This was my first leg to be flown offline. Christmas Eve, so no ATC online, and no WestWind pilots. A bit busier than expected at CYYR (an out-of-the-way aiport in Northern Canada wouldn't normally have 3 departures and at least 3 approaches all lined up at about 1100 at night would it???), but I managed to get my taxi clearance, and taxi to the active behind another WWA Baron (what are the chances of that???). I was cleared for takeoff and was in mid-takeoff roll when I noticed some lights bearing down on me on the other side of the runway. A few hundred feet further, and the lights turned into a Dash-8, apparently just landed on the opposite rwy, and only one side of the rwy. Luckily I managed to avoid him, while ATC told his callsign "XYZ123, You were not cleared to land, clear the runway" LOL, a little close if you ask me, but thats why we all "love" (hate?) FS ATC! Anyway, after leaving the CYYR area, traffic dropped off severely, and I was one of the only aircraft on Gander Center's frequency...or at least it seemed that way at times. I've never really flown much with FS ATC, but it seems to come in "spurts". There will be a lot of ATC activity (constant controller talking, he/she doesn't give ANY time to respond for maybe 30 seconds or so, then nothing for a few minutes, then another burst of activity. Not sure why this is, just makes for a slightly weird listening experiance. Anyway, I was soon at cruise altitude, and left Canada. I had an uneventful trip over to Greenland (not sure exactly why I was told to be with Montreal Center up until my final approach into BGSS though...), and set up for what I assumed the pattern altitude at BGSS would be (1000 ft). First a few details about BGSS. I dont know its history or anything, but it is a TINY airport on the West coast of Greenland. It has one runway, 2600 feet long, and is 33 ft MSL. No tower, or taxiways (although the ubiquetous Microgas appears...go figure!). Expecting a standard visual approach, I turned downwind, and was confronted by a large mountain. Based on the winds, I was landing on rwy 14, so I came in from the ocean, however, a large mountain had the poor manners to stand right up in between the ocean air and the rwy. (right IN the final approach). I turned base, and, flying in low over the ridge, made an awful attempt at a landing, and did a go around. This time I gave it a five mile final, and turned back in. NO GOOD! Even at rwy heading and lined up with the rwy according to GPS, I couldn't see any part of the rwy. Making a zig-zaggy approach, I brought it in over the ridge, very, very, low. The radar altimeter read zero, and the landing lights were reflecting a little too close to the cockpit for comfort. However I managed to clear it, and immediately the airport was in sight, almost vertically beneath me. I cut throttles, and nosedived it, but soon realized the futility of this, so did another go around. I tried a short final this time, still no game, sailing right over the rwy at 90 kts, but 200 feet (at least) above the surface. This time I decided to fly left handed traffic, and rose into a downwind over a fjord. I turned final for about a 3 mi final (a longer final wasn't any use because I was already low, and i couldn't see the rwy anyway). This time I came in low again, and at very slow airspeeds. Full flaps, gear down, as dirty as you get. This time I managed to get over the rwy, lined up with rwy hdg, about to touch down...about 3/4 of the way down the rwy!!!! Flew yet ANOTHER missed approach, again with a left handed pattern. Flying a similar approach to the last in VC mode, I saw the field, trimmed way down, and nose dived towards it. VERY near to the ground, I pulled out of the dive, and, at about landing speed and landing attitude, I touched down, less than 1/2 way down the rwy. (Nowhere near the numbers though). Full brakes, and I mangaged to stop AT the end of the rwy (on the numbers....lol). Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned around, and taxied to the only sign of civilization besides a radio tower; the Microgas bay. Shutting down, I just left the plane sitting in the fuel bay, locked the door, reclined the seat and went to sleep (i was the only one at the airport anyway). Hopefully this will the hardest approach I have to do....!
