The Short Hop!

So on to the next destination , Kapalua-West Maui or just Kapalua Airport (JHM/PHJM). The rain that was north of the field in Molokai still held there as we departed. As we begin our departure, with the standard left climbing turn to FL050, thence to the VOR heading 100 degrees to BOGEE INT.

We start to board our flight for the departure from MKK.

As you can see the clouds which are now covering the interior of Molokai to the left and extending east as we climb thru FL020 to our cruise altitude of FL050 (this portion of the flight is only 15 min long from block to block)

We continue eastward flying over Kaunakakai and the wharf  (It's that little piece of land just at the very middle bottom of the F/O's window). The crew is busy at this point being as we are about to go IMC.

Though directly in front is in overcast conditions, just south of Molokai, the channel is clear and you can see Lanai island.

The overcast conditions that await us over West Maui. The mountains of east Molokai are to the left of us and shrouded in heavy clouds and rain.

"In the soup". We are now IMC and established on the 100 degree heading to BOGEE INT which is about 3 minutes away.

Here's the approach procedure into JHM.

 

At 24.4 DME and about FL029 from the MKK VOR we start to break out of the clouds.

 

As we get lower and closer, the coast line becomes visible. The approach into JHM is a rather tricky one for the crews. For noise abatement, aircraft must cross the shoreline no lower than 1800 ft. Only upon crossing the shore line may the turn from base onto final begin. So this almost seems to like your diving into the airport.

 

Approaching the shore line the field is visible thru the rain just near the right edge of the window.

Crossing the shoreline and turning onto final for RWY 02.

  

Established on final. RWY 02 just ahead on the edge of the rain.

One thing about the approach into JHM is that the runway is on 3000 ft long. There are ravines on either end of the runways. The winds are usually always a direct crosswind which includes wind shear on the short final. When I was a flight attendant, I used to tell passengers that landing in Kapalua was like landing on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Quick, violent and unforgettable!

Fifteen minutes after departing Molokai, here we are in a rainy Kapalua-West Maui.

Jumpseat Requalification

So, May/June for me is recurrent month. All of my dispatcher currency is due in late May till early June. Since I still had ground school to contend with, I decided to take a day and do my jumpseat requal first.

As dispatchers, we are required by FAR to occupy the jumpseat for five hours of observation. An hour can be substituted for every additional takeoff and landing down to two and a half hours. I decided to do our HNL-MKK-JHM-HNL and HNL-MKK-LNY-HNL legs with an additional HNL-JHM-HNL to requal on which based on the time, would give me 2.9 hours.

Show time for this was at 0555 at dispatch. I would be flying with Capt. Johnson and F/O Feddersohn and rounding out our merry crew was FA Muldowney in the back. N805WP would be our ship assigned to this trip. After the brief by the dispatcher we proceeded to our aircraft for the pre-flight and then taxi over to our gates at the commuter terminal.

Once loaded, with pax and commissary we taxied out to 8L via Lima and was cleared for immediate departure.

 Once airborne, we proceeded to PHMK/MKK airport. This early morning the ceiling was at about FL022 so we were in IMC conditions shortly after take off. But above FL040, it cleared out nicely.

Left turn to proceed direct the MKK VOR.  

This portion of the trip, HNL-MKK is only 17 min flight time, so it's a real busy flight for the crews. This morning's flight is no exception.

Our radar "paints out" the island of Molokai Because of the amount of clouds on the approach, we will be doing the MKK VOR A approach into MKK.

 As we begin to break thru the clouds, we can see that the south shore is clear of clouds and we can see the MKK airport in the distance. From here its just a few more minutes before were established on the approach and we are landing. Like I said, a real busy leg for the crews.

Looking along Molokai south shore towards Kaunakakai.

Established on the base leg of our approach, The airport is in the clear of the weather that we had been in shortly after departure from HNL.

On short final to RWY 05, weather is starting to close in from the north

Welcome to Molokai!

Next blog...off to Kapalua-West Maui

Aloha Airlines Flight 243...22 Years Later

Twenty-two years ago today, Aloha Airlines flight 243 departing Hilo (ITO) and heading to Honolulu (HNL), suffered a catastrophic decompression of the aircraft after reaching its crusing altitude of 24,000 ft. The Boeing 737 was later found to have severe corrosion with several rivets and skin joining flaps.

Seated in row 7, seat A on the left side of the aircraft was my father. Dad was coming home from a business trip. With construction businesses shut down because of the weather that day in Hilo, he decided to take an earlier flight home. The next available flight was 243. Boy did he have a story to share with all of us the next day!

Here's N73711 about 30 minutes into the evacuation. Passengers are starting to take in the magnitude of the event they were apart of.

The man standing on the left at the very end in the blue shirt is my dad. He said that he was just trying to figure out a way of telling my mom WHY he was on THIS flight and not the later flight he was scheduled to take!!

The famous photo which was seen around the world and made LIFE magazines End of the Year images of 1988 edition. Photo taken by passenger Bob Nichols

This is my dad. He left us on 24 Sept

Love and miss you!!

A Enduring Classic Cruises By

What a surprise to see this military heavy taxing past our offices. Considering that Hickam AFB (HIK) is on the complete opposite side of the airfield. On occasion, we get a "visiting crew" that is unfamiliar with HNL field and end up on the south ramp. Breaks up my routine and gives me a chance to view a classic aircraft that has been serving our country for 30 years in June.

Morning Departure

Recently, We had a patch of overcast weather covering the State of Hawaii. But on this morning, as the sun came up, I was able to grab a shot of one of our aircraft departing HNL from runway 04L just as the sun peaked out of the clouds. I especially love working our morning shifts!