Prepping For Darkness

摘要

It was well after dark when we arrived over the unfamiliar rural airport. We were descending toward that green and white airport beacon, and I thought I could see the headlights of my brother-in-law's crew-cab pickup truck in the parking lot. "Watch this," I said to my daughter, and I clicked the push-to-talk switch seven times on the CTAF. Nothing happened. I made a little heading change. Sometimes this gives the antenna a better view. I clicked again. Still nothing. I tried again, and this time the runway lights came on, but only on one side. Which side of the runway was it? Did I want to risk lining up on the wrong side of the lights? Over the extended centerline the trees were trimmed, the wires were buried and the berms were bulldozed, but what had been done just a little bit to one side?