For business to Genua

I am involved in two projects in Genua, one involves designing security systems for harbours (SOBCAH) and the other is about securing crowded place (ISCAPS).
The ISCAPS project had a meeting in Genua in April 2005 and I thought it be a good opportunity to visit also the harbour of Genua. However, there are no direct scheduled flights from Amsterdam to Genua, and the trip via Paris takes a total of 6-7 hours. So Ben and I decided to fly ourselves. My employer paid only the regular air fare for one person, which is about 35% of the costs of flying ourselves.

The business partners were suitably impressed by our arrival by private flight. After the meeting on Friday we flew home and most of the others took the evening flight to Paris. However, the Alitalia flight was delayed for 4 hours and then cancelled. After heated arguments they were transported to a hotel, but had to get up again at 4.30 AM in order to get the 6.00 AM flight to Paris. Ha!

For me this trip was a new and thrilling experience: the mixture of business and private flying, the altitude, the use of oxygen,the Alps.

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The route. One-way distance 990 km, flying time 3 hours 25 minutes	We fly according to Instrument Flight Rules. That implies Air Traffic control and following pre-defined routes. This is a map of such routes. Fortunately we have a Garmin GNS 530 (GPS) containing a database with all the beacons and fixes, making it much easier to find a particular point.

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While crossing the Alps we fly at flightlevel 170 (17000 feet, 5 kilometers). This is as high as a non-turbocharged piston engine will go.	At that altitude lack of oxygen may cause hypoxia: an insidious detoriation of mental capacity, vision and motor control. Hence the oxygen supply under my nose (www.skyox.com). Notice the shirt and tie; this is a business trip!

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The Alps. The peak upper left may be the Eiger.	The Alps

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Harbour with cruise liners and ferries.	"Ponte Etiopia" where we will do our project.

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About to turn final after a circle-to-land approach.	On final approach.

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How convenient, parking in front of our hotel.	Lovely view from the hotel room.

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Security guard in the harbour.	This is the area where we will do our project.

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Alps on the way back	Alps

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Somewhere over Germany	Sun between clouds and Earth, shortly before arriving at Eindhoven.

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