This week is just terrific for a long-time aviation nut such as I.
First, I fly from the Deep South—the mountains of East Tennessee—to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, where I speak on Friday for the Manitoba Aviation Council (MAC). That’s what we call way up Nawth. I’ve never set foot in Manitoba before, so this will be a first. That’s rare for me, and I still get kinda like a regular tourist when going someplace for the first time.
Besides, that’s an aviation group and they are always friendly, responsive and educational. I love ‘em.
I’m kinda worried though. The weather down here is almost spring-like now, after a winter which was—for us—very snowy. The weather in Winnipeg is predicted to be below zero! I haven’t been in sub-zero weather since speaking (for another wonderful aviation group) in Fairbanks, AK, in 1997. I enjoyed that immensely and bragged about it a lot once I got back “down South.”
Second, I go to Minneapolis to visit a group of legendary pilots at their regular—but informal—Saturday lunch. I’ll be in awe and trying to keep from making a fool of myself around those high-timers, but chances are I’ll mess it up. I was first invited to one of their lunches decades ago, couldn’t make it, and am just now getting there.
I hope I’ll learn a lot about how airports handle snow, ice, PAX and cargo in Manitoba and Minneapolis. Where I live snow-removal equipment sometimes means a blade on the front of a lawnmower.
It should be interesting, informative and just downright fun. I’ll report back.
