Flying in an ash window

Petter and uncle Erlend ready for a 20 minutes evening flight between the ash clouds from Iceland. Most of the Norwegian airspace has been closed for four days, and might be closed again on short notice. While Swedish pilots were allowed to make decisions on flying piston aircrafts VFR, the Norwegian government decided to prohibit all operations. Hoping for better decisions by the authorities in the future, we had fun flying in the ash window.

Easter Break Finale

Since Jostein flew with big sister Lara last fall, Kathrine wanted to go for a flight over Oslo as well. Daylight savings time made it possible to fly VRF until 8:52pm today, and we departed ENKJ at 8pm for a flight over the capital city. A perfect Easter break finale.

Sæbø 360

Flying over the Alpine landscape of Northwestern Norway on a beautiful day with my aunt Liv. We did the Sunnmøre-in-a-Nutshell tour of Volda, Hjørundfjorden, Ålesund, Runde and return to ENOV. I am very glad LN-ASH finally started after several failed attempts. An old C172 without heater is not my premiere choice of aircraft on a cold and crisp Easter morning.

So long snow, hello spring

Spring equinox started as a snowy day in Oslo, hence our planned lunch in Stockholm had to be cancelled. While the showers travelled eastbound, Einar and I flew southbound for my first landing at Gullknapp (ENGK). South of the summer paradise Jomfruland we had blue skies, and returning by smooth air to Kjeller via Geiteryggen, the bad weather was long gone.

Happy B-day, Jonas!

Jostein gave Jonas a flight for his 9th birthday. The party was Friday night, and Saturday morning we flew over his house at Høybråten.

A fun flight over Norway's capital Oslo, and the boys did not seem to worry about a few bumps after take-off at Kjeller due to variable x-wind.

Flying Down Under and over Manhattan

My pre-blog online tales of flying in Australia and New York disappeared from the Internet when my old home page host Start.no closed their service. Now the stories (in Norwegian) are back online at the krumsvik.com domain:

• Flyferie Down Under (Flynytt 4/2001)
• I en Skyhawk over Manhattan (11/2004)

Happy B-Day, Tobias!

Jostein gave Tobias a flight for his 9th birthday. The party was yesterday, and today we had a nice flight over Oslo, and a spectacular view of the new Holmenkollen ski jump in CAVOK and calm wind.

A view of aviation history at Lanzarote

A short walk from terminal to terminal represents a journey through aviation history. The aviation museum located in the first passenger building built at Lanzarote airport in the early 1940s is just across the parking lot from the 1999 international passenger terminal with a capacity of six million passengers per annum. The Guacimeta terminal museum provides a comprehensive insight into the history of aviation under the shadow of the volcanoes. It is open from 10am to 2pm from Monday to Saturday.

English guided tours might be recommended as all the displays are in Spanish only. However, I do not think too much was lost in translation as I browsed the displays on my own. This time I did not have time to visit the third terminal from the 70s, now used for inter island traffic.

Next time I might expand my GCLB flying experience to some inter island flying my self.

View Larger Map

Flying with MAF in Haiti

MAF’s 23-year history in Haiti and knowledge of the land, culture, and language are proving invaluable to outside groups providing aid.

• See Norwegian TV 2 flying with MAF in Haiti.

MAF has established a satellite communications center at the Port-au-Prince airport, allowing relief agencies to effectively communicate with those in and outside of Haiti. The MAF hangar has become a logistics point for aid organizations bringing food, water, medicines, and other relief supplies into this devastated country. MAF relief flights transport teams of medical and relief workers to remote areas.

See how you can contribute immediately at MAF.no (Norwegian) and MAF.org (English).

DISASTER IN HAITI.
HOW YOU CAN HELP IMMEDIATELY: [MAF Norway] [MAF US]

Finally flying NAG home

A swift trip to Torp for ferry became a full day venture. The journey started before sunrise by train, and I made it back to ENKJ as a third of the runway had been covered with afternoon fog. A few minutes later landing might have been rather difficult.

Good people at Helifly Maintenance changed the starter relay after our failed attempts of starting LN-NAG Saturday, Sunday and Monday. They did not, however, actually start the engine before I came Friday morning. And while the starter turned the engine, it did not fire, and it turned out that the left magneto was dead.

A few hours later I could finally leave Sandefjord - with a bit bigger bill.

Third strike

NAG co-owner Per tried all the tricks in the book, with no success. A crew of four did a third attempt of starting the frozen LN-NAG at Torp, Sandefjord, yesterday. Per, Bjørn, Ulf the teddy-bear, and myself flew LN-ULF from ENGM via ENKJ to ENTO. The trip was successful in two ways: (1) We had a beautiful view flying on top over freezing fog, and (2) my five-year-old son were exited about Ulf flying ULF for the second time.

When it comes to LN-NAG, the plane is still at Torp. Today the professional technicians takes over. Tonight we will know the diagnosis.

To be continued...

Leaving Sandefjord, never easy

The plan was a great start of the new year, flying to ENTO for Saturday coffee and waffles at the flying club. It all started well. A smooth flight, great waffles, and fun meeting old friends. The problems started when attempting to leave Sandefjord.

Temperatures in the blue teens (celsius) gave Lars and me only three attempts of starting the engine before the battery was out of power. Recharging, propeller swinging, and good advice from all experts present gave no results. We had to leave LN-NAG behind and hitchhike the 130 km home with a flat battery in our hand luggage.

After a night of recharging, I returned Sunday in LN-DAH with co-pilots Anita and Tore, armed with a full aircraft battery, external power supply, fan heaters, blankets, and lots of determination. We had a great flight in spectacular winter weather. However, LN-NAG is still at ENTO. Tomorrow a new attempt will be made.

To be continued...

2009 Annual Notam

My year in aviation:

• This blog had readers from 1,007 cities in 98 countries and territories on 6 continents.
• I've logged 76.6 hours, a personal all time high. 19.7 was seaplane time. New total: 642.

• Flying low and slow over Golden Gate Bridge twice this year was probably the most spectacular experiences.
• Propeller starting (hand swinging) a seaplane and flying without observing that no battery was on board, defiantly the most embarrassing (and had to be covered up in the blog post).
• Glassy water landing at Vermundsjøen supposedly the most dangerous.
• Happy that I finally managed to fly over the mountains and reach my home town airport Ørsta/Volda (ENOV) for the first time in my 11 years as a pilot. Closest call had been a 180 turn at Nordfjordeid three years ago.
• And last but not least: First GA family vacation to ESSF and Astrid Lindgren's World.

I Wish You All Happy Landings In 2010!

Piper Cherokee to celebrate its 50th birthday at Oshkosh

One of the iconic general aviation airplanes of the past half-century, the Piper Cherokee, will be honored this summer at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, at Wittman Regional Airport on July 26-August 1.

"There are just a few airplanes that are instantly recognizable as part of the flying community at nearly every airport, and the Piper Cherokee is among them," said Tom Poberezny, EAA president and AirVenture chairman. "The design has been a part of aviation history for those learning to fly, enjoying the freedom of flight or using an aircraft as part of their business."

The Cherokee received its type certificate from FAA in 1960 and was first shipped to the marketplace in 1961. More than 30,000 Cherokees and their direct descendants, the Piper Warrior and Arrow, have been built over the past 50 years. (AOPA Online/AMT)

Free to fly after Obama left town

Berit celebrating the freedom of flight after president Obama left town. In the US a five NM VIP Presidential movement temporary flight restriction (TFR) is the normal security level. As Obama arrived Oslo on a mission for peace, a 40 NM no-fly zone was imposed, closing the airspace for VFR flights 24 hours before his arrival, and not opening before hours after he left. Normally only space shuttle launches generates restrictions of this magnitude. Probably a case of most nervous airspace for the Gunnies book of world records.

Give Aviation Gasoline for Christmas

Pay for one jerry can of aviation fuel and help save a life!

One jerry can equals 20 minutes flying time for Mission Aviation Fellowship. That is enough to save a life. Every 5th minute one of MAF's 110 aircrafts takes of or lands somewhere in the world. MAF is flying for life.

Order gift cards you can give to friends and family!

Marry Christmas.

First day of winter, last day on floats

14 October is the Winter day, according to the ancient Norse calendar. This marked the end of the summer season of commerce and travel and the beginning of the winter season of hunting for the Northern folk. Traditionally the ceremony was much like the Carnival season in the Mediterranean countries.

Vis større kart

For me this winter day was the last day on floats for the season. My pilot friend Anita and I waited an hour for the sun to melt the frost of the wings, before flying to Hankø Fjordhotell & Spa for lunch.

Hankø is known as a venue for the sport of sailing, having hosted several world championships in different yacht classes. The island is connected to the mainland by a ferry operating on demand.

The sudden urge to buy power company shares

Flying over a major city at night always gives me the urge to invest in the local power company. Last night I attended an AOPA Norway board meeting at Sundt Air, Gardermoen, and I took the opportunity to get current night while visiting a 24/7 airport. CAVOK and smooth air over Oslo made this chore pretty pleasant.

BYO splash-in lunch at Tjøme

Last season at sea ended by a fly-in dinner at Rica Havna Hotel in the summer paradise Tjøme at the end of the Oslofjord. Today the kitchen was closed due to refurnishing, and we had to bring our own lunch bag.

My UiO colleague Elin and I was offered coffee, tea and a table with a view at the restaurant built into the rock.

Nice being back, but I missed the lobster soup...