Need a little assistance
07-14-2009, 08:33 AM
#31
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,047
A sophisticated business plane might store info in it's computer memory which might or might not survive a crash. An older cessna citation, probably not. A brand-new Gulfstream...maybe.
Also if ATC suspects an airplane is in distress and on autopilot, they will probably launch a fighter intercept to check it out. The fighter pilots would probably be able observe evidence of depressurization. Google "Payne Stuart" for more details on that.
07-14-2009, 08:40 AM
#32
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,047
So, on a VFR, my pilot couldn't fly at night? Even if she was a seasoned pilot? She would have to file an IFR?
I guess for her plan to work, she needs to be able to fly for quite some time unnoticed. A VFR is the best/only way to do this, if I understand correctly. However, a VFR puts serious limits on where/when a pilot can fly.
Would the black box tell FAA investigators when a plane was depressurized?
I guess for her plan to work, she needs to be able to fly for quite some time unnoticed. A VFR is the best/only way to do this, if I understand correctly. However, a VFR puts serious limits on where/when a pilot can fly.
Would the black box tell FAA investigators when a plane was depressurized?
You can also depart on an IFR flight plan to ease your transition out of a busy metro area, and then cancel IFR enroute. You can proceed VFR with no flight plan, file a VFR flight plan, and/or get flight following...you choice.
Also note that you cannot fly VFR above 17,500 feet. If you attempted to do so without talking to anyone you might get a good look at an F-16.
Most jets would be very fuel-inefficient below 25,000 (AKA flight level 250), and work best in the mid 30's or higher. I would venture that most biz jets could not do SAN - YVR below FL180 without running out of fuel.
Altitudes below 18,000 are referred to as 16,500, 12,000, etc. 18,000 and above are referred to as Flight Level 180, etc (FL180).
07-14-2009, 09:03 AM
#33
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
So, if she didn't file a flight plan, headed toward the Arizona desert at 6,000 feet, set autopilot, depressurized, and jumped, it would be very hard to track the plane, and chances are she would get away with faking her own death. From what I gather, a King Air 350 doesn't have a flight data recorder.
Am I close enough to not raise eyebrows?
Am I close enough to not raise eyebrows?
07-14-2009, 09:16 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Dream within a dream
Posts: 1,306
She leaves at night to transport a group of executives (doesn't matter where, really, she just needs to be able to leave the plan and have it go unnoticed) and the plane goes down eventually (I'd prefer over water to make the lack of her body a little more excusable - that's why I initially said Vancouver - she could fly low over the ocean and not kick up too much of a fuss, I guess), but she needs to be high and slow enough to ditch from the plane without being noticed.
. . . just make sure it's a girl
07-14-2009, 09:18 AM
#35
Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Tiki bar
Posts: 2,634
So, if she didn't file a flight plan, headed toward the Arizona desert at 6,000 feet, set autopilot, depressurized, and jumped, it would be very hard to track the plane, and chances are she would get away with faking her own death. From what I gather, a King Air 350 doesn't have a flight data recorder.
Am I close enough to not raise eyebrows?
Am I close enough to not raise eyebrows?
No FDR/CVR on a king air.... but probably better to do it over the ocean, they would be missing a body if it crashed into land.
07-14-2009, 09:20 AM
#36
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
OK, so maybe take off from San Diego IFR . . . does the plane have to be headed to YVR? If not, Seattle (SEA) may work a little better. Cancel IFR enroute at an altitude below 18,000 feet and continue VFR. Start turning off transponders and equipment to simulate failures. Kill the passengers somehow and depressurize the plane. Set the autopilot to fly a course out over the Pacific, and then bail out - maybe somewhere near Paulina Peak, in the middle of nowhere and in the middle of the desert. The plane will run out of fuel and crash well out in the Pacific . . . maybe strap one of the passenger's bodies into the pilot's seat with the pilot's oxygen mask on to really cover your tracks and help explain the depressurization (if anyone even finds out) . . . just make sure it's a girl
. . . just make sure it's a girlThank you very much! You just solved my problems! A King air 350 doesn't need a co-pilot, does it? That would be one less headache...
07-14-2009, 09:22 AM
#37
Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Tiki bar
Posts: 2,634
07-14-2009, 09:23 AM
#38
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 22
07-14-2009, 09:24 AM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: Dream within a dream
Posts: 1,306
If you want to see what the direct route from San Deigo to Seattle would be, plot the airports into this website here: KSAN to KSEA -
Flight Planning and Aeronautical Charts at SkyVector.com.
The blue line is where you will fly, and should help you choose a bailout point!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
