BradB

I took a nice weekend trip to Toronto (CTYZ) this weekend. The return trip to Erie (KERI) took an interesting turn. The departure from CYTZ was IFR and the weather into Erie was forecast to be around 1100 broken. When I grabbed the ATIS, Erie was 400 bkn with reasonable visibility. As I prepared to shoot the ILS 6 into Erie, I was above a layer and didn't enter the cloud/fog layer until 600 AGL. At minimums, I was still in dense fog with nothing visible. Missed approach and head around for one more shot. The fog was just over the airport, 2 miles south was sunny skies. West, the fog was patchy. I thought it might be worth another try. But, as I was being vectored around for another shot, the controller kept reporting a falling ceiling and decreasing RVR to about 1200. The United flight behind me went to hold for a bit before trying the approach. I didn't see it getting good enough for me to go in anytime soon, so I diverted to my alternate KCLE. There were several airports VFR that were much closer, but I had originated in Canada on a Sunday afternoon. I had a customs appointment at KERI at 4:30 PM. Erie approach was kind enough to call and notify Erie customs that I would not be making it in. On the way to KCLE, I was able to get time to get in touch with flight service. They were able to call Cleveland customs and inform them about our situation and ETA (about 20 minutes). Customs at Cleveland is located in the main terminal at gate A-14. I taxied up to the main terminal between a Frontier and American Airlines jet parked at the adjacent gates. The jet bridge workers gave me some funny looks. The customs at Cleveland was very friendly and efficient. I was a little worried about the hassles that the diversion would create, but there were none. They thanked us for the advanced warning and said the we were the fourth diversion there that day (the others diverted from Detroit). Within minutes, we were taxiing to Atlantic Aviation to grab rental and drive the 90 minutes home. I'll try to go back and grab the plane on Tuesday. I knew that I had the customs issue hanging over me after the first missed approach. My first priority was to set up and go to a suitable alternate and then worry about the customs when I had time. There was an IFR mastery series about a similar issue regarding a weather diversion and customs. Much of the expert discussion on the scenario was centered on the customs issue and it led them to suggest some things that they otherwise would not have done. After this experience, I would say, that diversion to another airport of entry was a total non-event. And no, they didn't pull the jet bridge out for me. I had to walk in. Brad.

Mine doesn't work either, but I didn't think it was worth letting someone tear it apart to fix it and break three other things.

My MSC is doing the GTX345r without the full WAAS upgrade: Dunkirk Avionics and Jamestown Aviation/Chautauqua aircraft in Jamestown, NY.

Probably worth checking this out: http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2017/01/american-legend-al3-n38lc-incident.html

Bought my Mooney in March. Flew it 139.2 hours so far. 124 of it in cross country, 21.5 in IMC. It is a great travel machine!

Mine is getting really good with the g1000. Kids pick that stuff up quickly.

Erie will be easy. They are very fast and friendly. I've cleared there several times.

On Wednesday, I made a run to buffalo and back to pick up my daughter. She liked the snow cone on the spinner. It was nice to land in Florida yesterday without any of that icing nonsense!

Nice! I was right with you. Erie to Ft Myers in about 4 hours of flying. We had to stop for bladder maintenance - I had my 11yo daughter with me. The winds cooperated pretty well at FL200. We picked up a little ice on the climb, but nothing too bad. Brad

I am selling a one place portable pulse demand O2D1 unit from Mountain High. It is a G2 unitI bought last year. I am selling it because I ordered a two place system. If you are going to use it with a built in oxygen system, you'll need an in-line regulator - I am keeping mine to use with the new system. They are available on the mountain high website. It it works great and seems to do a great job conserving the oxygen. I also like the feel of the pulse delivery rather than the constant flow. I can't say how much because I had an oxygen leak fixed at the same time I started using this unit. Previously with the leak and a constant flow system I would empty my large built-in tank in about 5-6 hours. Now I can fly 10hours before I see the needle move appreciably. asking $400. Generic photo below. I should have my new one and be able to ship this one by Jan 4. Brad

In march, I will be doing the GTX345 upgrade without upgrading the g1000 to WAAS. I do have the gfc700, not the stec, but I'll let you know how this goes. Brad

I do pretty much the same as @201er But even if I am flying around in circles over the lake, I still get a code and have someone on the line.

I agree. I was completely OCD for a year before I bought my plane, ok still am. I had every Mooney for sale tracked and memorized. My girlfriend was totally sick of it. But she never threw down an ultimatum. Probably because she knew what the outcome would be. When I bought my plane, I bought her a nice pair of shoes and all was forgiven.

Miserable icy rain here today in Erie. I'm sitting in the plane right now in the hanger. Time to update nav databases and get everything cleaned up. No flying today

I'm not complaining, but at least in the TN, you do need a takeoff and landing W&B. Then max landing weight is less than the max TO weight. But, you will not get out of CG by burning fuel. You just need to make sure that you burn enough to land. Brad

Got my IR in 1993. Started right after my PPL. Just got my Mooney this year. Except for maintenance flights and occasional sight seeing rides, I file IFR for every flight. Brad.

I'll be back out at the airport tomorrow. I'll try to hunt down the mechanic and ask, he should have it somewhere convienent after looking today. Brad

Thanks. I agree, I'll have him drain and replace the fluid when I get the o-ring replaced next week.

Maybe it was just that @piloto was the last one parked there.

Thanks for the replies! Just pulled my mechanic over to look. Needs a new o ring. We checked and added hydraulic fluid. He is checking to see if he has the parts to fix now. The braking has has never changed. I never thought that it had the best brakes in the world, but there has been no difference. Will share all the responses with the mechanic. I appreciate it. It was much easier to stop in and see him when I could say that I had some hydraulic fluid leaking. He came right over with what he needed. Brad.

Any thoughts on what this fluid is? My Acclaim has been sitting in the hanger for the last week. I noticed this under a drain that comes out near the gear door on the left side. Does anyone know what fluid this is? A problem? Thanks for looking.

Easy gliding distance to shore or the airport from there. Also, during the summer, the water is nice and warm. T he winter is a whole different story. I'll be going to Toronto on Wednesday, I'll plan on nice and high for the lake crossings.

Yes, I had done a practice approach at Burke Lakefront. The published missed and the vectors that you get on a missed take you north over the lake. Then, I was cleared direct to Erie at some point and ended up coming in on the north side of the airport. The tower here doesn't seem to favor left or right, just what is convenient. I have been in the traffic pattern along with some of the training Archers. They got left traffic and I got right traffic because of our speed differences.

The worst of both worlds here:

Thanks for the report, Don. Glad it all worked out! I like to watch and learn from the decision making. I am sitting at Logan airport right now. I had to go to Boston from Erie this weekend. Friday was beautiful and it killed me to fly commercial. The weather today (Sunday) has panned out as miserable as forecast. I'm glad to be letting JetBlue do the flying tonight. Brad.