Page 14 - April 23

High noon in southern Iceland.
And ... the Number 1 reason every pilot should fly the North Atlantic ...
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Three: Experience Extreme Cold
I’m not a fan of the extreme cold, but you will get extremes flying the NAT, especially during the winter. The brutal cold punishes the pilot, sometimes with his life. You will be far better off if you are prepared. I’ve been guilty of being unprepared for the cold along the NAT, and I’m fortunate to have survived. The extreme temperature will impact every decision you make. That experience will make you a better pilot flying in the lower 48.
Two: The Airline Pilots Wish They Were You
Sitting at FL380 in the cockpit of a wide body jet with additional crew and flight attendants handing you first-class dinners is one thing. It is another to be making stops, enduring the extremes and challenges of the NAT. And, when they look north while flying the North Atlantic Tracks (NAT-OTS), they wish they could be doing what you are. They don’t want to do it every day; I get it. It’s not for everyone. But, deep down, they wish they were you, even if just for a little while.
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
APRIL 2023