What makes Block island so challenging?

[Sixstring2k]

As the title suggest, what makes block island (KBID) so challenging? I have read here as well as other forums of the island claiming another plane, why is that?

[takair]

10 minutes ago, Sixstring2k said:

As the title suggest, what makes block island (KBID) so challenging? I have read here as well as other forums of the island claiming another plane, why is that?

It is a rather short strip on top of a hill, often with a gusty ocean cross wind. It is simply a strip where you need to be proficient at short field AND crosswind take-offs and landings. Being on speed is key and don’t be afraid to go around. Flying the full pattern helps. Busy traffic can add to the pressure. You also want to check weight and balance coming back out of there on a hot day. Tempting to load up with all your friends but it could be a trap. Not a place to be feared, just respected. It is one of my favorite destinations and I enjoy flying In and out. If nervous, take a familiar instructor the first time. But then lunch at the airport or walk to town. 

[Shadrach]

I’ve never landed at KBID but I suspect it’s not the airport. Shorter strips just don’t have much margin when things don’t go as planned. I think the recent Mooney incidents are a statistical anomaly. The previous 4 accidents at this airport occurred over the last 10 years and were all Cherokee derivatives.  

Edited November 9, 2021 by Shadrach

[Sixstring2k]

Thank you for your response’s, I am still learning and this airport does intrigue me. Seen it in YouTube a few times and is one place I would like to go, but I guess I will wait until I am more proficient. Check ride is around the corner and this is bucket list item for me but it can wait. 

[PeteMc]

I really don't think it's all that challenging and have been in there many times.  But as @takair said... "Not a place to be feared, just respected..."  So if you're in the area, don't automatically dismiss BID as a place to check out.  Here are some of my thoughts (totally off the top of my head):

• I typically go there on solid VFR days.  As a result you usually have a good headwind and stopping is not an issue.
• 99% of the time on VFR days you land Rwy 28.  From mid to short final there is often a sink due to the hill the runway is on top of.  So keep adjusting power as needed to keep yourself pinned to your landing spot.  This is not a runway where you can set the power on final and leave it.  Not that this doesn't happen, but just as many times you'll find yourself adjusting for the extra sink you encounter.  Just as typical as the sink is that on very short final as the hill comes up to meet you, your standard approach sink rate will come back.  So don't over compensate.
• Because the runway is short, I tend to aim for the numbers vs. the 1000' mark I am for on a 5000' Rwy.  Don't come in short, but if you typically do aim further down the runway, practice with a new aiming point for this runway.  As mentioned before, do some short field landing at your home airport.  There are no obstacles to worry about clearing, just need to ride the winds down to the numbers.  And NOT usually major gust that you're bouncing around, just ups and downs.
• PATTERN... Should have put this in it's own section.  BE VERY AWARE OF TRAFFIC.  I've been in there a few times where guys blow in doing all the reporting positions their instructor taught them and blow right through the patter and cut people off.  And I'm not talking about student pilots.  They are just OBLIVIOUS, do not listen and figure they are god so they're going where they want.  Doesn't happen all the time, but enough to listen for people you know have no picture of the pattern.  There are also the commuters, and they will look for a gap to sneak in, but I've never seen them cut anyone off.
• Takeoff you DO need to do the math and give it some thought (pending what you fly).  You very well may want to figure out how much fuel to carry going out so that you're as light as possible (with needed reserves) when departing.  Again, the headwind will help and there are lots of fields near by if you want to top off before a longer trip home.  (THERE IS NO FUEL OR OTHER MAINT. SERVICES AT BID.)
• There is a slight rise off the departure end of Rwy 28.  So you do need to make sure you can indeed climb.  But it's not a mountain or trees right at the end of the runway.  But if you try to take off and the DA has changed, it may be an issue.

Bottom line is go give it a shot.  It's a fun place to go.  No... wait... don't go!!!  We don't want more crowds there !!

[carusoam]

+1 short field proficiency…

Find Chris with the Dynon M20C’s video stack… @PilotFun101

He has a video regarding visiting block island…

Best regards,

-a-

[takair]

8 hours ago, Sixstring2k said:

Thank you for your response’s, I am still learning and this airport does intrigue me. Seen it in YouTube a few times and is one place I would like to go, but I guess I will wait until I am more proficient. Check ride is around the corner and this is bucket list item for me but it can wait. 

My first time there in the Mooney was when I was burning off my hours with an instructor. If your instructor is comfortable, it might be the perfect time. Are you based nearby?

[midlifeflyer]

Beats me. When I lived in Massachusetts, I loved going there.  Firth time I maybe had 100 hours total flight time. OTOH, I was based at an airport with an 1800' runway so...

[Sixstring2k]

3 hours ago, takair said:

My first time there in the Mooney was when I was burning off my hours with an instructor. If your instructor is comfortable, it might be the perfect time. Are you based nearby?

I am based and learning out of Lincoln park (N07), again this is a bucket list kind of thing but seen ahead keeps me focus. 

[PeteMc]

Lincoln Park?!?!?  So 165 feet is a game changer for you???     I assumed you were flying out of someplace with 4-6000 ft runways and the short field was the issue.  If it's okay with your instructor, maybe use it as a cross-country.

When you're ready, don't give it a second thought if you fly out of N07.  You don't even need to do much about the NY Class B.  You could go around the north which really wouldn't add that much time, or just scoot under the outer ring.

Edited October 12, 2021 by PeteMc

[Sixstring2k]

4 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Lincoln Park?!?!?  So 165 feet is a game changer for you???     I assumed you were flying out of someplace with 4-6000 ft runways and the short field was the issue.  If it's okay with your instructor, maybe use it as a cross-country.

When you're ready, don't give it a second thought if you fly out of N07.  You don't even need to do much about the NY Class B.  You could go around the north which really wouldn't add that much time, or just scoot under the outer ring.

Just asking because people with way more experience than me have run into trouble there, so it made me curious what i was missing. I am still learning here and I rather learn from others peoples mistake if possible and not my own, mistakes get expensive quick in this profession. 

[philiplane]

Used to go to Block Island several times each summer, flying in four people and bicycles in a Geronimo Apache. Block Island is all hills. I swear the only level street is at the ferry dock. Everything else is uphill, both ways. Makes for a great work out though. It's nice and peaceful, unlike the summer chaos over on the Vineyard and on Nantucket.

The airport sits up on a 100 foot tall bluff, so when you are landing to the west, you are encountering the face of the bluff. It's not huge, but the wind coming down the runway then spills down the bluff you are approaching, creating a fun down draft on very short final. With a 10 knot west wind, no problem. With 20 knots or more, it gets sporty. As long as you expect it, you won't be surprised and land short, which is not good. This has bitten more than one pilot, and the result is a hard landing, at best. You can't aim long and carry extra speed, the 2500 foot long runway isn't long enough for folks who aren't precise with their airspeed and aiming. 

Edited October 17, 2021 by philiplane

[KB4]

Ditto @PeteMc just respect the length and have your short field technique down, which seems mandatory any at your base anyway.  Going to favor Rnwy28 majority of time.  Good restaurant on field. The accidents were complacency.   You will find it a great experience. Put Sky Acres 44N on the list too. You can pick up your order from SkyGeek on the field and get cheap blue juice.  Kinda cool to do too.  

[buddy]

Taking of on RWY 28 on a dark hazy night you can lose the horizon pretty quickly, I always went right on instruments after take off.

[Bunti]

I just published a video of an approach to Block Island Airport. We departed Montauk and did the short trip to Block Island. The video contains the full flight. One camera looks outside and the other one shows the panel. 

In the short final of the approach, you will see why Block Island is challenging:  The elevation of runway 28 is 108 feet. The terrain is rising rapidly in front of the runway. This makes downdrafts highly possible during the approach.

The cockpit view of my video also shows the  speed management: During the final approach, we flew about 71 knots, which is reference speed for max weight. We reduced to reach the threshold with 64 knots. Touchdown was just a little behind the threshold with the stall horn.  This is a good example of  how important good speed management is.  In regard to our weight, we could have reduced the speed about 5 knots more for a very short runway.  But due to the expected downdraft and  the runway being not like 1800 feet long or so, we kept a little extra speed which was a little less than the head wind component of about 8 knots..

 

 

[Bunti]

I have no information about those 2 planes

 

[takair]

4 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

Did you see any evidence of what has become of M20J N58066 that landed hard July 2020 and sheared off its main gear or M20K/Rocket Conversion N110CG that crashed through the fence in July 2021?  There is no evidence that either has flown again.

They were both still there last time I went, a few weeks ago.  I think they would be hard pressed to ferry out of there, both have serious damage…..beyond the “buff out” kind…

[Yetti]

Gravity Vortex

[Alan Fox]

Been there many times , Mooneys mostly , and Cherokees and Bonanzas ...   Its a big nothing burger ... Fly the plane correctly ...