Wife & I just overheard the kids talking about how they ‘ll decorate the house after we die, so I guess we/re sleeping in shifts from now on.
All posts by DWMack
Sunday Afternoon Fly Day
March 18: Fly Day Sunday was a “Blue Sky Day” which meant it’s a great time to go diving, jumping or flying. Since the local DZ’s are still down for another month, no dive buddies to zip up the dry suit (back zipper you know), so that left getting get in some engine time.
So the first thing you do before flying is look outside and do a visual weather look-see. If that looks promising, then it’s time to check in with DUATS.
Ok, I know, what is DUATS you ask? That stands for Direct User Access Terminal Service and is a weather information and flight plan processing service contracted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use by United States civil pilots. You can use the phone or internet for access to a FAA database to obtain weather and aeronautical information and to file, amend, and cancel domestic IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) and VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plans.
After I check to see if the weather is good where you are at, you have to see what going on at the places you want to go. To do that you look at NOTAM’s (Notice to Airmen) which are information notices filed to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight. It’s nice to know things like is the airport runways open, are its lights working if you plan on arriving after dark, do any hazards exist you might want to know about before you need to land. That does include things like watch for deer on the runway especially in the evenings, hazards such as air shows, parachute jumps, kite flying, lasers, rocket launches, etc. Thats not a joke in reference to lasers or rockets by the way!
And the then we check Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) which are geographically-limited, short-term, airspace restriction which often encompass major sporting events, natural disaster areas, air shows, space launches, and Presidential movements (which can be a moving target). You absolutely do not want to bust, meaning enter, a presidential TFR. That is unless you want an up close and personnel opportunity to see a fully armed fighter aircraft (s) blowing jet exhaust, or worse, your way.
So with all the administrative hoops jumped thru got the bird out of the nest, checked her over and the only thing I needed to do was feed her. Now she’s is STC’d for auto gas but I feed her that that last week and I prefers she have a higher octane mix. So since I had a bit over an hour’s flight time available I did a short hop over to C20 (Andrews Airpark) in Berrien Springs to take advantage of their self-service fuel facilities and tanked up.
Left Andrews and flew around Berrien Springs checking out the water level in the river, Lake Chapin and the dam, then west over to Bridgman, then Baroda to check out Singer & Hess Lake , flew parallel to Cleveland Ave toward Stevensville and looked over the changes to the sports field and Lakeshore HS ball & football fields, took pictures of the Ice Garden ( I call the ice palace) , back over lake Michigan for a short shore tour and to see how dirty the river plume was today and then landing at the Benton Harbor airport.
(New word definition: STC: a supplemental type certificate is a national aviation authority-approved major modification or repair to an existing type certified aircraft, engine or propeller.)
Chapin lake is a very nice 600-acre reservoir but unfortunately the closest public access to Chapin Lake is in Buchanan, at least miles upstream from the dam. The Berrien Springs Boat Club has a prime launch site next to the dam’s west end, but it’s available to members only. The lakes visible Stonehenge equivalent is the row of concrete supports spanning the lake remnants of a bridge that was built in 1905 and shutdown in 1934 for an interurban train that linked all parts south to Berrien Springs. The river was dammed in 1908 to create Lake Chapin and to produce electricity.
Shamrock Park launch site lower left of picture. You can float from there down the river about nine miles to the Jasper Dairy Road access and about 25 miles to Lake Michigan.
Cleveland & Glenlord Intersection: Ice Garden now completed and fully operating.
Wolfs Marine Open House
March 17-18: Today was busy but a mandatory stop was to “Wolfs Marine & Dive Shop” for their Spring Open House and great sales on dive equipment. It was a good time to visit and see divers an boaters who have been hiding in their burrows until now. Jim, the dive store manager, has done an outstanding job getting the shop where it is today. If you need your regulator tuned up, dry suit repaired, or just getting a nitrox fill, wolfs is the place to go.
Great Lakes Shipwrecks Festival
March 3: The Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival
Today was time for another diving related road trip. This time to the 37th Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival held on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI.
It was presented by the Ford Sea Horse and Sea Lancers scuba diving clubs with cooperation from the Detroit Historical society, Dossin Great Lakes Museum, and Great Lakes Maritime Institute.
There were 26 exhibitors covering topics that included: Government, U/W Imagery & Commercial Diving. Several Museums and Publications were represented along with several artist and authors. Dives shops, Dive Charter Operators and several travel booths were also available.
There were two rooms for seminars. The auditorium was used for presenting presentations on Great Lakes Shipwrecks and the seminar room had presentation on travel, educational, and technical diving related topics. There was something for everyone to enjoy.
A wee bit on the wet side this week!
Feb 24: Short fly day as the weather was not the best for sightseeing and marginal VFR is just that. Saint Joseph River Flooding Pictures says it all!
Benton Township Park & Boat Launch:
Derfla Dr. & Meadow Streams Estate (mostly underwater)
Linden Dr. & Bacon School Road:
Linden Drive:
River View Lane & Linden Dr.:
Riverview Park Ball Fields just visible:
Feb 17: Our World Underwater – Dive & Travel Show
With the varying extreme temperature swings, snow squalls, mixed with the occasional rain, February’s ice is not suitable for safe diving. Occasionally there are windows to fly but they too are fleeting, so we turn to other indoor activities diving related.
This month was attending the 47th “Our World Underwater Dive and Travel Show” that was held on February 17 at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare.
You might note that last year it was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Rosemont, IL but apparently due to continued low attendance and associated cost was moved.
Left St. Joseph and stopped at the Michigan City Airport to pick up my dive buddy then off to “Sophie’s Pancake House” to fortify ourselves for the trip.
After a hearty breakfast we braved the Chicago traffic and arrived at the Marriott about an hour after the doors had opened. Tickets cost $20 at the door for the exposition floor /display area and exposition floor seminars which were on dive locations. Did not attend any standalone seminars ($30) or go to the evening film festival ($20).
The formal seminars were categorized within 4 groups: Dive the World, Wonders of the Sea, Dive with a Pro, and Shipwrecks. We did see one MUD Club member who was attending the shipwreck seminars.
There were14 films for showing at the evening Film Festival. Every film presenter is an outstanding diver, experienced presenter, and some of the best examples for divers the world over. Their passion for their craft is outstanding.
With all that said, this year it appeared that there were fewer and smaller diver specific booths for scuba gear than last year but tons of travel booths. Parking was tight but it was appreciated that the parking fee ($11.00) was validated/ waived when your purchased your show ticket. This made this year’s travel cost lower than last years.
In that the Milwaukee, Wi. “2018 Ghost Ships Festival” has been cancelled it will be interesting to see what the attendance is like at the March 3rd “Great Lakes Shipwrecks Festival” in Ann Arbor, Mi.
I am wondering if this is simply a normal cyclic of interest or if it’s indicative of a trend. Maybe it’s just me but it seems that the majority of individuals attending these events are gray beards.
As we normally do there are side trips made when traveling back home after the show. This year we tracked down a couple of “Army Navy Pawn & Surplus” stores to rummage thru. It’s fun and you can never tell when you might find something you just have to have.
By then breakfast had been digested and it was time to refuel which we did at “The Hog Wild Restaurant” in Midlothian, IL. Now if your ever in the area I strongly suggest you stop here. The prices are OK, the service is amazingly fast, and the Pork Chops are to die for.
The trip home was a little slow due to a snow squall hitting and reduced visibility to 300 feet max in many areas and the roads were iffy. It was 262 miles R/T but a full fun day.
Hope your day was enjoyable too!
Chicago Marriott O’Hare
Flying Companion
If your going to be flying with a non-pilot on a frequent basis, like your spouse for example, its to both your advantage for them to learn to be an effective cockpit crew member.
There is a program called “companion flyer” and you see them offered every so often at seminars around the country. The purpose is to help make that frequent flyer passenger more knowledgeable so if the pilot needs assistance they can help and not suddenly be thrust into a panic situation cause they have no idea what to do.
These classes are fun, informative, and designed with the non-pilot in mind. Participants learn to be an effective cockpit crew member and become more comfortable in light aircraft so flying is more enjoyable! A typical one day ground-school-only course covers:
– How the airplane flies
– How to read an aeronautical chart
– Who and How to talk to on the radio
– What the instruments tell you (airspeed, altitude, level indicator)
– What to do in an emergency
– Safety tips, weather, and much more
… so participants can enjoy flying, and be a better Flying Companion!
What can a flying companion do to assist the pilot regardless of aviation qualifications?
#1: Watch for traffic: One of the most important things a passenger can do is to watch for ground and air traffic (airplanes, birds, balloons, UFO’s) and point them out to the pilot.
If the pilot is monitoring an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) frequency, listen to where the ATC says the other aircraft is try to spot the other airplane. You will learn how controllers use a combination of clock positions, distance, and altitude to convey the other aircraft’s position relative to yours.
Run checklists: Pilots at all levels make extensive use of checklists to ensure that all necessary tasks are completed at the right time, and in the correct sequence. One way to help is to “run” the checklist by reading items to the pilot, and then watching to ensure completion of the required task. In addition to being a big help to the pilot, performing this task will boost your knowledge of the aircraft and of safety-focused aviation procedures.
Monitor progress: Even in the era of moving map navigators, there is no substitute for human situational and positional awareness. A companion can learn to read paper charts, tablet navigation apps, or panel-mounted moving map navigators; follow the progress of the flight; and make verbal tell the pilot when the aircraft crosses a named navigational point.
Especially on a flight where ATC gives instructions, it is also helpful to keep a written log of assigned headings, altitudes, and radio frequencies.
Set/monitor radios: Still another way to assist the pilot is to learn to set and change radio frequencies. A flying companion can also learn to set the aircraft’s ATC-assigned transponder code, and to perform basic functions on the installed or hand-held moving map navigator(s)
Discover Scuba Diving
January 20: Today was an actually a combo event day that started out with my participating in a “Discover Scuba Class” put on by “Wolf’s Diver Supply” located in Benton Harbor and “Benthic Adventures LLC” located in Glenford, Ohio. The second part was as a mentor in the classroom portion of an “Ice Diving” class held that evening at Wolf’s Dive shop.
The “Discover Scuba” class was held at the Saint Joseph High School pool on Stadium Drive. In addition to the introduction to scuba class being held there, the pool was made available to any experienced (certified) diver as an opportunity to get wet in semi-warm water that had visibility. So if you wanted to stretch out your dried out wet suit or see if your dry suit was leaking, this was a time to do that. It’s always amazing how much wet suits seem to shrink after being laid up during the winter months.
Along with getting wet and checking out your personal dive gear, Wolfs Marine had “full face masks” with communications available to experiment with as well as Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV’s) or in layman’s terms “underwater battery operated scooters”.
As indicated by the pictures included here, I took my trusty “GoPro” for those divers who like to geek the camera. There is Allways some one.
Classes like this are fun but involve a lot of work that the students do not see. Hauling in dozens of heavy scuba tanks, weighted down buoyancy compensators (BCD) and additional dive gear thru the snow is a pain and then after class lugging it all out again but now its all wet and cold. Its the price you pay for having fun.
The evening class was on “Ice Diving”. Most Scuba divers are an adventurous group, always looking to expand their horizons and try new experiences. So those looking to be challenged and want to try something a little out of the ordinary, the Ice Diver course is the perfect solution. Ice diving is a totally unique experience from typical recreational diving and will give you an experience that most scuba divers have not enjoyed. Just imagine diving under a solid sheet of ice and exploring where few divers have – is your adventurous side ready for the challenge?
If you think this could be something you would enjoy, or is on your bucket list, why not join us in the next “Discover Scuba” class?
Saint Joseph Michigan – In Ice
I posted this on FB to see what assistance might be available.
It’s a sunny day and maybe a good day to fly so I am heading out to the airport at 1340 hrs. to see if the taxi ways and runways are good to go. BUT I need an extra person along because with the slick pavement and slight rise at the hanger doors I cannot get the plane out or back in by myself. Anyone want to trade some MANUAL labor for flight time? I can give you an hour heads up once I check the door access.
As you can see, I did have a response and was able to get in a little engine time and a few pictures of Saint Joseph in the Snow and Ice.
There is not as much ice this year as in years past -(Here are examples from Jan 2014)
