We've got a hole....

... and we're going. Those were the welcome words that came over the PA system.

I should have known that when the Calm Air Saub 340 rose from the runway in Chesterfield Inlet exactly on time and into a sun filled sky that something would go wrong somewhere along the line. Northern weather is just too variable when you are flying long distances. I'm not talking about the short Montreal / Toronto length flights, but the ones that can take 4, 5 hours or more from start to finish. Today for example was supposed to be a simple 8-hour excursion that would take me to a schedule of meetings in Winnipeg the next day. Among the planned stops enroute was a routine landing in the world polar bear capital, Churchill, Manitoba to take on fuel and passengers. Well, my sunny take-off in Chester earlier had now turned into a wet blizzardy day. By the time we were in the terminal the snow had turned to freezing rain. This is something that aircraft and pilots dislike. I think it's called the "Even if we get off the ground we'll drop like a rock ten minutes from now" syndrome.

After an hour of uncertainty the airline agents started mumbling about sleeping arrangements, which started us worrying. At this time of year there is not a hotel room to be had in Churchill as tourists from all over the world are in town to see the bears. Those of us within earshot of the counter immediately began a scouting of the waiting room area, trying to decide which of the metal benches we would claim as our own for a long, hard night. Three of us started eying the same semi-dark corner, slowly edging in the general direction of that one location which seemed to promise a hope of not having a fluorescent bulb directly overhead. We all abandoned our bed hunting as they advised that a box-lunch supper and snacks were available at the counter. After all, I can sleep just about anywhere if my belly is full. If you don't believe me just ask my wife about circumnavigating our living room carpet with me in the middle of it following Sunday dinners in Iqaluit! About this time another visitor arrived at the airport, Manitoba Premier Gary Doer. He couldn’t take off in his chartered plane either but I’m sure he would be able to find a place to stay somewhere and not spend the night with us mortals on an airport bench.

Anyway, about this time we heard the announcement that started off this post and we got off the ground OK after de-icing and in between rain showers… but that’s not the end to the story. The next stop south from Churchill is Thompson for one of those security checks that I mentioned in a previous blog entry. Upon landing in Thompson, we were told that the freezing rain and slush in Churchill had caused a sensor to malfunction and they hadn’t been certain that our landing gear was locked. Nice to know after the fact but that's just a part of northern flying that we all take in stride. They simply taxied the aircraft into the hanger for an hour to let it thaw out and so they could chip away a little ice and off we went to Winnipeg, landing only about 3 hours late. Just another normal flying day up in the real world and it's great fun!