09.03.2013: I’m back online, finally. First my company computer got upgraded to Windows 7, which came without Frontpage, then my private computer crashed, so I got a new one with Windows 7 with the same effect. I then thought this would be a good time to replace Fronpage with another tool to produce my website, but that’s not so easy. There are few WYSIWYG tools around, so I either have to switch to a HTML editor, which I don’t want, or to a CMS tool, which is kind of an overkill. Finally I decided to re-install Frontpage, and to postpone the switch to another tool, but that took some time.
There was not much to be reported regarding flying anyway, as January and February have been marked by very poor weather here, with regular snowfall, low clouds etc. This does not mean flying hasn’t keep me busy during this time, as I had to upgrade both the maintenance organisation exposition (MOE) of the Part-145 maintenance, as well as the continuing airworthiness maintenance exposition (CAME) of the Part-M CAMO of our club.
Yesterday, however, the airfield was re-opened, so I took the chance to go flying. I had to go alone, as I did not have my three landings in the last 90 days, something that has not happened in a long time.
Here some impressions from the flight:
There is still quite some snow in places only slightly higher than our airfield, which is at 1’543 ft.
Below the city of St. Gallen, which lies between 650 and 750 m above sea level, so the snow probably starts at around 800 m / 2’500 ft.
The weather was quite nice in our area, but the mountains were pretty much in the clouds, with a ceiling at around 2’300 m. / 7’500 ft
The Säntis was all in clouds,…
… but when flying around it I could see the peak in a hole in the clouds.
I also passed the skiing area of Wildhaus, there were still quite some skiers on the slopes. That’s quite rare for the beginning of March.
Below a view toward the “plains”, with a sight that will probably change a gain next Thursday as they have announced snow again! Aaargh, will this winter never end?
15.03.2013: We are streamlining our fleet in the flying club, as the number of active pilots has gone down over the years, but not the number of planes, with the result that we operate a few planes with less than 150 hrs per year, which is just not economical. As a result we decided to sell off our Cessna 150, which will find a new home in the flying school at Buttwil (LSZU).
Today the owner of the flying school came to pick it up, together with a box of spare parts which we don’t need anymore.
16.03.2013: We went flying today, as it was the first day with decent weather in weeks, if not months. We flew to Triengen (LSPN), an airfield I have never been to before. They recently managed to extend their runway from 395 m to 565 m, quite a feat considering today’s noise sensitive society.
Below a view over the Bürgenstock towards the alps, with the Lake of the four cantons visible. One can see that there is still snow down to the lake shore.
23.03.2013: We had the general assembly meeting of our flying club yesterday, and the annual airport cleaning day today, which usually marks the start of the flying season. Everything is ready now, except the weather, but that will come.
24.03.2013: As my wife and I are not at home for the Easter weekend we had our Easter eggs today. Instead of the usual chocolate bunny I received a chocolate plane!
