Airhoss

This term has really been overused lately. The unwashed masses have turned the definition of a "bush" pilot into a recreation that involves a stripped down, light weight, uni-capable, high dollar sport plane and doing short field take offs and landings at tourist trap events off of paved strips. Of course you can add in water skiing, and water "assist" landings to the mix just for the full up tourist effect.

I guess we could compare these contests and unrelated flying stunts to what a working pilot in the bush of Alaska does to a rodeo and what a real " cowboy" does on a daily basis on a working cattle ranch. The two have very little to do with each other.

The short field landing is one element of bush flying. And if you are flying off field you need to be proficient at it, however it is not the defining skill of a back country pilot. Rather it is one tool in box of many tools and skills needed to operate in off field conditions. Judgement is the much more important skill set. First off can I land there without breaking anything? Second can I get back out? And most importantly and the the thing that these tourist attraction short field contests don't address, can I get out with the load that I came in here to pick up? Knowing and understanding local weather is a little bit important too. Because contrary to what your average spectator might think, you can't make a living popping into and out of gravel bars and ridge lines for fun on clear days. You've got to haul some payload in crappy weather, if you actually want to get paid.

Of course the vast majority of professional pilots in AK are not flying out of unimproved strips in the back country. They are hauling stuff and peps between villages and small towns part 135. Are these guys and gals considered to be "bush" pilots? Is the professional modern day rancher who uses an ATV and a pick up truck still considered a "cowboy"? Why would a contestant in a STOL competition be called a "bush" pilot or a rodeo contestant be called a "cowboy" when neither have anything to do with the industry that created those sports?

I have done some real life bush flying off strip and far away from any human populations. It comes in all shapes and sizes. The most intensive off strip, crappy weather, heavy hauling backcountry flying I've done was in a CA-212 on polar sea ice. In all the off field flying, I must say, I've done I've never needed to do a "water assist" landing. Because if I needed to use the water to slow me down to get in. That place is definitely too short for me to get back out. DUH!

CrimsonEclipse

Lighten up, Francis!

tomgoodman

That’s what Airhoss just said: If Francis has loaded too much cargo for a short-field takeoff, he needs to lighten up!

JohnBurke

I thought this was going to be a thread about northern or southern exposure...

Panzon

Who peed in your Cheerios? Just kidding! Or should I say it the Eskimo way: “I kid.”

If you’ve landed a CASA on Polar ice you must have flown for Ryan, Bering, or Shared Services, right? Fun flying, isn’t it?

SonicFlyer

I just want to know if Aerial Tweto is 18 yet?

Airhoss

None of the above. I did fly for Ryan but way before they had any CASA's. I was flying CA-212's for Bighorn they have had the contract for servicing several ice stations North of Deadhorse for going on close to 30 years now.

Panzon

Yes, she’s hit 18 and then some. She doesn’t spend much time in Alaska any longer, although she comes up to do anti-suicide volunteer work and for special occasions.

Panzon

I forgot about Big Horn. Their 212s are a common sight in AK during the fire season, but I don’t think of them operating off the ice.

Do you keep up with Ryan? I always marvel at the number of times I’ve been monitoring company frequency and a pilot overhead in a jet - a former Ryan pilot - heading for Asia will broadcast in the blind to see if they can find Boyuck or a current Ryan pilot to catch up on the news.

Airhoss

I fly over OTZ every once in a while headed over to Asia. But I don't try and talk to anybody. It sure brings back some memories though.

The best part about the Smoke Jumper flying was how much of AK you got to see. I've dropped on fires from the North Slope to the Canadian border and as far west as Yantari Bay which is almost to the Aluetians and just about everywhere in the interior.