If you are going to take a hand held with you, make d@mn sure know how to use it. 499ft agl is not the time to be fumbling with it!

Over at NAC, the B721's use to take a ramper with them so jet jockies could stay warmed up for the next round.

Love the flying
 

I had a roomate that flew in Alaska and then the regionals down the road. All he could do is talk what a great way of life and how much he missed the flying.

Don't let any of the naysayers discourage you from flying in Alaska. Some of us think it makes a great career. (Maybe the majority (including SkyHigh) prefer to spend 90% of each workday straight and level, carping about their bad contract with the other pilot.) LAB does have something of a sketchy reputation, but you can stay safe by flying smart. Make sure you know what your weather minimums are, and consider not flying the outbound leg right at your minimums. (Sometimes you are the only one who knows what the weather really is where you have just turned around from. If he gives you any crap for turning around, just look Lynn Bennett in the eyes (I mean eye)and say, "I tried my best, but there was a wall of fog down to the water".) LAB has been a stepping stone for lots of pilots. Doing an accident search on www.ntsb.gov for that airline or that area will give you some good ideas of what not to do. (Looks At BearS?) One more thing, you'll be ahead of the "new guy at LAB" curve if you avoid overprimming the Cherokee and starting a fire.