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pilots on the frequency also used the upstream and downstream terminol- ogy when reporting what they were doing. Rarely are runways numbered, the wind is usually calm, and the river and its direction are what you can actually see as you fly through the twisting canyon on approach.
The 30-minute trip from KMYL to 12ID required a climb to 9,500 feet to clear the terrain, and it was surprising how many aircraft were out in the area at that same time, all reporting their positions relative to the terrain on 122.9. We made a downwind entry to the pattern at 8,000 feet, just below the ridge line to our right, and could see the ranch buildings and green grass runway area nearly a mile below us on the left. We put out all the drag available, reduced power to idle, and turned base, dropping into the canyon with a 30-degree pitch-down attitude and completely lost sight of the air- port. At that steep pitch-down angle, we f lew toward the opposite canyon wall before turning final at 5,000 feet, continuing around the canyon’s
corner until the runway was visible. The touchdown zone when f lying jets is usually about 1,000 feet from the approach end of the runway, heav- ily marked with black rubber from tire marks. The touchdown zone on backcountry runways is plain dirt or mud, all the grass having rubbed off by airplane touchdowns. The stall horn started beeping just as we crossed the river, and we touched down precisely in the touchdown zone, as evidenced by a cloud of dust. The runout was a bit bouncy, but the Aerocet amphib wheels handled it just fine. We parked the airplane in the middle of a short line of taildraggers with tundra tires, and shortly after that, the ranch’s beat-up old pickup arrived towing a squeaky passenger trailer. The ride back to the ranch took about 10 min- utes and delivered us to a rather nice secluded cabin surrounded by free- roaming horses busily keeping the
grass cut.
We spent the better part of the fol-
lowing week at the Flying B, with no phone service or internet. All we had
to do was ride horses, fish, hike, and eat three well-prepared meals daily while sharing highly embellished and improbable f lying stories with the other guests, most of whom were pilots. When the sun went down, we sipped wine on the cabin’s porch and, in otherwise total silence, listened to the crickets as they announced the end of the day.
It was like living in another time.
Kevin Ware is an ATP who also holds CFI, MEII and heli- copter ratings, has more than 10,000 hours and is typed in several different busi-
ness jets. He has been f lying for a living on and off since he was 20, and current- ly works as a contract pilot for various corporations in the Seattle area. When not working as a pilot he is employed part time as an emergency and urgent care physician. He can be reached at kevin.ware2@aol.com.
1st Source
http://oceanreef.com
September 2023 / TWIN & TURBINE • 23