69 Rhodes - Haifa

15. Feb 2010

Landing in Rhodes was my worst experience yet as a pilot! I knew the winds were strong, and I knew the wind was variable, but getting close to the VOR approach to runway 07 I was in for the worst turbulence I have yet experienced. Turbulence is categorized in 3 levels: light, moderate and severe – and I guess that when everything in the plane is suddenly flying around in the cockpit it is pretty severe?

The approach was challenging, but I came in with a higher speed than I usually would and without full flaps - but just before touchdown the plane was slammed on the runway by wind shear, and the suspension caused it to jump into the air again. I applied gas, tried again, but the same thing happened – this time as the 50 kts. wind fiercely tried to whipe the plane off the runway. Correcting, I applied gas again and tried a third time – with the same result, so I decided to go around and try again.

This time I came in faster and kept speed up right to the ground – and this time I managed to keep the plane on the ground.

Sometimes it feels really good to get on the ground! 

Next morning, after a walk in the old part of the city of Rhodes, I went to the airport to fly to Haifa in Israel. By now I had been given a code to log into ASOC’s homepage where I supplied ASOC with a code of my own, and the answer to 3 questions: favored color, favorite food and the most meaningful name (?).

After filing a flight plan (though homebriefing.com), I rang ASOC, and after quoting the code and the answers to the 3 questions, I was permitted to depart!

150 NM from Haifa I called Tel Aviv and after giving them the code, I was allowed to continue to Haifa, and after a 3.5 hour flight, I landed in Haifa on a 26°C warm day.

Meeting me in the airport was Yigal, a very helpful member of the IAOPA, Israel together with a couple of fellow pilots. In the evening I talked about, and showed pictures from, my trip around the world to about 25 pilots from the Israel part of IAOPA.