Floyd Landis, you are pathetic!

Not that I ever cared about cycling. I can't appreciate a sport where they burn about 11'000 kcal per day and the body can only absorb about 6000 kcal with food, therefore the compensation is done with a glucose-infusion. How stupid can one be?
However Floyd, I followed it when you were buried alive trying to pedal up that hill. You were literally dead. You were not moving and everybody said that was it. Landis has just bargained his chance to win the tour. The next day: whoooaa, what a wonder!! He rushes, he flies, he massacres the rest of the tour. Funny enough it was that day you were tested positive for Testosterone. You said it was natural stuff, produced by your body. But it was proven that it was synthetic. Fact is, you took drugs, man! The officials know it, YOU know it, THE WHOLE WORLD knows it honey! Everybody witnessed it live on TV. Don't you get it? What are you trying to prove now? Do you really believe anybody is ever going to believe you?
I have to repeat one of my statements, that he who still fancies watching the cycling sport must be even more stupid than the cyclist pros themselves. And being as stupid as you are Floyd, I am sure that hurts.

Copenhagen Dates for INM Course published

As announced earlier, there will be a course for the Integrated Noise Modelling tool in Copenhagen. It will take place 17./18./19. October. Let me know if you are interested. The INM is a Noise Modelling Software distributed by the FAA and it's quite powerful and not expensive. The user licence is 300$ USD.
Other course options are September 13-15 in Taipeh or October 4-6 in Burlington/Maine.
Again, if you are interested in getting the INM or going to a course, I'll be happy to help.

What a place

Here is a short update about my trip in the USA. In Oklahoma City (man was that hot!) I spoke at the International Aviation Training Symposium. Unlike other years, this was a sting operation, meaning in the day before the speech, out the morning after. Apart from IATS I met with Todd Hubbard who you might know from the Staff page of ANI. Todd and me spoke in the same session of the symposium, which was a nice coincident :-)
Todd is very experienced in the field of distance learning and we finally have the concept together for the e-learning courses we want to offer through ANI. I am positive that at some stage in 2007 we will start a pilot project, possibly using the ILS Master Class as our tryout course.

Then I spent 3 great days in Denver and the nearby Rocky Mountains. What a great place that is. Last saturday I spent 7 hours driving through mountains and over passes, the highest one being more than 3700m high.

Finally I arrived in Seattle, where I teach a class of RNAV/RNP experts. Seattle is one of the nicest city in the USA I have seen so far. The weather is also unusually hot, so I am really having a great summer so far.
After this trip we are looking forward to the next basic PANS-OPS course starting on July 31 with a very international class once again.
So long, stay tuned!

Aircondition appreciated

After a long but uneventful trip I arrived in Oklahoma City and immediately praised airconditioning. Okay, it was hot when I left home, it was 30-33° C every day. This is hot but standable. Here it's 41° C, this is just hot. It's not extremely humid, but still hot. I will probably stay inside the conditioned building all day :-)

Back on the road

After 10 days off (hot weather in Switzerland!!) I am back on the road. I am on my way to presenting the work of the ICAO OCP Training Sub-workin g group at the International Aviation Training Symposium (IATS) in Oklahoma City. Then I will continue my trip to teach some classes in the USA. It's gonna be a busy second half of the year, but I am happy when it's that way. Looking forward to seeing some of you guys in class.

Noise Modellers, attention!

For those who are using the FAA's Integrated Noise Modelling Software, or those who consider buying it (it's not a very expensive tool, but quite powerful, it costs 300$ USD per license), here are some announced training courses for it:
September (dates not set yet) in Copenhagen/Denmark
September 13-15 in Taipei/Taiwan
October 4-6 in Burlington/Maine
I have done the course myself and it is very good. I don't think, it is possible to use the INM to its full power without the course, although the manual that comes with it is quite good.
If you want more info anout INM or the training course for it you can go to the FAA INM site or send me an email.

The hard life of a guy flying a lot

I am on the road quite often. I normally spend about 6 months in total away from home. In 2004 I calculated how much time I spent on board of airplanes. It was 2 full weeks. 2 more weeks I spent hanging around airports, lounges etc. and probably another week driving to and from airports. So, I tend to notice things. Things that make me laugh, swear, shake my head, depending on the mood I am currently in. Like the pre-departure show that stewardesses - sorry - flight attendants put on: "First we show you how to operate your seatbelt". Yeah great! Just in case you haven't been riding a car since 1969...
Or the "ping" at some stage in initial climb: "We would like to remind you that this is a non-smoking flight". You don't say!!?? When did they come up with that non-smoking policy again? 20 years ago? And then finally: "Welcome to London". Baby, you cannot welcome me in London! You flew with me! In order to welcome me you need to be standing at the airport when I arrive. But don't worry, I prefer if you don't...
Now that I got started I could write more on those like-to-be-important business flyers and even more on the concept of eating on board an airplane. But I think that will have to wait till another day.

Website issue sorted

Those who know me well will also know: I am a typical libra. If there is an aesthetical issue, I need to sort it. The thought that people out there might call the ANI site on their PCs (did I already ask you how you can work with this crap?) and think the graphical look of the page is bad drove me crazy. So I sacrificed my Saturday morning and sorted the problem. Now it looks as it should - even on Microsoft gear.

ANI Website Font issue

I just recognised that there is a glitch in the way the ANI site is displayed on most *shiver* Windows-PCs. The Corporate Identity of ANI uses a Font that is not installed on most Computers. However, a stylesheet is included in the site to replace that font with Arial or Helvetica. Now on most Microsoft-driven PCs (how can you guys work with this crap?), the Titles are indicated in a Times font which looks TERRIBLE! We are working on that issue, so if you ever asked yourself why we are using such a strange font for logo and titles, here is the answer. On a Macintosh, the site looks as it should, on a PC it doesn't. Intent was to have all titles in Coop (or Arial, Helvetica, Geneva or similar as replacement if Coop is not installed) and the main body text in Courier.

Un-Beat-able Prophet

My prediction at the beginning of the Football World Cup was: Germany makes the final. The team who wants to prove me wrong is invited to do so. Seen the ARgentina-Germany game? That's what I meant. Who is going to stop them if not Argentina? Italy? I don't think so. They will pay the toll for beating Germany 4-1 in a friendly game recently. Ukraine? I don't think so. They even needed a Penalty Shootout against Switzerland. Not that I necessarily think that the Swiss are worse than Germany (in terms of football...), but that evening the Swiss were harmless.
So I say, Germany wins the title. Any bets?

Database coding in Gunten concluded!

Man, this was great! A very good group, very interactive, great weather, a marvellous location. I am really happy about this event and so is Jim. Yesterday we had to visit the Caves of Saint Beatus (see picture), the guy who I am named after. It was a matter of honour that we almost all had the St Beatus Rösti for lunch :-)
Jim and me were absolutely clear that we have to repeat that course. It is very valuable to us all.

Working hard in the course

We are having a great time in the Database coding class here in Gunten/Switzerland. Jim Terpstra is in great shape and he even got pushed into football by some of the class (see picture). We are getting along well, today is the big session on path terminators. Okay, back to class, see you later!

The heat goes up!

Today, the students for the ARINC 424 Database Coding Course will arrive. The weather is great, it's hot and sunny, everything is set for a great week! I look forward to spending the week with collegues from the procedure design community from all over the world. Hope the weather stays.

Why is it impossible to buy a jersey from team Japan?

Okay, those who know me well also know: I like Japan. I like the Japanese People, I love Japanese Food. I have good friends in Japan. I love the Japanese Onsen, the Ryokan, the Shinkansen, I even like the fact that it is unbelievably hot and humid in summer. For this football world cup I wanted to buy a jersey of the Japanese Football team. Because everybody else here is walking around in jerseys from Italy, Spain, Argentina, Portugal, England and of course Switzerland. Very many also wear a yellow, blue and green jersey...
I checked all shops. They had everything. Everything - except the Japanese Jersey. Okay I didn't actually look for Trinidad, so I am not sure they had one. But I wanted a Japan jersey. Well, no luck. This is globalisation at its best. You can have everything everywhere anytime. Except a Japanese Jersey in Switzerland during the Football World Cup in Germany.
However, tonight my heart is with team Japan. I hope they crush Brasil. Also without me wearing the jersey.

England or Sweden? Or SBAS APV?

Today's principal question is: Is it more difficult for Germany to play Sweden or would it have been easier to meet Beckham an co. in the eighth-finals. Lots of discussions, lots of opinions...
My view is clear: It doesn't matter. Either of them will be waltzed over by the Germans. They are carried by the enthusiasm in their country, by the atmosphere. I know, nobody likes it, but they need to be beaten first. Can Sweden do it? I don't think so, but they are invited to prove me wrong.
SBAS APV? Interesting topic - after July 9th!

I'm going to the IATS again!

This becomes a habit! I will be presenting a paper highlighting the work of the ICAO Obstacle Clearance Panel Training Workgroup at the International Aviation Training Symposium in Oklahoma City. It seems to become a habit, since I spoke at every IATS so far. I look forward to catching up with Professor Dr. Todd Hubbard, my friend and advisor, education teacher etc. We will be both speaking in the same workshop. If you are interested in the Symposium, visit the IATS website of ATCA.
It takes place next month (hot in OKC!!), July 17-20.

Last minute for the ARINC 424 course!

If you don't know what to do next week, why not join me and Jim Terpstra along with a class of students at the Lake of Thun/Switzerland for the ARINC 424 database coding for procedure designers course? Weather is fine, the lake is warm (okay, it's not THAT warm...) and you can even watch football ;-)
Go to http://www.airnavigationinstitute.ch and contact me if you feel like joining last minute.

What's more important, Football or Procedure Design?

Well, it depends... Right now, it's procedure design. Yesterday between 3pm and 5pm it was Football. We beat (beat!) Togo! Yessss! Now let's crush South Korea and we shall advance to the next stage. Cool, I just hope, we don't get the Spanish again (like in 1994)... :-(
They are strong, they could be a candidate for the title. My favourites? Right now after two games each in the following order:

Argentina (because they played great)
Germany (because they're Germany. Remember: Football is a game with 2 teams of 11 players and in the end Germany wins)
Spain (because they played patiently against Tunisia)
Italy (because they are clever)
Switzerland (because in Football even the impossible is possible)
Netherlands (because they finally deserve it)

That's it. Brasil? I didn't know they participated. Ok, but now back to procedure design. No, not me - you!

Introducing the Primary Area

For the Students at the Air Navigation Institute, there is now a protected area with a lot of downloadable information. Course scripts, spreadsheets, working papers and procedure design criteria documents can be found there. Visit the ANI website http://www.airnavigationinstitute.ch and send an email to receive access to the Primary Area.

Database coding down under!

This is exciting! ANI's database coder Christian Freiesleben (see his profile on the ANI website) will travel to Wellington to provide the database coding course for procedure designers in the Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific Area.
This will happen August 21 - 25, 2006. If anybody is interested in participating, visit the ANI website http://www.airnavigationinstitute.ch