AA5342 Midair

My heart goes out to the families of the 64 people who lost their lives in the AA5342 midair last night. Aircraft crashes always hit me hard, with my Dad and I having been active in aviation for decades. This accident was especially traumatic for me, as the circumstances are eerily reminiscent of the PSA182 crash in San Diego, one month after I earned my private pilot license 47 years ago. This is the first fatal US airline crash in 16 years, after several additional changes were made to improve airline safety. So sad. 

Snowy Saturday

Chilly 27°F Saturday, and heading down to 9° tonight. It’s been snowing lightly for most of the day. The kitties enjoyed the view from the breakfast nook door out to the deck, which was busy with squirrels and birds. 

I enjoyed today’s snow from the comfort of the DC-3 cockpit while flying in Alaska, on my way from Cold Bay to Dutch Harbor. The overcast and visibility in Dutch Harbor were both too low to safely complete the instrument approach. I gave it a couple of tries, then resolved to head somewhere else, when suddenly the simulator retrieved a weather update…

Suddenly the sky cleared, which made the approach and landing a piece of cake. Good flying karma today… Then I went out and shoveled some of the light fluffy stuff off of the driveway…

Wednesday walk

Chilly but sunny Wednesday walk. We left from the Carson Nature Center, and walked down to Highway C-470 and the South Platte Reservoir. 

 

The snow on the deck still looks nice. 

Just a few other people using the trail on this brisk day. Mostly empty. 

Most of Redtail Lake is frozen over. 

Shoveler ducks in a big circle

Shiny ice on a log chair by the trail

Slippery ice on the bridges

Pretty coating of snow on the rocks by the river

Little Kestrel Hawk on a wire

“That’s no moon…”

Snow on the grass by Eaglewatch Lake. Our fun-to-view half-submerged log has no Cormorants on it today. 

Lots of different waterfowl on the lakes today. 

Fun view of snow on the trail, and some interesting structures out there