ONE PILOT’S LOG BOOK
Thinking back, the 2006 AOPA Expo in Palm Springs was memorable for many things. There was the beautiful sunshine, the parade of aircraft through the city streets, the sunshine, the record crowds; and did I mention the sunshine? One part of the weekend I will not forget was the eloquent words of Barry Schiff. Most know Barry as a famed pilot, author and speaker. That day, however, he was also a prophet who made a simple suggestion to the crowds that attended to celebrate this icon of aviation. “You are here because you love to fly. Wherever you go, take a moment, rent a plane and a CFI and fly. Make your log book into a pilot’s diary.” I carried his words with me this past week on a less-than-exciting business trip to Los Angeles. In the midst of my second boring meeting of the day I spotted a small aircraft flying overhead, in an obvious landing descent to the west. A quick trip to the concierge and the research was done. Santa Monica Airport was only a few miles away and yes; they did rent aircraft there.
Finding the airport was easy. The taxi driver knew it well. He was from Beverly Hills and often dropped the rich and famous at the corporate air terminal. The Grammys were in town, so this was just another one of his many trips there today. It became immediately obvious that the only aircraft on this side of the airport required a flight crew and small cabin contingent, as well as jet A fuel. So, with taxi gone and no other way to find the “other side” of the airport, my wife and I began a long walk around the perimeter of Santa Monica airport.
After what seemed like a long way around, we spotted a sign for the local American Flyers outlet. There I had an opportunity to talk with the desk manager and explain to him what I wanted to do. “I want to fly up the West coast”, I said. “And one more thing. I love the movie One Six Right, the story of Van Nuys Airport. I want to land on One Six Right.”
American Flyers located a plane and a willing CFI, who became our tour guide. As we departed Santa Monica my first impression was that of endless beaches: Malibu, Santa Barbara, and the like. We could not have seen these beaches in several days, but here we were, cruising above in just a few minutes of easy flight time. That’s when my CFI, Morgan Reedy, made life more interesting. “Turn right about 20 degrees and we’ll go through that pass.” Pass? I’m from New York; the only pass I know is when Chad Pennington hits his wide receiver. Level at 2500 feet with mountains around us at over 5,000 feet we traversed areas of the California Coast that only birds and pilots can see. A large swatch cut by the wild fires of last fall, an equally wide area of lush green from the heavy rains of the recent winter. From here, we cannot only see the beauty that pilots know, but the continuum of re-established life.
Turning right just a few more degrees we pass a large set of buildings. Morgan tells me it’s the Reagan Library. As majestic as the President himself, standing on top of a hill. Another right turn and another pass and I realize, I might get used to flying through these passes. Morgan tells us that we are over the famous Seemy Valley.
He tunes the radio and there it is, at one o’clock; Van Nuys Airport. “72AF you are clear to land 16 Right.”
With my best airline pilot’s voice I answer, “Roger clear to land 16 Right.” Inside I realized the significance of this simple task. Land a plane on one of the most famous runways ever built. It’s nothing special to the folks on the left coast, but to a boy from the Bronx, it was one of the more special landings I have ever done. Once on the ground, (yes I bounced the landing just a bit), we taxied pastTom Cruise’s P-51 Mustang, numerous war birds and some of California’s news helicopters, before departing for Santa Monica (SMO). Morgan knew the lay of the land. “Just fly along this highway; it will bring you to a right base for runway 21 at Santa Monica.”
“72AF clear to land Runway 21, minimum time on the runway, Citation on short final.” Citation on short final, probably a Grammy attendee. No problem, bring it in a little hot and look for the first taxiway. But wait, there are no taxiways at Santa Monica.
Nothing unusual to Morgan, “Just angle it off the runway.” It’s all paved. I never saw that before, just taxi off the runway wherever you want.
Once parked back at the FBO I had a chance to thank Morgan and the folks at American Flyers for their hospitality and professional operation. This was not my longest trip, nor my most difficult. Landing at Van Nuys was one of many hundreds if not thousands of landings in my flying career. But as a pilot I once had the honor of meeting told me, I am here because I love to fly. Wherever you go, rent a plane and take flight. Yes, the rest of the business meetings will still have to go on, but this pilot’s mind might be a few thousand feet off the ground, flying through one of those California passes. Now where is that logbook?
By Sal A. Lagonia, Aviation Attorney