I've Looked at Clouds from Both Sides Now

As I've been getting more experience flying in bush planes, or air taxis, I've learned some interesting things.

Bush planes come in various models, some can fly faster than others.  Bush pilots seem to each have their own style as to how they fly. As I've been flying in inclimate weather,  I've witnessed 3 approaches: to fly through the clouds, to fly above the clouds, and to fly under the clouds.

On the first trip out to the coast last week, the pilot took the pea soup approach.  We flew in heavy cloud cover all the way as I anxiously peered at the gps real time tracking screen.

Then, returning to Bethel,  I was on a smaller plane that adopted the cropduster style.  We flew the whole way underneath the cloud cover.  It was strange to me that we stayed so low to the ground, but the views were great.

So, I'm surprised at how comfortable I've gotten at hurdling through space in all kinds of wild weather and visibility!  But, the tragic crash of the teachers heading for Anvik was sobering to say the least.  (Plane encountered white out conditions and hit the side of a mountain, killing the pilot & a teacher.  The first year teachers and their children were injured, but survived.)

Lulled into a false sense of security by successful flights, I'm sure that I will be more thankful next time I fly for the journey mercies.