Lake Charles and Galveston visit

[tc1234c]

Our son David took a job in Lake Charles, LA. We decided to spend the Christmas with him and pay the area a visit. We were planning to leave on Friday 20th but the forecasted bad weather in this part of the country made us move the trip a day earlier.

The trip is 660 nm long blocked by several restricted airspaces in Florida. A direct flight is not possible. In the past we have flown the shoreline corridor through Eglin restricted airspace. However, the route north of Eglin offers several cheaper fuel stops and that was what we took.



There are many brush fires along our route. Over Baton Rouge ADS-B showed a TFR south west of the city. We guess it must have something to do with the fires.


TFR is to our right and covers the bend of the river.



Further west we encountered overcast sky and strong wind yet air was smooth.



Six hours later we are cleared to land at Lake Charles Regional. A few drops of rain did not affect us.

[tc1234c]

Friday weather at Lake Charles was not too bad. However, cold front passed through on Saturday. It was raining and cold. On Sunday we decided to let David fly left seat to Galveston and practice ILS approaches. He is an VFR pilot and it is my idea to let him experience flying the approach.

From Lake Charles to Galveston is only 93 nm.


He called Lake Charles Clearance to obtain a squawk code before taxi out. On climb out the approach asked if we had weather radar on-board since there were a lot of left over cold front activities in the area. We had good visibility and could see a few cells around.

A few drops at climbing out (4,500').


We did not have to deviate our flight path to avoid any cells. After forty minutes Galveston was in front of us. There were a lot of ships in the channel and anchored in the ocean.



David is having a good time flying.

[tc1234c]

I was very pleased that David did a near perfect ILS approach and landing. He seems to feel ease with RV9A.

Break off ILS 14 and circle to left base for runway 36. Following a Cessna and a helicopter on a parallel runway to land.


On the runway tower commented that he did a good job and the tower did not see our airplane until now because the airplane is yellow! He was looking for a different color. We followed one of the yellow helicopters during landing.

[tc1234c]

Need to go back to Lake Charles to have lunch with my wife so we skipped touring the city. Moody Gardens below at take off.


Passed by two cruise ships.


Looks like we are having some bad stuff in front of us, but easily avoided.


What are these in the water?



There are a lot of petrochemical plants along the coastal area.


On the ILS 15 approach back to Lake Charles we were given vector to avoid some rain. Of course we were in VFR and was doing practice approach.


A Cessna and a helicopter were ahead of us doing the same thing. Another airplane was doing GPS approach practice on a different runway.


About to capture localizer and got a good view of lake front casinos and the port.


Again, David did a great job. By the time we reached DA the runway was right in front. He put the airplane back to the runway gently. We had a great morning of flying.

Forgot to mention that on the way back David saw a drone flew below and by us. I did not see it and it was not on my ADS-B display. We were told by a Lake Charles lineman that government flies a lot of drones to check on traffic along the coast.

[Wayne Gillispie]

Thanks Ted. Looks like a great time.

[ShortSnorter]

[quote=tc1234c;837133]


What are these in the water?



[quote]

Ted, those are barriers designed to help slow coastal erosion. The concept, is similar to what is described in this link:

http://wavcis.csi.lsu.edu/wavetank/mats.htm

[tc1234c]

Originally Posted by ShortSnorter

those are barriers designed to help slow coastal erosion.

Thanks. Don't see these on the east coast.

[humptybump]

Nice report Ted !

You definitely have the right airplane for your adventures. It's always a "good read" and education happens along the way for me too :-)

[Vlad]

I have yet to venture into that corner. Never been to southern LA. No surprise to me David performed so good. I remember how he explained in details every maneuver on the aerobatic flight with a Navy pilot. How is his book btw? Published? The SyFy one not the textbook.

[tc1234c]

Book is still in progress. Sure he will send you a copy when that day comes.