Ameland Circus
2009.08.04

More positive reactions in our mailbox. Also recommendations for the Hero of the year award. Thanks. Keep them coming!
It is good to see that so may people obviously share my opinion. Both aviators and non aviators.
It is also good to see that a lot of aviators have a positive attitude. Whilst in the majority of all cases in the past 25 years of aviation it were aviatiors who showed jealous behavior. Unfortuantely. So, to keep it simple, it is like in normal human life. There are good guys and there are bad guys.
In my passion it has always been difficult to wlak the fine line. Often I have been invited for fly by\'s. Not just fly by\'s over the main runway of airport X, but fly bly\'s via the towers of, Köln, Düsseldorf, München, Charles de Gaulle, Lissabon, London, Schiphol, Groningen, San Francisco, Los Angeles LAX, etc. etc. etc.
In all cases requested by atc-ers who share passion for aviation. In all cases in complete controlled and safe situations. In all cases with big smiles on all faces involved. Often with an airliner ready to taxi into position and hold, remarking by radio that they would "love to wait an extra minute". 
And of course in all situations I could have said NO, thank you. But I did n\'t. I said YES, and I considered it as a small gesture to other positive collegues in aviation. 
And YES my dear friends, the behavior of the Prutsers in Aviation sometimes make me feel sad. There are many countries where aviation is so much more fun that here in The Netherlands. Aviation slowly has become a drama. 
Maybe you saw the news yesterday (Aug 2 2009) , the item about flight safety and the department of Justice.
The Calvinistic attitude of our government is killing safety. In The Netherlands we think we can make safety in a bureau, behind a desk. And my friends, this is not the case, safety is made in a COCKPIT. http://www.vnv-dalpa.nl/persbericht/5050
A few years ago our ministry of justice tried to get pilots convicted because of statements they made in order to prevent repetition is the accident. 
Our government must realise carefully that the world of aviation is the most professional environment you can find. (It would be fantastic that any Dutch ministry would be half as professional as aviation.This would be a major increase.)

The picture taken left is at Ameland. Over the old north south runway, taken with a long lense. It is like the text in your mirror. "Objects may be closer than they appear". In this case, the are further away than they appear. The altitude however is absolutely correct.