I think what this accident shows us is that the highest levels of competence
are not sufficient to keep low under the scud from being one of the most
dangerous places you can be in an airplane. Whether the risk is justified
is another question that depends on the mission and who is in the airplane.
You are right about the bush pilot ethic. A friend of mine did fishing camp
flying in Alaska. The Microsoft type high rollers would come up from
Seattle for a day or two of fishing and the idea that a little weather would
send them home without getting their lines wet was never even considered.
Many times, he would fall into bed with his clothes on at midnight and lie
there shaking from the adrenaline until 4:30 when he would get up and do it
all over again. After a few months, he came back to this world and gave up
flying.
--
Roger Long
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