Flyzolo Team Update - Day 86
We promised the ✈️ aviation enthusiasts amongst you some answers about Zara's unplanned stop in Ayan, Russia, so here it is. Apologies for the others...
And now, some technicalities about flight planning, Pilot in Command decision-making and just good old flexibility 😅
"Unplanned" means "not planned on her original route". With every change Zara faces due to delays, weather, bureaucratic requirements etc., the route will most likely change too.
Right now, the many delays that have occurred, require that Zara moves south as diligently as possible to warmer latitudes: "winter is coming" and weather windows are fairly infrequent. ☀️❄️🌨
When in Magadan, a low pressure system (low clouds and precipitation) was moving Northwards from the South.
Options were:
a) Stay in Magadan: the same low pressure system would move northwards and prevent Zara moving for the forecastable future.
b) Fly, plan for Khabarovsk, perhaps even Ekimchan. Ayan was the furthest south we could be completely confident Zara could beat the weather. We communicated with the airport and were told they could accept Zara and her Shark, and that accommodation could be provided for her. (Thank you to the amazing people who made this happen!).
So Zara decided to fly. Unfortunately the low pressure system was moving Northwards faster than forecast, so once it became clear the weather was deteriorating in Ekimchan, Zara elected to divert to Ayan, a local uncontrolled airport.
Zara’s diversion options en route in Russia are limited to uncontrolled domestic airports. Flying into controlled airports in Russia requires to speak Russian or have a Russian navigator on board. Obviously this would rather be defeating the point for Zara of doing this trip solo. 🌎 🤪
One of the many ways Zara's Flight Ops Team is keeping her safe is by flight-following every single one of her flights (day ☀️ or night 🌙 for them, depending on time zones 🌓) and by being in constant satellite communication with her thanks to the YB Tracking and Iridium Communications in the Shark.aero plane (thank you for Zara's safety!!!).
We hope this wasn't too technical.
And, as you can see in the picture: unfortunately no hangarage for the 🦈 Shark, but a cosy little blanket 😜!
