Sunday, May 23, 2010 Into Brazil
Or so I thought. I got to the airport before 8am, got everything completed until the flight plan office said that I couldn’t go into Cuiaba, which requires 24 hours previous notification, and should to to Iguacu, Brazil. So, we changed the flight plan, gassed up and off I went. I didn’t get a view of the falls this time. Landed, parked, headed to the office to find that the civil aviation is closed until Monday. Only thing I can do is return to Iguacu, Argentina and go somewhere else. They recommend Campo Grande. I can’t check into the country there, but could do it on Monday morning. I prefer this to staying in Iguacu as it will gain me two hours further north and a stop with avgas. The downside is that I have to pay the airport fees two times at $150 each.
After a frustrating time watching the new guy learn the payment system at my expense, I’m finally escorted out of the building and back to my plane. I asked for the escort so that I wouldn’t get stuck in customs and immigration.
Now I’m back in Iguacu, Argentina. Everyone is asking what happened, but at least they are taking care of me. We enter the new flight plan, but must wait two hours for acceptance by Brazil. I pay the fees, much cheeper here, $8. I really want a cup of coffee, but it’s the other side of customs and immigration. As I enter, I see my friendly police officer who escorts me to the café. I have 10 pesos left and that’s the price of an expresso. I’m happy. I make it back on my own and am now waiting for take off time.
I’m going to shoot for five hour flights each day to leave enough time for paperwork and see something after I arrive. So far, my plans haven’t worked out, so we’ll see what happens.
Flying north VFR at 5,500 feet. It’s a little bumpy, but not bad. Got some great new shots of the falls from the other side, see above. Winds are still unfavorable from the northeast, but slowly swinging around to the southeast. As Wayne, Flemming, Claude and many others have said about this type of endeavor, the flying is the easy part. It’s once again enjoyable up here. I’m even ready to be patient when I’m back on the ground. Nothing else I can do.
I filed a VFR flight plan and the clearance was to the destination with only altitude limits, but no route intersections. Each controller is checking time to terminal boundaries and destination and confirming the flight level.
There was a food store near the hostel last evening, so I ate a croissant sandwich and beer for dinner and bought an extra one for lunch today. Good job too as that’s all I’ve had since breakfast with Claude in Buenos Aires yesterday morning.
On many flights I look out at the 36 foot wingspan with awe and amazement. So small, sticking out on each side of the fuselage, yet able to take me so far. Here we are winging our way over Brazil and we’ve seen so many countries in the past 10 years and have so many more to visit. Flying is a real freedom and joy.
It’s getting warmer as I head north. During our short hops in Brazil, we didn’t have to wear the captain’s uniform of white shirt and stripes on the epaulettes. But I’m back in it again and probably will be for the next 5 days. It was cleaned in Brasilia, but I’m sure it’ll be pretty dirty by the time I finish these last few legs.
On the ground; all the processing went pretty quickly. Flight plan filed for tomorrow. Need to make all the payments in the morning, then gas up and depart by 10am. The weather guy showed me that it’s looking pretty calm to the north. He also showed me the giant cold front sitting to the south, the one I just went through in Argentina. It’s still there.
I’m in a nice hotel looking forward to a nice shower, dinner, beer and good night’s sleep.
Or so I thought. I got to the airport before 8am, got everything completed until the flight plan office said that I couldn’t go into Cuiaba, which requires 24 hours previous notification, and should to to Iguacu, Brazil. So, we changed the flight plan, gassed up and off I went. I didn’t get a view of the falls this time. Landed, parked, headed to the office to find that the civil aviation is closed until Monday. Only thing I can do is return to Iguacu, Argentina and go somewhere else. They recommend Campo Grande. I can’t check into the country there, but could do it on Monday morning. I prefer this to staying in Iguacu as it will gain me two hours further north and a stop with avgas. The downside is that I have to pay the airport fees two times at $150 each.
After a frustrating time watching the new guy learn the payment system at my expense, I’m finally escorted out of the building and back to my plane. I asked for the escort so that I wouldn’t get stuck in customs and immigration.
Now I’m back in Iguacu, Argentina. Everyone is asking what happened, but at least they are taking care of me. We enter the new flight plan, but must wait two hours for acceptance by Brazil. I pay the fees, much cheeper here, $8. I really want a cup of coffee, but it’s the other side of customs and immigration. As I enter, I see my friendly police officer who escorts me to the café. I have 10 pesos left and that’s the price of an expresso. I’m happy. I make it back on my own and am now waiting for take off time.
I’m going to shoot for five hour flights each day to leave enough time for paperwork and see something after I arrive. So far, my plans haven’t worked out, so we’ll see what happens.
Flying north VFR at 5,500 feet. It’s a little bumpy, but not bad. Got some great new shots of the falls from the other side, see above. Winds are still unfavorable from the northeast, but slowly swinging around to the southeast. As Wayne, Flemming, Claude and many others have said about this type of endeavor, the flying is the easy part. It’s once again enjoyable up here. I’m even ready to be patient when I’m back on the ground. Nothing else I can do.
I filed a VFR flight plan and the clearance was to the destination with only altitude limits, but no route intersections. Each controller is checking time to terminal boundaries and destination and confirming the flight level.
There was a food store near the hostel last evening, so I ate a croissant sandwich and beer for dinner and bought an extra one for lunch today. Good job too as that’s all I’ve had since breakfast with Claude in Buenos Aires yesterday morning.
On many flights I look out at the 36 foot wingspan with awe and amazement. So small, sticking out on each side of the fuselage, yet able to take me so far. Here we are winging our way over Brazil and we’ve seen so many countries in the past 10 years and have so many more to visit. Flying is a real freedom and joy.
It’s getting warmer as I head north. During our short hops in Brazil, we didn’t have to wear the captain’s uniform of white shirt and stripes on the epaulettes. But I’m back in it again and probably will be for the next 5 days. It was cleaned in Brasilia, but I’m sure it’ll be pretty dirty by the time I finish these last few legs.
On the ground; all the processing went pretty quickly. Flight plan filed for tomorrow. Need to make all the payments in the morning, then gas up and depart by 10am. The weather guy showed me that it’s looking pretty calm to the north. He also showed me the giant cold front sitting to the south, the one I just went through in Argentina. It’s still there.
I’m in a nice hotel looking forward to a nice shower, dinner, beer and good night’s sleep.
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