Life up North
 

Hiya folks,
I'm interested in hearing your opinions and stories as pilots about life up North, socially and workwise. Some people I have talked to say it was best time of their life while others describe it as a prison sentence.
I look forward to your responses :)

Time of my life? Well, nope. But it sure wasn't a prison sentence either. Being from southwestern B.C. I was absolutely petrified about going somewhere where it doesn't rain in the winter (just like most other southern B.C.ians). I found the Yukon to be cold, but not uncomfortably so. Lots of flying, but flying over some of the most fantastic scenery doing so-- I must have flown with an awestruck look on my face the first two months-- I filled up 3 photo albums in one summer! Heard horror stories about the North being horribly expensive but I thought the Yukon was reasonable-- car insurance was dirt cheap and groceries reasonable-- gas was pricy and so was Northwest Tel! Like anything the memories get better as time goes on-- would love to take the wife up on a vacation there-- even toyed with the idea of trying to get a flying job up there again-- but I wonder how the wife (who is from down south-- way down south (20 degrees celcius is cold for her) would take it????

God, I just loved it up north. Shure, sometimes it was miserable getting going in the morning at 30-35 below but at least the flying was great besides, when your well dressed for it, it's not that bad. I really miss it sometimes but then I just have to remember the freight weeks (everyone had to do a week of cargo on the mighty 748 jetprop wisperliner every month) and that feeling of nostalgia just vanishes... http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif... :)...AAaaah!

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Oh darn, it's doing it again!!


[This message has been edited by Tricameleer (edited 25 January 2000).]

After my first contract there in the seventies, I had tears in my eyes when I looked one last time at Kluane Lake from a rise before returning south for the winter. The scenery is that magnificent. I have never lost my love for the arctic since. Even though my principal residence is now in the Southern Caribbean http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif, I still go up there at every opportunity. Two years ago I spent the summer in the NWT. Now I am once again fishing for a way to spend next summer up there. If you love flying, you'll love the North. If flying is just a way to make a living for you, you have my condolances and might as well not bother.

Best time-no, prison sentence-no.

Life is what you make it, it's a damn good learning experience-you'll find out what kind of pilot you are. But on the downside the social life isn't very social at all-usually just shop talk with others like yourself.

Try it, you'll never know until you do.

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Low, Slow, and Dirty!

It was the North where I found my first flying job. Well..I agree with Bush Driver..Prison sentence-NO, Time of my life-NO. But you must realize you are there for a reason and that is to build your flying experience and learn!

My time up there really asked myself how much do I want to fly?--BAD! And you just learn so much about yourself and the people around you. Just go stay around the reserves--I guarantee you that the reserves are not only an eye catcher but also educational!! It ALL boils down to ATTITUDE...how do you look at things and what you want to get out of it.

Hell I didn't know what the heck a "walleye" was before I got up there but I was lucky enough to have a boss that taught me invaluable bush lessons. I say if you are unsure whether the bush is for you, STILL take shot at it and if it doesn't work out, heck..at least you've made an attempt to try to live up north. Either way, you'll gain some knowledge of anything you see up there!
Go and learn and have an open mind!

Good Luck!

"If you don't break anything, you must be doing something right!"

A Walleye??????.....Are you American or something??????? Us Canadians call 'em pickerals!!!! And by the way....you may not appreciate the north as much now...but your visions will change flying pax from Toronto to Miami 24-7. You'll see!!

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Asskiss and you shall recieve!!!!

I've been in both nwt and the yukon now for a year and a half and plan on staying much longer as it is simply the best, especially the yukon - although we could definitely lose the ndp gov't!! Have no aching erge to go south and the weather has been great. Only a couple weeks of -40C so far this year.

p.s.
learn alot going into Dawson and Faro at night doing the NDB circling approaches rather than going from ils to ils.

Hi Turboprops,
I just read an article about Dawson in "Up Here" magazine this month, it sounds like nice place, is there much aviation there?

Hi Turboprop are you working for Alcan or Air north?

Dawson has a couple of local operators from what I know. Pretty quiet there like most of the yukon unfortunately. Tourism, forestry and gov't work keeps those operators that survived running. Nice town though. Summer time the Diamond Tooth Gerdie's, a gambling hall/bar, is fun.
Metrohead - I'm with alkan. U with west ex?

Im with Vision Air Turboprop we had to fill in for WestEX back in dec when they lost an engine on the way to whitehorse of course we then lost a starter/generator and had to spend the weekend up there had alot of fun in the bars, used to fly out of Faro for Colman, Oh ya is a blond girl named Sylvia working for you guys if so tell her Al says Hi.

I'll let her know. She's off south now however to alberta. Usually keep in touch with her through icq.

Thanks!

hey guys


Any one knows how much flying a pilot does on average up north ?

I am thinking on getting my float rating and heading up north.

Thanks

After Two years in Africa sunny caribeen with
a big blue see around sounds a real treat !

Anyway there some ups and down in any place. And at the end of the day flying is just
what really matters.

I've got 1000, 200 on BE55, FAA CPL IR and
struggling a bit to get hours all year round.

If you guys had any idea of where i could
fly twins for a full time job, i'd appreciate.

P.S.: This is JAR conversion thing is driving me creasy.

Hey fellow aviators, was this thread not first opened a few months ago?

And the response above, does anyone have a list of operators throughout the north, equipment operated etc? Or does anyone know where one might find that info?

I'm currently living in New Zealand, but I grew up in Edmonton, did a few visits up to Inuvik in about 86, thought the place was amazing, just the vastness of it all, takes your breath away. A buddy of mine, another New Zealander was flying up north, did about a year and is now on F28's out of Toronto. So it sounds like a good place to build hours and have a great time. This guy loved it up there, said the scenery is like nothing else on earth.

Thanks for the replys everyone

Hi,

Depends how far north you mean...

I have been flying medevacs out of Churchill, Manitoba for the past 6 months and really have enjoyed the challenging flying and weather. Xmas day we were shut down with winds gusting to 80 kts and total whiteout.

If you love raw flying, 90% non precision approaches, low ceilings, low vis, and big crosswinds then the arctic is for you. :-)

Personally I love it and Churchill isn't a bad place at all...even has an indoor artificial ice arena!

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Cheers,

Shep

Hey nosegear...

You talking about Brian H. who flew out of Churchill and Rankin Inlet for Keewatin Air?



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Cheers,

Shep

Hi Shepski, yep that be him! He is probably one of the most well know pilots in New Zealand! Everyone seems to know him.

I'm pretty interested in the type of flying you are doing, how does one get started? What sort of hours are the employers needing?

Email me if you prefer.

Cheers


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To an F16 with engine trouble, "You're number 2 behind the B52 with one engine shut down." Reply "Oh no, not the dreaded 7 engine approach!"

For those interested here are some pictures I took while flying medevacs in the arctic north of Churchill, Manitoba...blizzard included!
http://stinger.flanker-arena.com/Keewatin%20AIr.htm



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Cheers,

Shep

any information from Yellowknife as to crews for Buffalo AirWays,or the costof a "4" checkout(recently retired airline pilot with a big thing for the DC4)thanks for any info
Cheers

Great pics Shep. That P-12 has to be the cleanest looking panel I have ever seen .. bet it still smells new? Not like I'd have a clue what a new aircraft would smell like, haha
How was your experience up North?

Started off my career 30 years ago flying across the Arctic and Yukon. Always will have a great love for the country. I'll trade my ultra-modern 777 for a C-185 on floats any day to work up there, especially the Yukon. Great memories. Canada has the best scenery in the world.

I remember taking a tour of the rocket range in Churchill many years ago, a polar bear cub got lose in the cafeteria. They have as much traction on waxed floors as a Toyota pickup with bald tires. There were chairs and tables ....as well as people...going every where!

Great country to learn to fly. You will be respected wherever you go.

Hey M&V - just read your posts in Cabin Crew and asked if you use to fly for Wardair....then came into this post and read your profile looks like maybe you used to.There is another guy, "Pretty sly for a white guy" whose father use to fly for Wardair........let me know.

PS - we hail from the same town, maybe we can go for a cool one at the beaver and chat...

Cheers

xward, are you also an Ex-WD driver? When did you join, and what are you doing now? Still flying?

Kubota, no I was a F/A I joined in the early eighties........but Wardair was like my family and I am trying to find them all, drivers too. Did you fly for Wardair?
If you go into cabin crew I posted a thread called Canadian F/A's have a read.

Cheers.........