Crash-land pilot plans second bid to recover plane from beach

The owner of a small plane that crash-landed on the beach at Carmanah Point Light Station, prompting two search-and-rescue missions, plans to return to the remote area shortly to make repairs to the craft in the hope he will be able to fly it home.

Oban Gilbert-Stone, 25, crashlanded on the beach last Friday when the landing gear broke on the kit-made plane.

A military helicopter picked up Gilbert-Stone and a friend from the lightstation, which is south of Bamfield in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve on the Island's west coast.

However, on Sunday, he and his two brothers tried to hike to Carmanah Point, carrying a propeller and tools to mend the plane -the area is not accessible by road.

A girlfriend reported them overdue and, on Monday morning, a search was launched shortly before the three Saltspring Island men turned up at the lighthouse. That time they were lifted out by a coast guard helicopter.

"Parks [Canada] has turned the recovery mission over to me," said Gilbert-Stone, adding he hopes Transport Canada will give permission for a one-time flight once he has fixed the plane.

Transport Canada spokesman Rod Nelson said that, after an accident, it is recommended an aircraft maintenance engineer assess the damage.

The accident must be reported to the Transportation Safety Board.

Damage and any repairs are to be reported to Transport Canada, he said.

Before a ferry permit is issued for an amateur-built aircraft, either the owner/pilot or an aircraft engineer must attest the plane is fit to fly, Nelson said.

The plane will need work whether it is flown out or has to be slung under a helicopter, Gilbert-Stone said. If he has to hike there again, he will use a better map, he said.

Landing in a national park is not allowed without a permit and Parks Canada is reviewing what happened, said Dave McVetty, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve superintendent.

Gilbert-Stone said he was not aware of that rule. He said he grew up near Carmanah Point and wanted to show the area to his girlfriend.

"It was such a nice day I decided to land on the beach for a picnic. Landings are made on beaches all the time. It's not a dangerous manoeuvre," he said.

It was a soft touchdown, but a small gust of wind took the plane up again and on the second touchdown the landing gear gave way, Gilbert-Stone said.

Tips for Traveling Abroad

# Sign passport, and fill in the emergency information: Make sure you have a signed, valid passport, and a visa, if required, and fill in the emergency information page of your passport.

# Leave copies of itinerary and passport data page: Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends, so you can be contacted in case of an emergency.

# Check your overseas medical insurance coverage: Ask your medical insurance company if your policy applies overseas, and if it covers emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. If it does not, consider supplemental insurance.

# Familiarize yourself with local conditions and laws: While in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws. The State Department web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html has useful safety and other information about the countries you will visit.

# Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: To avoid being a target of crime, do not wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. Also, do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

# Contact us in an emergency: Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the U.S. are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates appears on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov. Also note that the Office of Overseas Citizen Services in the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs may be reached for assistance with emergencies at 1-888-407-4747, if calling from the U.S. or Canada, or 202-501-4444, if calling from overseas

‘Hero Miles’ Program Supports Families of Fallen, Wounded

A popular program that turns donated frequent-flyer miles into free airline tickets for wounded warriors receiving medical care as well as their families will expand this year so families of the fallen and combat wounded can participate in two upcoming events.

The Fisher House Foundation, which administers the “Hero Miles” program, plans to offer airline tickets so grieving families needing assistance can fly to Washington, D.C., this Memorial Day weekend to participate in the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors seminar, foundation President Dave Coker told American Forces Press Service.

The annual conference, to run May 27 to 30, offers a camp for children, a workshop for adults and comfort for families whose military member died in service to the nation, regardless of the cause.

“We will use Hero Miles to bring in any families that need assistance, and eliminate the cost of getting to [Washington,] D.C. as a barrier,” Coker said.

In addition, the Hero Miles program will help families to attend the second annual Warrior Games held in the spring in Colorado Springs, Colo., Coker said.

Some 200 disabled active-duty servicemembers and military veterans will compete in the second annual Warrior Games, scheduled for May 16 to 21 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Participants will put their long recuperations and months of training to the test as they go for the gold in events to include shooting, swimming, archery, track and field, cycling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball, officials said.

Coker called it fitting that the Hero Miles program helps families who might otherwise not get the opportunity to participate in these events.

“Our goal is to eliminate the barriers to participation, and make sure that families who wish to attend these events can do so,” he said.

The Fisher House Foundation has been underwriting all administrative costs and ticketing charges for the Hero Miles program since 2005. The Hero Miles program provides a way for passengers of participating airlines to donate their unused frequent-flier miles to reunite military men and women undergoing treatment at a military or Veterans Affairs medical center with their families.

The program provides free round-trip airline tickets to two categories of passengers. Servicemembers on at least five days of approved leave from their medical center who don’t qualify for government-funded airfare can receive tickets home and back. In addition, qualified servicemembers may receive tickets to enable their family or close friends to visit them while they’re treated at the medical center.