Flying in Christmas time.

The snow covered our fields, the city of Calgary and its suburban area wearing its white coat. We pilots are adapting to white runways, taxiways with snowdrifts and freezing hangars. We hope that “next week” the temperature will be above zero so we may be able to warm up our beloved airplanes and fly them for a few touch-and-goes or visit other airfields.

With winter fully flanged, the ones who are still flying need to remember the basics of winter flying, and the others who fly with skis should not forget the practice of fly high, medium and low passes over their landing strips before committing to land. The snowdrifts represent a real danger to the ski equipped planes.

Today I found the following humor called “Pilot in Heaven” in Aviation Humor website:

A minister dies and is waiting in line at the Pearly Gates. Ahead of him is a guy who’s dressed in sunglasses, a loud shirt, leather jacket, and jeans. Saint Peter addresses this guy, “Who are you, so that I may know whether or not to admit you to the Kingdom of Heaven?” The guy replies, “I’m Joey Shasta, retired pilot, of Pittsburg, PA.”

Saint Peter consults his list. He smiles and says to the pilot, “Take this silken robe and golden staff and enter the Kingdom.” The pilot goes into Heaven with his robe and staff.

Next, it’s the minister’s turn. He stands erect and booms out, “I am Joseph Snow, pastor of Saint Mary’s for the last 43 years.” Saint Peter consults his list. He says to the minister, “Take this cotton robe and wooden staff and enter the Kingdom.”

“Just a minute,” says the minister. “That man was a pilot, and he gets a silken robe and golden staff. How can this be?” “Up here, we work by results,” says Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept; while he flew, people prayed.”

Wish you all a merry Christmas and a safe and happy winter flying.