SUPER FIRE 7

RP-C5912 returned to our fleet after an epic ferry flight touching four continents – ready to serve the ongoing uptick in air travel.

 

The odyssey of RP-C5912 and its delivery team

 

Traveling by air has become routine – in fact, passengers usually fly nonstop on long-haul routes on bigger planes with longer range performance.

 

But what about flying halfway around the world on a small turboprop aircraft? That experience would be much like in the early days of air travel. This is what the PAL Express delivery team experienced when they ferried home an 86-seater De Havilland Dash 8-400NG aircraft, registered RP-C5912, last November 18 to 24.

 

The Dash 8 has a range of 1,100 nautical miles, ample for a flight from Manila to Siargao or Cebu to Laoag, and well suited for its mission as an inter-island commuter aircraft.

 

The aircraft was blessed before it departed from Ontario on the first leg of its long journey to the Philippines.

 

So when RP-C5912 had to be “redelivered” back to our fleet, it took an expert team of PALex pilots and engineers to conduct a full six days of flying from Ontario in Canada to Manila, an epic journey of 11,250 nautical miles with stopovers in nine countries across four continents.

 

What does one do on such a long-distance, multi-stop flight? The five-person crew of Flight 2P5008 narrates their unusual adventure story.

 

Captain RJ Fernandez was in command of the flight and was assisted by First Officer Deb Hernaez. Capt. Anthony Larena, the PALex Chief Pilot of the Dash 8 fleet, joined them on this extended journey and took command on particular legs. Completing the roster were Engineers Mark Biler and Jenny Basalo, who came to ensure full maintenance support for a smooth ferry flight.

 

The flight crew took turns on various legs of their journey, to ensure that everyone got enough rest to perform their duties safely and effectively.

 

The flight began with extensive pre-flight planning and coordination work conducted by various departments in PAL Express. Said Capt. RJ Fernandez, an eight-year veteran with the airline: "First, there were documents needed to prepare prior to the departure." Added his partner, FO Deb Hernaez: "This team curates the multi-sectoral flight to the smallest detail to ensure everything goes according to plan. Included in the planning are the overfly and landing permits."

 

From the origin airport in Canada, Jack Garland Airport in North Bay, Ontario, the flight had to make nine stops, of which five were overnight layovers.

 

The first leg took them to Goose Bay in Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador province before proceeding to Reykjavik in Iceland – the Goose Bay-Reykjavik sector was the longest of the trip, clocking at more than four hours flying time.

 

The team takes a much-needed break in Reykjavik, Iceland, after completing one of the longest legs that took them over the Atlantic Ocean.

 

RP-C5912 and its crew then flew on to Paris Le Bourget (France), Malta, Luxor (Egypt), Fujairah (U.A.E.), Ahmedabad (India), Dhaka (Bangladesh), and U-Tapao (Thailand) before finally landing in Manila on November 24.

 

The crew expected to encounter some challenges when operating such a unique flight. FO Hernaez shared: "We were presented with challenges to international flying, namely, icing conditions, language barrier, fuel management, unfamiliarity with the routes … and the list goes on."

 

The Dash 8 is not normally equipped for long-range travel, as its cabin amenities are designed for short domestic hops. This required some special attention to food preparation and service. Mechanic Mark Biler said, "In every stopover that we go to, there are crew meals that are carried on board. We heat our food with the use of the aircraft oven in the galley." According to Capt. Fernandez: "We took turns preparing our meals and finally learned to operate the oven and the water boiler. Whoever was not flying was the one preparing. Our flight mechanics onboard were also helping us prepare."

 

Rest was a mandatory part of their journey as well, required by stringent safety regulations to ensure an alert and engaged flight crew. The 20,835 km journey allowed them to visit some very interesting and diverse cities that were not part of their usual duty itineraries.

 

They experienced polar-opposite temperature conditions, from the freezing cold in Iceland to the arid desert of the U.A.E. Said Engineer Mark, "… But personally, the view above the ground, especially in foreign lands, fascinates me. I always enjoy the beauty of the rare views."

 

The engineers played an important role in ensuring that the ferry flight went according to plan.

 

Engineer Jenny recounted, "We usually depart at dawn or daytime and arrive at night. It's only with Fujairah, UAE, that we had to depart at midnight." She framed her experience flying this mission as "Amazing! Being a part of the delivery team, being able to go to places which I may not do in my lifetime, excites me the most."

 

For the crew of RP-C5912, the delivery flight mission was a truly exciting and unforgettable experience. For Capt. Fernandez, it was the first time he had flown such a mission as a Captain. He flew his first ferry mission when he was a First Officer. FO Hernaez had once been a flight attendant before she made a career shift to the front section of the cabin – the first PALex cabin crew member to move on to flying duties on the Dash 8.

 

The familiar PAL tri-color lands in U-Tapao, Thailand.

 

The RP-C5912 mission has become a core memory, one of her most treasured experiences that brought her out of her comfort zone of flying domestic flights. For Engineer Jenny, it was the first such mission in her 10-year aviation career; for Mark, this had been his longest trip.

 

The remarkable journey of the five crew members of RP-C5912 was not a routine day in the office. It gave them a different perspective on flying and allowed them to learn more about themselves and about the degree of excellence and professionalism required in their aviation careers. They will take these learnings to heart as they continue flying. And for now, RP-C5912 is back home in the Philippines, once again hopping from island to island with happy tourists on board.