Spectators Balcony (Spotters Corner)If you're not a professional pilot but want to discuss issues about the job, this is the best place to loiter. You won't be moved on by 'security' and there'll be plenty of experts to answer any questions.
26L- BOG1M, 08R- SFD8P. Route down takes you overhead Venice down east coast of Italy overhead Taranto, scene of the famous night Swordfish attack on the Italian fleet, passing about 30 miles to the west of Corfu, then over the western part of Cephalonia and overhead the airport which is an amazingly mountainous Island, and I haven't seen Capt Corelli's bloody mandolin yet (this being below 10,000' descending), approaching Zakynthos airport from the north west for a southerly landing. I was told the curfew at Zakynthos airport was needed because at a certain time tortoises flood out onto the runway, but I'm not sure if my leg was being pulled. I would sit on the left out and left back.
I like following history as I fly in in this most scenic and historic part of the world, like when the Albanians mined a British warship in the channel next to Corfu after the war and killed several dozen tars- now we give them council houses and benefits! And the site of the Battle of Thermopylae where the 300 Spartans held off the Persian army. It doesn't look at all as dramatic as the movie. The island of Santorini that destroyed the Minoan civilisation- so much here. It's sad though that most I fly with have never heard of these things!
I was told the curfew at Zakynthos airport was needed because at a certain time tortoises flood out onto the runway, but I'm not sure if my leg was being pulled.
Dear Rainboe,
Sir, you were definitely NOT having your leg pulled.
Just before the tarmac of RWY 34 starts there is sand that stretches down to Laganas Bay where, in the sand the Logger Head Turtle lays its eggs.
A curfew was imposed at night as it is said that the aircraft noise causes the female turtle to return to the sea instead of laying her eggs in the sand.
This night curfew is only imposed during the egg laying and hatching season which occurs during the summer season when the airport is at its busiest.
Or could be DVR8M 26L/ DVR2P 08R routeing Dover-Brussels-Venice and as described by rainboe. Both these routes are used regularly by EGKK-LGZA flights, depending on which one avoids the most slot restrictions on the day!
Yes last time I flew out to Zante we got an earlier slot but had to bin it because we would have got there too early for the turtles. Plane was not that full and we were ready to go but had to announce due to turtle activity (i.e.humping) everyone would sit tight for a while.
There is a barman out there who makes much mileage of showing you a postcard of two turtles at it and all he can say in english is "you tomorrow hey hey yes yes carretta carretta (being the greek word for turtle)....."
Oh and nice one Rainboe... time that lots of pilots gave a little history lesson to the younger darlings as they fly over places. Zakynthos was occupied by Italian and German forces during the Second World War, but many of the islanders tried to resist. The islanders are also noted for shielding the Jewish community on the island, with all 275 Zakynthian Jews surviving the war. The reason for this was the courageous and intelligent actions of the Bishop Chrysostomos and the Mayor Loukas Carrer whom when ordered at gun point to hand over a list of the names of Jews residing on the island -only wrote their own names. In the meantime the Jews had been hidden on the island, in the mountain villages and to the Zakynthian's credit their whereabouts were never revelled.
Don't forget to take up the hold, you could be the only aircraft within a 100nm radius of either EFL or ZTH and those lovely Andravida Mil controllers will make you go around the hold at least once, to then complete the procedural arrival.
So where was the Nicholas Cage massacre on the island then? It's not that large but incredibly mountainous. I am in the habit of delivering lectures: ' that's where Dad's battleship Barham took a torp in the war and blew up!'- 'if you look carefully in the water, you can see the vast bulk of the Royal Oak down there with 800 sailors still on it- and see that plume of oil- still coming out of the tanks after 65 years!' 'Look! Preveza! That's Actium where Octavian's army defeated Anthony and Cleopatra' etc. It's all wasted.....history means nowt these days!
No, arc procedure to VOR approach both ends. Very drawn out due the current Andravida Approach issues. Almost certain to do the whole procedure even if CAVOK.
