Flying in Belgium

Flying in Belgium...is...well...euhm....different. While AZ is a huge playing ground for pilots with only a few rules, sunny days, nice to navigate, cool airports, superb views and a lot of fun with all the pilots from India and China, Belgium how ever is not. For every rule in AZ, they have 10 more rules here in Belgium. I even think they have rules for rules. Flying in Belgium is totally crazy. Restrictions everywhere and it seems to me that every airport has their own set of rules just to make everything even more complicated. Before every flight you even have to call the tower of the airport where you are going to ask them of it wouldn't be a problem to come to shoot an approach of two or to come and do some patterns/circuits. If they say 'no', you have to start again to prepare everything and try to contact the next tower and hope you are welcome there. Madness! At my new "home base" EBAW (Antwerp) only, !2! aircrafts are allowed to make some VFR patterns and you have to inform them beforehand to make a 'reservation' so you can take one of the two spots. In America 5 or more aircrafts in the pattern wasn't rare. And you also have to inform every Navigation office that you are leaving or coming and with how many souls on board and who's the PIC. Not only all the calling makes me a bit irritated (almost 15€ gone on my cellphone in less then 2 weeks only for the aviation related calls) but last time I had to hold short for a local VFR flight because there was a Piper Warrior aircraft on a !8!NM final. Meaning +- 4-5 minutes before touch down. I'm sure of it that at KFFZ in that time 3 aircrafts could have done their Take off without disturbing the Warrior but no, here I wasn't allowed because he was 'to close'.

Re-reading all the above, some things sound a bit harsh and it gives the impression that I don't like it here. Well, I guess that's correct :p I always said to the Indian and Chinese guys that Belgium people are quickly moody, a bit depressed and often not that friendly because of the weather and other stuff. I guess I left my good mood and my joyful spirits behind in AZ because I didn't found them back yet. I know I'm nagging a bit or even a lot, but I don't feel like writing an 'everything-is-just-perfect' story like I mostly do. I feel a bit 'trapped' at the moment and I miss AZ, especially the people who I had to leave behind. I feel like I'm nagging to everybody the last few weeks, especially to the people at home. Nothing over here 'is good enough' anymore. But I can't help it. In AZ it was me and a lot of friends. Sometimes you had a bad day, but then there would be a lot of friends that would try to cheer you up. Or you would go and cheer somebody else up after a check-gone-bad. Here in Belgium I feel alone again, like I have to compete and fight the rest of the world. I miss the mountains, the smell of flowers mixed with sand, the millions of colors from the sunset/rise and the laughter of people who just did their first solo and feel like they own the whole galaxy. I miss the hummingbirds, salamanders, little prairie dogs and the cacti. I miss the evening walks to the park, the Chinese food, good pizzas, 101 flavors of ice cream, ice creams so wicked you will never find in Europe. I miss the Saturday and Monday van drives to Walmart with Bob, the Chinese and the Indians who I really really really start to miss. I miss the cheerful 'Goodmorrrrrrrrrrrrrning's from Bill who always was so positive that I'm wondering of he ever had a single pessimistic thought in his life. I miss Kim and Sharon with who I always could talk if there was something wrong. I miss Mike (dispatch) who was always concerned and who always helped me if I did (again) something stupid. I miss the serious talks with Don and Mike (van drivers) and the goofy stuff with Bob (van driver). I miss the cheerfulness of the most instructors and the exciting feeling of a solo to a far airport where you never went before. I miss the simplicity of the flying in AZ and to be able to really enjoy every single moment in the air with my whole soul, something I only felt once in this little country. I miss Ryan, Gaurav and Sid who always were there for me, Simon and Benjamin, who made me smile. The never-met-such-a-sweet-and-cheeky guy Peter, Frank who I never saw without his affective smile, and the other Chinese guys who always made me feel welcome. I miss Rohit's, ravi's, Bharat's and Preetham's grin. The camera-dude Akaljot who's pictures will become world famous, Harbir who would help if the computer wouldn't obey my orders and the copy machine would turn his back to me. Neil 'knock knock', Priyang who I still need to give the last show of Jeff Dunham, Jd who moved to another state to finish his training, Varun who always amazed me with his intelligence and of course all girls: Swati, Shriya, Smita, Divya, Monica 1, Monica 2 and Monica 3.

Now, if you are thinking, 'Is there something you do not miss from AZ', then my answer is 'yes'. I do not miss the horrible turbulence and the mountain obscuration. I do not miss the American bread, fries, chocolate and beer. Ow, and I do not miss all the degrees that the sun is giving above the 25°C.

Cya all next time, with I hope a better story and mood...

3lke