CAVU!!

CAVU = Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited. Perfect flying weather, no major clouds, no major haze.

Yes, today was CAVU and I wanted to take advantage of that big shinny thing in the sky I think folks call the sun. It's been awhile since Mr. Sun has graced us with a warm day but today fit the bill. Mary and I headed out to Angels for breakfast then made a stop at Mom and Pop's to hang a picture and hook up their DVD player. We finished up the to do list and decided it was time to go fly.

I headed back by the house, force of habit, then cut through our development and south for the Airport. Mary started to feel ill with her diverticulitis acting up. I turned back for home and Mary said go without me, I just don't feel good and want to lay down. I made sure she was settled and then sent out a few text messages. Vince was ready to fill in so I gave him a meet time and headed back out the door.

I started my pre-flight and ordered fuel when Vince called from the gate. We finished up the pre-flight, watched some planes in the pattern and waited for the fuel truck. I completed the fuel sump and we saddled up ready to get flying. I contacted ground and was cleared to taxi for departure on runway two seven. We had a good headwind and climbed out followed by our approaved left turn on course.

KILG 211751Z AUTO 31017G23KT 10SM CLR 06/M07 A3003

Vince did pretty good on his VOR pop quiz. I asked himn the approximate heading from the DuPont (DQO) VOR to Millville (KMIV). Vince brought along his own current sectional and folded it down so it was manageble then gave me a heading, close and after he gave the headings on the VOR a closer look came out with the correct answer. Not bad for 13 years old and no real flying experience. I track the 143 degree radial from DuPont and it brings you right over Millville. I had Vince plug the direct to on the Garmin 530 for back up.

Millville radio was really a mess today. Everyone got the full brief to include wx, traffic (even the over 5 minute old stuff)all NOTAMS and whatever else they could use up air time with. While they were falling in love hearing themselves talk we were keeping our head on a swivel looking for traffic that was shooting the ILS 10 approach while I was positioning for a 45 degree entry to runway 28. I think I ticked off Millville radio when I told him I want to hear the guy shooting the ILS for position not him. I best get off the soap box.

I made a nice landing with a long long roll out since taxiway J was the only right turn available to me from where I touched down. I eventually cleared the runway and taxied back. I announced 08Romeo departing two eight Millville and you guessed it, he gave me the full readback. I think the airport should just take the AWOS off the air and just send all NOTAMS to Leesburg, VA so they can play air traffic controller and tie the darn radio forever!!! Oops.....I'll get off the soapbox now and kick it aside.

We launched for Cape May (KWWD) and since there are a zillion NOTAMS and I know 10-28 is closed I passed on landing. Cape May/Wildwood got hit pretty hard with the double storms, someday all the ice will melt and it will be good to go. Vince did get some learning time in with a few questions I gave him, actually what if situations, you know they are the best . We did not get a wind report on the KWWD AWOS so I asked him where would he get the wind info. His immidiate response was Dover Delaware, well thats an option but look on the sectional. He gave the sectional a look, picked out Atlantic City and dialed us in, good job. We can also use anything belching smoke or look for the windsock while flying over the field. Here is the Cape May NOTAM list:
!WWD 02/038 WWD NAV RWY 19 ILS LLZ UNMNT
!WWD 02/037 WWD RWY 1/19 CLSD EXC WINGSPAN LESS THAN 49 FT
!WWD 02/035 WWD TWY B CLSD ACFT WINGSPAN OVR 30
!WWD 02/034 WWD TWY B PLW 30 WIDE RMNDR 4 FT SNBNK WEF 1002171950
!WWD 02/032 WWD RWY 1/19 PLW 120 WIDE RMNDR 5 FT SNBNK WEF 1002162052
!WWD 02/030 WWD SVC AWOS WND UNREL
!WWD 02/028 WWD RWY 1/19 PAPI OTS
!WWD 02/026 WWD AD PTCHY THN ICE WEF 1002131229
!WWD 02/023 WWD TWY A CLSD ACFT WINGSPAN OVR 45 FT
!WWD 02/022 WWD RWY 1/19 CLSD NGT
!WWD 02/019 WWD AD SIGNS OBSC 5 FT SNBNK WEF 1002122208
!WWD 02/017 WWD TWY A PLW 40 WIDE 5 FT SNBNK N SIDE WEF 1002122207
!WWD 02/015 WWD TWY G CLSD
!WWD 02/006 WWD TWY D, E, F CLSD
!WWD 02/005 WWD TWY A CLSD E OF RWY 1/19 AND W TWY F WEF 1002031500
!WWD 01/011 WWD RWY 10/28 CLSD WEF 1001311741
!WWD 02/003 WWD TWY A WEST END CLSD TO ACFT WINGSPAN 79 FT AND ABOVE

From Cape May we were going to head back home to Wilmington but made a detour to check out Woodbine Airport. I could have landed there but after flying over and checking it out I decided to get us headed back home. I dialed in the DuPont VOR and had Vince track that back to Wilmington and I switched the page on the Garmin 530 to read about airport info, thats right no magenta line to follow. Vince aced it! He held altitude and couirse very well witha tranfer of controls as we approached the 15 miles out mark. We role played some ATC and he gave it a shot with a script I jotted down after we discussed it. He was a bit nervous and checked in with all the info until I gave him the cut sign. I reminded him he had to make contact first, then when they call him provide the who what where and with ATIS info.

We got a traffic call out for a C130 heading in for runway one. I was directed to turn to the twin spans up river, I complied. I was aksed to do a 360 for spacing and once again I complied. Finally I was given clearence to land runway two seven. As we taxied in Vince heard the tower direct an aircraft to remain clear of the Delta airspace expecting a 15 minute hold. We continued in to Red Eagle and secured the plane. Vince noticed activity around the VP's aircraft that was parked at the Air National Guard, maybe Biden was flying out. Every aircraft that called in was put on a 15 minute hold and a few IFR flights asked if they could cancel and proceed VFR, the answer was no. Well that sealed the deal for us, there was no aircraft emergency that we could hear, the SUV's were buzzing around the 737 and operations was making a runway check. Sure enough, the 737 called up to taxi and was cleared to depart under the Air Force 2 call sign. Vince switched his scanner over to Philly approach and just to confirm had Air Force two checking in with them, pretty cool stuff.

So, two good landings in the book, Vince got some flight time with VOR tracking and gave the radios a shot. A great day to be flying and sharing the passion I have for flight.

GPS TRACK