Leg 24 SLPO - SCKP
Busy flight ... not much for nav aids on the last part of the flight ... you can pick up the VOR at Diego Aracena Int'l for orientation the whole way, but w/o DME it's only minimal help ... just keep left of it ... if the plane had 2 nav radios I could triangulate some way between the VOR at El Loa .... or busy up and switch back and forth with just 1.
Going to need to stay on top of wind drift, ground speed/time for distance after losing the NDB signal from Potosi and still manage terrain and the hard ceiling of 17500'.
Possible twist and turns will hamper navigation whose figures will be predicted on a fairly straight line.
Add in the lack of landmarks and ability to know your there until you see the airport ... that means you'll have to be a minimum of 10 nm from the airport as you pass .... know which direction to look ...
Pile on the possibility of low viz at just the right time and you will not see the airport or know you are there unless you've navigated yourself directly to it ... even then it's sittin' down in a bowl ... or ..... Plan B.
You could by the rules switch up the order so that you leave Potosi and go straight to Iquique on the coast, then back to Coposa with direct nav aids for the entirety of each flight and (ballpark) something close to 50 nm extra as a trade off .... hmmm.
There's no distance category to consider and it won't be enough to jeopardize total time figures with penalty, but will cost on fuel which is a strong point if I even have one so far ... thinking some more ... a miss attempt at finding Coposa for any of the reasons above could run up a 50 nm "bill" or close real easy.
If the winds were out of the east at a good clip this would be THE way to go, but they have been out of the NW pretty steady for the last couple of days.
Note to self: [Okay dummy, this is just one more on a long list of reasons to get a stinkin' grip on sextant navigation]
You will burn extra fuel on plan B ... no way out of that ... you at least give yourself a chance not to by going straight to Coposa
Take extra fuel ... pack a lunch ... pay attention and stay one step ahead on navigation while watching out for the granite trees ... no worries.
Another cup of coffee and one to go ... then we're out of here with a dismantled barn that was purchased by an individual that lives near the airport ... headed straight for Coposa ... just navigated the Pacific Ocean ... I'll find it!
Taking Off: SLPO - SCKP
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 26,200
Takeoff Weight: 23,725
Empty Weight: 16,145
Fuel: 1240.0
Payload: 6,000
Crew: 340