In the following post I said "She was electrocuted as she crawled out."
I used that word because that was the terminology the ground personnel used when we contacted them and they gave us their initial patient report. Little alarm bells went off in my head as I wrote the post, but I used the term anyway because I was too lazy to go to dictionary.com as I wrote it.
So I mislead you. Here's the dictionary.com definition(s) of "Electrocuted":
1. to kill by electricity.
2. to execute (a criminal) by electricity, as in an electric chair.
So ONCE AGAIN I WAS WRONG, and you guys read that mistake and let me get away with it. Our patient was badly injured, but she sure as heck wasn't dead!
There are fewer and fewer brain cells in this old skull, and those that remain are overworked and getting older with each new post.
SHAME ON YOU. I expect better from you guys... We're a team and you let me down!
Try to do better, okay? ;>)
09 January 2009
08 January 2009
Guardian Angels At Work:
There is still a little fog in the area, but the freezing rain and drizzle are now East of us. The helicopter is still in the hangar because with the low ceilings in the area I'm goin' nowhere... why even push it out?
Still, we get flight requests. I check our weather and although it looks better, two airports within 50 miles of us are reporting 600 foot ceilings with 1-1/2 miles visibility.
The AWOS at the little airport where we're based is reporting VFR conditions... ceilings of 1100 feet and visibility 8 miles. Conditions are improving, but the forecast is for possible snow showers after midnight. I turn down the flight but tell our dispatchers about the improving weather.
Half an hour later I hear a siren getting louder and louder. I step out our front door just in time to see a Squad Car zoom by going 'way fast. I watch as he disappears in the distance, then hear another siren coming. This time it's a fire truck headed the same direction.
Then, the phone rings...
"Can you take a standby for an MVA between you and C-Ville?"
(Wow! That flight will take all of 5 minutes!)
"Let me check." I look at radar and dial up our AWOS on the phone...
"Yep, we'll accept the standby. We'll push the aircraft out now."
My crew has gone to bed. Over the intercom I inform them we're on standby and need to push the aircraft out of the hangar. All hands need to be watching as we push out to insure I don't run aircraft extremities into walls or doors. We've no sooner finished situating the helicopter on the pad and bringing the tug back into the hangar when the telephone rings again...
"Your flight is a go."
We quickly walk to the aircraft and along with my nurse and paramedic we check to insure shorelines are disconnected, gas cap and all cowlings are secure. I take my seat, buckle up, and pull the starter triggers as my crew climb in and secure seat belt and shoulder harnesses.
"Everyone secure?"
"Ready in the back."
"I'm ready here too."
I announce my takeoff over the airport unicom frequency, then check my instruments to make sure everything is within normal operating limits. We clear the surrounding trees and instantly see the scene... the accident is on the road adjacent to the airport! I call dispatch and tell them we're airborne and already over the scene. Dispatch gives me the frequency and contact information and I switch frequencies while circling the scene. The moment I have the proper frequency dialed in we hear the ground unit calling us...
"Hang on (our callsign), we're putting the strobes out for your landing now."
We see two guys walking out into a harvested field adjacent to an overturned car, carrying three flashing strobe lights.
"Do you see the strobes?"
"Roger"
"There are wires on the East of the road but no wires near your LZ. Your patient is a 25 year old female. She collided with a utility pole and has sustained electrical burns from contacting wires as she exited her car. She also has multi-system trauma."
"Roger that. I'm landing now", and I announce our landing to dispatch.
The area he has designated for me is a safe one... it's in an open, just harvested soybean field. Still wet from recent heavy rains, there is a three foot deep ditch full of water parallel to the road, separating the LZ from our patient's overturned automobile and the ambulance where they are stabilizing her for transfer to us. I don't want my crew to have to negotiate the water-filled ditch with the patient and stretcher, so I land over the strobes his crew has placed, then hover and land the helicopter North of the overturned car, 10 feet from the downed wires about 100 feet from the waiting ambulance.
Skids down, I say "We're on the ground" and note landing time and coordinates, secure the aircraft controls, then dismount to insure any onlookers don't approach too closely. The scene commander approaches to make sure he did nothing wrong selecting the area where he placed the strobes. I tell him his LZ was perfectly safe but explain my thought processes for landing where I did.
"I just wasn't sure you'd want to be that close to those wires" he says.
"I appreciate that sir. Thanks for thinking of our safety" I respond.
When I'm sure I can safely do so I climb into the aircraft and enter the GPS waypoint for the hospital I'm guessing they'll want the patient to be transported to, make note of the distance so I have an idea how long the flight will take, then dial the bug on the heading indicator for the heading I'll need after departing into the wind.
Twelve minutes after touchdown at the scene my crew appears out of all the flashing lights with our young accident victim on the stretcher. We carefully load her, check again to make sure all the aircraft parts are secure, then take off vertically to avoid any unseen wires. The flight to the trauma center takes 27 minutes.
(I guessed wrong and had to reprogram the GPS.)
On this dark, damp, chilly night, she was on her way to visit a family member at our local hospital. She saw "an animal" dart in front of her car and swerved to miss it and lost control. She clipped a utility pole, breaking it in half. In the accident sequence the car rotated 180 degrees and rolled onto its top. Crawling over the headliner and climbing out the rear window, she didn't realize live wires were contacting the car's now exposed (dying cockroach) undercarriage. She was electrocuted as she crawled out. She has an electrical entrance wound on her left index finger and an exit wound on her left ankle, and is VERY lucky to be alive.
Flight visibility wasn't great initially, but improved as the flight progressed.
In many ways, this gal had a guardian angel watching out for her!
These pics are blurry because the photographer is an amateur and it was mighty dark, but you can get a feel for the scene with them.
(Clicken to embiggen):
Still, we get flight requests. I check our weather and although it looks better, two airports within 50 miles of us are reporting 600 foot ceilings with 1-1/2 miles visibility.
The AWOS at the little airport where we're based is reporting VFR conditions... ceilings of 1100 feet and visibility 8 miles. Conditions are improving, but the forecast is for possible snow showers after midnight. I turn down the flight but tell our dispatchers about the improving weather.
Half an hour later I hear a siren getting louder and louder. I step out our front door just in time to see a Squad Car zoom by going 'way fast. I watch as he disappears in the distance, then hear another siren coming. This time it's a fire truck headed the same direction.
Then, the phone rings...
"Can you take a standby for an MVA between you and C-Ville?"
(Wow! That flight will take all of 5 minutes!)
"Let me check." I look at radar and dial up our AWOS on the phone...
"Yep, we'll accept the standby. We'll push the aircraft out now."
My crew has gone to bed. Over the intercom I inform them we're on standby and need to push the aircraft out of the hangar. All hands need to be watching as we push out to insure I don't run aircraft extremities into walls or doors. We've no sooner finished situating the helicopter on the pad and bringing the tug back into the hangar when the telephone rings again...
"Your flight is a go."
We quickly walk to the aircraft and along with my nurse and paramedic we check to insure shorelines are disconnected, gas cap and all cowlings are secure. I take my seat, buckle up, and pull the starter triggers as my crew climb in and secure seat belt and shoulder harnesses.
"Everyone secure?"
"Ready in the back."
"I'm ready here too."
I announce my takeoff over the airport unicom frequency, then check my instruments to make sure everything is within normal operating limits. We clear the surrounding trees and instantly see the scene... the accident is on the road adjacent to the airport! I call dispatch and tell them we're airborne and already over the scene. Dispatch gives me the frequency and contact information and I switch frequencies while circling the scene. The moment I have the proper frequency dialed in we hear the ground unit calling us...
"Hang on (our callsign), we're putting the strobes out for your landing now."
We see two guys walking out into a harvested field adjacent to an overturned car, carrying three flashing strobe lights.
"Do you see the strobes?"
"Roger"
"There are wires on the East of the road but no wires near your LZ. Your patient is a 25 year old female. She collided with a utility pole and has sustained electrical burns from contacting wires as she exited her car. She also has multi-system trauma."
"Roger that. I'm landing now", and I announce our landing to dispatch.
The area he has designated for me is a safe one... it's in an open, just harvested soybean field. Still wet from recent heavy rains, there is a three foot deep ditch full of water parallel to the road, separating the LZ from our patient's overturned automobile and the ambulance where they are stabilizing her for transfer to us. I don't want my crew to have to negotiate the water-filled ditch with the patient and stretcher, so I land over the strobes his crew has placed, then hover and land the helicopter North of the overturned car, 10 feet from the downed wires about 100 feet from the waiting ambulance.
Skids down, I say "We're on the ground" and note landing time and coordinates, secure the aircraft controls, then dismount to insure any onlookers don't approach too closely. The scene commander approaches to make sure he did nothing wrong selecting the area where he placed the strobes. I tell him his LZ was perfectly safe but explain my thought processes for landing where I did.
"I just wasn't sure you'd want to be that close to those wires" he says.
"I appreciate that sir. Thanks for thinking of our safety" I respond.
When I'm sure I can safely do so I climb into the aircraft and enter the GPS waypoint for the hospital I'm guessing they'll want the patient to be transported to, make note of the distance so I have an idea how long the flight will take, then dial the bug on the heading indicator for the heading I'll need after departing into the wind.
Twelve minutes after touchdown at the scene my crew appears out of all the flashing lights with our young accident victim on the stretcher. We carefully load her, check again to make sure all the aircraft parts are secure, then take off vertically to avoid any unseen wires. The flight to the trauma center takes 27 minutes.
(I guessed wrong and had to reprogram the GPS.)
On this dark, damp, chilly night, she was on her way to visit a family member at our local hospital. She saw "an animal" dart in front of her car and swerved to miss it and lost control. She clipped a utility pole, breaking it in half. In the accident sequence the car rotated 180 degrees and rolled onto its top. Crawling over the headliner and climbing out the rear window, she didn't realize live wires were contacting the car's now exposed (dying cockroach) undercarriage. She was electrocuted as she crawled out. She has an electrical entrance wound on her left index finger and an exit wound on her left ankle, and is VERY lucky to be alive.
Flight visibility wasn't great initially, but improved as the flight progressed.
In many ways, this gal had a guardian angel watching out for her!
These pics are blurry because the photographer is an amateur and it was mighty dark, but you can get a feel for the scene with them.
(Clicken to embiggen):
07 January 2009
The Late Barack Obama, Part II
I almost did a spit-take...Taking a sip of hot coffee I actually heard Dick Durbin, senior buffoon from Illinois say something to the effect-
"The vacant seat left by Senator Obama needs to be filled. The citizens of Illinois need a Senator to represent them."
Unbelieveable.
Barack Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate two years ago and immediately started his campaign to be elected President. His Senate seat has gone wanting for two years. I'm not sure his neglect of his duties wasn't an improvement over his actually being there.
Surely the people of Illinois have grown accustomed to having no adult Senate leadership. Why should anyone hurry to fill that seat now?
05 January 2009
24 Hour News Channel
Once upon a time in a land that seems like a dream there was a place you could go, 24 hours a day, to get your "News fix". It was called CNN Headline News, and it was good.
I used to leave it on TV all day and after watching one news cycle would pretty much ignore it until something new happened.
It would drive Sara Jean crazy...
"That's the same thing they said half an hour ago!"
She was right of course. That was the point.
Nowadays, when I punch up Headline News I may tune in to find Nancy Grace talking about O.J. Simpson or Casey Anthony, or (worse)... some Showbiz crap about who Britney Spears exposed herself to today or where Lindsey Lohan was arrested for driving under the influence.
Obviously someone at CNN thinks this is an improvement. I think it leaves a niche for someone to fill...
"All News, all the time."
Surely there are others like me.
Is anyone listening?
I used to leave it on TV all day and after watching one news cycle would pretty much ignore it until something new happened.
It would drive Sara Jean crazy...
"That's the same thing they said half an hour ago!"
She was right of course. That was the point.
Nowadays, when I punch up Headline News I may tune in to find Nancy Grace talking about O.J. Simpson or Casey Anthony, or (worse)... some Showbiz crap about who Britney Spears exposed herself to today or where Lindsey Lohan was arrested for driving under the influence.
Obviously someone at CNN thinks this is an improvement. I think it leaves a niche for someone to fill...
"All News, all the time."
Surely there are others like me.
Is anyone listening?
02 January 2009
I Was Wrong
I hate being wrong. But when I'm wrong I will freely admit it. I think folks notice when you admit you're wrong and that makes you more believeable all the times you're right.
But boy was I ever wrong!
My only comfort is that I bet most aviators will find they'd be wrong on this same issue. See if that's the case, and please... admit you were wrong in the comments!
Here's the deal:
I enjoy good Science Fiction. My son makes his living through various Science Fiction outlets. Together we have watched most of the popular Science Fiction shows, particularly Star Trek (T.O.S., T.N.G., and Voyager), Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica. While Big Bubba was home this weekend we watched a movie he brought along titled "Sunshine". It was well-acted, well-directed, and the special effects work. You'll recognize Michelle Yeoh and maybe a couple other actors. Those that really enjoy Science Fiction will find "Sunshine" worthwhile.
There is a scene in the movie, similar to a scene in "2001, A Space Odyssey" where humans are exposed to space for several seconds without benefit of a containment suit. I know that at altitudes above something like 60,000 feet your body temperature is high enough to actually cause your blood to boil. So when watching one of these "sans spacesuit" scenes I always howl in disbelief that writers would expect us to believe that situation possible. It has always been my impression your body would explode under those circumstances because your blood would instantly boil and your individual cells would explode.
Wrong-o, old retired ARMY Dude!
Apparently the lack of air as a conduit to transfer heat is one factor... your skin itself acting as a containment vessel is another. Read more facts at the link... they relate a couple scenarios where it's actually happened.
So from now on I'll just shut my mouth on the subject. Were you wrong too?
But boy was I ever wrong!
My only comfort is that I bet most aviators will find they'd be wrong on this same issue. See if that's the case, and please... admit you were wrong in the comments!
Here's the deal:
I enjoy good Science Fiction. My son makes his living through various Science Fiction outlets. Together we have watched most of the popular Science Fiction shows, particularly Star Trek (T.O.S., T.N.G., and Voyager), Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica. While Big Bubba was home this weekend we watched a movie he brought along titled "Sunshine". It was well-acted, well-directed, and the special effects work. You'll recognize Michelle Yeoh and maybe a couple other actors. Those that really enjoy Science Fiction will find "Sunshine" worthwhile.
There is a scene in the movie, similar to a scene in "2001, A Space Odyssey" where humans are exposed to space for several seconds without benefit of a containment suit. I know that at altitudes above something like 60,000 feet your body temperature is high enough to actually cause your blood to boil. So when watching one of these "sans spacesuit" scenes I always howl in disbelief that writers would expect us to believe that situation possible. It has always been my impression your body would explode under those circumstances because your blood would instantly boil and your individual cells would explode.
Wrong-o, old retired ARMY Dude!
Apparently the lack of air as a conduit to transfer heat is one factor... your skin itself acting as a containment vessel is another. Read more facts at the link... they relate a couple scenarios where it's actually happened.
So from now on I'll just shut my mouth on the subject. Were you wrong too?
01 January 2009
Shameful Top Ten List-
The list of the top ten MOST CORRUPT POLITICIANS in
Washington, D.C. has been released by Judicial Watch:
10. Rep. Don Young, R-AK
9. Sen. Ted Stevens, R- AK
8. Rep. Rick Renzi, R- AZ
7. Rep. Charles Rangel, D- NY
6. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- CA
5. PRESIDENT ELECT Barack Hussein Obama, D- Chicago
4. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R- CA
3. Presidential Advisor and Illinois Senatorial hopeful Valerie Jarrett, D- IL
2. Sen. Chris Dodd, D- CT
1. GUESS WHO? I'll let you click the link for the big(?) surprise! (It's another D.)
So republicans have 4 outta 10, and only one name in the top five? C'mon repubs...
You can do better!
(UPDATED, 1159 hours- Re-reading the link I find I skimmed the lead too quickly. This list is in reverse alphabetical order, so there isn't a bad-to-worse order here. All these folks are dirty.)
Thanks Instapundit.
Washington, D.C. has been released by Judicial Watch:
10. Rep. Don Young, R-AK
9. Sen. Ted Stevens, R- AK
8. Rep. Rick Renzi, R- AZ
7. Rep. Charles Rangel, D- NY
6. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D- CA
5. PRESIDENT ELECT Barack Hussein Obama, D- Chicago
4. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R- CA
3. Presidential Advisor and Illinois Senatorial hopeful Valerie Jarrett, D- IL
2. Sen. Chris Dodd, D- CT
1. GUESS WHO? I'll let you click the link for the big(?) surprise! (It's another D.)
So republicans have 4 outta 10, and only one name in the top five? C'mon repubs...
You can do better!
(UPDATED, 1159 hours- Re-reading the link I find I skimmed the lead too quickly. This list is in reverse alphabetical order, so there isn't a bad-to-worse order here. All these folks are dirty.)
Thanks Instapundit.
31 December 2008
The Artist Formerly Known As "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince"
I love my title, don't you?
Prince's "1999"...
It's ten years since the year/focus of the song. So much apocalyptic worrying about the transition from 1999 to 2000, it all ended up just being so much unnecessary worry. We should always remember that, shouldn't we?...
Change the things you can, but ignore the things you have no power to change.
Are you, like me, worried about a financial collapse in the coming year? What are you doing to protect yourself?
Still, I love the song.
(Ya gotta put up with a short advertisement to view it.)
Enjoy.
Prince's "1999"...
It's ten years since the year/focus of the song. So much apocalyptic worrying about the transition from 1999 to 2000, it all ended up just being so much unnecessary worry. We should always remember that, shouldn't we?...
Change the things you can, but ignore the things you have no power to change.
Are you, like me, worried about a financial collapse in the coming year? What are you doing to protect yourself?
Still, I love the song.
(Ya gotta put up with a short advertisement to view it.)
Enjoy.
29 December 2008
Addled
This is how bad it's gotten...
The alarm went off this morning and I sat up in bed, sighed, and wiped the sleep from my eyes. Sara Jean turned my way and said, "Thank God, last day."
"Yep. And I'm sure ready for the time off."
Out the door half an hour later I have a 40 minute drive to work... enough time to catch up on news of the world and pour two cups of coffee from my thermos.
Approaching our base...
"What's this?"
Phil's car is sitting in the parking lot. Not a good sign. I'm supposed to be relieving Dan, not Phil. Did he make an error reading the schedule, or did I? We're all tired, three of us doing the work of four. I walk in the door and he's as confused as me... he grabs the schedule, and I'm not supposed to be there. The Flight Nurse has baked fresh cinnamon rolls, so the trip is not without its rewards. I eat two, then get back in the car and drive 40 minutes back home to start my three day visit with my son.
It's a beautiful day and I'm up early to enjoy it.
Things could be worse!
The alarm went off this morning and I sat up in bed, sighed, and wiped the sleep from my eyes. Sara Jean turned my way and said, "Thank God, last day."
"Yep. And I'm sure ready for the time off."
Out the door half an hour later I have a 40 minute drive to work... enough time to catch up on news of the world and pour two cups of coffee from my thermos.
Approaching our base...
"What's this?"
Phil's car is sitting in the parking lot. Not a good sign. I'm supposed to be relieving Dan, not Phil. Did he make an error reading the schedule, or did I? We're all tired, three of us doing the work of four. I walk in the door and he's as confused as me... he grabs the schedule, and I'm not supposed to be there. The Flight Nurse has baked fresh cinnamon rolls, so the trip is not without its rewards. I eat two, then get back in the car and drive 40 minutes back home to start my three day visit with my son.
It's a beautiful day and I'm up early to enjoy it.
Things could be worse!
He Lied To Us! He Played On Our Fears!
And then they gave Al Gore a Nobel Prize for being such a great liar.
Why do we have to depend on the U.K. media for this information? Why isn't our media ALL OVER THIS?
Why do we have to depend on the U.K. media for this information? Why isn't our media ALL OVER THIS?
28 December 2008
Aunt Violette's Peanut Butter Cookies
I love peanut butter cookies. This "Dunlop's disease" you see overhanging my beltline? That's them! Sara Jean can bake up a batch of peanut butter cookies, pour me an ice-cold glass of milk, and I need nothin' else... just go away a while and leave me alone to concentrate on doin' some damage to that pile of cookies.
I've decided I now know you well enough to share one of life's wonderful simplicities. Even if you don't like PB cookies yourself I know that you know someone who does and you'd secretly like them to be your cookie slave, wouldn't you? Here's your ticket to owning a Peanut Butter cookie lover...
My Aunt Violette's PB Cookie recipe.
Before we start, lemme tell ya... YOU GOTTA TRUST OL' GREYBEARD.
Have I ever done ya wrong? No! So when you see how simple this recipe is you're not gonna believe it, and you'll be tempted to tinker. DON'T!
Aunt Violette's Peanut Butter Cookies:
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Peanut Butter
1 Egg
Mix ingredients, flatten 'em like ya do with PB cookies, bake 'em at 350 degrees until they're done.
That's it.
Sara Jean has learned to add just a touch of vanilla for flavoring and I like that, but it's not really necessary for excellent cookies.
CAUTION-
Your peanut butter must be oily. We use Kroger's store brand and Sara Jean mixes half crunchy and half creamy Peanut Butter. I've tried Peter Pan PB and the cookies don't maintain their integrity coming out of the oven.
Some of my peeps reading this blog have actually masticated these wonderful morsels. Maybe a few of them can vouch for what I have written here.
How 'bout it Peeps?
27 December 2008
26 December 2008
Trip 19 Postscript
Random thoughts on the ferry trip:
-Everyone smiles at the goofy guy wearing the Santa hat.
-Virtually everyone you meet while traveling is nice.
-No matter how comfortable the bed, sleeping in a strange room in a strange bed with another dude in the bed next to ya DOES NOT lead to restful sleep.
-Some people pass gas loud enough while sleeping to wake you.
(See above. I wasn't sleeping that deeply, but I thought Gabriel was sounding his trumpet!)
-While flying on Christmas Eve, you have airways and airports pretty much to yourself.
-Climbing to 9500 feet indicated with a sinus blockage is damned uncomfortable.
-Descending from 9500 feet with a sinus blockage is more uncomfortable.
-Tailwinds truly are a gift from God. Strong tailwinds are a near-miracle.
-A backup pair of sunglasses is only a luxury if you don't lose your first pair.
-There are too few good restaurants at, or within walking distance of small airports.
-Airport courtesy cars, although clean and serviceable, never seem to have fewer than 150,000 miles.
-Those airports I know have courtesy cars have first priority on my list of places to stay overnight.
-GPS may be the most dramatic change in aviation... or maybe even life, in my experience.
-There is a whole lotta country out there where you can go a long way without running into another soul.
-Anything living in the desert has a hard time making a living.
-I'm ready to do it again. Let's go!
-Everyone smiles at the goofy guy wearing the Santa hat.
-Virtually everyone you meet while traveling is nice.
-No matter how comfortable the bed, sleeping in a strange room in a strange bed with another dude in the bed next to ya DOES NOT lead to restful sleep.
-Some people pass gas loud enough while sleeping to wake you.
(See above. I wasn't sleeping that deeply, but I thought Gabriel was sounding his trumpet!)
-While flying on Christmas Eve, you have airways and airports pretty much to yourself.
-Climbing to 9500 feet indicated with a sinus blockage is damned uncomfortable.
-Descending from 9500 feet with a sinus blockage is more uncomfortable.
-Tailwinds truly are a gift from God. Strong tailwinds are a near-miracle.
-A backup pair of sunglasses is only a luxury if you don't lose your first pair.
-There are too few good restaurants at, or within walking distance of small airports.
-Airport courtesy cars, although clean and serviceable, never seem to have fewer than 150,000 miles.
-Those airports I know have courtesy cars have first priority on my list of places to stay overnight.
-GPS may be the most dramatic change in aviation... or maybe even life, in my experience.
-There is a whole lotta country out there where you can go a long way without running into another soul.
-Anything living in the desert has a hard time making a living.
-I'm ready to do it again. Let's go!
25 December 2008
Trip 19 Wrap-up
Get into your car and drive to the grocery. Sometimes you can do that and, arriving at the grocery, not even remember passing through certain intersections or stopping at a certain traffic light.
Flying locally can be a little like that. Dealing with familiar things... airport, landmarks, flying an aircraft you are accustomed to... you can relax and enjoy the sensory part of flying. There is almost no planning involved, and little worry about flying into "restricted" or "prohibited" airspace... you know where that is and know exactly how to avoid it.
Flying cross-country, particularly in a brand-new aircraft, is a little like renting a car in a big, unfamiliar city and trying to efficiently make it across town in a short amount of time. It comes with all sorts of stresses:
-You're flying a brand new aircraft.
Moving parts sometimes take a while to realize they all need to work as a team in order for the machine to do its job. Knowing this, you know you have to keep an eye (or ear) out for trouble.
-There truly is airspace out there you have to avoid or you'll be in big trouble. As an example, Disneyland is now a "no-fly" area. Accidentally overfly Disneyland and a commercial pilot may find himself without a certificate to earn a living.
-In your local area you know the signs dangerous weather is approaching. You know what to watch for and you know which indicators need immediate action and which can be put on a "watch" list. Flying far from home takes you out of this comfort zone. Unfamiliar terrain and unfamiliar weather patterns rightfully cause a little stress in a transient pilot. Smart cross-country pilots will seek the advice of a local pilot the moment she/he begins to feel uncomfortable with anything out of the ordinary.
-Ferrying an aircraft normally means you're on some sort of schedule. Someone wants the machine in a certain place at a certain time, and $$$$ are being spent to insure that happens. Just keeping everyone informed of your progress and happy with the situation can also be stressful.
We had some of all of that this trip. As I've indicated, the R44 gave us NO trouble at all... it ran like a sewing machine both days. We did however encounter some threatening weather, and anxiously watched the weather channel and took a look at weather radar whenever it was available at our fuel stops. We truly thought our last day would be delayed or postponed due to ice... we simply cannot fly in freezing rain, freezing drizzle, or a mix of snow/sleet/anything with "freezing" preceding the type of precipitation. Thankfully the forecast 24 hours prior to our flight Wednesday was wrong, wrong, wrong! We flew a little over 8 hours Wednesday without a cloud in the sky.
Little airports are like little towns... they roll up the sidewalk and shut down the lights at dusk. I don't like flying a new machine at night, but made an exception this time because we had several hours under our belts in this helicopter and it seemed to be working just fine, and we wanted to be home with family for Christmas. Still, we stayed VERY CLOSE to Interstate highways after dark, just in case something went "bump" in the night. Thank God, nothing went bump.
But flying after dark requires special planning for fuel and services. Little airports normally have signs in the terminal window saying "After hours call ....." with a telephone number for someone supposedly on call to come ASAP and fuel you if you need it, and they charge a call-out fee that makes this painful. If they're doing something they don't want to leave, like sleeping at 4 A.M., they sometimes won't answer the phone or will tell you "I'll be there in 3 hours." NOT GOOD.
So it's better to plan your stops around bigger airports with airline or commuter service after dark... there is almost always someone already there to pump your fuel.
And that's what we did last night. Fuel at bigger airports is normally more expensive, but it's not as expensive as fuel+ call out fee.
I love ferrying helicopters home from California. We get to see about 2/3rds of the country up close and very personal, and we're traveling at a speed that is fast enough not to be boring. We can fly low enough to see flora and fauna... we saw deer and wild pigs on this trip. Just North of Tucson we could see a fenced-in area full of critters we knew were different, and upon checking found several hundred ostriches slightly uncomfortable with our low pass. We're low enough that my (still pretty great) eyes can read the road signs and tell how far it is to EL Paso, for instance.
This particular trip went normally. For that I am grateful.
I don't recommend doing it with the remnants of a cold.
I do think most of you would enjoy the experience though.
Buy a helicopter and I'll give you an experience you'll remember the rest of your life!
And again, thanks to all for following along, and thanks especially for those with advice and comments.
Flying locally can be a little like that. Dealing with familiar things... airport, landmarks, flying an aircraft you are accustomed to... you can relax and enjoy the sensory part of flying. There is almost no planning involved, and little worry about flying into "restricted" or "prohibited" airspace... you know where that is and know exactly how to avoid it.
Flying cross-country, particularly in a brand-new aircraft, is a little like renting a car in a big, unfamiliar city and trying to efficiently make it across town in a short amount of time. It comes with all sorts of stresses:
-You're flying a brand new aircraft.
Moving parts sometimes take a while to realize they all need to work as a team in order for the machine to do its job. Knowing this, you know you have to keep an eye (or ear) out for trouble.
-There truly is airspace out there you have to avoid or you'll be in big trouble. As an example, Disneyland is now a "no-fly" area. Accidentally overfly Disneyland and a commercial pilot may find himself without a certificate to earn a living.
-In your local area you know the signs dangerous weather is approaching. You know what to watch for and you know which indicators need immediate action and which can be put on a "watch" list. Flying far from home takes you out of this comfort zone. Unfamiliar terrain and unfamiliar weather patterns rightfully cause a little stress in a transient pilot. Smart cross-country pilots will seek the advice of a local pilot the moment she/he begins to feel uncomfortable with anything out of the ordinary.
-Ferrying an aircraft normally means you're on some sort of schedule. Someone wants the machine in a certain place at a certain time, and $$$$ are being spent to insure that happens. Just keeping everyone informed of your progress and happy with the situation can also be stressful.
We had some of all of that this trip. As I've indicated, the R44 gave us NO trouble at all... it ran like a sewing machine both days. We did however encounter some threatening weather, and anxiously watched the weather channel and took a look at weather radar whenever it was available at our fuel stops. We truly thought our last day would be delayed or postponed due to ice... we simply cannot fly in freezing rain, freezing drizzle, or a mix of snow/sleet/anything with "freezing" preceding the type of precipitation. Thankfully the forecast 24 hours prior to our flight Wednesday was wrong, wrong, wrong! We flew a little over 8 hours Wednesday without a cloud in the sky.
Little airports are like little towns... they roll up the sidewalk and shut down the lights at dusk. I don't like flying a new machine at night, but made an exception this time because we had several hours under our belts in this helicopter and it seemed to be working just fine, and we wanted to be home with family for Christmas. Still, we stayed VERY CLOSE to Interstate highways after dark, just in case something went "bump" in the night. Thank God, nothing went bump.
But flying after dark requires special planning for fuel and services. Little airports normally have signs in the terminal window saying "After hours call ....." with a telephone number for someone supposedly on call to come ASAP and fuel you if you need it, and they charge a call-out fee that makes this painful. If they're doing something they don't want to leave, like sleeping at 4 A.M., they sometimes won't answer the phone or will tell you "I'll be there in 3 hours." NOT GOOD.
So it's better to plan your stops around bigger airports with airline or commuter service after dark... there is almost always someone already there to pump your fuel.
And that's what we did last night. Fuel at bigger airports is normally more expensive, but it's not as expensive as fuel+ call out fee.
I love ferrying helicopters home from California. We get to see about 2/3rds of the country up close and very personal, and we're traveling at a speed that is fast enough not to be boring. We can fly low enough to see flora and fauna... we saw deer and wild pigs on this trip. Just North of Tucson we could see a fenced-in area full of critters we knew were different, and upon checking found several hundred ostriches slightly uncomfortable with our low pass. We're low enough that my (still pretty great) eyes can read the road signs and tell how far it is to EL Paso, for instance.
This particular trip went normally. For that I am grateful.
I don't recommend doing it with the remnants of a cold.
I do think most of you would enjoy the experience though.
Buy a helicopter and I'll give you an experience you'll remember the rest of your life!
And again, thanks to all for following along, and thanks especially for those with advice and comments.
Christmas With The Original Snoop Dog
I hope Christ's Birthday is filled with love and laughter for all!
24 December 2008
Home Safely
So tired I'm buggy, but all is well. We had a 30 knot tailwind almost the entire trip... the fastest trip I have ever made from L.A.. The R44 performed perfectly.
Wrapup tomorrow as time permits. Thanks everyone again for sharing thoughts and comments!
Wrapup tomorrow as time permits. Thanks everyone again for sharing thoughts and comments!
"The Boss"
Like the Dixie Twits, here's another talented idiot that I enjoy but will have to steal from because I don't want to reward him for his stupid political opinion.
Dateline: Marriott Business Center
Too cheap to pay the $10 per day fee for wifi in the room, I'm sending my luv from the business center, next to the free coffee in the lobby. Can't stay on the computer longer than half an hour... others are waiting, looking at their watches to check my usage here.
Weather looks good for getting outta here. We may catch up with this frontal movement on our way home and have to sit and wait for it to move in front of us, but if we can make it home for Christmas we'll be there!
Tim, Frank had the Angus Cheeseburger and fries at Marana. I had the Turkey with lettuce and tomato and onion rings. It wasn't the Ritz, but we were hungry and both sandwiches went down quite quickly. I'll take your suggestion at CHD at some point in the future though, and your lunch is on me.
Normally our first stop out of ELP is at Carlsbad, N.M.. It's a long leg, depending on wind... a little over two hours in the R44. If winds keep blowin' up our ass we might even make Hobbs, N.M., and that's what we'll try for... longer legs with fewer stops today because we have a little more faith in the reliability of this new machine. So far it has performed perfectly... burning less oil (but a little more fuel) than normal. All that may settle down as the day progresses.
Frank brought an MP3 player and has the ability to plug it into the intercom system. We've been listening to Beach Boys, Doobies, Eagles, Elvis, Herman's Hermits (!), and Cher. I've been thankful for the extra room the R44 provides... you can actually do a little boogying in that seat without changing the CG a great deal.
I can see home just over the horizon folks, and it feels great.
C'mon weather... give us a break!
More later.
Weather looks good for getting outta here. We may catch up with this frontal movement on our way home and have to sit and wait for it to move in front of us, but if we can make it home for Christmas we'll be there!
Tim, Frank had the Angus Cheeseburger and fries at Marana. I had the Turkey with lettuce and tomato and onion rings. It wasn't the Ritz, but we were hungry and both sandwiches went down quite quickly. I'll take your suggestion at CHD at some point in the future though, and your lunch is on me.
Normally our first stop out of ELP is at Carlsbad, N.M.. It's a long leg, depending on wind... a little over two hours in the R44. If winds keep blowin' up our ass we might even make Hobbs, N.M., and that's what we'll try for... longer legs with fewer stops today because we have a little more faith in the reliability of this new machine. So far it has performed perfectly... burning less oil (but a little more fuel) than normal. All that may settle down as the day progresses.
Frank brought an MP3 player and has the ability to plug it into the intercom system. We've been listening to Beach Boys, Doobies, Eagles, Elvis, Herman's Hermits (!), and Cher. I've been thankful for the extra room the R44 provides... you can actually do a little boogying in that seat without changing the CG a great deal.
I can see home just over the horizon folks, and it feels great.
C'mon weather... give us a break!
More later.
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