Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2015 13:37:22 GMT -5
I thought things were to be finalized yesterday (Tuesday 
), but I didn't get the final word from Tim until this afternoon (Norwegian time). Tim is a good friend who I used to fly with when I was with Pacific Western/Canadian, who is now retired and living in Alberta (Lethbridge to be exact). Tim isn't one to stay immobile for too long so about a year ago he bought himself a single Comanche and has been running "cargo" (in that airplane, cargo means documents and small packages) around Alberta and eastern British Columbia. He and that Comanche have been running themselves ragged lately so he decided to expand his operation a bit as he gets more and more contracts. To that end, he went out and bought himself a Navajo, which is now in the shop up in Edmonton getting new engines and a paint job. As Tim is also a full fledged power plant and structures guy, he needs to be up there with his machine (so he doesn't go broke just getting the airplane ready for service), but he can't leave the commitments he has with the Comanche. Thus the reason for his phone call to me (not inexpensive in itself) a couple of days ago asking if I could head back and fly for him for a bit. My plan had been to stay with Mats in Norway through Christmas as I was really enjoying the work there, but Tim and I go way back and he's done me some favours with Air Caribou. I talked it over with Mats and while it was leaving him a bit tight, he said that he could spare me ok given the Lear deal had fallen through for him. Also, Air Caribou wasn't doing much these days (typically it doesn't once the lakes start to freeze), so I was pretty much free to head out to Tim's.
This morning I got on the 07:30 flight to London, then on to Calgary via British Airways. I understand that the temps in western Alberta are a "tad" cooler than they are in Norway at this time of year, where southern Norway doesn't even have any snow yet! As a result, I was mentally preparing myself for a good, old, Western Canada winter that I was about to be "plopped" into. What the hell, -36C isn't THAT cold, is it?? Don't answer that.
Anyway, Tim promised to meet me at the Calgary airport in the Comanche and fly me back down to Lethbridge upon my arrival late this afternoon. Tomorrow morning (early) I'd be in the air on the usual rounds, this time for "Peregrine Air Express" and instead of dodging coastal mountains and fog, I'd be dodging, well, fences and ice fog. I was looking forward to it though. It's been a long time since I've been part of a true "Mom and Pop" flying company that was just getting going. And I've only spent a bit of time in Alberta, as most of my experience has been along the coast or in Ontario. This would be different, and it would be fun watching it grow. I have no idea how long I'll be here (if Tim has his way, it'll be a long time - at least until next Tuesday anyway!), but as I said, this should be a hoot.
More to come
), but I didn't get the final word from Tim until this afternoon (Norwegian time). Tim is a good friend who I used to fly with when I was with Pacific Western/Canadian, who is now retired and living in Alberta (Lethbridge to be exact). Tim isn't one to stay immobile for too long so about a year ago he bought himself a single Comanche and has been running "cargo" (in that airplane, cargo means documents and small packages) around Alberta and eastern British Columbia. He and that Comanche have been running themselves ragged lately so he decided to expand his operation a bit as he gets more and more contracts. To that end, he went out and bought himself a Navajo, which is now in the shop up in Edmonton getting new engines and a paint job. As Tim is also a full fledged power plant and structures guy, he needs to be up there with his machine (so he doesn't go broke just getting the airplane ready for service), but he can't leave the commitments he has with the Comanche. Thus the reason for his phone call to me (not inexpensive in itself) a couple of days ago asking if I could head back and fly for him for a bit. My plan had been to stay with Mats in Norway through Christmas as I was really enjoying the work there, but Tim and I go way back and he's done me some favours with Air Caribou. I talked it over with Mats and while it was leaving him a bit tight, he said that he could spare me ok given the Lear deal had fallen through for him. Also, Air Caribou wasn't doing much these days (typically it doesn't once the lakes start to freeze), so I was pretty much free to head out to Tim's.This morning I got on the 07:30 flight to London, then on to Calgary via British Airways. I understand that the temps in western Alberta are a "tad" cooler than they are in Norway at this time of year, where southern Norway doesn't even have any snow yet! As a result, I was mentally preparing myself for a good, old, Western Canada winter that I was about to be "plopped" into. What the hell, -36C isn't THAT cold, is it?? Don't answer that.
Anyway, Tim promised to meet me at the Calgary airport in the Comanche and fly me back down to Lethbridge upon my arrival late this afternoon. Tomorrow morning (early) I'd be in the air on the usual rounds, this time for "Peregrine Air Express" and instead of dodging coastal mountains and fog, I'd be dodging, well, fences and ice fog. I was looking forward to it though. It's been a long time since I've been part of a true "Mom and Pop" flying company that was just getting going. And I've only spent a bit of time in Alberta, as most of my experience has been along the coast or in Ontario. This would be different, and it would be fun watching it grow. I have no idea how long I'll be here (if Tim has his way, it'll be a long time - at least until next Tuesday anyway!), but as I said, this should be a hoot.
More to come
