Someone could say there is an “Area 51” situated in Fuerteventura, but in fact there is (apparently the Europe’s first) stratoport built.
It should serve for take off and landing of pseudo satelites and high altitude drones. The runway 02/20 is a bit more than 900m long (don’t know if including or excluding the displaced threshold.)
It is situated at the old Fuerteventura airport (Antiguo Aeropuerto de los Estancos, which I’ve visited back in 2020). At that time there was no mention of building this stratoport yet…
…and the calima is back… Winds blowing from Africa bringing hot, dry air with lot’s of sand covering the islands.
This can be perfectly seen on this satelite image by Copernicus EU (I’m not flying that high yet lol…)
But I was “lucky” enough to be flying these days and to get above the calima layer to get get some “fresh air” and some better views. I have to admit the view from above was pretty impressive. Well, this layer reached almost 6.000-7.000 feet and mostly causes some breathing issues to the part of the population.
Finally got the chance to do a flight from Tenerife south to Madeira airport. The distance is approximately 280NM and the flight time on the ATR72 is around 1:30-1:45 minutes depending on the winds and traffic at Madeira (and also Tenerife south airport).
Madeira airport is very famous for its complicated approach; specially on a windy a stormy days. Captain landing only, and several other requirements by the local aviation authorities.
On this flight the winds were calm, which helped to make the flight more enjoyable and comfortable specially fot the passengers.
As I have spent some days on the island, I had the chance to rent a car a to drive a little bit around.
The nature is beautiful, green, lots of waterfalls, water running everywhere. Friendly people, good food. I’ll be definitely back (soon)!
Here are some (not only aerial) mages from Madeira.
Safe flights!
Madeira airportNight approach to Runway 23 at Madeira airportMadeira Airport (LPMA/FNC)A bit of Madeira spottingSupporting pillars under the airport runway extensionRoute Tenerife South-Madeira Arriving at MadeiraKeep “FUN” to the leftPonta de São LourençoCaniçal Room with a view: Threshold Runway 05Santa CruzFull moon in MadeiraThe island has a huge amount of tunnels Driving up to Santana via the old roads…When the pilots rent a boat… lol Countryside around SantanaFaial/Penha d’ÁguiaSantana Traditional Houses Waterfall Água d’AltoSkywalk Cabo GIrâoIlhas Selvagens
To spend some time in a full motion simulator is a dream of every private pilot or an aviation enthusiast. To enjoy the almost “real” feeling of flying a passenger plane, get pushed into the seat when increasing the power for take off, or experience the “vibrations” when passing through the turbulence.
Well, I’ve been a couple of times to a simulator and I mostly enjoyed it very much. Practicing IFR, enjoying the flight, just enhancing my knowledge.
ATR 72-600 cockpit
Well, now I had the chance to experience the “other side” of flying in the simulator during my Type Rating earlier this year.
Weeks of theory, learning all the plane systems, studying, exams… I think there is no other profession in the universe like aviation; where you have to keep studying and passing exams over and over again.
After we passed the theoretical part, it was finally so far: it was so far; we were allowed to go to the simulator.
We had in total 14 4-hour sessions ahead of us. Should be fun, they said…
ATR72-600 Briefing Room
Well, it kind was fun at the very beginning. Let’s say at the start. Let’s say the very first session, lol. Then everything started to get more complicated…
When the cockpit was prepared and set for the session, we just looked at each other with my colleague and asked: “ready”? Knowing, once we advance the power levers, the 4 hour rollercoaster will start.
Engine failure on take off roll, at take off, multiple failure during the flight, loss of systems, screens, pilot incapacitation, traffic resolution in the worse weather conditions, engine fire and far more was offered on the “daily menu”…
Obviously, it did make sense. You learn the “push” all the buttons, learn what happens and why and how to react in. the case of a real emergency. Planes are pretty safe, and the most important thing is to fly them until the “very last end”. Aviate, navigate, communicate.
Now I understand what the pilots go through when they speak about the “dancing box”. It’s not to have fun, it’s refresh all the emergency and abnormal procedures that are likely not going to happen during the normal operations, but we need to be prepared for.
Hard work, lot’s of studying and practicing brought us to the final sim check and we passed it!
Next step was touch and goes. It was a big experience, to be sitted at the controls of a passenger plane.
Touch and goes at Fuerteventura airport
It was so far, this was the very first time. Achieving the dreams.
Honestly, even after we landed and returned home I couldn’t believe it that I achieved it. This was the icing on the cake.
Everything gets even more real when you wear the uniform and take the right seat. This is when the things get real.
Hard work pays off, I’m happy and very proud to have achieved this. It was not easy, but things will happen at the right time and for the right reason. It’s not that the learning has finished, this is where it’s just started!
Since 2007 I was flying around the Canary Islands, but it took me almost 16 years to manage to visit the smallest islands situated northwest of Lanzarote: Isla de Alegranza and Isla de Montaña Clara. Yes, it took a lot of time…
These are some perks of this job. The diameter of the crater at Alegranza is 1.1kms. And is the biggest (=widest) crater of the Archipiélago.
In the past these islands could have been visited by boat, unfortunately it’s not allowed anymore.
More information about these islands can be found on wikipedia:
After visiting the closed aerodrome “El Revolcadero” at La Gomera, I did mention that my next stop will be at Breña Alta, to explore the former La Palma’s aerodrome.
So here it comes. Unfortunately there is not much to see around. A road is passing on the former runway and the terminal building and the tower are not accesible.
Aeropuerto Viejo “Breña Alta”, La Palma
The elevation of the aerodrome is 1.3700 feet and is surrounded by mountainous terrain, which I think was the cause why the aerodrome was closed. When clouds start to form, visual approach into this airport could become pretty complicated or maybe impossible.
The aerodrome was opened in 1955 and served until 1970. Initaly I didn´t have any relative information about the runway length, nor designation; but thanks to Claudio Sánchez added on Twitter some value information and now we know that the runway designators were 03-21.
The former tower
The Tower building looks to be still in a pretty good shape, considering it was closed for more than 50 years. Unfortunately the access was blocked, so it’s not possible to climb up to enjoy the “old airport” views.
The old terminal building at Breña Alta
The terminal building doesn´t look that bad either. But again, it’s not accesible. All doors and windows have been blocked.
Threshold of the former runway 03 at Breña Alta airport
And how about the runway? Well, on Google Maps you can clearly see that once there was a runway, now a road is passing on it.
Tried to measure the length of the runway on my Foreflight App and i’m getting a bit less than 1km of runway. As I don’t know where it exactly started and finished, it’s difficult to say how long it exactly was.
The length of the runway as measured on the Foreflight appAeropuerto Viejo “Breña Alta”, La PalmaThere is a road now on the former runwayOn the former runway at Breña Alta
At least you can drive on the runway. Should have paid attention to the distance the car would have measured to know the exact length. And I think I did it, but forgot the note it somewhere…
Looks like the old apron with the former tower in the bushes
And this image looks like the apron just in front of the tower and terminal building.
Well, that’s it folks! A piece of history, pity they didn’t make anything special of it. But it seems there were a lot’s of problems with the ground and properties. But this would be something for a “non aeronautical post”, which is not the subject of my blog.
Usually don’t fly very often to Lanzarote, but on this occasion also the weather was playing with and when we flew around the National Parc and around the volcanoes, I simply couldn’t resist to take some shots of this amazing volcanic landscape.
This one is called Caldera Blanca, and it feel like we are about to land on the Moon or Mars…
Yesterday the weather was fantastic and we took of early from Tenerife south airport on our training flight toward the island La Palma. As there was not much traffic, we decided to practice with the student the SID (standard instrumental departure) and the arrival into La Palma.
Even though that we operate under visual flight rules, we can request simulated instrument departure or arrival and simulate it under VMC. We briefed the procedures with my student and requested the simulation.
We did the Araco 4E departure followed by the NDB36 into La Palma airport as you can see on the image from Flightradar24. It was a very good practice. After we took off from La Palma again, we flew around the island and enjoyed some spectacular views of the landscape.
Enjoy some more images from the journey.
Tenerife during our early morning departure from Tenerife South airportTenerife during our early morning departureAraco 4E departureOur flown trackNDB Approach into La PalmaFlying simulated NDB approach into La PalmaFinal RWY 36 with almost calm windsJet blast warning signSanta Cruz de La PalmaLos Tilos, La PalmaFaro de Punta CumplidaImagine to live here… Volcán Tajogaite is still smoking… 🌋Aerial view of La Palma
Not every day we get the chance to pass under the rainbow arc just on the final approach. Looks like the autumn is starting here as well, some precipitations will be coming, which is good after all those dry months. Look at this amazing cloud formation (cumulus congestus) and the squalls and rain down there…
Cumulus congestus above the TFS airport
It’s not the usual view we are used to here at the south of Tenerife… But we can’t make the weather :-D.
Cumulus congestus above the TFS airportOur turn to pass under the rainbow
Time flies so fast that I almost did not get the chance (or find a moment) to write a quick post about a flight with a friend of mine in Germany a couple of weeks ago.
We meet met at Bonn-Hangelar airport (EDKB), not far away from Bonn on a very warm August day.
Bonn-Hangelar airport
We flew the C172, it’s a great aircraft, and I always liked to fly it.
Definitely one of the highlights was the flight around Cologne and to see the Cathedral from above. 👇Exactly 2 years ago I’ve visited the city and stood just next to it. Now also the view from above…
Cologne Cathedralral
Another highlight was the low pass at Köln-Bonn airport (EDDK). After the initial request, we got vectors (even though that we were flying under VFR rules) to perform the low pass not bellow 1.000 feet on the RWY 14L.
Coming in foe the lowpass at EDDK RWY 14L
After the low pass we continued to Düsseldorf. Beautiful and green countryside, however it was a bit dry because of the heat.
Düsseldorf City
On our way back to Hangelar we saw also this nice castle (Schloss Drachenburg).
Schloss DrachenburgApproach into Bonn-Hangelar airportFinal RWY 11 into Bonn Hangelar
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