Flight to Isla Juan Fernandez, Chile on Beechcraft Super King Air 200

I departed El Paso on Monday, March 14 at 1:20pm on Delta flight DL 2307, an MD-80. In Atlanta there was a 3-hour layover, I then boarded Delta DL 147 (Boeing 767) for the ~ 10 hour flight to Santiago Chile, arriving at 7:25am. One reason I chose Delta over American is Delta allows seat selection, and I got window seat on the left (sunrise) side of the aircraft. The other is that Delta offers pretty good in-flight meals for coach passengers - American customers get nada. The round-trip Delta ticket cost $1400.00.
After landing, I proceeded on foot to the Holiday Inn Santiago airport, a nice hotel that is right in the middle of the airport, next to the terminal. The staff was supremely kind and helpful, and all spoke perfect English. I spent the night de-jetlagging and biting my nails over the weather - for the first time in weeks the normally perfect autumn weather had turned rainy and windy. But, Wednesday morning dawned sunny and calm, and I made my way to Counter 96 buy my $890.00 ticket from Aerolineas ATA for the air-taxi flight to the island, 475 miles due west in the Pacific.
The flight on the twin-turbo King air 200 took about 2.5 hours. With the help of Google Translate and some friends fluent in Spanish, I had been able to get permission from Aerolineas ATA to ride in the co-pilot's seat!
Although the flight was fun and routine, it was not without some pucker-pactor at the end. The tiny airstrip on the far west end of the island is only 2800' in length and not for the faint-hearted.
The next video in this series will show my ride from the airstrip to the village in Miguel Depolo's remarkable 56' aluminum sailboat Orinogo. That was a real treat, as normally visitors are shuttled to the village in a 23' open fiberglass fishing boat. Miguel's crew had sailed his ship from Patagonia to the island, where they planned to make some repairs after gale-force winds had ripped the mainsail. Miguel and his son flew over from Santiago to assist in the repairs and then enjoy a leisurely trip back to Valparaiso.
You may ask, "Why go to this obscure island?" It all started in August 2011. I was sitting on the couch, watching an HD Theater presentation on the Galapagos islands. The video was stunning and the island glowing and gorgeous. I was reminded of my failed dream to sail solo around the world in a sailboat, but the urge to go someplace far, far away still gripped me. I realized I was not getting younger and this year might be my last chance.
So, I started my research. I rejected Galapagos - far too restricted, scripted and expensive. I then took the time to list my criteria: a remote island, at least 30 degrees south latitude (to be able to see the Magellanic clouds), uninhabited or sparely inhabited, free from annoying flying insects, sea cliffs with flattish ground on the top, not heavily vegetated, and with a good chance for clear nights.
As I studied the globe via Google Earth, I found many candidates that initially seemed perfect: the far south-west coast of Tasmania, the Auckland Islands south of New Zealand, Macquarie Island, Campbell Island (130 miles SW of Auckland). But, as I contacted people who has posted Panoramio photos of these places, a frustrating and disturbing pattern emerged. All of these beautiful places were futzy UNESCO "World Heritage" sites, and visitation was strictly, controlled - NO solo visits, ALL access requires accompaniment by a government representative, etc.
I turned my attention to Tazmania, and for several weeks I thought it would be the one. People were friendly, and there was a wealth of information about the southwest coast. Many bushwhacking forums, access was permitted, not tightly controlled. But, I discovered that the beautiful blue-sky photos on Panoramio were flukes - the island is lushly vegetated for a reason: it rains nearly constantly. I found some weather satellite websites that allowed me to look at 100-day sequences of images. Huge, comma-shaped storms sweep north and east from the Southern Ocean, the upper arms of these storms sweep across Tasmania about every other day. Also, the "mozzies" are thick on the track, as is the mud and the jungle. To top it off, nearly everyone reported ticks sucking their blood on every trip - although the ticks were (mostly) not the "paralysis" type. Yikes! So, it was back to Google Earth.
I had almost given up in despair, thinking I was born 200 years too late, when I spotted the tiniest dot of yellow off the coast of Chile. Zooming in, I saw the name "Isla Robinson Crusoe", a tiny airstrip, and dozens of Panoramio photo dots. I knew I had found it!
Chile encourages Isla tourism, solo hiking was perfectly OK, and the little village caters to adventure tourists.
In the 1980's Chile renamed the island from Isla Juan Fernandez to Isla Robinson Crusoe in an effort to encourage tourism, but most Chileans still use the original name.

[@JasonLastName]

Great video!!! Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@FranciscoJavierTorresPerez]

Excelente vídeo y experiencia, un abrazo desde Santiago de Chile.

[@MestreJonas77]

What a great trip. Very brave. Amazing landing. This airfield is something else.

[@MarwinMarwin]

Great video and nicely narrated story which got my attention immediately. I not always see completely a 14-min video as now I did. Thanks for sharing.

[@amarmams5125]

Love the b200 m'y favourite aircraft. Thanks for share this video.

[@stevecrye]

So glad this video is still bringing happiness! Man, I loved that trip, once in a lifetime! Thanks!

[@BeckerAviation]

Wow simply incredible! Saved as a favorite. So complete, well narrated and recorded. Cheers from Santiago.

[@stevecrye]

+Sky KoreSCL Thank you! There are some vids of the trip on the channel, not as well dine, I posted them as "home movies" for my late father to watch. I really enjoyed Chile. My next trip will be to fly my Paraglider at Iquiqe.

[@flywayne9362]

Wow what a video. I was captivated. Love the king air, love aviation, excellent narration. Great job. Look forward to more.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! I've been neglecting this channel, because I'm now obsessed with flying paragliders. I'm posting my flights to my other channel, Nelson's Wings. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYbHmK2BgZKji7M

[@bigdave121]

Amazing flight video. I felt that I was on the aircraft.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! That was a happy time for me. It's heartwarming that people still watch this video.

[@VascoDogs]

Beautiful video, thank you for sharing it.

[@stevecrye]

Vasco Carvalho Thanks for watching! Chile is beautiful and the people are great.

[@VascoDogs]

It is. If you can try to visit Argentina too, that area of the world is fantastic.

[@daisyruin]

You got some great footage of the island in the distance. Nice relaxed flight and very impressive landing. Thanks for taking us along.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! It was a trip of a lifetime.

[@fabitocl]

Thanks for this amazing video. Being chilean and a pilot, this was very interesting to watch!

[@stevecrye]

Fabian Martinez You are welcome! Chile was amazing, beautiful, Nuevo amigos, I hope to go back someday. Glad that people are sti watching this vid.

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

Wow! Another wonderful video! Thank you - this was almost as good as taking the trip myself! I look forward to the next one(s), for sure.

[@cjracer1000]

I normally land on pretty wide runways so that narrow runway gave me the illusion that he was way too high. Those illusions are very real! Great video, OP!

[@stevecrye]

I was so busy with the video I did not feel much pucker. But just a few weeks later the worst crash in many years happened to a plane trying to land in bad weather. Sobering to say the least.

[@retrocyber5085]

Amazing video.

[@willemp6432]

Nice film...I love that plane.+ 1 like from me.

[@juancarlossernalopez2154]

excelente video de este vuelo a la isla magica de robinson crusoe feliitaciones al piloto y sus pasajeros esun vuelo dificil pero hermoso

[@javacup912]

Great video! I take the narration over music any day. I got curious on this trip, so I began doing research as to what's out there on that island. Thanks for sharing. The King Air is my favorite plane, jet or turbo prop.

[@stevecrye]

You should visit the island, don't expect luxury, but it is a very interesting place.

[@comander402]

GENIAL VUELO.!

[@Chile33fuerza]

Excelente video felicitaciones desde Chile.

[@stevecrye]

+Charlie charlie One Muchas Gracias mi amigo de Chile!

[@kossunrakastaja]

Great video. Very interesting indeed. If I were flying with him, I'd be a bit more focused on keeping that center-line. The runway is fairly narrow, so it's important to be on it (line). Thanks for your video and narrative information.

[@35emory]

Awesome video!! I used to live in El Paso!....:))

[@SgfGustafsson]

Master caution light blinking during takeoff lol

[@matsnowb]

Awesome video, really detailed!

[@stevecrye]

Thanks for watching and the kind words.

[@pablomagallanes2781]

Excelente reporte felicitaciones-

[@stevecrye]

Muchas gracias, amigo del Chile

[@afinapiano]

Fantastic video!!

[@stevecrye]

Thanks for watching and the kind comment.

[@troydavis1064]

Nice video!

[@cristianluceror1116]

Gran viaje amigo, el aeródromo de Robinson Crusoe es uno de los mas peligrosos de Chile, Felicitaciones.

[@nachoalberdi.remaximpulso]

Excelente!! Congrats!

[@stevecrye]

Muchas Gracias, mi amigo del Chile

[@sebagarces9555]

Que buen video! Ese es uno de mis aviones favoritos!! Saludos desde Chile :)

[@stevecrye]

Muchas gracias, amigo! Someday I will visit your beautiful country again, this time Iqieque!

[@sebagarces9555]

Cuando desees! Este hermoso Pais tiene mucho que mostrar, de punta a punta! :)

[@b0tterman]

I did this exact trip back in 2009. Was a wild ride.

[@stevecrye]

Cool! With Aerolineas ATA? I loved the island. the people were great, put up with my horrible Spanish.

[@vecchiotom1]

That was a great video. I pilot a King Air 90 so it was especially interesting to me.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! Man, I loved that flight. Months and months of planning really paid off. I'm thankful to be alive today, in an era where flight is possible. I now have 420 paraglider flights under my belt, some of them over 13,500 feet, riding thermals. I love the sky!!!

[@MrBajoKavka]

Very nice :) big like.

[@andrescobo9466]

Excelent video my friend!!, passion for de aviation can I see in this video. Greetings from Colombia

[@stevecrye]

Yes, I love to fly, it is the dream of mankind . Thanks for watching!

[@Tumbino]

amazing!!

[@stevecrye]

+Tumbino Thanks for watching!

[@bobgraton456]

Wow, very cool

[@peteraviator]

Great video! I agree with you, but you said at minute 4:04 that the city you see is Valparaiso, but its really a much smaller city than Valparaiso, Its name is San Antonio and it is like 100 kilometers south. I hope you enjoyed your trip to Robinson Crusoe, the treasure island. I have been there an it is a really peaceful and magical place.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks for the correction, I was confused with excitement.

[@digital111x]

Very nice, Steve!

[@stevecrye]

Thanks, sorry about the delay in reading your comment.

[@andreschapero3615]

That landing.....! My God.

[@stevecrye]

I was looking on Google Earth and they have added another runway to help with crosswind conditions. But it is still a dicey landing. Did you listen to my narration when I described the crash that happened three weeks after my trip?

[@nachoalberdi.remaximpulso]

Excelent Video! I was pretty close to be there....In a Piper Navajo CC-POB.....

[@stevecrye]

Wow! When was that?

[@123PROductionsvideo]

I like it!!! :D

[@gabriela-jk9cf]

exelente....

[@VibeXplorer]

Excellent video for adventurous travel, aviation, and King Air content. Really appreciated the absence of music, imagery, editing, and unusually cogent and informative narration. Saved!

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! Very kind. It was a trip of a lifetime, planned for many years!

[@Blucenturion344]

Very nice video. I love Chileans, always so gracious. Just the right amount of narration by yourself, congrats!

[@stevecrye]

+Baptiste Pirogue Thanks! Trying to afford a trib back

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

No problem - I'm just glad to see you are alive and well. Keep those videos coming, please! :-)

[@stevecrye]

Thanks! Sorry I've been neglecting this channel, too busy paragliding! Posting flights to my other channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYbHmK2BgZKji7M

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

@@stevecrye Subbed! :-)

[@CreatorsMediaTools]

@@stevecrye Subbed! :-)

[@MARCUS-ANTONIUS]

Saludos desde la rica Amazonia Peruana.

[@stevecrye]

Muchas gracias, mi amigo del sud!

[@fernandoflores3444]

desde el Acre? a verdad no, jejeje

[@niconiconnu]

great video! That airport looked scary to land at!

[@stevecrye]

Nick Aviation HD Thanks for watching and your comment. Sorry about the delay, I've been battling the MBC Group, which stole some of my original content, copyrighted it, and then filed a copyright dispute against me! So angry. .. naturally KZbin is no help here.

[@niconiconnu]

∞ . Infinite Quantum . ∞ Geez!!! How did the dispute turnout???

[@stevecrye]

Thanks to MarwinMarwin for watching and the kind words.

[@TECNOMOTORES]

BEAUTIFUL VIDEO, MOTIVATE ME TO FLIGHT WIT THAT COMPANY!! HOPE ON 2018

[@stevecrye]

PEDRO HAUSSMANN I will!

[@Elizanylander]

hermoso

[@mohamedanfas]

Really i enjoyed this video fearless proud less pilot. Great video. But this run way is so dangerous

[@stevecrye]

Thanks for watching, yes it is dangerous but worth the risk!

[@mundlkalli4396]

having a anxiety attack just watching it....lol

[@thx1138y]

Mr. You must to do a Documentary, very fun video and we are very entusiastic look a Gringo enjoy our culture. And yes,we are relaxed ,but very professional.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks!

[@OttoPilot33]

Great video and great story! Congratulations. I must, though, make a correction. The name of this island has never been Juan Fernández. This is the name of the archipelago it forms a part of: Archipiélago de Juan Fernández. The old name of Isla Robinson Crusoe was Más a tierra because it is the closest to the continent among the islands in the archipelago and the renaming took place in the 1960s. It is a frequent mistake though, even among Chileans themselves, to call the island Juan Fernández. This is why this video's title immediately called my attention and made me come in.

[@stevecrye]

Thanks, this is good info!

[@mariocardabollo3631]

It's not clear for me whether this flight took place in 2011 or 2012. At the beginning of the video you can read March 2011, but the author says above that it all started in August 2011?

[@stevecrye]

March 2011, sorry about the date confusion.

[@SparkplugsK-bn9ou]

You know, the Beechcraft King Air B200 can go much higher than 27,000 feet. That plane can reach heights of up to 35,000 feet, and can fly for 2,075 miles, all the while reaching speeds in excess of 310 mph.

[@martinmusiet9780]

Noo Felipito

[@CristianGonzalez-ej5jm]

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@samuelbravo511]

The author assumes that the pilot of the wreked ir force plane failed the third attempt instead of going back to mainland because of bad desition. If there where bad desitions (I guess there where) we should look for them somewhere else, because in Chile air force flights dosn't charge gasoline for a safe return. Civil flights do have to consider gasoline for returning in case of bad conditions.

[@stevecrye]

Of course, my opinion is just a feeling, but I can't help but wonder if the celebrity passengers and pressure to make the TV shoot happen was a factor. Very sad all around.

[@suloja61]

Super. MfG Suloja

[@nzqi1]

So you dont need co-pilot for these types of planes?

[@stevecrye]

I was lucky, on that flight the regular copilot was unavailable, so they let me sit in the right seat. On the flight back the copilot was present. In Chile, they are willing to take small chances, I applaud them for that. In the USA the flight would probably have been cancelled.

[@semsemeini7905]

Not much security on board. You can sit next to the pilot and chit chat.

[@stevecrye]

I agree, but one reason they allowed it was my experience as a pilot. Alvaro questioned me closely and gave me thorough instructions.

[@3melendr]

One thing you should never ask a pilot is how many hours he has on a plane! Another thing you should not do is distract a pilot...he is flying the airplane you are on.

[@stevecrye]

I'm a pilot too, I asked him about all that prior to the flight and he was cool with it. The video does not show all our conversations, or when he initiated conversations with me.

[@superskullmaster]

As an aviation nut it saddens me to see that he didn’t know anything at all about the King Air.

[@stevecrye]

Well I can't be an expert on everything. I know more about paragliders lol

[@Hellridermetal]

Kind love that Relax Chilean regulations... in any moment you can turn over and stab the pilot.....Dicho eso, buen video.

[@stevecrye]

LOL

[@semsemeini7905]

Why did you not fly LAN; much better than Delta.

[@embrj1453]

Someone didn't like the video... wtf....

[@stevecrye]

+Marcelo Delima Well... I hope they find other vids that they enjoy. There are many others ;-)

[@jackrose7505]

Master Caution on takeoff? No abort?hmmm

[@stevecrye]

That made me nervous too! But I didn't want to tell him to go back and let me out :)

[@marcoeland3405]

hi, this is likely due to the sensor at the sealing for the pressurization at the main door. Given his experience and professionalism you mentioned he likely knew this specific aircraft quite well. I flew in the right seat of a Kingair 90 once and the same thing happened. I told my pilot, he said „it‘s ok“ and explained it to me later. Apparently it‘s a common thing on earlier Kingairs that the sensors don‘t agree with the bleed system when the engines spool up for takeoff.

[@diegoskyHQ]

When you say "gotta love chilean regulations" you say in a despective way? because you're lucky for travel in the copilot seat, don't even mention chilean regulations.

[@stevecrye]

No, I was not being cruel or sarcastic, I really meant it! In the USA I would never have been allowed to ride in the cockpit, the US has become a nation of fearful, over regulated sissies. I much prefer the Chilean attitude. My riding in the cockpit presented no danger, and I was very grateful for the opportunity.