One of GA's Heroes Shares Some Insight Into Supporting The
Angel Flight Mission
ANN Reader Robert Maier (pictured below) is a man on a
mission... an Angel Flight Mission. With his
Cherokee 180, Maier has become part of the undersung but
none-the-less invaluable mission being undertaken by unselfish,
heroic aviators who want nothing right now than to know that they
are part of a solution to a seemingly insurmountable
problem--bringing relief to those imperiled by the wrath of
Hurricane Katrina.
Herewith, some unedited comments from Robert's most recent
mission report...
Mission to BTR on 2 Sep, as mentioned an exercise in futility,
but a good training mission to prepare for the next mission.
Legs:
RBD-BTR 348nm 3.2
BTR-AEX 90nm 1.0
AEX-RBD 258nm 2.1
Total 696nm 6.3hrs 60gal gas, $226 (E-I-C Note: A cost paid By
Maier, himself... just like most Angel Flight pilots)
Mission 11180, Take
supplies to Lifeguard Ambulance in Slidell LA (ASD) 4 Sep RBD-ADS
17nm 0.4 ADS-AEX 274nm 2.3 AEX-ASD 190nm 2.8 ASD-BTR 82nm 0.8
BTR-AEX 90nm 1.0 AEX-RBD 258nm 2.1 Total 911nm 9.4hrs, 82.6gal gas,
$329
Impressions:
This was a good mission. The big guys are evacuating lots of
people, but taking supplies to Lifeguard Ambulance in Slidell meant
something. 30 of the 50 employees are still unaccounted for, those
accounted are performing relief missions. They requested
toiletries, and lots of vanilla pudding and nilla wafers. Seems the
only food they have is bananas; they want banana pudding! The
airport is heavily damaged, as well as the city. No electricity,
phones, or cel phones. We should strive to take stuff to the
forgotten outlying areas.
I received clearance from Omaha44 to overfly north New Orleans at
3500. MSY didnt follow the pilot-controller handbook.. "Angel
Flight 34J, contact Omaha-whatever-the-fu*k-his name is on 134.9"
The news reports dont show a big picture, until you can see it
yourself from the birds-eye view. Hearing all the position reports
of where the bodies to be picked up, and reports of animals eating
the bodies was sobering. Watching the C-130 air-refuel two
blackhawks below us at 2000. The flooding. The broken bridges
& pipeline. The underwater amusement park.
BTR is better organized now, as well as AEX, but it was still a
disappointment to arrive in BTR at 1800 to find no passengers to
airlift to DAL. Evidently the shelter quit releasing people is the
word I got. The BTR Angel Flight crew is doing an excellent
job!
At AEX I asked a Army Captain chopper pilot why he was carrying a
side arm, first one I had seen, he said "Would you want to be the
only one up there without a gun?" I replied, "Undertstood, mines in
my pocket." Never know.
For future missions, best bet, get your gas at AEX ($4.48 AF
discount) BTR is too busy. GO IFR!!! BTR approach, MSY approach,
OMAHA44 are overloaded busy ATC folks doing a damn good job. It is
hard to get in on the radio, so be patient, brief, and
professional. They'll get to you eventually since you are IFR.
Ready for the next mission,
Robert