oracle

Well, if you have been in my journal since Friday you all know that some bad shit has happened. Canada lost a Snowbird pilot. I work on the same base as the Snowbirds and became friends with a few pilots and many of their techs.
So, my Friday started off good, beautiful weather..a Friday, I was going to do a little bit of work then go home to enjoy a nice weekend....around 10am the crash alarm sounds, at first you think that its a 2 bell (air emergency non life threatening) and the controller just leaned on the bells too long, then when realization sets in that it is an actual crash hopes lean to a gear up landing or something else not as serious. I ran as fast as I could to my former unit (air traffic control) to see what I can do to help and gather as much info as possible. The only thing we knew for sure was two snowbirds had a mid air and both crash landed, with two good chutes (indicating both ejected safely) now there is some risk in ejecting but its alot safer then crashing with an airplane. So we were still very worried until we knew for sure how they were doing. Later in the day we learned one of the pilots did not make it. I have had a hard time dealing with it since. I mean I didn't know him well, it is an inherant risk doing what we do..but still. I think what brings it home for me is that next month I leave Moose Jaw to go on a course that will put me in an airplane for my career. I am not worried about dying in a crash but fridays events puts that realization very much into perspective...
I just wish there was more I could have done...