eerste vlucht connie aviodrome N749NL

[aviodromefriend]

There might be no more 749's in the air, but how about the 1049? The Breitling one still flies, how is the similarity between the two types?

When the N749NL arrived in Europe, there was some rumour the Breitling crew had an equalisation, but this was something quite vague.

Edit: translation of a dutch word in the original post, credits: rutger 330

[rutger330]

@aviodromefriend got the translation of: 'gelijkstelling' and it is: equalisation

grt rutger

[patrick@tediek.com]

What I meant is, how does the crew stay current. I know that the Mats connie was (unfortunately) sold and put on static display. Is the same crew flying the breitling ac?

[aviodromefriend]

The Breitling Superconstellation is flown by a swiss crew. Well I don't understand your worries about the MATS crew. As they don't have a 749 to fly in the States, why should they stay current?

[Rotorblast]

so there is no other 749 in the air (and a current crew either) to train a Dutch crew.

So forget the whole story

Under U.S. (FAA N-reg) regulations.

Sec. 61.57 - Recent flight experience: Pilot in Command.

(a) General experience. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and --

(i) The person acted as the sole manipulator of the flight controls; and

(ii) The required takeoffs and landings were performed in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required), and, if the aircraft to be flown is an airplane with a tailwheel, the takeoffs and landings must have been made to a full stop in an airplane with a tailwheel.

Source

Note: FAA (N-Reg) Type Ratings NEVER expire and ONLY the Captain (read: Pilot in Command) needs to be type current

Dutch crew is most probably to expensive..

Ever thought about volunteers

My 2 cents

[aviodromefriend]

so there is no other 749 in the air (and a current crew either) to train a Dutch crew.

So forget the whole story

Under U.S. (FAA N-reg) regulations.

Sec. 61.57 - Recent flight experience: Pilot in Command.

(a) General experience. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and --

Sec. 61.58 Pilot-in-command proficiency check: Operation of aircraft
requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, to serve as pilot
in command of an aircraft that is type certificated for more than one
required pilot flight crewmember, a person must--
(1) Within the preceding 12 calendar months, complete a pilot-in-
command proficiency check in an aircraft that is type certificated for
more than one required pilot flight crewmember; and
(2) Within the preceding 24 calendar months, complete a pilot-in-
command proficiency check in the particular type of aircraft in which
that person will serve as pilot in command.

Who is cleared to do this checks?

Eh, this section is just two clicks away from your source

[Lars]

@rotorblast. To expensive as in to expensive to train. I don't know any dutch pilots who would want payment for connie flying. I thought that to be very clear in my post

[Rotorblast]

Who is cleared to do this checks?

The Dutch Connie operation is NOT for compensation or hire (commercial/public passenger transport etc)

For Private (FAR PART 91) Multi Crew operations the Pilot in Command and Operator needs ONLY to comply with the basic regulations. Nothing more, nothing less.

Any Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Designated Pilot Examiner or Check Airmen can/may endorse.

My 2 cents

[patrick@tediek.com]

I am not worried about anything. I have my papers and know exactly what is required. Therefore my interest in this.

[aviodromefriend]

Well, time for an update, Aviodrome thought yesterdayevening .

The bad news:
About the swiss crew: Negotiations have been on, almost finalised, but when the swiss showed their papers, their ratings showed a remark that it was/is only valid for HB-... registered aircraft, so that option was off then.
About the aircraft: After a successful test during the day (not only on the Connie, also on a computer, for who was there ), at night engine #3 failed to start due to no fuel-pressure (:uhuh: engine #3, sounds familiar to me, doesn't it?). An educated guess is that they want to check and solve this first, before a first flight will be undertaken. This flight will not happen this year anyway, according to Aviodrome.

The good news:
The FAA is running a program where examinors may check-out crews for aircraft that are comparable to aircraft they are current for, as long as there are just a few left flying for the first mentioned type. This should give five people that can check out the crew. All five have been contacted already.

[toppiero]

got this from aviodrime site:



It is now early December and we have elected to the Connie coming months in a warm environment to overwinter. Last week we took Saturday with the help of the company saán the Constellation back in the exhibition put. The Aviodrome visitors can now continue to visit the Constellation, the technicians may have some minor chores and we can perform the last paperwork on the crew for 2009 completion. We still have much contact with U.S. aviation authorities regarding the appointment of an examiner for the flight engineer. Everything runs and it Looks like we can finally fly in 2009. We have also been positive contact with some airshows for 2009. The planning for late March / early April to move the Constellation back outside.

[aviodromefriend]

Next saturday (May 2) the Constellation will be put outside again. That day there will be no engine runs, as is stated at http://www.aviodrome.nl. Furthermore, more aircraft will move this day.

[Thermal]

Dutch crew is most probably to expensive.

That's rubbish. One of the crew (co-pilot) who brought the Connie back to Holland in 2003 was Dutch. He's an ex KLu pilot and now flies with KLM. I know him from my glider club. He payed big bucks (almost $4.000,-) to get his rating. And if he would get the chance of flying her he would definitely do that for free.

And if I'm not mistaken there were also two Dutch engineers on the flight.

[Borobudur]

The Constellation is currently parked near the fuel station (Next to the Martinair Vliegschool)

[Aviopic]

Connie performed taxi runs last night.
Will give more info and probably a photo sometime later.