A Well-Known Cirrus Pilot Shows That GA Flyers Have Heart

Intro: Life is hectic here at ANN... and offers few opportunities to do little other than "cruise for news." However; one of the few stops that I make for both news and non-news purposes is to visit the goings-on at the Cirrus Owner's and Pilot's Association web page. They have put together a wonderful nexus for information, discussion and updates that no self-respecting Cirrus flyer (or wannabe) should be allowed to pass up. As a matter of fact; the COPA site should be on every Cirrus Flyer's "MEL" to make sure that they are in the know on "all-things-Cirrus."

One of the things that caught my attention, recently, was COPA's Mike Radomsky's recent experience with an Air Lifeline mission. Mike is one of those wonderful souls who shares his good fortune with those less fortunate and has donated his expertise and airtime to help folks in distress get to where they can be helped a mite. Herewith, his most recent Air Lifeline story.... one that should make EVERY GA flyer proud to be associated with such efforts.

Mike's Great Adventure
(by Mike Radomsky)

I'd put my name on an Air Lifeline list to transport a transplant patient a while back, and on Friday night I got a call. The good news was that I'd spent all of Friday "bonding" with N84MR, so it was ready with battery, brakes and tires all serviced, as well as a fresh oil change, new oil filter, orbital bearings lubed, etc... I even vacuumed the interior.

The bad news was that the call came just as I got home -- after a 40 minute drive. Not only did I have to drive another 40 minutes back, but I had to fly to an airport 30 minutes away to pick up the passengers.

I briefed and filed from the car; made record time to the airport and getting the airplane ready. Some self-discipline was needed - I had to remind myself not to rush checklists, etc., although an important clock was ticking.

The "Lifeguard" call-sign sure helped with ATC -- it was an IFR flight because it had to be, but I lucked out at the pickup airport - it was VMC there. Jepp warned of deer, and anyway the airport was unfamiliar to me, so I did one low-pass over the runway, and chased about 6 deer into the woods, then back around for a normal landing at 17N.

Was on the ground for exactly 13 minutes -- load the pax, brief them, call Air Lifeline to update them, call ATC on the cell phone to pick up a clearance (by now the airport was IFR again).

Enroute, the Garmins told me that we'd land at our destination, Burke Lakefront (BKL), about 40 minutes late, at 12:40 a.m. I called Flight Watch and got them to relay a message to the transplant coordinator at the hospital, so that they didn't have to cool their heels waiting for us. Briefing had been for Low IFR conditions for the first 1/2 hour of the trip, then ceilings between 1000 and 3000 for most of the way. However, the Cleveland area was forecast to be Severe Clear for the arrival, with thunderstorms turning up at around 5 a.m. I was very glad to have CAPS, because that would have been my only option in the event of an engine failure for much of the trip.

Multiple calls to Flight Watch along the route were completely consistent -- the worst/only problem I had was the 30-35 knot headwind that plagued me - if the patient got to the Cleveland Clinic too late, the trip (and 9 years of waiting for the patient) would be for nought. I'm a LOP nut as most know, but this night I flew WOT.

About 30 minutes east of BKL, I briefed with Flight Service one last time. Still the same -- no problems expected. Then, perhaps 4 or 5 minutes later, I saw a distant flash. Surely not lightning?

Nothing on the Stormscope.

Then another flash... and this time the + marks started popping up just west of BKL. I couldn't believe it. I asked Cleveland Approach whether they saw anything -- and the lady said, "Funny you ask - I JUST started to see stuff popping up just west of your destination".

Needless to say... the next few minutes brought much change. The air was less stable than Flight Watch knew... and soon there the Stormscope was painting + marks all around BKL, at a good rate -- I'd clear, but a minute later there'd be another 100. I asked ATC for their best recommendation for a near alternate - I was thinking of Cuyahoga County - but they suggested CLE, Hopkins International. It was still clear and it looked as though the cells were popping up only to the north.

So we made the switch - vectors to CLE. Winds were 220/8, but there was a cell too close to the final approach course for RWY 24 - would I accept RWY 6? I'd have a tailwind of about 40 knots at 1,000 feet, but only 8 knots for the landing. Yes.

During the approach to the airport, though, it became clear that even though there were no actual cells at Hopkins, there was LOTS of instability and uncertainty. Over about 10 minutes, the winds shifted all the way around the compass, so that at various times I was told to expect every runway available (28, 06, 10, 28). As I passed over the field (still IMC), the winds were 040/24G36. At that point, I elected to land on 06L. On an excerpt from my Cockpit Voice Recorder, recorded at about that time, you can hear about a "bodacious updraft." I was at 3000, and suddenly found myself climbing with the VSI pegged - power off, nose down, Airspeed to the yellow arc, and STILL climbing. Got the trend reversed at about 4000'... then he gave me 2400'... got there, but things were still exciting...

The windcheck on short final was 020-080/24G34, but thankfully I got a few seconds of steadiness for the landing, which was one I was proud of. Fast taxiing followed, the clock was ticking. I asked for parking at the friendliest FBO available and they sent me to IX Jet Center. Advising them that I had a transplant patient who needed to get to the Cleveland Clinic ASAP (hospital transportation was waiting at BKL!), they rolled out a van, no questions asked. We were enroute in the FBO van at something FAR north of the speed limit within 5 minutes of engine shutdown. The driver was good - tough road conditions as we drove though some very heavy downpours and a couple of badly flooded intersections. I had left my glasses, flashlight, cap, papers etc. behind on the FBO counter -- didn't even sign in. Calling on the van radio, they said they'd take care of everything... securing my airplane included.

THESE GUYS WERE PHENOMENAL.

With 20-20 hindsight, CLE was the best choice for a reason I hadn't even thought about in the air - I doubt we could have found such great help anywhere else. We got to the clinic at about 1:15 a.m. The patient's wife called me a couple of hours later -- all was well -- he was in surgery. She said that within only a few minutes of their arrival at the clinic, they started "prepping" him.

COPA's Mike Radomsky and a friend from a previous mission for Angel Flight

I don't know if I'll ever get a chance to do this again -- a lot has to be "just right" for me to be able to -- but if ever circumstances permit, I'm there.

There is no greater feeling.

FMI: www.cirruspilots.org, www.airlifeline.org, www.ixjetcenter.com