AEROPELICAN REUNION

[Rod Chapman]

AEROPELICAN REUNION !!
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_IMG_3631a.jpg Recognise the Logo ??
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_1920_416-1.jpg
VH-MMY; 100 Series Twin Otter in original Ansett (MacRobertson Miller) livery.
MMY was the first turbo-prop aircraft in Australia to be introduced to a "Reg-203" operation, in I think, 1976.


http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_1920_106.jpg Three new, 300 Series introduced in 1983(?).
In new Aeropelican livery (Canadian Rego')


http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_VH-KZP.jpg VH-KZP


http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_1920_363.jpg VH-KZQ



http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_TwinOtter.jpg VH-KZO, on the tarmac at "the Duck"

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b559/RodChapman/th_aeropelican
Current Aeropelican Jetstream livery.

Hi to all past and present Aeropelican staff.....

I know this is an anonymous forum, however I have used my actual name as "user name" so that we can make contact with as many staff as possible.

We are organising a "GRANDE AEROPELICAN REUNION"
on Sat' 9th - Sun' 10th March 2013 ..

Preliminary details are;
For early "arrivals", drinks at the Pelican "RISSOLE" (RSL) on Friday evening...
A day at the airport with an evening BBQ in the Hangar on Saturday.....
Then finish with a "quiet recovery" at the Lake Macquarie Yacht Club from midday on Sunday.

We request your assistance in contacting as many former Flight Crew as possible, who are scattered all over the globe,
Any contacts you may have with former crew, please make them aware of the reunion and ask them to make their details known to us on the email address listed below.

We will be setting up a blog and together with conveying subsequent details of the reunion, will be listing the names of crew we have been unable to make contact with.
Also we are trying to get as many photos as possible of times at Aeropelican - (incriminating or otherwise !!), so if you have any please email them to us.

Look forward to meeting up again.

Contact details; Rod Chapman - email [email protected] ([email protected])

[barrold]

I worked in Sydney ATC 22 years ago. You guys were an air traffic controller's dream. Get in this way, get out that way, take anything you were given... and very professional with it.

Cheers.

[Rod Chapman]

Thanks for the sentiments, barrold !
I sure enjoyed my time at "the duck" and must say we had a great working relationship with you guys and gals in ATC. The Otter was great fun and you used it's capability well - we could maintain 165kts ( that was flat strap downhill for an Otter) to 5 miles, pull the thrust back and those big props would go into "beta" range and she would stop like it hit a wall; get off at the first intersection with about 15 sec' runway occupancy time.
I did about 4,600 return trips PEC / SYD and never got tired of that trip up the coast.
Organising this reunion brings back some great memories and funny stories involving ATC in Syd; we had a great character flying for us by the name of Noel Batchelder (Batch') - ex WW2 Spitfire pilot, African campaign.
Syd ATC had an industrial dispute going with it's radar tech's and Syd terminal was on procedural controlling. Batch' was advised to hold at Calga NDB - now Batch' did not do holding for it cut down on his time to have a smoke on the turnaround.
After one pattern, that was enough for Batch' and he "required immediate tracking to SYD". ATC response of course was "is that an operational requirement"?
Batch' "yes, the Captain needs a leak"....
ATC.. " Kilo Zulu Papa track direct to right base r/w 25"
Batch' with his usual response to a clearance.."thanks" .

Another time I, in a Cessna 402, followed Stuie Weston back to Syd because the crosswind was too high at Aeropelican - it was one of those howling Nth Westers in the summer,
It was blowing 50kts at Syd almost down 34 and when Stuie was on final , probably with a groundspeed of about 20kts, I heard the tower controller give an aircraft waiting for departure a "clearance to line up behind the Twin Otter hovering over the threshold" - a classic line. :D:D

,

[jeffrey.]

Hi Rod,
Can you please reply with your email re Batch...fantastic story !!
Cheers
Jeff