De Kooy
............Why, do you require to talk to them when flying direct then?........
:;:
Hi Marcel
For me having the ability to talk to De Kooy is an important
It all about the risk balance, which is personal to each pilot. And the legal
requirements.
The journey for me is 160 nautical miles over water. My current radio is low
power
by today's standards and ready for upgrade. Experience of flying this direct
track previously tells me I go out of radio contact with stations for twenty
minutes due to radio transmission height/range/power/weather.
(1) I would like to have the option, to be able to talk directly to the nearest
rescue station if I were in difficulty. The De Kooy military station had a high
quality powerful radio that is a reliable contact.
(2) De Kooy also had good radar coverage to identify me should I have a distress
situation.
(3) Finally the weather often changes dramatically as you approach the Dutch
coast.
It was good to have De Kooy as the diversion option. It had plenty of kit
to get you down.
When I get the subsidised 8:33 upgrade will I gain extra power as well as the
ability
to contact all ATSU again, including De Kooy.
Of course it's all a matter of opinion. Different pilots would reach different
conclusions. Read the David Joyce (Mono XS) article on ditching in the sea.
Really good read on minimising risk and maximising chances of survival.
Regards
Bob Hitchcock
Europa XS Mono
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