer your great landing and brave piloting. As far south as you are, I might just go VFR down from Milwaukee all the way around. Doesn't take much longer and the view down the Chicago waterfront is spectacular.

 

[FS]

I don't mean to diminish the accomplishment, but wanted to point out that living on an island (as I do) means you always are flying over water. Training for my PPL we did turns-around-a-point around an oil loading platform in Long Island Sound. We flew over water countless times during training. It's no big deal, and we never carried any flotation devices. I still don't, and have done a lot more over water crossings, and for longer distances, since getting my license.

On the way to the Fort Collins fly-in two years ago, I crossed from Michigan to Wisconsin at 10,500. Never really gave it much thought, though I admit to some second-guessing once I lost sight of both shore lines (for about 5 minutes). This snapshot is from the Garmin Pilot auto-generated flight log from that trip. It's about 80 nm, heading from around KLWA to KMKE.

 

[Commander91gm]

I have been doing a bunch of over water flights in the last few weeks. Florida to three islands in the Bahamas ( 5 hours or so over water). Now in Franks stomping grounds over Long Island Sound and weather permitting back out to Boston, over the sound from long island.

Do carry life vests and an EPIRB, but don't really think much of it. Can get a bit challenging on the day's where the clouds on the horizon create a scenario where there is minimal if any horizon.

 

[wiguy]

As posted, flying over a 500’ OVC, or inhospitable terrain has it’s negatives too. Even the Chicago lakefront at 1900’ AGL(w), 1 mile offshore has limitations. In the summer the beach is wall to wall people. Most ‘engine failures’ seem to be fuel related, some way or another.

 

[gmores]

I do keep a couple of CO2 inflatible collar-type vests in the plane for over water trips. They take up very little room and I would feel pretty silly not having anything for flotation as I tested my water-treading stamina.