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Harsh Realities Of The Canadian Frontier

farmerart

A couple of days ago a Twin Otter float plane went down in Yellowknife. The two pilots were killed but, at last notice to me, all passengers had survived and were being treated in Yellowknife or in Edmonton (hundreds of miles to the south). I did not know these guys but I have used this company occasionally in the past.

In frontier areas bush planes are the interstates of commerce for much of the year. Until freeze-up, planes bring in ALL supplies to my camp. These pilots are the most vital link that keeps commerce going in the frontier. They fly in conditions that other pilots often don't understand. Up here, dead reckoning navigation is as common as air traffic control. Pilots often do their own aircraft maintenance and repairs at isolated bush strips. Bush planes are the cars and trucks of the north - very few roads exist and distances are huge.

To me, these guys are heroes. I'll be thinking about these two pilots for quite a while.