An Airborne Call Remembered For Fathers Day

In early September of 1998 the pilots at Northwest Airlines went on strike. At the time I was flying Falcon Jets and so matters involving airlines had about zero impact on me. The one thing that I did take notice of was the fact that the strike caused the airspace above the northcentral states to be really, really quiet. That fact led to my investing the best $24 I ever spent in the aviation business.

Aero Linx: Aero Club of Washington The Aero Club established a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) foundation in 1995 -- the Aero Club Foundation of Washington. All members of the Aero Club's Board of Governors and its officers serve as members of the Board of Directors and officers, respectively, of the Aero Club Foundation of Washington. An Executive Committee of the Foundation Board was established in early 2003 to provide more focus and energy to the affairs of the Foundation.

Middle Marker A marker beacon that defines a point along the glideslope of an ILS normally located at or near the point of decision height (ILS Category I). It is keyed to transmit alternate dots and dashes, with the alternate dots and dashes keyed at the rate of 95 dot/dash combinations per minute on a 1300 Hz tone, which is received aurally and visually by compatible airborne equipment.

"After we hangared that evening I left a note in the office telling them that I'd used the flight-phone and to bill me for it. The total for the phone call came to $24. It was indeed one of those rare opportunities when circumstances way beyond your control allows you to do something out of the ordinary that is really cool. My dad passed away six years later and I have often thought of him standing out there all by himself looking up into the sky where I had been and the feelings and thoughts he probably had. From an aviator's point of view, all things considered, that was the best $24 I ever spent in aviation." Source: ANN Contribuor Wes Olewszewksi, remembering one of those amazing personal moments in aviation where it is simply SO cool