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MAP Site Survey Trip 17-24 April 1999 by Peggy Taylor. Milano Region, Italy.
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Jon Lutz and I departed DIA on Saturday, 17 April 1999 for Milan (via Dulles). We arrived Malpensa International, located NW of Milan Sunday a.m. Note: Upon arrival in Malpensa, follow the “exit” signs and get in line for NON EU Citizens to have your passport stamped. Proceed to baggage carosel. Jon had a Europcar reserved via Prof. Travel. Rentals agencies at the airport include Europcar, Hertz, AVIS, National, Thrifty-Italy by Car, Maggiore Car Rental, Sixt Rental Car. We will submit a P.O. (rental agreement for autos) for people arriving Malpensa.The Italian Lira is the currency. During our visit the exchange was $ 1 U.S. = 1,740L; the rate fluctuates from day to day. For the best exchange rate; go to a bank. The Malpensa airport does have an exchange booth and I encourage you to exchange upon arrival to get started as there are many toll booths on the highways (autostrades) that you will encounter upon your exit from the airport.
That evening, we met up with Jim Moore, JOSS at the Novotel (20138 Milano – Via Mecenate, 121; telefono (39) 02.58.01.10.85; fax: (39) 02.58.01.10.86) near Linate airport. Be careful about names of towns, our exit took us into the town of Lainate. MamaMia! The Novotel cost about $120 U.S./night. The AT&T access code from Milan was: 0-172-1011. The Novotel is a convenient driving distance to Linate airport.On Monday 19 April, Jon, Jim Moore and I met with Col. Frustaci, Meteorological Service, CAPO Centro Meteor. Region. Milano-Linate to discuss logistics regarding S-Pol and the POC. The Wet MAP operations center will be called the POC or Project Operations Center and will be located at the Regional Meteorological Center (CMR), the military installation at the Military Air Base, Linate, in the southeastern outskirts of Milano.
T.Col.Frustaci will be the POC Director. The POC will be responsible for guiding and coordinating the Wet MAP research flights for the Electra, NOAA P-3, French ARAT, French Fokker and the DLR Falcon aircraft. Radar data from the Monte Lima, RONSARD and S-Pol radars will be transmitted in real time to the POC. Data from 3-4 Italian weather radars will also flow into the POC. The MOC or MAP Operations Center, located in Innsbruck, will decide when and what type of aircraft mission will be launched. The MDC or MAP Data Center, located in Zurich, plans for real-time collection and distribution of satellite, synoptic, and model data during MAP operations. (See Attachments 1,2,3,4). Note: To get to POC; take C.A.M.M. exit, left turn, passed DHL and Michelan sign, right turn, across river, left turn, right turn into Check point (Check-in); continue straight to end; make u-turn; building on right.
Col. Frustaci has started negotiations with Telecom Italia for an ISDN line to S-Pol. We also requested 4 voice lines (w/handset) and cell phones. RSF will submit P.O.’s for this working with JOSS. We were given a tour of the Facility which is the met service for civil and military aviation.
Giorgio Alessio, MAP forecaster was available to shuttle us around to show us possible housing in the area. The first place visited was the Residence FUTURA, via m. montessori 14 – 20138 Milano; tel. 02/730431-719675-719644/5 – fax 70148714. It is about a 10-15 min walk from the POC. Parking is available both outside and underneath the building at additional charge of $120 month. Montly rental for a two-room unit is approximately $1,430. These are “efficiency” type units with small kitchen, eating and living area (with sofabed); no microwave or oven; only four burner stove. Cooking and eating utensils are provided. Note: I didn’t see coffee pots. The second room is the bedroom. Direct phone # to room; access to internet; maid service twice a week is included There is a large grocery store & flower market located next door.
Next stop was the QUARK DUE Apart Hotel, 20141 Milano – Via Lampedusa; tel. 02/84431 – Fax 02/8464190; e-mail: quarkhtl@tin.it. It was about a 25 min. drive not during rush hour from POC. It is on the bus route. Buses stop running from 1 A.M. to 6 A.M. Very nice building with balconies. These units were more heavily furnished, dishwasher and microwaves and ovens. Apartments get cleaned 3 times a week; changing of linens twice a week. Laundry service is available. Car parking is free inside the property. Bus tickets on sale at reception desk.
POC Residence Futura Quark Due
Late in the afternoon we drove to Vergiate (to find the landfill) on Autostrade A8 to E62. It took us about 45 min. from the POC. 80 km speed limit; I think Jon doubled it! Mama Mia…again! We then went on to Stresa about a 25 min drive from the radar site and checked in at the Hotel Astoria, on the main street across from the lake. Rooms here were about $110/night. Tuesday, April 20. Jon and I met with Dr. Roberto Canzianni, the technical director of the landfill. Dr. Canzianni is also a Prof. of Hydraulic Engineering at the Politechnic University in Milan. Address for landfill is: Consorzio Intercommunale Smaltimento Rufiuti, Localite Cattabriga, 1-21029 Vergiate, ItalyTel: 39-331-948-556Fax: 39-331-947-711
Col. Frustaci also met with us at the radar site. Dr. Canzianni asked that I write an e-mail to him to ask the owner for (1)permission to install phone lines, (2) for access to the site on weekends, and (3) to have gravel hauled in for S-Pol base. We were told we cannot go deeper than 1 meter on the phone pole installation because of the landfill soil. The landfill is sinking approximate 20 centimeters a year. The GPS reading at the site is: 45º 42.541N 8º 42.556E. We requested an area about 35 meters square and about 1 foot of gravel. The ground at the site does omit biogas but is not a health risk. No smoking will be allowed by wells, no open fires and no picnics.There are plenty of restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, hardware stores, banks, in Vergiate; close to the radar site.
On Wednesday 21 April Jon and I met with Liliana at Viaggi-Turismo Borroni in Stresa regarding housing. (28838 Stresa, Corso Umberto 1, n. 4; tel: 0323 30251/30522; Fax 0323 33398.) We were able to reserve 7 apartments. Five of the apartments are contained in one housing unit and the other two are in separate houses. The apartments are nicely furnished with an efficiency type kitchen, living/dining area and a separate bedroom. There are sofabeds in the living area. I will have to arrange for housekeeping. Stresa is a beautiful resort town on Lago Maggiore, and there are many 4 and 5 star hotels along the lake. There are many restaurants, hotels, small grocery stores, deli’s, wine shops, etc. In the afternoon we were in search of cranes, forklifts, etc. We obtained information to contact several vendors.
On Thursday, 22 April Jon and I departed Stresa for Innsbruck, Austria. We headed North up the west side of Lago Maggiore through Lacarno, Bellinzoa, San Bernardino, Chur, Feldkirch, Bludenz and on into Innsbruck. It took us about 5 1/2 hours. On Thursday evening Jon and I met up with Al Schanot & Mike Daniels from RAF. They had been in Innsbruck for a few days working with several logistical contacts. We stayed at the Alpotel, Innrain 13, Innsbruck; (tele:0512-577931, Fax 577931-15, e-mail: alpotel@tirolcom) $73/night. This is where Al expects the RAF people will stay. It is centrally located in town with restaurant on first floor and many restaurants, bakeries, shops in convenient walking distance. The bus stop is only a few steps away from the hotel and runs about every 15 minutes to the airport. Car parking is underneath the building for an additional $10 a day.
Friday, 23April began with a visit to look at several apartments. We then went to the airport with Al Schanot and met with Herbert. The MAP Operations Center (MOC) will be located at the Innsbruck Airport. The forecasting operations will be in the General Aviation building. A 70 sq meter room will be available for RSF, RAF, and possibly NOAA, and will serve as a work space (plenty of room for work benches) and the RAF/RSF/NOAA data center. The room is fully wired with plenty of power (220 - 50 Hz). We will need to bring our own tables, chairs, room dividers, etc.
On Thursday evening, Herbert Puempel, head of the Meteorological Office at the Airport in Innsbruck, arranged for dinner at the Augustiner Brau Hall; Unterer Stadtplatz 5 - 6060 Hall I. Tirol. We ate upstairs in the dinning area and had a wonderful authentic Austrian meal in a restored building that served as an Inn/restaurant for many years.The exchange rate at this time was about 12.8 Austrian Schillings to one US dollar.
The aircraft (Electra & P-3) will be parked on the east end of the ramp about 100 yards from the office area.We will be able to store the seacontainers near there also. ELDORA is expecting to ship one seacontainer (without the insertion removal tool). We also expect to send an air shipment. Both shipments will be coordinated with RAF. FedEx and DHL are available in-town, not at the airport. Security badges will be issued upon arrival. There is a nice restaurant and bakery located in the airport terminal. A lounge area will also be available. Food for flights will be available. There is much construction going on at the airport and parking at the airport and hostel will be limited and could be costly. Dedicated parking is being looked into. The University Hostel is a two minute walk from the airport building. This is where the scientists will have two large rooms for their computers and a room for briefings. RSF will have 5 work station areas here. ATD will have a small project office here also.
