PPRuNe Forums - Canadian Global lands on dragstrip.

I have the english link, as well as great pictures.

ORANJESTAD - ARUBA, Dutch West Indies.

Learjet 35 lands on the 'Palo Marga' drag race strip without any incident,
last Tuesday May 24, 2006 (see attached photo).

Yesterday Aruban and Curaçao newspapers reported the rare emergency landing
of a Learjet 35 (registration C-GAJS) on the Aruban drag race strip last
Tuesday around 14:28 local time. Media reports mention a total of five
Canadian crewmembers and two Brazilian passengers where on board of the
MedEvac aircraft. One of the passengers was being evacuated back to Brazil
after experiencing health related problems during his holiday in the USA.

The operator of this Air Ambulance Learjet 35 (registration C-GAJS),
Canadian Global Air Ambulance, is an international air ambulance
organization, providing a wide range of aero medical solutions for private
individuals, the insurance industry and government organizations, across
Canada and around the world. They have strategic base locations in
Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto in Canada.

Reports from the local media point out contradictory versions of the cause
leading to this emergency landing. One source states that the crew mistook
the 'Palo Marga' drag race strip for the Reina Beatrix International airport
at Aruba. Another source states the pilot lost radio contact with Beatrix
Tower, just minutes before arrival at the airport and subsequently landed at
the drag strip.

Expecting an illicit operation, heavily armed Aruban law enforcement
officials, emergency crews and civil aviation authorities arrived quickly on
the scene, only to find the crew of the Air Ambulance had already turned the
aircraft around and were preparing for takeoff. After preliminary inspection
of the airplane by Aruban authorities on the spot, its crew was instructed
to fly direct to the Reina Beatrix international airport where the
authorities did a more extensive search of the airplane.

According to the flight plan, the ambulance flight originated in Orlando,
Florida and needed to make a refueling stop in Aruba before continuing to
Brazil. After all inspections and formalities, the Learjet was cleared for
departure to its final destination in Brazil. However, not before the pilot
was presented an Aruba Florin 1000,00 (US$ 550) fine for negligence.

Chronological Account of the Incident (excerpt from Diario Newspaper):

Time (GMT-4) Event
14:16 C-GAJS crew reports to BeatrixTower: 24 miles from Aruba, runway in
sight.
14:22 C-GAJS crew reports to BeatrixTower: North of Aruba.[PARA]Beatrix
Tower to C-GAJS crew: Cleared for the Final Approach.
14:23 C-GAJS crew reports to BeatrixTower: Established on final (ready
to land).
Unknown Radio contact lost between BeatrixTower and C-GAJS[PARA]Air traffic
controllers in Aruba call to CuracaoATCCenter to check whereabouts of the
C-GAJS.
14:28EmergencyCenter (911) calls BeatrixTower to inform that a civilian
living near the Palo Marga drag strip reported an aircraft landed there.
Unknown C-GAJS crew tries to call BeatrixTower on VHF radio. No radio
contact is established at first.[PARA]Finally the C-GAJS crew gets a
transmission from BeatrixTower instructing them to stay put and wait for
arrival of the authorities at the drag strip at Palo Marga.
Unknown Fire crew, Police, Ambulance and Civil Aviation authorities arrive
at the Palo Marga drag strip.
16:28 C-GAJS gets clearance to takeoff from the drag strip and set course
for the real Beatrix airport.
16:32 C-GAJS lands safely at ReinaBeatrixInternationalAirport.
Unknown C-GAJS is inspected thoroughly by Aruban authorities at the airport.
Unknown C-GAJS gets clearance to resume flight to Brazil.