The flight westward to California (Sondrestrom Fjord, Greenland to Iqualuit in Northern Canada)

Round the World Flight with HB-PON 2008/09
Rolf Martin FRIEDEN & Manfred Melloh
Thu 11 Aug 2005 20:59
63:45.40 068:33.30W


After refuelling, we again carefully checked the weather ahead to Buffin Island in Canada, which showed no real  difficul­ty  for this IFR flight.


Our destination to Iqualuit was forecasted to be clear at our arrival. Icing conditions were again forecasted, but way north of our planned route.

About two hours after take off, over
the eastern part of the Davis Strait, and approaching Baffin Island at our assigned altitude of 10,000 feet,
we experienced the same scenario we had
earlier that day:




Cruizing in south westerly direction at FL 100, the tops constantly increased and IMC conditions were just a
few minutes away


Solid IMG and the wings started to accumulate rapidly heavy icing. As I was checking the minimum safe altitude for that sector, it became instantly
clear to me, that the best
solution would be to cancel IFR-, descend below clouds - and freezing level, stay VMG over water-, to continue our flight
along the coastline of the island -, and approach our destination airport from the southwest through the Frobisher Bay.


Finally that unforgettable day ended after
11 hours flying time, and just for the fun of it, with an ILS approach in the perfectly clear, blue evening sky in Inuit Land.



Our Hotel at Iqualuit


The Forbisher Bay at Iqualuit



Polar hounds, each attached to a pol.