Departure from Moonraiser Island: A Drawer-Cleaning Takeoff in Roundtrip Ticket to Paradise 2

”Moonraiser ATIS Information Bravo. Weather, 2000 feet scattered, ceiling 3000 feet broken. Wind 270 at 5. Visibility 4 miles in light powdery snow. Temperature minus 20, dewpoint minus 30. Altimeter 30.10. Runway 27 in use. Advise Clearance Delivery on 118.8 you have Information Bravo.”

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I’m stepping into character here, inspired by a conversation (and possible long-term job offer) I had with a gentleman in a local bar last February. (I’m not going to say which character, but you’ll likely figure it out as the essay progresses.) This tale relates a takeoff of a heavily overloaded aircraft from an airport with a short runway located on a small island in the North Bering Sea.

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“Moonraiser Clearance Delivery, 90 North Airways Flight 1 Heavy, operating as Christmas Flight 1 Heavy, ready to copy clearance to North Pole Cargoport Airfield, with many stops enroute. We have information Bravo.”

”Christmas Flight 1 Heavy, Moonraiser Clearance Delivery. You are cleared as filed to North Pole Cargoport. Block altitude 1000 feet to Flight Level 320 approved with the stipulation that you are responsible for your own collision avoidance. Departure control frequency will be 124.5. Squawk 1224. Contact Moonraiser Ground when ready on 122.7.”

“Christmas Flight 1 roger.”

Backstory as to why we were in this situation runs as follows. The son of one of the Team members had gone on a walkabout, after a rough childhood and adolescence. He had been born with a physical …erm… extraordinariness, the value of which no one at the time, including, I’m sorry to say, myself, was able to realize.

“Moonraiser Ground, Christmas Flight 1 Heavy, ready for taxi.”

”Christmas Flight 1 Heavy, Moonraiser Ground. You are cleared to taxi into position and hold Runway 27. Call Moonraiser Tower on 118.2 when ready for takeoff.”

“Christmas Flight 1, roger, position and hold Runway 27.”

Son had returned only a few hours before we were scheduled to depart Cargoport, during a howling blizzard which threatened to force us to scrub tonight’s flight. The simple fact of his return under such conditions showed us that he had gained some awesome navigational skills which we lacked, together with excellent flight abilities on a par with the Team. So in short order, everyone agreed to make him Navigator for the Team. The Team and I then sat down to review the flight plan while the aircraft was being loaded. At that point, Navigator mentioned that he had promised a gentleman named Moonraiser that we would stop by his island in the North Bering Sea and board any passengers and cargo wishing to leave tonight. Ohhhkay… so we added a new flight plan to Moonraiser Island and pushed the old one back a few hours, not knowing how much weight we were going to add there, but with 12.5% additional power now available, we should be able to handle it.

So here we were now, stuffed to the gunwales with the new passengers and cargo. Copilot and I reviewed the weight and balance data, and discovered that while the center of gravity was where it should be, we were loaded 45% beyond our usual maximum gross takeoff weight.

“OK Team and Crew, listen up. As you know we are quite heavy tonight. We have 3000 feet of runway to work with. Those runway lights you see are white for the first 2000 feet, then with 1000 feet to go they change to yellow, and with 500 feet left they change to red. Our Vr, speed to rotate, is 85 knots, but we need 3100 feet of runway to make that happen. We do have about 300 feet of unpaved ground available between the approach end of 27 and the eastern seawall. So what we’ll do is taxi onto the runway, then reverse the aircraft off the end of the runway until the tail is at the seawall, then start our takeoff run there. It’ll be rough and bumpy for the first 300 feet, but it’s the only way to get this load off the ground. We’ve calculated our commit speed at 70 knots, which will occur at about 2100 feet down the runway. Beyond that point we’re committed to takeoff, as we won’t be able to get stopped in the remaining space. Vr should occur at about 2800 feet. I don’t need to remind you we have a lot of kids depending on us to make this happen tonight. Any questions?” There were none. “OK, let’s taxi.”

The Team lurched forward, the harnesses went taut, and the overloaded aircraft began to inch forward towards the approach end of Runway 27. Man, were we heavy… but we eventually lined up on the runway.

“OK, Copilot, jump out and give me a spot for the reverse. Team, reverse thrust slowly until Copilot says we’re at the seawall.”

The aircraft backed off the runway and over the frozen ground, towards the eastern seawall. Finally, Copilot called, “OK, Push 25 feet… 20 feet… 15 feet… 10 feet… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and that’ll do.” The aircraft’s tail was hanging over the seawall, and 300 feet ahead we could see the runway lights twinkling first white, then far down, yellow, and off in the distance, red.

“Navigator, waypoints locked and loaded? Give me full power when ready.” Shortly I saw the red glow indicating Navigator had his flight plan loaded and ready. “Copilot, aircraft ready for takeoff?” She replied, “Yes, sir, aircraft is ready.”

“Moonraiser Tower, Christmas Flight 1 Heavy, ready for takeoff.”

”Christmas 1 Heavy, Moonraiser Tower. Climb and maintain 1000 feet, expect your block altitude 1000 feet to Flight Level 320 one zero minutes after departure. You are reminded that you are providing your own collision avoidance once clear of Moonraiser airspace. Departure Control frequency will be 124.5. You are cleared for takeoff, sir. Good luck and Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, sir. Christmas 1 cleared for takeoff.”

“OK, Copilot, give me airspeed in 10-knot increments. Team, let’s roll. Takeoff power.”

The Team leaned forward with all their might, and the aircraft began bumping over the frozen ground towards the approach end of Runway 27. “Sir, airspeed’s alive at 20 knots.” The aircraft gave a terrific lurch as the landing gear jounced across the runway threshhold, and I heard gasps from some of the passengers.

“30 knots… 40…” The runway lights began passing by at increasing frequency. “50 knots… 60 knots…” We entered the yellow zone, and I could see the red coming at us fast. “70 knots, commit speed.”

We entered the red zone, and I could see the western seawall rushing towards us. “80 knots… 85 knots, Vr!” I called, “Rotate!” and hauled back on the controls and the Team reared skyward as the aircraft staggered into the air on the ragged edge of a stall. Copilot said, “Airborne” and I called, “Gear up!” As the landing gear was retracting I saw the end of the runway flash past followed a moment later by the western seawall, and we thundered out over the open leads and jumble ice of the North Bering Sea, the Team at full throttle straining for every foot of altitude and knot of airspeed they could.

“85 knots, 50 feet… 85 knots, 100 feet… 90 knots, 150 feet… 100 knots, 200 feet…“

Finally… “120 knots, 800 feet… 130 knots, 900 feet.” I called, “OK Team, throttle back to climbout power. Maintain 130 Knots.” Then I radioed, “Moonraiser Tower, Christmas 1 leaving 900 feet.”

”Christmas 1, roger. You are cleared for your block altitude 1000 feet to Flight Level 320. Contact Moonraiser Departure now on 124.5 Good night, sir, and good luck.”

“Moonraiser Departure, Christmas Flight 1 Heavy with you now leaving 1000 feet.”

”Christmas 1 Heavy, roger, radar contact. You are cleared on course to North Pole Cargoport Airfield, with intermediate stops. Frequency change approved… erm… I hesitate to say this, but that was rather scary watching your takeoff.”

“Yes ma’am… but not nearly as scary as it was here on board. Fortunately, the math proved itself out, and the Team is in top form. Well, we’ve a long flight ahead of us, so I’ll wish you and everyone there on Moonraiser Island a good night and a Merry Christmas.”

”Roger, Christmas 1. Merry Christmas to you and everyone on board, too. Frequency change approved. Good night.”

And as Sam said, “Well, folks, as for the rest of the story…“

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(back out of character…) Apparently, there was a minor accident back in 2012 at North Pole Cargoport Airfield… report is here: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=187652. A couple of runway lights were crunched, but fortunately little other damages and no injuries occurred.

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And of course, as a kid, you knew something special was going to happen when this appeared on the television:

Last updated September 07, 2014