Roehris Aviation Pages - Gallery on the job


Funchal is certainly one of the most impressive airports in the world. Its location on Madeira island in the eastern part of the Atlantic ocean, nestled against steep hills on the eastern part of the volcanic island, partly standing on concrete columns, with a quite short runway, quickly changing weather situations, and often very gusty wind situations due to the valleys in the vicinity make it a special, exciting and sometimes demanding destination to fly to. It's not by chance that most carriers have designated the airport as a "captains only landing" airport, and special training is required to be "Madeira qualified". Nevertheless, on calm and sunny days it is a pleasure to fly to Madeira (not only because some of world's most famous airplane spotters live there :-) ), and I want to take the opportunity to take you on an Austrian airlines holiday charter flight to Funchal. Sit back, relax and enjoy the flight on board of our Airbus A321-200 OE LBD named "Steirisches Weinland". In command today is Captain Gerhard Pitsch, head of training and chief flight instructor A320 of Austrian Airlines. Read more about the island of Madeira in the related Wikipedia article! As usual, click the pictures on the left side to enlarge them into a new window. And now enjoy! (...and drop me a line on my email address gear-up (at) gmx.ch if you like it!)
	As on every flight, we have to check the weather for our takeoff aerodrome or alternate, our enroute alternates, and our destination as well as the destination alternate. I have cut these meteo reports together for you, as they are usually in a meteo folder with dozens of aerodrome weather reports. But whazzoldat alternates? Okay, let's rip it down: If we lose an engine on takeoff, law wants us to be able to land on one engine within the next 380NM of our departure aerodrome. Today it's the 5th of June, so Vienna features good weather, and we would return here. In wintertime with heavy fog and weather below approach minimum, we had to choose Bratislava, Budapest or Praha as a takeoff alternate, if the weather is above minimum conditions there. It is obvious that our destination aerodrome has to feature good weather (otherwise we had to have two good destination alternates), and it's also obvious that we must have an alternative if our destination is closed (due to whatever reason... operational, unexpected weather change, aircraft stuck on the runway...), so we have to choose a destination alternate. And on all these airports, the weather conditions have to be "good", which for us does not mean bikini conditions, sunny and 30 degrees celsius, but above the minimum conditions stated for our expected instrument approach within a timeframe of plus-minus one hour. Well, that's it (a bit simplified, but I don't want to go further into the detail...you might miss all the neat pictures below if you give up already now :-) ).
	On our flights with the A320 family, we must always stay within 380NM of an aerodrome which is suitable (enough large for us and has good weather). These aerodromes are called enroute alternates. Our dispatchers choose suitable airports for us before the flight, and if it's a longer flight, they print out an enroute chart with the enroute alternates (in our case it's the chart for the flight back to Vienna, with the enroute alternates Lisboa (LPPT) and Toulouse (LFBO)). And we have to check if the weather is good for the time we estimate we will be over this aerodrome (plus-minus one hour). The red circles are the 380 NM circles for our situational awareness in case of reroutings and radar vectors.
	Next is the so called significant weather chart. It is published four times a day (valid for 00hr, 06h, 12h and 18h UTC), and shows all significant weather phenomena above flight level 100. The chart features thunderstorm areas (like the one west of Madeira "ISOL EMB CB"), volcanic ash (see the symbol on mount Etna on sicily island), turbulence and icing dangers (in the cloud symbol north and south of the alps). The chart would also show hurricanes, sandstorms and other phenomena not too well known in central europe. But today we expect a calm and hassle-free ride.
	The last thing we have to check is the wind chart for our cruise level. We usually check all the available charts, here's one sample for you - it's the chart for flight level 390 on our route. We will have quite a crosswind until the region of Lisboa, and then it changes to a strong headwind for the last hour of flight. There's a jump of windspeed (indicated by the stripes and flags on the indicators) and the temperature (indicated by the number which reads in minus celsius grades) between central and western France, so we could get some light bumps there.
	As Madeira is the important thing on this photostory, I will start with the pictures where things get interesting: At the end of continental europe, or in more precise terms, at the atlantic coastline near Lisboa, Portugal. From the first officer's seat you enjoy a view towards northwest, over the Mar de Palha, the mouth of Tejo river, and the portuguese capital city Lisboa.
	And off the right front window, you see the Cabo Espichel (left) and the Lagoa de Albufeira (two small lakes in the middle of the long beach).
	A last view onto Lisboa, and off we go. Now our Airbus gets ETOPS as well (Engines Turning Or Passengers Swimming :-)). Well, in real life our A321 is not ETOPS rated, for those who know what it is. But the joke is as old as aviation itself so I had to bring it up.
	After nearly another hour of flight, we have already started our descent, and are passing 6500ft on descent to the final approach altitude of 3000ft. We are cleared for the VOR approach towards runway 23 and are approaching the final fix FUNOR. Before, we have carefully checked all the weather information available, as certain wind directions and speeds are hazardous in Funchal due to steep valleys, where the wind blows severe gusts onto the short final, which is very dangerous to aircraft. Therefore it is prohibited to start approach if the wind limits are exceeded. But today it is nearly calm (see the wind arrow in the top left corner of the nav display: 208/12).
	A view out of the window tells that the meteorologists have been right: beautiful weather on Madeira island! We can already spot the narrow peninsula Ponta do Rosto that leads from the city of Canical outwards to the east, and ends in the two small islands Illheu de Agostinho (the flat longer one) and Illheu de Sao Laurenco (the tiny one far left).
	We are on final approach, descending in the "track/FPA" mode which allows the autopilot to follow an exact approach angle (2.3 degrees here), no matter what the wind and - in succession - our ground speed does. A very comfortable way to do so called non precision approaches! Flaps 2 are already set, and we are a bit more than 1000ft above our Minimum Descent Altitude.
	Soon after FUNOR we inform ATC that we have the field in sight (on the middle "nose" on the island, exactly in the middle of the picture) and would like to proceed visually.
	Captain Gerhard Pitsch, head of training and chief flight instructor of our Airbus 320 fleet, takes the big bird in his hands, disengages the autopilot, and flies the A321 manually towards the runway.
	We will shortly overfly the narrow peninsula Ponta do Rosto...
	...where the Funchal VOR is located on.
	A view towards the city of Canical.
	Over the VOR, we turn visually to the right. The optimum flight path is a medium between getting to the final approch track ("in front of the runway") as soon as possible (this makes for a stabilized final approach) and nevertheless staying away from the City of Canical (noise abatement) and the mountain slopes (turbulences and downdrafts).
	But as an experienced skipper, Gerhard Pitsch solves this problem picture perfect.
	We leave Canical off our right wing...
	...dropping the gear and setting full flaps, and turning towards the final of runway 23.
	A quick view inside - vertical speed, speed, flaps an gear - all okay.
	The turn leads us onto finals, in safe distance to the volcanic hills of Madeira island.
	Some 500ft over the field, we are established on the final approach track, and are sliding down towards the runway like a big glider.
	Two red and two white - the perfect approach angle.
	And here comes the surprise: I have swapped some emails with Miguel Nobrega, one of the famous airplane photographers from Madeira called "Madeira Spotters".He agreed to take pictures of our approach, and here they come. Once again a big "obrigado" to you, Miguel!
	On final approach. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	Initial flare. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	Exactly over the marks. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	And a perfectly safe touchdown on the centerline. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	This picture is provided to you in WALLPAPER format. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	This picture is provided to you in WALLPAPER format. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	This picture is provided to you in WALLPAPER format. (Picture: Miguel Nobrega/Maderia Spotters)
	After rollout and vacating the runway, we have reached our stand and are guided in by a marshaller.
	A little bit more...
	...and then we are safely parked. Engine shutdown, doors open, parking checklist...
	...and then a first glimpse out the forward door, to sniff the fresh, salty air of Madeira.
	Let's take the opportunity to do a short walk around our bus.
	The fuellers are already here and pump tons and tons of kerosene into the wings and body of our bus.
	Captain Gerhard Pitsch starts his walkaround, too (he is quite well hidden in front of the nosewheel).
	The conveyor belt is already in place, ready to load some last minute items, baby carts and other luggage into the bulk hold at the rear end of the A321.
	In the meanwhile we have got a neighbour. A Thomas Cook B757-200 has parked on the stand next to us.
	A rather unusual perspective. "Isi it a girl or a boy?" No, kiddin'. It's the APU air inlet.
	All of a sudden, a thundering sound wakes us from our sunlit peace. A First Choice B757-200 has touched down and stops with reversers deployed.
	And then a big bumbelbee screetches down on runway 05. It's a C-130 Hercules of the portuguese Air Force.
	We continue our walk, and are amazed at how long the A321 is.
	Unmistakably signed. We have hit at the right place :-)
	Our neighbours to the south: A Portugalia Fokker 100, and two A320.
	And this is the reason why we had some "non standard" work to do after takeoff from Vienna. When we tried to retract the landing lights passing FL100, a ECAM message remained on the E/WD (upper ECAM display), that the landing lights are still out. As we had the switch in the "Retract/OFF" position, we knew that one or both of them were stuck extended.
	Our MEL (Minumum Equipment List) stated that we may continue the flight, but have to consider that fuel consumption is 1% higher per extended landing light. We calculated, and quickly saw that we have enough reserves to complete the flight safely. So we will also fly back to Vienna with the light out, and will hand the problem over to our versatile technicians at the AUA maintenance base.
	A rather unusual perspective, but it's nice and shady.
	"Unusual perspectives" part 2.
	A last view back onto the bus and the island, before we have to go to work again.
	Fuelling is finished, and the tanker guy brings us the receipt. He has uplifted 15'480 liters of JET A1 fuel during 35 minutes of tankering. This is about 12,5 tons of fuel.
	The ground handling agent was here as well, and dropped a package of meteo information. I have cut them together for you again, as you don't want to read five pages of aerodrome weather, do you? :-) What is interesting here: We have taken Porto Santo (the neighbour island) into consideration as a takeoff alternate. Winds are almost calm in Funchal, but Porto Santo has a much longer runway, and should we need the place, we would go there.
	The significant weather chart also looks good. The thunderstorm area to the west of Madeira (as seen on the morning SIG chart above) has been reduced to a small area, only a small area over the alps will feature some isolated enbedded CB (thunderstorm) clouds, but these should stay to the south of our track.
	Same game with the winds. The headwind inbound is now a tailwind outbound of Madeira, and after Lisboa, it changes to a crosswind. The temperature and wind jumps over southern France still exist, so we expect some minor bumps there again (as seen on the inbound flight).
	All on board, doors closed, engines started, and soon we are roling out towards runway 05. The runway and apron stands on concrete pillars on the southern and northern end, which makes for aircraft carrier feeling and looks when taxying around.
	Captain Gerhard Pitsch slowly and gently moves our big bus...
	...towards the threshold of runway 05.
	Imagine turning a bit too late...
	A last view back onto the island...
	...and the city of Santa Cruz behind the runway.
	Gerhard Pitsch uses every foot available on the short runway on lineup, and soon we thunder down the runway, lift off graciously from the apron, and start our visual right turn towards the Funchal VOR on the Ponta do Rosto peninsula.
	Climbing out, we pass our alternate Porto Santo. If you have really good eyes, you might see the runway.
	It is located exactly in the middle of the island, underneath the grey part of the cumulus cloud, looking in our direction, and has white spots at the beginning and end.
	The autopilot is engaged, and Gerhard Pitsch prepares his first announcement to the passengers.
	We have had landfall in continental Europe in the region of Lissabon again. Now another 20 minutes of flight have passed, and our window features a view onto Salamanca in Spain.
	Add another 20 minutes, and we overfly the Pyrenees. The sun shining on the mountain slopes heats the air and makes it rise. This process formes some nice small cumulus clouds.
	Fantastic for hiking and mountain biking... but we have to head on.
	With a view onto the birthplace of the larger Airbuses, Toulouse Blagnac airport, I'd like to close this photostory and hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for visiting! And check back soon!

The Madeira experience
A321-200 OE-LBD	Route Vienna (LOWW) - Funchal/Madeira (LPMA) - Vienna (LOWW)	05.06.2006