tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post3079974617319583761..comments2024-03-13T09:47:40.487+00:00Comments on Cockpit Conversation: Personal Value JudgementAviatrixhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-47378434110055846652009-07-16T01:39:01.436+00:002009-07-16T01:39:01.436+00:00I'm imagining swampy gaps in the runway filled...<i>I'm imagining swampy gaps in the runway filled with snapping alligators.</i><br /><br />Ha! Oh, me too. No, more like alligator skin pattern cracking, ranging in severity from unsightly to disintegrating. My airport in question also reported "loose aggregate", so not having a real strong reason to go there I decided to go elsewhere.<br /><br /><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=XuM3YYeQrk8C&pg=PA321&lpg=PA321&dq=alligator+crack&source=bl&ots=ZTHR12702n&sig=FwQyRjnIVte5xxartOdpRHoj22o&hl=en&ei=vYJeSp-MBJTeMYfjtK4C&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4" rel="nofollow">Googly</a><br /><br /># TURF TAXIWAY RUTTED, UNUSABLE AT SOUTH END.<br /># ALLIGATOR CRACKING, LOOSE AGGREGATE.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991660841701835065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-16492918824930068052009-07-15T22:09:45.322+00:002009-07-15T22:09:45.322+00:00P.S. Sarah, what's an alligator crack? I'...P.S. Sarah, what's an alligator crack? I'm imagining swampy gaps in the runway filled with snapping alligators.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-6322753610227647332009-07-15T21:59:26.987+00:002009-07-15T21:59:26.987+00:00I only watched the first season episode of ice roa...I only watched the first season episode of ice road truckers, not the whole season, but going on that, they pretty badly misrepresented the situation of the Dalton highway, apparently for dramatic effect. Aviatrix is correct, there is an all weather, year round road from Fairbanks to Deadhorse. There is no "season" on the Dalton highway, as was suggested on "Ice road truckers", It's open summer and winter. (alhough the road may be closed temporarily at times) <br /><br />Prudhoe Bay is generally used to refer to the area, Deadhorse is the town (for want of a better word) at Prudhoe bay, so one doesn't drive from Prudhoe to Deadhorse. Even if one is referring to Prudhoe Bay the coastal feature, It's still only a short drive from Deadhorse, across permanent roads to the shore of the bay. There are probably more than a hundred miles of all weather roads in the Prudhoe area, connecting the various oil fields up to 45 miles west of Deadhorse. There are some smaller fields east of Prudhoe and west of the Colville River which are not connected with roads, and which have ice roads built in the winter, but those are in the minority. <br /><br />Apparently, in order to preserve their theme of a dramatic race against time and melting lake ice, Ice Road Truckers took some liberties with the truth.A Squarednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-31769262955829890712009-07-15T16:47:58.197+00:002009-07-15T16:47:58.197+00:00I saw that in the Wikipedia article on the place. ...I saw that in the Wikipedia article on the place. I assume the ice roads in question go east and west of there along the coast, as there's a regular road all the way north to Deadhorse.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-21961459773723522512009-07-15T16:34:25.103+00:002009-07-15T16:34:25.103+00:00Deadhorse was featured on the History Channel'...Deadhorse was featured on the History Channel's show "Ice Road Truckers." It was the end of snowy route from Prudhoe Bay, I certainly hope your flights in there aren't narrated quite so dramatically!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954980953960861367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-83324712813010124602009-07-14T20:48:20.480+00:002009-07-14T20:48:20.480+00:00And you can make such a soft landing on gravel bec...And you can make such a soft landing on gravel because the crunch of the stones decreases the deceleration on any residual vertical speed you have at touchdown. <br /><br />As I said, we're sending someone to look at it, and we won't go if we assess the conditions as unsafe. If there is no safe area to run up without gravel in the props, the customer may be charged a premium towards propeller damage.Aviatrixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13634111275860140084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-24519197222724169732009-07-14T20:39:42.656+00:002009-07-14T20:39:42.656+00:00A^2, told you I was a wimp. I love landing on gra...A^2, told you I was a wimp. I love landing on grass, but gravel runways are rare around here ( US midwest ). Anyway, the club insurance specifically excludes gravel runways - probably for chipping the prop damage more than anything else.<br /><br />I'll have to take your word for it. And no, I don't like driving on gravel either, unless I can stay in the middle ruts and it rained enough recently to keep the dust down.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991660841701835065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-84633501817174320432009-07-14T20:02:15.742+00:002009-07-14T20:02:15.742+00:00I've never landed on gravel and don't want...<i> I've never landed on gravel and don't want to, unless it's a cub or something with tundra tires.</i><br /><br />Seriously? It's not magic. You ever drive on a gravel road? That's about the extent of the difference: You can't turn as abruptly, and you can't stop as quickly. Having landed c-150's light twins and 4 engined airliners on gravel, I can assure you with a high degree of confidence that you do not need a cub to land on gravel. Tundra tires are only a necessity for really rough, uneven and soft surfaces. Tundra tires on a typical gravel runway add nothing but unnecessary expense, weight, drag, and degraded controlability,A Squarednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-85593106149080531482009-07-14T18:10:39.903+00:002009-07-14T18:10:39.903+00:00"... it would make a better place to crash th...<i>"... it would make a better place to crash than out on the tundra someplace."</i><br /><br />LoL! Sounds like 2000' of gravel with weeds and loose rocks. Ouch! Hope you brought spare tires. It makes me feel pretty wimpy when I reject plans to visit 3000' airports with AF/D entries describing the runways as 60' wide, "poor, with alligator cracks in pavement". I've never landed on gravel and don't want to, unless it's a cub or something with tundra tires.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09991660841701835065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-39561730945118731432009-07-14T13:15:40.803+00:002009-07-14T13:15:40.803+00:00Not of immediate help but if you're going to b...Not of immediate help but if you're going to be out in the boonies a lot a <a href="http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/" rel="nofollow">Minty Boost</a> might be useful on day.Ed Davieshttp://www.edavies.nildram.co.uk/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-53315670542597844342009-07-14T12:47:20.380+00:002009-07-14T12:47:20.380+00:00The biggest problem with PSUs for the iPod Touch i...The biggest problem with PSUs for the iPod Touch is that many of the cheap "usb outlet" ones don't actually work(*) with the Touch. <br /><br />The Touch (and I'm betting the iPhone too) needs to "see" the usb in some way before it will go into "charge" mode. The Belkin PSUs seem ok, but some of the cheapo ones on eBay don't.<br /><br />Paul B<br />((*) ok, it WILL actually charge, but instead of it taking an hour, it takes over 12 hours, and gives no indication that it is charging)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-88352255742343757532009-07-14T11:50:38.730+00:002009-07-14T11:50:38.730+00:00Car rental establishments are a great source if yo...Car rental establishments are a great source if you need the 12v type of phone charger. Same deal "just take it"Dan in ALBnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-53755913197196626902009-07-14T05:20:02.960+00:002009-07-14T05:20:02.960+00:00Your blog is always a source of surprising and may...Your blog is always a source of surprising and maybe-even-useful-some-dark-and-dirty-night trivia of the highest order! - As in: "... the box of chargers and cords left behind by previous guests ... Every hotel has one of these."<br /><br />Whoda thunk? Thanks again.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10357752193201032059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-57886464686423882272009-07-14T01:54:57.964+00:002009-07-14T01:54:57.964+00:00My iPhone came with a cord just like the one you h...My iPhone came with a cord just like the one you have, plus a desktop charger that the phone stands in, plus the 110V wall plug with a single USB out. My iPod Nano came with only the cord. But, the plug that goes into the iPod and the iPhone are the same, so I can mix & match.Ageless Strangerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08331518152882231021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10000144.post-31197069497385857342009-07-14T00:46:37.435+00:002009-07-14T00:46:37.435+00:00Sounds like a challenging flight environment. I en...Sounds like a challenging flight environment. I enjoy solitude more than most, but that might be a little over top for me.<br /><br />Will you get to install a windsock at that strip? Can you refuse to use it if you feel it's unsafe? What about alternates? I know those are questions that came to mind as I read your post.<br /><br />Glad you are able to post, I am looking forward to hearing about this experience!!!Capt. Schmoehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02394460305247627610noreply@blogger.com