Flying

I started flying in Antigua, West Indies, in 1978, helping to look for boats lost on the Atlantic. I got my U.S. private license in 1980, and an instrument rating in 1985. I made it to Oshkosh in 1993, 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, and I plan to attend in 2013. Often while rowing in the single I've thought of my oars as wings that give me freedom and help me fly.

After moving to north central Pennsylvania, I joined Williamsport Composite Squadron 401 of the Pennsylvania Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. I became a mission pilot in the early 2000s and in 2007 I became a squadron commander. Since 2001, I've flown many hundreds of hours for CAP.

I use OpenMap, JScheme, USGS DRG/DEM and NACO Sectional data (also available from AeroPlanner), to develop interfaces between handheld GPS units, OpenMap, folks with laptops and mobile devices improve "situational awareness" and devise and execute search and rescue plans. Now I am working on iOS and Android software to help CAP Mission Aircrews.

A friend asked me if I'd ever been to Norwood, MA. That triggered a memory, and I wrote a small story.

gsk