Hak's TWC PIREP
N° 7


Kalso, Sunday 3rd February 2002

Just when I suceeded in convincing Victoria that the most stressfull time is over (the bad guys are detained) and we could take a day or two off to enjoy a VFR trip towards the Rockies, the phone rang, and we received the distress call. With very few words, Victoria told me the bad news, and we both rushed to get ready for emergency flight activity instead of Souflaki at the lokal greek restaurant. It was about saving lifes, and every true nomad of the sky would follow the call. So, just 12 minutes later, we arrived at the hangar, where the Waterpipe already has been prepared. We were waiting for Sir Brick to arrive, as we planned to fly together towards the Gas station, but then, we heard that Cpt. Brick has had problems to connect his FMS to ours, and so we went up solo.




Over the comm channel, we organized ouor flights, and Brick headed for the Gas station, while Victoria and me, who had already two Doctors and a Nurse aboard from Kaslo, headed directly towards the crash site. Under different circumstances, this might have become an exciting flight, but we were under high tension - no time was to spend, and I pushed the engine to deliver 145 kts steady cruise speed. It did hurt my heart to squeeze the Waterpipe, but as she is a true nomad too, I am sure she did understand my intention and she brought us near the crash site very quickly.




We saw the smoke from far away, and after a bypass at 300ft agl, recognising the terrain for a short landing, a 180 turn followed by a sharp slow down phase, down to 50 kts, full flaps, I prepared the Waterpipe to land as near as reasonable, so the injured ones can be loaded easily and quickly. It's these moments when you love STOL aircraft...


The landing went fine, although a bit short. I missed the runway stripe, and landed on the grass, but I was prepapred, the passengers were prepared too, and the Waterpipe proved to be an excellent aircraft for such conditions once more.



7 injured persons , a doctor and two nurses boarded the Waterpipe, and a few minutes later, we were already airborne again. We didn't use more than 1/3 of the available runway, even with this many passengers. The turbo charged
engine pays off.



Then followed a pretty quiet flight towards Nelson, only disturbed by the rumbling of three C-130 aircraft, obviously from military origin. They passed high above our heads, and when I expected the airspace to be clear, we climbed to 7500ft and enjoyed (as good as one can i such a situation) the stunning view:


Shortly before we prepared for the approach to Nelson, we asked the Tower for ambulance cars, and ordered the passengers to prepare for landing and quick movement of the patients into the waiting ambulances. The approach
towards Nelson is absolutely fantastic. Victoria asked me to fly that approach later again, so we can enjoy it to it's fullest extent.


The landing went smooth again, and the patients have been carried away for good treatement within a couple minutes after landing. We parked the Waterpipe next to the hangar, and went to the hospital to see after our "passengers".


When we heard that all of them are on the safe side, and none has received unrecoverable injuries, we were happy and relieved. But then, I was too tired to fly the approach again, so we planned to do that on next evening. Now I need a stiff drink, a hot bath and the soothing charm of Victoria.

Clear sky!
Hak