Page 10 - Volume 17 Number 4

several times each month and schedule the aircraft maintenance accordingly. Scheduled and unscheduled maintenance is handled by Hawkeye Aviation, where Bryan Alston, Tod Letteney and their staff do an excellent job of maintaining our aircraft. Much of the work in done at Hawkeye’s facility, although their mechanics will be dispatched to our satellite locations if we have a mechan- ical issue.”The ChallengesOperating in the high country of the Continental Divide requires good strong airplanes and savvy pilots who understand the weather and terrain interface. Although field elevations are often high (the Laramie home base is highest at 7,284 feet), heavy-weight departures from Laramie are normally made in the cool of the morning. The shortest runway of the clinic locations is at Torrington (TOR), 5,700 feet in length, but the elevation is only 4,207 feet.As Diekroeger put it, “We choose pilots who have extensive mountain flying experience, since most of our flights are over mountainous terrain with weather conditions that are often less than ideal. Circling IFR approaches at night are not uncommon. Mountain wave and icing conditions may occur at any time of the year. An ATP certificate with 4,000 hours total time and 2,500 turbine hours is desired. However, a pilot with experience in this specific environment along with the right attitude will receive special consideration. King Air experience is a plus.”Flights normally file in the low to mid 20’s; the King Airs are non- RVSM, so FL280 is the highest they go. Individual pilots have full authority over delaying or diverting a flight, Diekroeger commented, even though it causes a back-up reshuffling of appointments. The “fasten seat belt” sign commonly stays on continuously, becauseCessna 400 Series OwnersIncreased Climb, Cruise, Range, PayloadIncreased cruise speed 6-13 KTAS, increased climb 100-300 FPMSSave5-10eixt%On FhPCAD designed wheel covers creates laminar flow overthe bottom od4f win/CAg incrwww.premiere-aviation.net • (925) 788-9010uel,$2000/Kiteasing generated liftag8 • TWIN & TURBINEAPRIL 2013