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Making the Great Escape

Date weekend requires some aeronautical decision making.

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author's planned flying getaway to Fort Lauderdale with his wife was repeatedly challenged by Florida's hurricane season, with threats from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
  • Despite a temporarily faulty primary flight display and evolving weather conditions, the author meticulously planned and executed the flights, making real-time navigation decisions and using contingency strategies.
  • The trip successfully got them to their destination and safely home by carefully navigating between conflicting weather systems, highlighting the complexities of general aviation during severe weather.
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My wife and I contemplated a quick flying getaway but couldn’t decide on a destination. The dilemma was solved when a friend graciously offered a weekend in a high-rise condo located near our old stomping grounds in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It was an hour-and-a-half flight that would test my decision-making acumen more than the typical trans-Atlantic trips of my professional career. No professional copilot. No dispatch.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.

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