Flying

A thin blanket of snow covers the ground as I walk to the school to get ready to depart for training in another village. We finally get the call that the plane will be here is about 15 minutes. I put on my snow pants, insulated boots, down jacket, hat and gloves in preparation for the flight. I hop in the back of the truck and get a ride to the gravel airstrip just outside of town. During the winter they suggest that you wear all your winter attire when you fly just in case the plane crashes or you get stranded at an airstrip. Not a very comforting thought when you are boarding a tiny 4-passenger plane that is about to take off on a gravel runway that is covered in snow.

When most people think of flying they think of large airports, long security lines and big airplanes. Most people dress nice or in business attire when they fly and pack light because of baggage charges. This is not the case when flying in the bush. When flying in rural Alaska you don’t have to wait in long security lines, there are no airports, you fly on small airplanes and there are no extra baggage charges - comfort is more important then style and you pack light because there might not be enough room on the plane. However, flights are rarely on time and sometimes you are waiting for a flight for a few hours.

A bush airplane is an aircraft that is used in remote, undeveloped areas of the world where there is an insufficient road system. They are primarily used in the African and Alaskan bush, Canadian tundra, and the Australian Outback. All bush planes have some similar traits that include:

• High wings for better ground visibility.
•  Landing gear with two large main wheels and a small rear wheel in order to increase prop clearance and to help when taking off and landing on rough-surfaced runway.
• Characteristics that help bush planes take off and land on short runways.
• Since it is not uncommon for bush planes to have to land and take off in areas that no airplane has been before they are equipped with tundra tires.
• Removable floats and skis so they can operate on water or snow.

The most well-known bush aircrafts are the Fairchild American Pilgrim 100 A and B, Noorduyn Norseman, the Cessna 180, Cessna Caravan and 206/207, Douglas DC-3/C-47, DHC-2 Beaver, Piper Super Cub, Aviat Husky, Antonov An-2 and Pilatus Turbo Porter PC-6.

These are the facts about bush planes - flying on one is quite a different experience. Planes are a natural part of life out here in the Alaskan bush. In order to go shopping, see a doctor, compete with other schools in sporting events, or just to go see a movie you have to fly. The first time I flew on a bush plane I was a little uneasy, but I have now been on so many that it has become more normal. I actually now like flying on bush planes because you always have a window seat and it gives you the opportunity to see some of the beautiful Alaskan wilderness.