Drove out to the airport today...

azure

azure

Final Approach
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azure
And was shocked at what I found.

I was going to swap database cards so I'd have a current DB for a planned flight Wednesday, plus drop off my ceramic heater and plug in a new Battery Minder.

When I got there, I missed the turnoff into the lot next to the community hangar where I normally park. Turning around, I saw that it was completely unplowed, 2 feet of snow blocking the driveway.

So I drove to the FBO to find out what was going on and what my options were.

The door was locked and there were no cars parked in the lot, though this one was at least plowed.

Oddly, the gate was open, so I decided to try to drive via the taxiway to the community hangar.

No can do. The ramp, under a thin coating of blown snow, was a sheet of ice, zero traction where it was bare. I turned around and was very lucky to not get stranded on the ice.

I checked the NOTAMs when I got home... FICON 3/3/3 on the main runway and taxiways. Nothing that said AD CLOSED, so apparently the field is open. The fact that the gate was open implies someone was there earlier and would probably be back at some point, but at the moment they're not answering their phone either, so who knows when that will be?

Heck of a way to run a business, and it appears I might not be flying anywhere until spring.

Luckily, I also found a PnP post saying my mission was canceled... but that is scant comfort.
 
I visited the hangar today and found that two discrepancies from the last flight had been corrected. Apparently I need to visit more often to keep the hangar fairies away...or maybe just get a game camera.
 
Story of my life lol, I've sent cops out to survey runways for me 4 or 5 times this winter alone.


What are you driving?
 
Lucky you guys. At least you have reason to visit your hangars, unlike some of us unfortunate souls.
 
eman1200 said:
Sheesh, my only excuse for not flying is “waahh, it’s cold out”.

-emanbigpussssy
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Well if’n you’d put some clothes on that laundry basket might be a lot more comfortable in the winter. Why do you have a topless avatar anyway? I’m sure it violates the ROC.
 
James331 said:
Story of my life lol, I've sent cops out to survey runways for me 4 or 5 times this winter alone.


What are you driving?
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Car is a Sonic. Yes I have snow tires, but this was sheer ice. No way anyone is safely taxiing on that ramp. Conditions might be better on the taxiway, but I didn't get that far.

They're still not answering the phone. Probably closed until Tuesday. The question is whether they'll be open even then, and whether I'll be able to access the plane... much less fly it.
 
mscard88 said:
Wow you mean you do speak to cops? Who knew...
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Hey hey, I got no issue with the good ones, or when they are doing good, it's just the Judge Dread wannabe crap that bugs me.
 
azure said:
Car is a Sonic. Yes I have snow tires, but this was sheer ice. No way anyone is safely taxiing on that ramp. Conditions might be better on the taxiway, but I didn't get that far.

They're still not answering the phone. Probably closed until Tuesday. The question is whether they'll be open even then, and whether I'll be able to access the plane... much less fly it.
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I've had pretty good luck with my subie in the harsh winter conditions, but not much you can do with sheet ice.


They really should NOTAM the AP closed if they are not going to maintain it for a few days
 
James331 said:
I've had pretty good luck with my subie in the harsh winter conditions, but not much you can do with sheet ice.


They really should NOTAM the AP closed if they are not going to maintain it for a few days
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If Vermont had a state car, Subaru would be it! My next car will probably be one, if the job situation keeps me here. I was considering one back in 2012, but opted for the Sonic because gas prices were a lot higher then. (Also, I had no idea I'd be moving here.)

It's not just a few days it has not been maintained. Judging from the look of the community hangar lot, they haven't plowed that thing at all this year.
 
azure said:
If Vermont had a state car, Subaru would be it! My next car will probably be one, if the job situation keeps me here. I was considering one back in 2012, but opted for the Sonic because gas prices were a lot higher then. (Also, I had no idea I'd be moving here.)

It's not just a few days it has not been maintained. Judging from the look of the community hangar lot, they haven't plowed that thing at all this year.
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Also not good for EMS, we've had a few turndowns in remote areas because the airports were not being maintained.
 
I tried to drive to the airport this morning. 10 Miles.

I made it about 3 mi before I had to turn around because of the icy road surface. We ended up just grabbing lunch at the place by the marina (~1 mi away) and heading back to hunker down for a while.

Stay safe out there!
 
We may set a new record high today here in Gallup at 64 degrees. No measurable moisture in something like 70 days. Burn ban is in effect.

I am usually burning brush this time of year that is under snow.

If we don't start getting moisture soon it will be a long, hot and dry summer.
 
Never been a fan of bush
 
Clark1961 said:
I visited the hangar today and found that two discrepancies from the last flight had been corrected. Apparently I need to visit more often to keep the hangar fairies away...or maybe just get a game camera.
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Decided against it today based on the weather. On the other hand....if it clears up, I may take off in 2017 and land in 2018 - almost a full moon tonight.
 
murphey said:
Decided against it today based on the weather. On the other hand....if it clears up, I may take off in 2017 and land in 2018 - almost a full moon tonight.
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It was plenty chilly with a nice breeze to keep the bugs away. :rofl:
 
Went to the hangar just now to check things out. Looks like no one has taken a plane out the last 2 weekends based on the lack of tire tracks. At least I'm in good company. Been in negative territory the last 8-9 days or so.
 
azure said:
And was shocked at what I found.

I was going to swap database cards so I'd have a current DB for a planned flight Wednesday, plus drop off my ceramic heater and plug in a new Battery Minder.

When I got there, I missed the turnoff into the lot next to the community hangar where I normally park. Turning around, I saw that it was completely unplowed, 2 feet of snow blocking the driveway.

So I drove to the FBO to find out what was going on and what my options were.

The door was locked and there were no cars parked in the lot, though this one was at least plowed.

Oddly, the gate was open, so I decided to try to drive via the taxiway to the community hangar.

No can do. The ramp, under a thin coating of blown snow, was a sheet of ice, zero traction where it was bare. I turned around and was very lucky to not get stranded on the ice.

I checked the NOTAMs when I got home... FICON 3/3/3 on the main runway and taxiways. Nothing that said AD CLOSED, so apparently the field is open. The fact that the gate was open implies someone was there earlier and would probably be back at some point, but at the moment they're not answering their phone either, so who knows when that will be?

Heck of a way to run a business, and it appears I might not be flying anywhere until spring.

Luckily, I also found a PnP post saying my mission was canceled... but that is scant comfort.
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Certainly makes one not committed to an airport yet contemplate the options..... I haven't been paying attention until this year, but I suppose the northeast airports really haven't had to deal with this type of weather in a number of years if not a decade.
 
murphey said:
Works for me....at your hangar? Or the restaurant?

Colorado people....who else is available?
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I can probably do either but restaurant prolly better.
 
I used to fly out of an airport where the owner liked to go fishing.
Whenever he went fishing, which was often, he would leave the FBO unlocked and throw all the keys to all the planes and all the maintenance vehicles on the counter.
It was all honor system.
I never heard of anyone stiffing him.
That's how I learned to drive a snow plow.
And the Duck.
 
Shepherd said:
I used to fly out of an airport where the owner liked to go fishing.
Whenever he went fishing, which was often, he would leave the FBO unlocked and throw all the keys to all the planes and all the maintenance vehicles on the counter.
It was all honor system.
I never heard of anyone stiffing him.
That's how I learned to drive a snow plow.
And the Duck.
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Duck, duck, that rings a bell, some kind of a vehicle wasn't it? Air Force maybe?
 
PaulS said:
Certainly makes one not committed to an airport yet contemplate the options..... I haven't been paying attention until this year, but I suppose the northeast airports really haven't had to deal with this type of weather in a number of years if not a decade.
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Only about 3 years (pretending we are in 2018 already). I remember needing a week to get to Boston and a ton of flight re-bookings back in 2015, and that was just the start of their heavy storms. I did my work and got out just before it really got "bad"

The image below was after only 2 storms- I had to go back there early summer and they still had snow they pushed under bridges that hadn't melted.
 
Cap'n Jack said:
Only about 3 years (pretending we are in 2018 already). I remember needing a week to get to Boston and a ton of flight re-bookings back in 2015, and that was just the start of their heavy storms. I did my work and got out just before it really got "bad"

The image below was after only 2 storms- I had to go back there early summer and they still had snow they pushed under bridges that hadn't melted.
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I think I know that street.

It’s funny how perspective changes things. I got a college buddy from nj who insists Boston is the coldest, snowiest place he has ever seen in his life.

We usually get our fair share of snow but this cold streak is the worse I remember in 5-6 years.

@azure - I thought you vt people were the real hardy new Englanders. Your not at a tiny airport either- the state capital’s airport should be more taken care of. Sorry for your troubles, I hope they plow u out soon!
 
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neilw2 said:
@azure - I thought you vt people were the real hardy new Englanders. Your not at a tiny airport either- the state capital’s airport should be more taken care of. Sorry for your troubles, I how they plow u out soon!
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Heh. I know John (Roberti, the FBO owner) hates winter, but if he's not going to maintain the airport for 4 months out of the year he should hire someone to do it or else sell his business. At the very least he should discount the hangar rent during the winter months if he isn't going to let his tenants get to their planes... :mad:

There is probably more to the story though. We had a pretty cold, snowy winter the first year I was here (2014-5) and he kept the community hangar accessible, at least. The ramps weren't in this bad a shape, either. :dunno:
 
Happy New Year.
We used them to recover seaplanes out of the river.
Jim had all the maintenance vehicles, including the Ducks, registered as farm vehicles.
I have no idea why, other than is was the cheapest thing he could do.
But it meant that at 14 I could hop in the Duck and drive it into town to pick up food at the deli and stuff at the hardware store.
 
Went to the airport today after duck hunting, not many ducks and no one at the airport. Haze and ugliness, went home To finish off a bathroom remodel. Crab and a nice wine for dinner, will be in bed before the new year.
Happy New year Everyone
 
Shepherd said:
But it meant that at 14 I could hop in the Duck and drive it into town to pick up food at the deli and stuff at the hardware store.
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Wow..!!! At that age how could you handle all that power..??

Didn't the duck have a top speed of something like 35MPH on land and like 0.3 knots in the water..??
 
Drove to the airport today. It’s on a dead end road so I had to drive around the “Road closed” no thru traffic sign that the police put up. That’s another story.

Completed annual inspection on the SGS 1-26 with the help of the IA.
It’s a lot easier when it is apart and on the trailer.

Oh did I say we were outside in shirt sleeves?
 
So I heard back from another pilot who is also in the community hangar. Says he last flew on Christmas Eve and needed a tow to the taxiway because of the ice. The FBO's excuse was a new plowing team from VTrans that, basically, suck. I'm going to call the FBO tomorrow and ask if they're planning on doing anything about it.

HNY y'all! :)
 
Shepherd said:
Happy New Year.
We used them to recover seaplanes out of the river.
Jim had all the maintenance vehicles, including the Ducks, registered as farm vehicles.
I have no idea why, other than is was the cheapest thing he could do.
But it meant that at 14 I could hop in the Duck and drive it into town to pick up food at the deli and stuff at the hardware store.
Click to expand...

I was driving down the road near my house a couple days ago and here comes a pristine APC w/ a kid hanging out the top! About of size of a full size PU truck, something like this:

200px-M20_Armored_Utility_Vehicle_1.JPG
 
I opened the back door and walked across the breeze way to the hangar. Since it's Winter I had a long sleeved shirt on. Yesterday was bitterly cold at 65. Today it should be back up into the 70's. :p
 
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