Up In Upper Michigan

For those unfamiliar, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan boasts generous lengths of shoreline off Lake Superior, scenic byways, and lots of trees. While it can be a winter wonderland during the off-season, its not unusual to have many days of dreary gray skies and fog that wears away the most sanguine spirit. Its the kind of weather that gets us burning through a whole morning figuring out how to get out, around and back without getting stuck who-knows-where. Welcome to the UP.

Elaine Kauh

Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The article details a pilot's meticulous pre-flight planning for a multi-leg trip through Michigan's Upper Peninsula, facing challenging winter weather with initial conditions at the departure airport (KSAW) well below safe return minimums due to freezing fog and low visibility.
A crucial part of the planning involves comprehensive risk assessment, particularly concerning en-route icing below 5000 feet and potential instrument failures, which necessitates identifying multiple alternate airports and a specific "takeoff alternate" (Escanaba).
The pilot's decision to proceed balances a tight schedule and passenger needs against safety concerns, ultimately relying on thorough weather analysis, contingency planning, and the availability of viable alternates to mitigate risks.

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For those unfamiliar, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan boasts generous lengths of shoreline off Lake Superior, scenic byways, and lots of trees. While it can be a winter wonderland during the off-season, it’s not unusual to have many days of dreary gray skies and fog that wears away the most sanguine spirit. It’s the kind of weather that gets us burning through a whole morning figuring out how to get out, around and back without getting stuck who-knows-where. Welcome to the UP.

All In the Timing

Today’s flight plan starts from home base at Sawyer, Michigan (KSAW) with a quick turn at Iron Mountain, Michigan (KIMT) to pick up a passenger and take her to Appleton, Wisconsin. This flight is a short one, just 43 NM for the first leg down V341 to KIMT, then 95 NM (under an hour in your glass-pack piston) to go from there direct to KATW. Since it would take twice as long to drive from Iron Mountain to Appleton, flying is the first choice.