Stéphane Lee

Je prépare une licence de pilote privé. Je n’ai pas encore passé ma licence de radio-opérateur mais je commence à communiquer avec la tour sous la supervision de mon instructeur.

Après ma checklist de pré-vol et de démarrage moteur, je me prépare pour sortir. J’appelle le contrôleur du sol pour avoir une autorisation de circuler.

Moi: Sol de St-Jean. Cessna cent soixante-douze. Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo.

Sol: Sol de St-Jean. Uniform Charlie Kilo.

Moi: Uniform Charlie Kilo. Je suis chez CPAQ. C’est pour une sortie vers St-Alexandre. Trois milles pieds.

Sol: Uniform Charlie Kilo. Piste 0-6. Vents 0-5-0 5 noeuds. Altimètre 3-0-4-7. Circulez sur Charlie et Delta. Faites votre point fixe sur Charlie. Restez à l’écart de la 0-6.

Moi: Rester à l’écart de la 0-6. Uniform Charlie Kilo.

J’ajuste mon altimètre. Je circule sur Charlie et je me mets à côté sur la piste (presque perpendiculaire à l’axe) contre le vent afin de faire mes dernières vérifications et exposés avant le décollage.

Ensuite, je me mets sur la fréquence de la tour.

Moi: Tour de St-Jean. Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo. A l’écart de la 0-6. Prêt pour le décollage.

Tour: Uniform Charlie Kilo. Alignez-vous piste 0-6. Virage par la droite. Autorisé à décoller.

Moi: Uniform Charlie Kilo.

Je m’aligne sur la piste 0-6. Et plein gaz.

J’essaie de tenir sur le centre de la piste (tant bien que mal).

A 55 noeuds environ, je tire doucement sur le manche.

Quelle sensation! Je vole…

With the high price of oil, it is important to distinguish the alternative sources of energy available to us. Contrary to popular beliefs, not all alternative sources of energy are good. Solar energy on roof tops is great. Wind mills are good but may be an eyesore. Biodiesel/biofuel is bad I think. Using agriculture to produce energy is a bad idea.

For example, soybeans are planted for their oil which is used as biodiesel to run trucks and buses. In producing the soybeans, we will be using fertilizers (nitrates, phosphates mainly), herbicides, pesticides, and even genetically-modified specimen. It is dishonest to say that biofuel is a clean, green fuel. This new type of energy industry has caused less agricultural land available for food growing, a booming agricultural economy and an increase in price of basic food.

Also, the solution to this energy ‘crisis’ is to lower our consumption. If we use less, we will spend less on it andpollute less. The price will drop as the demand will be less acute. Gas under 90 cents is something of the past. If the US dollar was not so weak, we would already have paid over $1.50 for sure. I remember, not so long ago, the maximum amount the (outdoor) gas station signs could display was 99.9 cents.

Today was a great day: a bit cold but sunny and clear sky. The next two weeks seem to bring rain and snow. It’s not a good combination.

Just like the A380, the Sea King helicopter is quite immense and impressive. It is primarily used here for search and rescue operations. It can technically land on sea and it can also launch torpedoes. The Sea Kings were made in the 1960s. It was a great technology then. They still fly. Almost all the parts have been replaced though. I took some pictures of the Sea King helicopter during its fuel stop at the local airport this afternoon.

A Sea King and a Midget car:

Preflight check before takeoff:

Airbus A380 on final runway 24 right at Montreal Trudeau airport.

Airbus A380 taking off for Orlando, Florida. So big! More pics here.