Flying with Steve's circus

[Wayne Pierce]

Last nights GFI, which, those of you guys who missed it, was great! The almost english (Espana/ French/soundlikecomputer) speaking ATC handled us the whole way.
7 started and 6 finished and one computer crash/restart. Harold, Sergio, Wayne, Steve S.(the ringmaster), "Bert", Rick, John M. (who left early to ATC in the States). Ted dropped in at the end just for the picture.
San Juan ATC was hospitable to us, and although busy was able to get us all in the air easily and effeciently. Enroute, as the different altitudes were attained the different approaches handed us off to each of the island down the chain. And the last at TLPL was really the winner of the "ATC winner of the who hasn't had a lot of traffic in a while award" for getting us all down in a round about way.
Nearing the end of all us approaching his airport he resorted to saying "follow the coast line and land at the airport when you see it". Now that is good easy to understand ATC.
I for one had a good time flying this route this time and it was a good way to spend an evening. A couple of pictures at the end of the flight for your enjoyment. I have Harold in the wrong aircraft. He was in a Citation X.
WLP

lineup.jpg

[Michael Blakely]

Looks like it was a fun GFI gentlement.

[Harold Henderson]

Waiting for the pax to board at San Juan.

[Harold Henderson]

Then I passed by this motley assortment of aircraft taxiing to the runway ...

[Harold Henderson]

including some really vintage AA planes ...

[Harold Henderson]

and then they followed me to the runway!

[Harold Henderson]

So, I depart and try to get out of their way ....

[Harold Henderson]

But one of those guys chases me and passes me!

[Harold Henderson]

So, I drop my pax at Guadelupe and mount a Citation X to finish my trip down to Hewanorra Intl ... and guess, what? Here are these same guys landing. Small world.

I think I heard someone call, "Nice landing, Sergio" on this one.

[Harold Henderson]

Everyone was joking about this approach, but this guy, Bert, I think they called him, swore that's where his runway was.

[Harold Henderson]

Then Steve shows up. He lands on our runway.

[Harold Henderson]

I parked over next to them - wasn't much choice. As you can see they took up a good bit of the tarmac.

Going CW from my X, I think their names were Wayne, Rick, Sergio, Bert, Ted, and Steve -- but I may have gotten all or one mixed up and rearranged. Somebody mentioned a guy by the name of John who departed with them but had to do an emergency divert to ... well, it sounded like they said, "Memphis," but that can't be can it?

Sure sounded like they were having a lot of fun.

[Norberto Rivera]

LOL Much fun was definitely had by all