What a better way to recognize National Dog Day (8/26) than flying three more dogs to safety! Our three passengers included Shasta (aka Sadie), Rhianna (aka Re Re) and Sara (just … Sara). These sweet gals had been fostered by volunteers with Rhonda Beach and Chances Angel Rescue & Education, Inc out of Roxboro, NC after being pulled from kill shelters; it’s amazing how time with a loving foster can completely change a dogs demeanor.

We were scheduled to pick up the dogs at the Person County airport (KTDF) and meet Ron Melleby (the next pilot in the relay) in Melfa, Virginia (KMFV), which is on the Delmarva Peninsula separated by the Chesapeake Bay. Our plan was to launch at 7:30AM and reposition to Roxboro where we’d meet the dogs. That was until I read through my early morning aviation briefing and discovered the following NOTAM (Notice To Airmen):

Person County, Roxboro, NC (KTDF)

Aerodrome airport closed Aug 26, 2017 1100Z to Aug 26, 2017 1600Z

Yikes! How did I miss the airport would be officially closed from 7AM – 12Noon EST when I reviewed my flight briefing the night before? No worries … a few early morning emails and Bill Tougas (Airport Manager) allowed us to land knowing we were on a “Compassion Flight” before the crew started work on the runway.

The rest of the flight was uneventful and the dogs slept the entire flight. With a slight headwind it took us 2 hrs 15 mins before we landed in Accomack. The skies were filled with more moisture than foretasted requiring we deviate around early morning build-ups along the route. All in all a great day.

-Rick Gutlon, PNP Pilot