81
later he arrives and after a false
start the credit card works and we
have fuel! “Huzzah!” Back in the
air for Emerald before dark. There
was no “sorry sir”, no apologies,
no... anything; just a laconic
and casual air of indifference to
the aircraft that annoyed him by
expecting fuel!
I must say that we did have a
casual, but very helpful hand at
Innisfail where there was someone
on site, no hi-viz, security or even
footwear, who expedited our stop
with a friendly smile and who even
dragged the decidedly non-OHS
approved refuelling steps to the
aircraft. It was a pleasant stop, but
fast and well serviced, even though
there was no red carpet.
Our US based colleagues find
it amusing that there is so little
public or industry interest in
supporting the general aviation
users as they are regarded as being
normal over there and not third
class citizens as we are here. The
airport where I spend quite a bit
of time is similar in many ways to
Four Corners, although with more
business jets and additionally a
SEAT (Single Engine Air Tanker)
fire bomber base and a helicopter
f light school. When getting fuel,
jet or avgas, oil, oxygen, snacks,
light meals, overnight hangarage,australianflying.com.auNovember – December 2017 AUSTRALIAN FLYINGIt has been said that no-one will live long enough to make every mistake there is to be made, so to
stay safe we have to learn from the mistakes others have made. GippsAero test pilot Dave Wheatland
has spent his career operating aeroplanes on the very edge of their limits and has a swag of yarns
about how flying taught him some hard lessons that we can all learn from.
marshalling, accommodation at
corporate rates, f light documents
and coffee, a courtesy car and a
welcoming greeting are everyday
available at no charge if you
purchase your fuel from them,
which everyone does of course.
Harry Lanson, an aviation
SME owner with whom we work
when in Colorado, is based on this
airport and has a very nice hangar,
with a crew room walled by large
picture windows looking toward
the snow-capped Rockies, leather
Chesterfields and a large fridge
full of assorted beverages. Harry
has been f lying since the Wright
brothers it seems and started as
many did in the USA in his teens
in a Cub (or Aeronca?) tutored by
a crusty old WW II Corsair (or
B17) pilot. Aviation was exciting
and the way of the future and
every youth was keen to gain a
toe-hold in this progressive and
fast moving industry where more
pilots were needed to meet the
growth in transport, freight and
business aviation. Compare and
contrast to the stories I have been
told of the over abundance of ex
RAAF/RAF bomber pilots here
who couldn’t find jobs in aviation
in the post-war years. Aviation in
every form was embraced in the
Americas and Harry soon saw
that there were opportunities
everywhere. He joined the Army
to f ly helicopters, which they duly
trained him to do and then sent
him to Korea (a topical venue) to
learn even more about f lying.
Harry got out of the military,
became a crop duster pilot and
built himself a small company
which is now industry respected
and sufficiently prosperous to
enable leather Chesterfields and
large fridge in the immaculately
finished hangar, fully air
conditioned, with glossy painted
f loors and a well-equippedmanufacturing facility just up the
road. If you are a helo pilot who
has ever used a Heliporter ground
handling dolly, Harry designed
and built it, as well as lots of
other stuff.
His business now employs
dozens of people, has a very low
staff turnover and consistently
brings innovative and profit-
generating products to rotary and
fixed wing operators. Weekends
are sacrosanct, but if duty calls
his guys answer the call without
demur. There are often corporate
events on weekends for all staff to
participate and helicopter f light
instruction is available at DOC for
staff members. His business is a
shining example but not unique. It
shows what a society that respects
and support general aviation can
provide, not just for aviation but
the community as well.
Harry has worked hard and did
his duty for his country. He has
done hair raising mountainside
helicopter rescues in snow and
sleet, and spent days out in
the prairie lands spraying bug
infestations, but these days
what I really like about being in
Colorado, is a Saturday morning
phone call from Larry, who says
“hi there, how about you drop
down to the factory and we’ll
get the [Bell] 407 out and go for
breakfast at Greely airport. Then
maybe we’ll f ly up the Poudre
river canyon and land at the ranch
for lunch. Whaddya say?”
That my friends is one of life’s
great pleasures, not the indulgence
of wealth, but rather Larry’s wish
to share in the spoils of a life
of hard work and to enjoy and
celebrate every day in an industry
that provides prosperity to many
and which is respected and
fostered by local regional state
and federal initiatives. Compare
and contrast.