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Finding A New Airport Home

After more than 38 years of flying into and out of Tampa International Airport (KTPA), we have been eased out of the hangar that housed and protected our airplanes.

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Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • After 38 years, the author and their aircraft were moved from a familiar major airport (KTPA) to a nearby but significantly different non-towered field (KVDF), leading to a dislocating experience.
  • The new airport, KVDF, presents numerous operational challenges, including short and unconventionally configured runways, heavy flight school traffic with diverse pilot experience levels, and difficulties with radio communication and managing proximity to Class B airspace.
  • The transition requires significant adaptation, as established routines and muscle memory are replaced by unfamiliar procedures and increased complexity, impacting both flying safety and the author's therapeutic connection to their aircraft.
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When did you last move? When you are young, frequent moving is a part of early adulthood. As you get older, moving is often at the hinges of life: a new job, retirement, a divorce, or an empty nest. I haven’t moved more than a few blocks in more than 35 years, but I remember how dislocating the process was.

Finding a good hardware store, a good dry cleaner and the supermarket most attuned to your sensibilities takes time. Why can’t I find a good bagel? If your cars are out of warranty, where do you find that true mechanic—the one with a love for your kind of car, realistic prices, and authentically dirty fingernails?

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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