Column Title: Close Calls by Anthony Nalli Article Title: The Centennial Odyssey Published October 2009 Close Calls is a column detailing the “close call” experiences of fellow pilots. I invite you to contact me at CloseCalls@TheAviators.TV or CloseCalls@PCAS.ca to anonymously share your stories. The experience shared and lessons learned will be of benefit to all readers. Confidentiality will be assured and I will not use your name or aircraft ident without your permission. If your submission is used in Close Calls you’ll receive an official cap of the upcoming TV series The Aviators. We flew a total of almost 6000 miles – from the Toronto area to the shores of the Pacific ocean, then all the way across to the Atlantic before turning back and heading for home. And oh, what I’ve learned from the once in a lifetime experience of the recent Cross Canada Century Flight. Though there was a lot of it, it wasn’t just about the flying. As the journey progressed it became even more about the people, the places, and the awesome wonder of this incredible country. It is easy to become regionalized in such a vast nation. But after having experienced the warm hospitality of a wide range of Canadians from across the country I have learned that I need to try harder to think about Canada as more than just what I know from within my own regional “silo.” As aviators, we were consistently greeted as heroes by hundreds, sometimes thousands, along with waving flags and bands playing. Though heroes we were not but rather participants, like those who welcomed us, in a cross-country tribute to those who with their courage and ambition gave us aviation as know it today. All who sacrificed before us, risking their lives to make flying safer – even possible at all, are the heroes. And our journey was in honor of them. A countdown of almost 2 years finally reached zero when on the morning of July 17th, 2009 good ol’ Cessna Foxtrot Lima Romeo India, our 206, fired up and became the first to launch from Boundary Bay, BC. It was only 18 hours before that we were in the midst of our westbound crossing of the Rockies, a first for everyone on board, to arrive at the opening ceremonies of the Century Flight. The next morning we were on our way over the colossal and wondrous mountain range again. Flying at the height of some of the peaks of the mammoth Rockies is truly the definition of the word “Awesome!” The approximately 80 aircraft that departed British Columbia were joined by others in Calgary, Alberta taking the count to close to 100 heading into Brandon, Manitoba. Engine troubles befell one aircraft that rejoined the flight a little later on after a quick cylinder replacement. But it was upon our entry into Ontario that the weather gods stopped smiling. A series of systems north of Lake Superior scattered the flight to various diversion points. Some were lucky enough to beat the weather while most waited for openings as one system passed just ahead of the next one. Some simply couldn’t get out. In fact, much of the latter group were forced to stay put for several days ending the journey for many of those aircraft. Onward to Marathon then Sault Ste. Marie where weather once again delayed our arrival into Brampton, Ontario – my stomping grounds. It seemed it was no sooner we finally got into Brampton that we were already planning our departure ahead of – you guessed it – more weather! Into Quebec and over Maine our numbers dwindled a little more as weather diversions became necessary with increasing regularity – some brief, some extended. Over the course of our stay in Fredericton, New Brunswick we regained several of our stragglers but weather continued to challenge the flight as it narrowed the departure window to Sydney, Nova Scotia resulting in a somewhat smaller contingent than expected at the official airport renaming ceremony that was planned to coincide with the arrival of the Century Flight. Determined, those that were held back continued on when able, leading to an impressive presence at closing ceremonies held at the Alexander Graham Bell museum in Baddeck, Nova Scotia, overlooking the site of the first flight in Canadian history. The odyssey completed, we said our warm goodbyes and dispersed. Some chose to extend their east coast stay, a few headed to Oshkosh, others returned to their homes near and far. The long-planned journey, despite some unavoidable challenges, had concluded successfully – and more importantly, safely. We’re now hard at work producing the television special that when it airs on PBS, Global, and History Television this fall will almost certainly be more emotional personally than I had ever expected it would be. It will be a chance to relive this journey of a lifetime that was shared by thousands across the country including a couple of hundred of my newest friends. Fly safe(r). Anthony Nalli is the Executive Producer of the new television series The Aviators and a staunch collision avoidance advocate operating the site PCAS.ca which is dedicated to the implementation of affordable collision avoidance devices in General Aviation with a mission to eliminate mid-air collisions and dramatically reduce close calls. Anthony can be reached at CloseCalls@TheAviators.TV or CloseCalls@PCAS.ca, 1-888-PCAS-123 (GTA: 416-225-9266), and www.PCAS.ca Visit PCAS.ca monthly to read Anthony's latest installment of Close Calls or click here to subscribe and have Close Calls automatically sent to you every month - No Purchase Necessary.
