Tunnel-vision: a solid example
Today I made a grand excursion, three hops of +/- 30 minutes each, give and take, and straight home from the furthest point. The first destination was known to me, i.e. I had been there before, one time flying and a few times driving. The other two destinations were completely unknown, but well-documented.
My blooper came at destination 2: as it is a PPR field, like most round here, I duly called, and had some trouble getting an answer. The two phone numbers on the club's website did not answer; but I found a third number where, after passing from one person to a second to a third, I was told that yes ok I could come, and likely it was the 12 runway in use but I could check that for myself on the signal square. Person apoligised for not being at the a/d - sounded indeed like might well have been in bed, or at breakfast at best.
So off I went, found the field after a not so brief search, then made my best effort of checking the signal square without overflying the local nimby's - well documented - and found indeed the 12 active. Some awkward circuiting to get in the downwind, made a quite presentable landing, taxied to the bar/clubhouse/C and shut down. Wondering all the while that it was so QUIET. It was not a perfect day for flying, but quite doable, yet here was a nice airfield with +/- 30 based planes and nothing was moving.
I soon found out why: the field WAS NOT OPEN! And indeed the signal square showed a more than obvious yellow St Andrews-cross on a red background.
So I had been peering frantically for that signal square, but only to get the bit of information I wanted - never reading it in full. How's that for tunnel vision?
For those interested, it all worked out well enough. Soon after my impromptu landing, there finally turned up someone who could legally open the field, so that a little time-twiddling in the logs settled the matter. Could have been worse, though.
Last edited by Jan Olieslagers; 29th Jul 2012 at 19:37.