Monday, March 23, 2009

All Too Easy ?

It is almost impossible to not anthropomorphize this eagle, given the look on his face (you may need to double click the photo to enlarge it).  Clearly, he is appalled by the state of the nation these days . . . 

Just when we are wrapping the pollock season up and starting to fly our crews home, Mount Redoubt is erupting, forcing the airlines to cancel all the flights.  The airlines up here don't take any chances, especially after a Mount Redoubt ash cloud in 1989 caused KLM Flight 867 with 245 passengers to lose all four engines and plunge over 13,000 feet before the pilots managed an emergency restart and landing in Anchorage.  This could be very bad news for all fisheries out here that are trying to fly crews home - the logistics could get interesting with no air freight coming in (no mail, no emergency parts, etc.) or out (no medivacs, no mail, no one leaves the island).  Additionally, we all buy our food weeks in advance, shipped by barge from Seattle, based on projected crew levels.  The menu may get a bit spotty if we don't ship that 30 folks a day home for the next 10 days or so . . . . . 

8 comments:

Richard & Penelope said...

Well we all understand the situation it even looks as though the U.S. flag has the same look. Thanks for the post. Have fun when it gets a little more relaxing. Love Dad

mamawas said...

The volcano really changes the living situation for the Aleutian Islands

I hadn't thought about that

DOnna

Suzassippi said...

The juxtaposition says it all. You have an incredible eye.

Kimi said...

Ferry them down via ship? that would get rid of the excess until the ash settles. love the eagle pix.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Yes, the Eagle of State is clearly pissed at current events.

No air traffic? Good luck. Are you receiving ash clouds anywhere near you?

BZ

Lori said...

Wow, Steve - didn't realize what an impact the eruption would make on the islands. Keep us posted as to the situation. I've been out of touch for a week and come back to this sad situation. Look for my email.

Alena Hope said...

We can't send patients via medivac to Anch right now, but we have sent a few out to Juneau and Seattle. The USCG is taking them to cold bay where a lear jet is picking them up. So, medical emergencies are making it out, just a bit of logisitcal creativity in play.

Alaska Steve said...

Dad, great to talk to you! BZ, no ash near us this time - just really spotty getting into Anchorage. Alena! - thanks for explaining that - I was still hearing medivac calls on the ems channels and wondered how we were getting them out!