AOPA's new Project Pilot to help increase pilot population

Student pilots who have a Mentor to help them through flight training are three times more likely to earn their pilot certificates. That simple fact is the reason that AOPA is beefing up its AOPA Project Pilot program.

To accomplish that, AOPA Project Pilot provides powerful tools, centered on a new Web site, www.AOPAProjectPilot.org, which helps Mentors keep in touch with their students and track progress while providing support, tips, and encouragement.

Beautiful mountain flying


Aircraft: LN-ULF, C182.
Flight plan: ENGM-LL-SOG-STG-ENOV.
Altn. Aerodrome: ENFG, ENSG.
Level: FL80/90.

We did not make it to ENOV due to low cloud base. Attempted the normally safe bet through Dalsfjorden, but the passage was closed.
ENSG had maintenance work on the runway, so we ended up paying NOK 205 for landing at ENFG and drinking not-so-hot coffee from the self service outlet.

Superb flying, but not the lunch we hoped for (at Naustet Grill, Volda).

Fotos: KNUT HELGE DRIVENES/Nokia N80

My first airplane

Petter (1) and LN-NAG (28) at Kjeller. They are already good friends!

Friday 23 June 2006 I bought 1/9 of this aircraft, a 1978 Piper Cherokee, PA28-161.

After the 2003 collapse of the Oslo Flying Club hangar, this Piper was the only plane which could be saved and repaired. Today it is still part of the OFK fleet. It is probably the most travelled club aircraft in Norway, visiting most countries in Europe and Morocco as well.

Revisiting my solo NAV

(KRISTIANSAND, Norway) LN-DAH at Kjevik. Yesterday I revisited the solo nav route I did as a student pilot in a Tomahawk seven years ago. ENKJ-ENCN is a scenic route and a no brainer to navigate along the coast. Continuing to ENNO is more of a challenge, in a mountain landscape with few landmarks. This time I had a handheld GPS, but still had some trouble knowing my whereabouts. Nototdden is as close as you get to the western Norwegian fjords in the eastern part of the country. Elevation of 63 feet, surrounded by high mountains. But leveling out at 3500, you have free sight to Oslo on a nice day.

Mind the GAP

(ELVERUM, Norway) Last week-end I visited the GAP Starmoen fly-in. This used to be Norway's largest gathering of active private pilots, but the attendance and level of activities offered was not at the level of the golden years of this flight safety project. I left for Gardermoen in LN-AGM before sunset without any time in conventional gear, the object of my visit.

New GA Airport in the Oslo region?

(OSLO, Norway) The Norwegian Government wants to sell the nation's first airport at Kjeller. The report from architect Morten S. Haave analyzing the need for a GA solution if the Air force activity should be relocated, were mentioned on NRK Radio yesterday. The report can be downloaded here!

No opposition to permanent restriction area over Oslo

(OSLO, Norway) The major Norwegian aviation associations give their joint blessing to a proposed permanent restriction area over downtown Oslo.

The aviation authorities claim this regulation will reduce the consequences of an engine failure or a mid air over the capital city. In a joint hearing document, NAK/NLF, EAA Norway, and AOPA Norway, are expressing no major disagreement with the proposition.

The city of Oslo wants to double the proposed one NM size of the restricted area. This might be the beginning of the end of single engine traffic over Oslo. This development might not be remarkable, given the general security focus in these times. But the organizations giving their unconditional blessing are a bit more surprising?

For some reason, the hearing document sent April 27th is still not mentioned on any of the organizations’ web sites six weeks later… Feel free to download it here!

Airfield Operated by Sewage Plant

(RINGEBU, Norway) Einar at Frya airfield in Gudbrandsdalen. An airfield actually operated by the municipal Sewage Plant. We had some interesting wind condititons due to terrain, but the landing did not go down the drain. A nice destination for a day-trip from the Oslo area. 800 meters asphalt. Elevation: 570 fts.

Long week-end, short on flight controllers

(BERGEN, Norway) A snap shot of the situation on Flesland airport Sunday evening. A lot of people was on their way home after a long weekend (bank holiday on Thursday). A perfect time to be short on flight controllers. It's that season again.

Airport-bound travelers in station chaos

(LONDON) I was not pleased to find myself in the midst of the local news at Harlow railway station Wednesday afternoon.

"The Stansted Express service was diverted to Hertford after power lines came down at Bishop's Stortford on Wednesday at around 5pm. Passengers were bundled onto trains at London Liverpool Street with the assurance that buses would be waiting for them at Hertford East. But some waited at least FOUR HOURS in persistent rain to be taken on to the airport, with many fearing they had missed their flights. Police were called at around 6.15pm to control the crowds as trouble flared among some passengers. There were reports of two people being injured in the scrum to board one of the first buses to reach the town", Hertfordshire Mercury reported.

It was the exact same story at Harlow. How badly organized is it possible to get?

I was evacuated just in time to miss my flight to Oslo. All airport hotels were fully booked, but nice people at SAS Raddisson helped me find a small hotel a few miles away. Next morning I had to get up at 03:45 to make the morning flight to Sandefjord Torp. Quite an adventure.

Invitation to Elevation

(ASHFORD, Kent, UK) In preparation for fundraising activities to help MAF Norway invest in aircrafts for their flights for life, I had the opportunity to met with MAF Europe CEO Chris Lukkien. It was very inspiring to see how Mission Aviation Fellowship organize their great work of bringing help and hope to the most needy people. Send an e-mail to maf@maf.no for more information.

Less is More?

(LONDON) Europe's Leading Pilot Shop, Transair claims, but their central London outlet looked more like a kiosk. After some browsing I discovered the stairway to the cellar, where I found some treasures to bring home.

Flying for Life

(OSLO, Norway) MAF Norway president Fred Karlsen at the Kjeller Air Show (on Norway's first airfield). Mission Aviation Fellowship Norway is fundraising to invest in two Cessna 206 for bush flying service in Africa.

Every three minutes, an MAF plane is taking off or landing somewhere in the world. Enabling the work of aid and development agencies, missions, national churches and other local groups. Flying across deserts, jungles, mountains and swamps. Giving hope to far-flung communities which might take days or weeks to reach by land, where roads may be non-existent, or impassable for half the year.

For more information, send an e-mail to maf@maf.no

My first Fire Patrol mission

(OSLO, Norway) Morten is putting jet fuel in the Diamond DA40D as we are preparing as volunteers for today's fire patrol in the Oslo area. It has been very dry for the season, and the fire department is not taking any chances after the large fire on the west coast. Hence the Oslo area fire patrol started a few weeks earlier than usual.

For me today was the first time, and I enjoyed combining my favorite activity with the opportunity to do something for my local community. And Morten is also four flying hours closer to a career as a commercial pilot.

Lounge hopping at CPH

With three hours to kill at CHP on my way from Aarhus to Oslo, I had plenty of time to test the tree lounges that would let me in. I started at the Diners Club Lounge with a complimentary sandwich and choice of Carlsberg or Tuborg. Great availability of power outlets was a clear plus. Otherwise it was informal and nice.

As they closed at 9pm I walked over to the SAS Business lounge, a friendly place with light Scandinavian design. The only thing to complain about is that the cheese and the wine were two rooms apart.

On a mission to test my last option, I took the stairs up to the Scandinavian Lounge and found a wonderful chocolate cake, coffee and avec. It turned out to be a full meal.

Revisiting crazy LA airspace real time on Google Earth

If you've downloaded and installed Google Earth, you can see a real-time, 3d view of all current inbound flights to the LAX, ORD, JFK, BOS, ATL, SEA and MIA airports! Be sure to zoom in towards each field and tilt the camera up from the runways to watch them land! More at fboweb.com

Thanks to Google native Jan for the great link!

ReLAXing in a room with a view

Crown Plaza at 5985 W. Century Blvd. is about the closest you get to LAX. Room 1504 is perfect for plainspotting. I guess the KLM onboard entertainment system will never be featuring United 93. But I'm looking forward to video on demand in coach class. It makes the 10 hours a bit more livable.

Introduction to LA Airspace

Svend found my story about flying a Skyhawk over Manhattan on the Internet, and invited me to a greater challenge in the LA Airspace of 35 airports. Svend is a former flight engineer at Sterling where he was flying Bowing 727. Now he owns a 1979 C-172 based on Fullerton (FUL), doing all the maintenance himself in a well equipped hangar - a home away from home.

He generously offered me the left seat. I did the flying and Svend did the radio. The visibility was not the greatest over Orange County, but as we came closer to our destination at French Valley (F70), an hour's flight to the southeast, the sun had burned off all the mist.

Going back the visibility was perfect until Lake Elsinore. Crossing the ridge abeam Santiago Peak we got back in the low visibility and heavy traffic reality of LA airspace. I did my best to establish on long final without having the field in sight, and had to adjust my course a bit as we got closer.

A great introduction to the most creasy airspace on the planet!

Planespotting at Van Nuys

The best way to experience One Six Right in real life (and outside the fence) is from the 94th Areo Squadron restaurant at 16320 Raymer Street. Their parking lot is a good #2.

A few blocks away I bought the 2006 Bahamas & Caribbean Pilot's Guide at San-Val Pilot Supplies & Trains. Something new to dream about... ;-)

One Six Right

Late last night I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express Van Nuys Hotel in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. This morning I prepared my self for the day by watching One Six Right on the PC and tuning my radio scanner to VNY CT on 119,3. It is a cloudy and foggy day, but listening to clearances for 16R constantly handed out is a perfect foreplay for today’s mission: Experiencing the location of the movie Casablanca and the world’s busiest general aviation airport.

California has lost many GA airports to urban expansion. Now good people are working hard to save this site of great historical significance.