Page 21 - June2019

Over my flying career, I had many opportunities to I squatted and held onto the top of his blonde head. It
discuss a multitude of Emergency procedures, with “my did take a little coaxing and as I didn’t want to resort
brothers”. What’s The Best Thing To Do In This Case, or to “spurs”, at this point, I was glad when Peter finally
how did he handle it, or Did she survive, or “Why”, or pulled his foot out of the mud and started to move
“How”? Most experienced helicopter pilots that are towards shore.
operating over water, (If they Have The Choice), such as
Everything was Going Great and I was encouraging
a pilot filling a bucket or similar fire fighting tank; (will
Peter with all kinds of offers like, (I’ll buy you a steak
select an area that has a depth of water, that is
supper tonight, when we get back to La Ronge)! THEN
sufficient to Only Fill the Bucket). Water that is “deeper”
Peter started to laugh! If only we could have been on
than the depth necessary, is not only wasted but can “Candid Camera”, we would have been rich or at least
become dangerous to your health. “Yes”, I had been
Famous, today! But here we were stuck in the “Loon _
picking up water, just over a Sand Bar, in the river and I
_ _ _”, and so close to shore and ALL that Peter could
was very fortunate to have her settle onto the edge of do was LAUGH.
that “bar”, (just where it dropped off into much deeper
water.) “Thanks Lord”! What a guy? So I laughed too, in fact I laughed so
hard, (probably letting all that stress out), that I
Let’s get to the Funny Part! If you’re a helicopter pilot almost lost my balance, tipping us both over, into the
and have Been There, Done That, Seen That, or
river, but I didn’t! Peter couldn’t move, but we
Survived That; then there must have been “some funny
were luckily just within, leaping distance to shore. I
parts too”! Just after I had shut down the engine, (as threw the dry clothes, (they were still for Peter, at this
it was not required for any further aerobatic flight), the
point), and the emergency radio, onto the shore….
trees parted on the other side of the river and an orange
then leaped!....... I made it ! Peter finally got free
streak, dove into the water. It was Peter, my faithful after getting rid of his burden and crawled out onto
and somewhat excited engineer, (and soon-to-become,
shore. We laughed & laughed and we were very happy
my faithful servant.) He had heard the “BANG” and had
that the Lord had spared us, once again and we gave
looked over, (just in time), to see me doing “Spin- “Thanks”. Peter donned my dry cover-alls, (which
Turns”, down below the tree line. He set a new World
almost covered his knees) and we laughed, some
Ground Speed Record, (On Running Shoes), that day, I’m more! My radio message had got through to the La
sure, for the (“Half Mile Over Muskeg Terrain”)!
Ronge Fire Centre and my good friend, Brooke Ede,
He noticed that the complete tail-rotor gear box was flew out and picked us up in his Bell Long Ranger
missing, as was one blade. (That’s another story, for Helicopter. Peter and I still have some “pretty funny”
another time. I hadn’t hit anything, but it’s interesting pictures, which we will show or add to the end of this
how “One person’s actions, somewhere else, can affect story, one of these days. The Director of Aviation
another’s life…or death”). If you’re Interested, I’ll Write Safety, for Transport Canada was perfectly correct,
That Story, Soon.”. Peter was standing up in the when she said; “It’s been determined that: Crashing
water, beside the helicopter and I was amazed, because, Your Helicopter, Is Dangerous To Your Health”. Enjoy
(I would have drowned), if I had been standing, where Life, My Friends !
he was. He’s about 6 ft. 6’’ and I’m sure the water
would have been over my nose! After studying the fact
that Peter was already “All Wet” and I was still “Dry”, a
further discussion began
Peter was rather amused at my suggestion, however he
did agree to, (give it a try). I gathered up our emergency
radio, some dry cover-alls, camera and other basic
survival equipment and climbed down the side of the
helicopter, (right onto Peter’s shoulders).