Shock and Sorrow

It was a an emotionally charged week for us in Florida. I promised a new post reporting on the Air Expo, and the 2009 Remos, and you will get it, but not in this post. Cheryl and I got to the Air Expo, saw the '09 model, and met with the Remos CEO, and numerous future Remos owners. We came away exhausted but enthused.

Enthusiasm however soon gave way to shock and disbelief. If you haven't heard already, tragedy struck the Remos family early Sunday morning, a friend, the Eastern Regional sales manager for Remos, was involved in an accident in his GX. http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/jan/28/la-ntsb-investigation-continues-into-sunday-plane-/ Thankfully, Mike survived the crash, but suffered extensive injuries, and will be recovering for quite some time. Unfortunately, the passenger's injuries were fatal. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike, his family, and the family of Steven Fletcher, the fatally injured passenger.

The cause of the accident is still officially under investigation, and I'll post no speculation here. What I will offer, is my heart felt thanks to all of my friends and customers that called or emailed with their concern. Without exception, each call expressed relief to find out neither Dave or I were involved, then sorrow and sympathy for the victims and their families. It strikes me that we really are becoming a Remos family, just as we envisioned it two years ago when we began this great adventure. This family, like all families laugh, cry, and grow together. The good times are easier than the bad, but the bad times are easier with care and concern from family.

Thank you for your care and concern, and please continue to pray for Mike, his family, and the family of Steven Fletcher.

At the Air Expo

I got busy, and we'll be at the Air Expo this week, so I'll have an update when we get back.

Thanks.

The Corner Hardware Store

Every town has one, the hardware store you never think about going to until Home Depot or Lowes doesn't have what you need. If your lucky, they tell you to try Ace, or some other "bigger" store, and likewise, they don't have what I need either. When all hope is lost, I trek over to Jehling Hardware. This is an old time hardware store, right out of Mayberry. I have never brought in a part, screw, or appliance and been disappointed. To me, it is a modern marvel, how they can cram so much stuff into so little space. Even more amazing, they know exactly where it is. Unbelievable. One of these days I'll learn to go there first, but they just aren't as convenient as some of the big box stores, and Like Jehlings inventory, I'm always trying to squeeze more time into a day than there is. Unfortunatetly, I don't have the same success as they do. I had an opportunity this week to visit, like always, it was after two of the others weren't able to cut spare keys to the Remos for me. It had been a while since I was there, and even longer since I was there during the Christmas season. Jehling puts out a train display that we used to take the kids to every year when they were small enough for me to lift up so they could see everything. Sure enough, the display was there, and I spent a lot more time watching the trains, and exploring every nook and cranny of the display than it took for them to cut my keys and find the other things on my list. Something else I'm going to put on my list is to go ahead and be inconvenienced once in a while, because it sure was worth it Saturday. I hope you enjoy the pictures, but they don't do justice to the live version.

IM SAFE

I've been sick this week; so has Cheryl, and Justin, and just about half of all the people I know. Therefore, we haven't been flying or taking any trips. It has given me the opportunity to use a checklist I teach to all my students, and routinely use myself. IM SAFE.

I Illness
M Medication
S Stress
A Alcohol
F Fatigue
E Emotion

We know we have to check the weather, and pre-flight the aircraft before we go, but we also have to evaluate ourselves. The IM SAFE points are just some of the factors we must consider when we determine if we should fly, or stay on the ground. The old adage; "it's better to be on the ground, wishing you were in the air, than in the air, wishing you were on the ground" really applies here. Aviation is a demanding endevour, requiring the pilot to use all of his or her facilties and resources. The items on the above checklist are merely a starting point, or memory jogger. Only you know your personal limitations, you are pilot in command. Saying no before you go can be a hard decision but it just might be the right one.

The checklist below is from a FAA publication that expands on these ideas. Print it out and fill in the blanks for your own limits.
http://www.faa.gov/education_research/training/fits/guidance/media/personal%20minimums%20checklist.pdf

I know it's gross, but I thought it was funny. Of course I'm not the one cleaning it up. Only watch if you have a strong stomach.



I told you so!