Viewpoints
Aviation
By Lindy Henrick
August 31, 2007
Friday PM
After reading Mr. Kiffer's article I was quite shocked. One
by the amount of fatalities that have occurred in area, but more
importantly the tone he took about aviation fatalities. Any
machine you enter involves a risk; driving your car is much more
dangerous than flying, yet people get in their cars on a regular
basis, without a second thought.
Aftan Zink made a valid point. We need to acknowledge those who
survived the accident and the pilots that make numerous trips
and survive those on a regular basis.
Flying in itself is a challenge, but flying in Alaska is a whole
new component. As a pilot, to have "Alaska Time" is
a big thing, because of the vastly changing weather conditions
that occur in the air. One can point fingers and ridicule a
pilot who crashes due to weather and easily say "pilot error."
However, because how quickly weather changes in Alaska it is
wrong to assume that a pilot was flying in inappropriate weather
conditions and automatically assume it was preventable.
Aviation is a world of its own. After working for Taquan Air
for three summers, I have acquired a second family not only within
the company but also along the entire waterfront. Though there
are separate businesses, and we may appear competitive, we are
family. When a plane goes down, other companies are out searching,
as if it were one of their own. The pilots look out for each
other, and if they ever encounter weather they are sure to warn
others.
As a small town we need not focus on the amount of aviation losses
that Ketchikan has endured. We need to mirror the aviation industry
and support one another, and focus on the positive aspects that
aviation has brought to this community.
Lindy Henrick
Anchorage, AK
Received August 30, 2007 -
Published August 31, 2007
About: "Born and raised
in Ketchikan, AK"
Related Article:
Fatal Plane Crashes Average One a Year;
Changing weather is the frequent cause - A Feature Story By DAVE KIFFER - The fatal
crashes of two floatplanes in the Ketchikan area this summer
is a sad reminder that local air travel can be a hazardous business.
- More...
Saturday - August 25, 2007
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