Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport

Have you ever taken a trip somewhere and completely relied on your GPS to get you there? Like most men I don’t like asking for directions, but if there is a GPS available I don’t mind the guidance. On my journey to Pittsburgh from Charlottesville, I started off on I-64 W and continued my journey on I-81 N. While I was on I-81 my GPS started telling me to turn and get on Highway 33. I needed gas so I pulled off and filled up the truck. The GPS showed me if I took this new route I would travel 45 miles less than the route I intended to take. So I decided to go for it. An hour and a half later I am at what seems to be the highest mountain in West Virginia. The road, which wraps around the mountain in an upward spiral, was completely covered in snow and visibility had decreased greatly. Now moving at the speed of smell, I realized that I had chosen the incorrect route. What should have been a five hour trip, quickly turned into eight. So here is some advice to all of you that have a GPS navigation system: if it is more than a year old check to see if you can update it. Roads that were in the process of being built or a bypass that was just opened will probably not be on your GPS.

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USA Today's Today in the Sky (Thomas Frank, 2/18/09) reports that body scanning devices will be tested in a group of airports in lieu of metal detectors, commencing today at Tulsa International Airport.  TSA's premise-improved success in finding non-metallic items.  Opponents' concern?  Privacy, although close investigation of what the screener actually sees reveals a less embarrassing view than what most passengers imagine.  The real concern?  Time.  Frank reports the process takes twice the time as the current metal detection. 

Given the screener is hidden away in a room and cannot actually see the person, it could result in less embarrassment-no more dropped pants and freedom for wearers of underwire and other assorted metal accessories.  Is this truly nudity in disguise or a guise for spending more money & time on screening; or, could this be a real improvement in both the process and our safety?  What do you think?

Sadly I just read about one of CHO's based pilots, Mike Kostelac, injured in an aircraft crash on Sunday in Sebring, Florida.  According to the Charlottesville Daily Progress, Mr. Kostelac is in serious condition.  My heartfelt concern goes out to Mr. Kostelac and his family, as does my sympathy to the family of Steven Fletcher, a photographer from the United Kingdom who perished in the crash.

May they each find strength and support in those around them.