toughest coasties

rexrunner · Post by **rexrunner** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 4:18 pm

on the heels of the 'are coasties worth more' topic i'd like to know what the old salty coasties think of as the toughest coast gig? where is the toughest place to be based on the coast?

fougner · Post by **fougner** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:06 pm

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:11 pm

I always thought the guys on the mid coast took the most pounding.. From campbell river north to ocean falls, bella bella and up to the charlottes... but then again.. what do I know

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 3:41 am

I'll agree with Prince Rupert, but the guys out of Hardy in the Goose don't have an easy time of it.. Rowdy does make a good point that the whole area on the central and north cost can be challenging.. The guys/gals out of Vancouver don't have an easy time either though, conditions are generally a little better, but throw in the ATC stuff and the amount of traffic, and it can be a bit of a challenge.

bronson · Post by **bronson** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:41 am

I'll go along with Rupert too. Anyplace from Port Hardy north really.

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:08 am

The coasts of James and Hudson's Bay.

Crazed Windscreen · Post by **Crazed Windscreen** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:13 am

The Charllotes and North Island are more difficult because they get more days of fog or wind up there.
But the south is just as hard when it's blowin or socked in.

Rowdy · Post by **Rowdy** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:39 am

Hey Twotter.. how bout them crazies that fly around Ocean falls, klemtu, bella coola?

angry inch · Post by **angry inch** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:01 am

Ah yes..... Obiwan & BigBird.... the central coast's finest

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:36 am

Rowdy, there's a small window of easy flying in that area, really good for the new guys to build time in.

duCapo · Post by **duCapo** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:32 pm

Having spent close to 30 years flying on the coast, I would have to say Rupert is the most difficult place on the west coast. I can't speak for the east coast, but it sure looks nasty there too. Of course it is much easier now than it was years ago, due to increased safety on the opertors and pilots side, and education on the customer side. On thing about rupert, it is pretty clear cut with the weather............when it is bad, it is really bad.

Siddley Hawker · Post by **Siddley Hawker** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:27 pm

..where is the toughest place to be based on the coast?

Blanc Sablon.

fougner · Post by **fougner** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:43 am

duCapo · Post by **duCapo** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:40 pm

Pacific Eagle in p mcneil, and that is one tough spot to operate out of in the winter

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:10 pm

Been reading this and thought I would add my thoughts.

The west coast can be quite difficult weatherwise and water wise anywhere from the Canadian border to the tip of the Aleutian Islands.

The coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland are just about as difficult.

Of all the areas on the planet I have flown Greenland is the most difficult and unpredicatable weather wise.

Oohhhh and the Saharah in the sand storms is hands down the most unforgiving.....but if you are on floats it is unlikely you would be flying there so scratch that off this list.

Siddley Hawker · Post by **Siddley Hawker** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:10 pm

Eastern Provincial Airways used to operate a sched for the Danish Government, with the Canso and amphibious Otters, based in Sondestrom. This was back in the late 50's - early 60's. They lost a Canso when the nosewheel doors came open on touchdown on glassy water, in Godthab. That was in 1962. The year before they lost an Otter due to an uncontrollable in-flight fire. The pilot was a friend of my dad's. He had an engine fire that burned through the cockpit floor.

youngflier · Post by **youngflier** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 2:59 pm

iqaluit because its so god dam cold

flynfiddle · Post by **flynfiddle** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 8:38 pm

Good ol' EPA! My folks worked for Harry, non-pilots though. I remember THE strike when I was a kid .. nasty. My neighbour was a Captain, former CAF, what a character! All those guys were characters. Heard a lot of stories about the wx on the Rock, haven't flown there myself but it sounded pretty unforgiving.

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:02 pm

I'll vote Air Cab. When everyone else shuts down for wind. The Air Cab phone starts ringing.

Pratt · Post by **Pratt** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:53 pm

I did 5 years on the east coast flying floats in summer and wheel/skiis in the winter. Based in Blanc Sablon and the Straits area in the winter and on the island in the summer months. Flying all over northern NFLD, Lab coast and the Quebec north shore.

It is very challenging flying there, in my opinion at least even to, if not more challenging than the west coast, that is after flying the west coast for years afterwards. But us pilot are all pretty territiorial types, "my coast is better than your coast" etc.......

Other pilot friends of mine who also started on the East coast who are now on the wet coast say the same thing, so if you haven't done both how can you say that the west coast is more difficult?

It doesn't really matter, they are all challenging, just do it safely.

Cheers

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 1:00 am

phillyfan wrote:I'll vote Air Cab. When everyone else shuts down for wind. The Air Cab phone starts ringing.

One problem philly, there's a difference between "tough" and "stupid"..

There's a reason Pasco won't fly the goose in the winds Air Cab flys their beavers in.. And I'd rather be in the goose on a windy day..

Siddley Hawker · Post by **Siddley Hawker** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:39 am

Yo Pratt! Used to get kinda foggy in BX didn't it?

My brother once spent two weeks stuck there with the Otter, WOXOF, and I was flying my ass off with the Beaver, down as far as St. Pauls River, just 20 miles away.