Whither old Friends

The database of Canadian registered aircraft is available on line for historical and current searches. It is sometimes interesting to find out where the various airplanes one has flown over the years have gone. Sadly I've discovered the registration of the airplane I took my first lesson and first solo on the way to my PPL in, CF-BIS, was cancelled last September. The circumstances leading to cancellation are not revealed, but I do know that home base was Port Mcneill British Columbia from 1990. Registration cancellation doesn't mean the airplane will be out of service permanently, indeed the historical data has two previous C of R cancellations (presumably for transfer of ownership). This machine would be 40 years old, and 16 years in the Pacific coast air can be unkind to the materials. I hope it will find its way back into the sky because the alternative will make me feel entirely too old.

Next Step

I guess I've taken this flying thing about as far as I can without tucking into some more training. One of my goals for a long time has been to get my commercial ticket as a prelude to an instructor rating. Over the last year I have been mentally debating the relative merits of the various paths forward and finally decided to start on my commercial. Hopefully I'll be able to get it done over the spring and summer, but we'll see. If nothing else I'll have more flying to blog about.

COPA Flight Log - Electronic Logbook. Part 3

COPA Flight Log - Electronic Logbook. Part 2

I opened my copy of COPA Flight Log today to make some entries and it promptly informed me that there was a new version. According to the revision page this is version 1.02 and has been out since Feb 1. Here is the change log:

v1.02 (Feb. 1/07)

• Fixed problems with importing csf files
• Added navigation toolbar for logbook view

So I should be able to import all my flights. I've got other things on my plate right now but I will get to that soon and let you know how it works out.

UCAP Fodder: Love the Loran You're With

UCAP Fodder: Love the Loran You're With

This is really good news to me. My venerable old airplane came with a not so old, but still venerable IImorrow Apollo 800 Loran-C navigator. Believe it or not Garmin-AT still provides database updates for these units, though the price is quite high for more than occasional refreshing. Each time I get ready to lay down some coin for a new database, some one south of the boarder wonders aloud if we still need Loran-C. Apparently in the last round 93% said yes. I hope this will be the end, either they ignore the demand and close the system down, or announce on going support. That way I can either replace the unit, or update the database with confidence.

I like this unit. It isn't as accurate as even the most modest GPS, it can be a bit quirky, and speaks its own obscure navigator dialect, but it is hooked in to a dedicated Course Deviation Indicator (CDI) located just below the VOR/ILS CDI. This makes it a handy back up and support instrument to the VOR and my portable GPS.

One unfortunate property is the red and yellow lights that can flash at the most inopportune moments, such as just I'm about to taxi onto the runway. These lights are the unit's way of telling the pilot that it has some quirky messages waiting about the status and accuracy of navigation information, and are otherwise not related to safe operation of the plane. My passenger briefing now includes words to that effect. It is interesting how quickly a flashing red light on the panel will attract the attention of the most jaded passenger.

Toronto City Centre Airport (CYTZ) Meeting Rescheduled for March 20th.

COPA

Toronto City Centre Airport (CYTZ) Meeting Rescheduled for March 20th.

Open to anyone who would like to hear about the future of general aviation in the GTA. Landing fees are waived for the meeting, which will feature:

- Kevin Psutka, COPA President, who will provide his perspective on general aviation and airports in the Greater Toronto Area.

- Jim Morrison, VP Porter Airlines/Porter FBO, who will discuss Porter Airlines, what the FBO has to offer for our sector of aviation.

- Bill Yule, CYTZ Airport Manager, who will be available to provide information and answer questions about the airport.

- a discussion about the need for and future of COPA Flight 32 as a focal point for central Toronto pilots.

RSVP and send any questions to Bill Nalepka, Flight 32 Captain at nalepka@rogers.com or call 416-222-2124.

Cross Winds and Cross Words

Cross Winds

Another beautiful day with fresh ninety degree crosswinds and a bare/dry runway. A good day to brush up my crosswind technique.

Cross Words

My link to the COPA entry on the Belnan airport fracas attracted a number of visitors. I don't know what motives drove these visitors but from the key words used it seems some were against the airport development. I did some searching and was able to find an articles in the Chronicle Herald, this one and this one from the CBC about it. There are some interesting quotes in the Chronicle Herald from the antagonists. Mr. Johnson, the airport developer, is quoted as saying:

I’m not going to tell everyone my game plan. You don’t ask businesses to give away their business plans. But I can assure you, it’s nothing for the citizens to get concerned about.

Which is an understandable position, but not one that will instill a lot of confidence in the non-flying public. Mr. Ripley, a member of a citizens' group opposing the airport, said:

We have no issues with his operation or how he flies. We’re not even against aerodromes, just where this one is proposed.

Also according to the Chronicle Herald:

Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Angus MacIsaac asked Mr. Cannon in a recent letter to amend regulations so all new aerodromes require Transport Canada approval, regardless of location, size, type or proximity to population.

This is just plain scary. On the other hand maybe I can get some Federal minister to enact regulations to stop my neighbor from running his noisy, polluting and dangerous snowmobiles and ATVs, or hunting deer on his property.

Perhaps if these community groups and Mr. MacIsaac used their influence with Mr. Cannon to put in place assurances that General Aviation could get economical access to Halifax International airport there would be no fiscal basis, or need for Mr. Johnson's airpark. Just a thought.

xkcd - A webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math, and language - By Randall Munroe

I could not have said it better myself. (Agawa Bay on Lake Superior, Aug 2003, while the lights were out over most of the Great Lakes basin.)