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Now that spring is unofficially settling in, aviation life is returning to normal and we saw considerable air traffic plying the skies. The sightings varied, from a pair of A-10 attack planes, out of Whiteman AFB cruising over to the Piper Navajo survey plane with a tail stinger, making grid passes at 500 feet.
Among the visitors to the local aerodrome were a St. Louis-based Cirrus SR22, a Cessna Skylane, various Piper Archers and Warriors, and an RV-6 homebuilt, despite our lack of fuel or tiedowns and soon-to-be fixed spotty runway lights. Based planes moving about included the Ferguson family Cessna 182, the club’s Cessna Skyhawk, Jerrimie Platt’s Grumman Tiger and Sky4’s Cessna 150s.
On Monday, February 24, Josh Poe took his Private Pilot flight test and came home a winner, now fully qualified to exercise all the privileges of unfettered flight, no longer a mere student pilot. He’s now exiting the Cessna 150 trainer for his Cessna 172 and will be flying out of Paola. Josh has worked hard here over the last couple of years and deserves congratulations on his achievement.
Last week’s photo of a Cessna 177A Cardinal sitting nose-down in a Linn County field reportedly originated with a fuel-flow blockage, perhaps from ice in the system. Thankfully, there were no injuries and the aircraft can be repaired, as the pilot handled the emergency landing correctly. I recall a Beech Bonanza that landed near the Butler VORTAC station under similar circumstances several winters ago; that one flew away after thawing out.
A FedEx Airbus cargo plane had to make a quick return after departing Newark airport in New Jersey on Friday, after plowing into one or more birds on climbout. There was an engine fire and with quick action by crew and responders no other damage was done. Wildlife strikes, mostly birds, are on the increase, but that’s probably the result of more stringent reporting protocols. Usually, the bird is the only causality.
If you own a pocket laser pointer and have ever been tempted to shine it on an overflying aircraft—Don’t, for Pete’s sake. An Alaska woman was sentenced to three years for lighting up a helicopter, and she’s lucky the pilot’s eyes weren’t ruined permanently or an accident didn’t happen. Lasers can do serious damage; they aren’t toys.
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezoz’s hobby company that shoots people up in rockets for a few minutes of near-space flying, has announced a six-woman passenger package for its next launch, including such notables as CBS newswoman Gayle King and singer Katy Perry. Hope all goes well; I’d ride if they offered me a seat.
The question in last week’s column wanted to know the minimum visibility allowed for helicopters flying under Visual Flight Rules. It’s one-half mile, as opposed to the one-mile restriction for fixed-wing aircraft. Obviously, it’s because the ‘copter can slow to a creep or hover. For next week, our brain teaser is “how much does a certified air traffic controller get paid, on average?” You can send your answers to kochhaus1@gmail.com.
