Eichhorn's Flight Around the World

Somewhere back in the typical GA pilots mind is the idea of flying a personal airplane over long distances. Maybe across a continent, maybe an ocean. Or around the world. Part of the idea is visiting distant destinations and seeing foreign lands from the perspective only a personal airplane can offer. Another part of it is the challenge, which can be substantial; part of it is bragging rights; part of it is just because you can. However common the idea of flying around the world may be, the typical GA pilot rarely follows through. Whether due to time constraints, finances, lack of a suitable airplane or other responsibilities, the obstacles are just too daunting for the typical GA pilot.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Monday, July 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Adrian Eichhorn, an exceptionally experienced ATP and A&P mechanic, successfully circumnavigated the globe in his meticulously restored Bonanza, a feat typically considered too daunting for general aviation pilots.
He managed the substantial risks of long-distance solo flight through rigorous aircraft preparation, a unique "three strikes rule" for go/no-go decisions, dedicated ground support for flight planning and monitoring, and crucial flexibility with no fixed timeline.
Key operational challenges included complex international flight planning without modern tools, managing fatigue during multi-hour oceanic legs, carrying extensive fuel reserves, and navigating diverse global aviation protocols.

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Somewhere back in the typical GA pilot’s mind is the idea of flying a personal airplane over long distances. Maybe across a continent, maybe an ocean. Or around the world. Part of the idea is visiting distant destinations and seeing foreign lands from the perspective only a personal airplane can offer. Another part of it is the challenge, which can be substantial; part of it is bragging rights; part of it is just because you can. However common the idea of flying around the world may be, the typical GA pilot rarely follows through. Whether due to time constraints, finances, lack of a suitable airplane or other responsibilities, the obstacles are just too daunting for the typical GA pilot.

But Adrian Eichhorn isn’t your typical GA pilot. For one, he’s a 16,000-plus-hour ATP whose day job is flying an Airbus A320 for a major airline as first officer. He’s also an FAA A&P/IA, as well as a flight instructor. He’s type-rated in the A320, Gulfstream GII/III/IV and the Aero Vodochody L39, among others. In an earlier life, he flew for the FAA, from its Hangar 6 location at Washington National Airport, and provided flight and ground instruction to the agency’s flight crews and top officials. And he’s a Bonanza owner, which is how I know him. Earlier this year, he flew that Bonanza around the world. After he got back and had the chance to rest up, we talked about his journey, about how he managed the substantial risk of flying a piston single across hundreds of miles of ocean at a time, and about some of the operational details. Here’s what I learned.