[ADXA] SABLE ISLAND DX-PEDITON

[E Glenn Wolf Jr]

  All -

FYI

Glenn


Dear Clubs and Foundations who have generously supported the Sable 
Island Dxpedition:

Thank you for your support and the opportunity for us to work with you. 
Unfortunately, as perhaps you have heard, a problem with the special 
equipped aircraft in preparation for our flight has caused a delay for 
an unknown extended amount of time. It is expected that the delay is 
going to be extensive as the problem is a major safety related issue and 
the aircraft cannot fly.

Thus, due to the uncertainties of the delay and that a reschedule of the 
dxpedition, _if_ possible to do so, would likely need to be next 
Sept/Oct. _It is therefore very appropriate for us to refund the support 
you have provided, as well as, to individual supporters._ I cannot 
express how disappointed we are in not being able to carry on with a 
definite plan. Perhaps we will try again in the future, but for 
now....it is impossible to project when or if it will be possible. A 
description of the issue the best we understand is provided below:

*A superficial dye-penetrant test indicated the presence of cracks.  
Clearly the aircraft cannot fly in a condition in which there are 
visible cracks, but of unknown extent, in the axles.  Therefore this 
aircraft is no longer airworthy and it is grounded indefinitely until 
the axle can be removed from the aircraft (no small job) and subjected 
to additional NDT testing to determine the extent of the cracking.  
Whether the aircraft can legally remain in service with some known 
amount of cracking is possible but highly unlikely.  The aircraft owner 
will need to either develop a repair scheme (also highly unlikely), or 
they must find a replacement axle in new or certified re-conditioned 
state, all of which parts require FAA documentation to validate them.  
Since the aircraft is of British design, there may be other 
airworthiness documentation considerations regarding part certification. ***

*The aircraft the axles are on is a Britten-Normal Islander which has 
been out of production for decades.  Finding a qualified major part for 
an aircraft of that age is so challenging a business that special 
companies exist solely to do that on behalf of aircraft owners.  Our 
charter aircraft operator is being very honest with us.  He has solid 
grounds for stating that he cannot put a date upon when our 
transportation will be airworthy again. ***

*There are other aircraft of this type in Canada but no-one with both 
the necessary modified undercarriage for landing on beach sand and the 
willingness to use it on Sable.  A replacement fixed-wing aircraft is 
therefore a non-option. *

_As of recent days_ Al Wilson -- *VE1AWW/CY0* is assigned as a worker on 
Sable Island. His schedule is 3 _months ON and 3 Months OFF_. Currently 
he is on the Island and will be active as work schedules permits through 
DECEMBER. This is a new development/new ham and may help the "need". He 
is beginning to show up on the Spotting Clusters.

Thank you again; _we__ will be refunding in the near future_. Updated 
information will be posted on our web site as to final decisions related 
to any potential reschedule as details become available. 
www.CY0dxpedition.com <http://www.cy0dxpedition.com/>

73, again, we appreciate the support and encouragement during the 
planning phase.

Randy -- N0TG