Friday, March 18, 2011

Flying in Arizona, Alan Aven, MD


Nogales, International Airport

This month, I thought I would introduce my fellow pilots to an interesting little airport about 5 miles north of the border (you probably know which border). Nogales AZ "International" or KOLS, a class echo field, is situated on a mesa at 3955 MSL, a bit northeast of its namesake town (where tunnels to and from Mexico are routinely unearthed). OLS is about a 20-25 minute flight from KTUS along the majestic Santa Rita Mountains, past Madera Canyon, locally known for its beauty, or one can follow I-19 along the Santa Cruz River, but one must avoid the Ruby and Fuzzy MOAs because they're usually hot (that's one of the areas where the F-16s from KTUS practice).

On the western edge of the flight path are some old copper strip mines (see photo) that provide an unusual bit of contrast to the mountains and desert. One Sunday morning I flew down there wanting to get a view of the "FENCE" from the air, but unfortunately the fence is literally a thousand or so feet below the level of OLS in a "groove", so from the air one only sees a dark line and to descend too close to the fence/border area one runs the risks of being shot at by banditos and/or the border patrol - I had to be satisfied with a quick glimpse from 5500 MSL. So then I entered the pattern downwind for rwy 21, landed and taxied to the "International Terminal".

No tower, no lineman, no tie-downs, just a chain-link fence around the "terminal" and a weathered old sign - "Welcome". Interestingly, inside there was evidence of a flight school, FBO, and, literally, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that served a limited menu of eggs (no Egg Beaters!) any style, buttered toast (they actually had whole wheat), bacon or sausage, juice and coffee - so I begged my coronary arteries to let me eat this meal and repent later. Met up with some old-timers who had been flying for decades, one from Chicago - the conversation was a lot more interesting than the surroundings. An hour and a half later I was back in my 182 returning to Tucson.

When I get a chance, I want to share my most recent cross country adventure from Tucson to Chicago (KPWK and KARR) and back - a whole lot of experience, decision-making, and judgement calls and frustrations.