Wishing You A Happy and Prosperous New Year
Rabbit Year to Come Soon
Wishing
You A Happy and Prosperous New Year
Rabbit Year to Come Soon
My 60 day Visa ran out on
the 1st January and so I was in the Immigration Office on the 3rd
to renew it. I was in a bit of a panic because I was two days
overdue, and subject to a possible 1,000 Baht fine as well as a
notation in my passport. Since the Immigration Office was closed
on the 1st and 2nd of January I was forgiven the fine; phew.
My Visa is extended until 31st January, and I have booked a
flight to Da Nang on the 28th for two nights in Hoi An, and one
by the seaside in Da Nang before returning to Chiang Mai.
I am told Thailand is giving 45 days on arrival Visas now, we'll
see if this happens when I return.
Final flight of 2022
The final flight of 2022
was in the Jabiru 170, U-I11 (Ultralight registration).
Worked on radio procedures and steep turns, followed by a local
flight.
There's a new 750 metre runway being constructed next to this
resort which may one day be extended for small jets
New Year's Eve I went
with Koi and a couple of other aviators to see the new runway
construction, and to have dinner at the resort.
The evening was spent back in Chiang Mai at the Good View
restaurant besides the Ping River. I didn't stay through midnight
though,
I rode the bicycle back to Nonghoi and saw the New Year in under
the shower.
A new canal feature has been constructed
and so I took a ride along it into a part of Chiang Mai I have
not been to.
1st Day of 2023 I went for a bicycle ride
5th January we took the Jabiru to Lampang and back. This to work
on Radio Procedures.
Ultralight pilots do not always receive cross country training,
mountain experience, and radio practice.
Our flight outbound
included low level mountain pass flying along the Chiang Mai to
Lampang road between the mountains.
Returning we climbed to 4,500 feet and flew over the top, past
the peaks, and crossed two ridges while discussing visual and
wind effects.
Arriving back at Lanna, VTCM, we have to be aware of the trees on
private land close to the threshold of 27
Yesterday, 6th, I went for
another flight in the Jabiru and now I want Joachim to go and do
some solo practice. Be aware that I can not instruct here in
Thailand but I can go for a ride, and to give some advice.
I'd love to have something to fly myself, and I do have a Thai
Validation of my licence, but you need a validation for every
club or private aircraft you wish to fly.
The club with which I have a validation does not have any
aeroplanes available at the moment... Maybe in six months or
so...
So I wanted a validation with another club, but this is not
forthcoming, and after a couple of requests I accept that, 'Thai
Style', this won't happen.
Possessing at least one Validation here means it is a lot easier and quicker to get another Validation to fly another club's aeroplanes.
I am a little upset with a
personal issue at the moment, and in this I must be careful.
As a pilot I do all I can to protect my health, and sometimes in
this lifetime I have been put through emotional stress.This
requires very careful control on my part, and the ability to put
it aside and not let it affect my ability to do what I do.
But there's also the Michael on the ground, and solo fun ground
trips require a positive effort. What do I do now?
Book my trip to Da Nang, that was a good trip Christmas 2019, and
so it's something to look forward to.
A English friend had a stroke and is in hospital in Khon Kaen, a
reminder that blokes of my age need to stay physically fit, and
avoid serious emotional stress.