Brief Encounter...

Avery and I had agreed to make a photo sortie over RMC this morning to collect images for next year's calendar. The weather didn't cooperate entirely, but one of Avery's shots can be seen over this entry. We had departed the airport in very light snow, but got a message from Flight Services during our final circuit over the College that conditions were deteriorating. Needless to say, this got our attention and we headed back directly. Within half an hour, the airport was enjoying quite a snow storm.

AGM reports a bumper year...

Saturday saw the Club's Annual General Meeting held out at the Airport. Attendance was fairly good, but it was a great flying day and absentees may well have been taking advantage of that fact. Reports revealed that 2009, due to the extraordinary efforts of our Board and Club staff was a really good year for us. That said, challenges remain and we all have a part to play in promoting the remarkable services we offer and the opportunities we can extend to many more people. Let's make 2010 an even better year...

Well, would you believe it ?

Popular Mechanics isn't the first source you think of when it comes to flying trivia, but they recently ran an interesting article on the World's 18 strangest airports..

Click here to read the piece and marvel at the ingenuity of engineers and pilots...

Club gets a twofer....

Two more of our students successfully completed Flight Tests today. Neil was first to go - and he had tucked the Private Pilot's Test under his belt by lunchtime. Wayne, who had waited for some time to get into the air, was next to face scrutiny. He completed his Test for the Recreational license by 2pm and emerged from debriefing with a huge smile on his face. Kudos to both pilots and to their instructors, Matt and Brandon.

The two accomplishments are noteworthy. Neil's because he started training something like 7 years ago. His pilot number commences 80xxxx. The delayed certification is no reflection on the quality of pilot or training; it's just one of those things. Wayne's achievement is something special because he only soloed on January 10th this year. This makes him possibly the quickest pilot between that milestone and passing a Flight Test that Matt has known.

Caribbean trip provides aircraft excitements...

It's always good to combine any travel with some airplane porn, so a forced delayed departure from St Maarten (TNCM) because of the East Coast snow storms was greeted with delight. It provided the opportunity to enjoy the sensational views of the runway activity on the international airfield there. Recognized as the shortest international runway certified to handle 747s, the approach is the one that we've all seen in videos coming in over a seaside beach. Yes, it's really that close and that low that the aircraft arrive...The nature of the Caribbean islands, generally quite rugged, with little flat ground, makes the adoption of the STOL-capable Twin Otter by regional airlines a natural fit. This aircraft was typical of the many Otters seen during the afternoon on the approach path.
And the Twin Otter is pretty much the only commercial aircraft capable of getting into the runway on Saba, where there are only 1,300 feet available. It's billed as the shortest, international, commercial runway in the World. Sadly, didn't get to see an aircraft arrive there, but it must be pretty impressive. This T-Shirt, on sale on the Island says it all...

TV Show recalls the Hudson Ditching ...

Members may be interested to know that The Learning Channel (Cogeco Ch 16) will air a documentary on the ditching of Flight 1549 this coming Sunday evening. Called 'Brace for Impact: the Chesley Sullenberger Story' the programme will be narrated by Harrison Ford (who, incidentally, handed over Chair of EAA's Young Eagles scheme to Sullenberger and Skiles (his co-pilot) late last year).

The programme starts at 8pm local.

New Year greeted in style...

The Club has a tradition of despatching as many pilots into the skies over Kingston as possible each New Year's Day. Unfortunately, with ceilings measured in the hundreds rather than thousands of feet today, the flying was a bust. But, that didn't stop the casual lunch get-together from going really well. The lounge was quite crowded, and the dishes provided for the pot luck meal were both delicious and varied. Best sight of the day, the two young men who appeared in junior flying jackets emblazoned with various wings and badges... seriously cute..

A poignant moment for everyone present came when Felicity McKendry shared some thoughts on earlier New Years in the Club. She spoke about an early January day when freezing rain had put enough ice on the runways to allow Club members to skate on the airfield's manoeuvring surfaces under a full moon. Memories of her late husband, Spence's early flying experience were also shared very touchingly.

Many thanks to Avery for sowing the seed that became this event - and to Anne-Marie, who organized the Club's resources to make it, as she always does, a place that every visitor feels welcome.

Happy New Year to one and all...!