"All Tropic Air pilots have FAA certificates with instrument ratings "

This is not correct. I personally ask each pilot I fly with about their training and ratings not that I'm worried but out of curriousity. Not one Tropic pilot that has flown me reported IFR ratings. I'm sure there some, maybe most, but not "all".

"Tropic Air line pilots are all born Belizeans."

Where does this come from? I'm not disputing this I just would like to know. Bywarren says US and Canadian pilots fly for Tropic.

"Bywarren is a hi-time pilot with experience in many types."
"Very un-likely to get hired into a Caravan with only the minimum flt time requirement."

All pilots start out with "0" hrs. Tropic's and everyone else's commercial pilots started somewhere. Why do you guys think a doctor can't build the hrs and training just like everyone else?

The "flutter" effect of the V tail Bonanza is also well documented. If it was such a great design then why is it no longer utilized? There are T tail Lances also safely flying around today but that design also fell by the waste side for that aircraft.

Oh, you're going to lose this argument big time.

SHHHHHH....
Hes in waaay over his head now.

About what?

I have asked the pilots about IFR ratings they have told me no. If this is incorrect then why would they tell me no? I don't have any names but I'll get some on the next trip.

It's not that it's always someone else's fault, it's just that it's never mine.

Whoopps, I need to retract everything I said about him - not sure what was so personal - get on my hands and knees and give a heart felt appology. I never took into consideration getting free drugs. Don't worry about the antidepressents, Doc, the board keeps me from that - just bring the little purple pills so I can quit using popsicle sticks and duck tape. Makes me wonder if it really was worth it when I take the duck tape off.

And, as an offer of truce, I will give you one last bit of free financial advice. Spend less time trying to be Sky King and more time pulling babies from the womb and then maybe you will make your dream in Belize come true sooner.

Fighting Flutter
Aerodynamic flutter can develop with great speed and quickly destroy your aircraft. Here’s why, and what you can do about it.


Beechcraft’s venerable V-tail Bonanza experienced a few flutter-related incidents and accidents before a series of Airworthiness Directives required inspections and strengthening of its empennage.

by Jeff Pardo

You’re descending at a relatively high speed in calm air and, since there was no forecast for and little chance of turbulence, you let the airspeed climb into the yellow arc. Then you hear a buzzing noise. You might think that one or more fasteners have come loose, perhaps on the cowling—or you might imagine a bee, wasp or some other stowaway insect as the source. One thing is for sure; the sound you hear probably isn’t a stuck microphone. So what’s going on? Well, you had better slow down, because that buzz you hear could be your ailerons about to go fully into “auto-flail mode.”

…

The V-tail Bonanza came under close scrutiny in the mid-1980s following a series of in-flight breakups. Several airworthiness directives were issued and a special study was done by the FAA and the Department of Transportation, which resulted in a stabilizer reinforcement kit at the root of the V-tail. After the installation of the kit, the in-flight breakups decreased dramatically.

It should be noted that the V-tail Bonanza's center-of-gravity envelope is relatively narrow, and loss of control with aft CG in IMC conditions could be contributing factors in several of these accidents. Additionally, the balancing of the tail control surfaces is critical to avoid aerodynamic flutter. Unbalanced control surfaces continue to cause problems, so it is essential, after the aircraft is painted or work done on the tail, to check that the surfaces are exactly in tolerance.

Not trying to be "Sky King" and never have been. Just wanted to do something else that I loved and find a way to offset the extreme expense by maybe flying some cargo part time. Flying pipeline in a 150 does not appeal to me.

Purple pill? That's Nexium, won't help with the duct tape and popsicle stick issue. You mean the blue pill don't you? Which can be bought local without a script for 1/2 the price of here. But you knew that didn't you?

Truce accepted if you mean that.

I probably need that one too. That look on my face is from my last meal. Not from my last use of the popsicle sticks thank goodness.

I may be wrong here (Im sure I'll find out) but when I received my commercial rating, after the required training and passing test, I also received an instrument rating. Does it not work that way any longer?

I think all Tropic pilots are IFR rated but are probably not current.