Ep 2. Deadly Winds

In season 1, episode 2 of Ice Pilots, entitled "Deadly Winds," there is a new leader in charge as Joe McBryan takes a step back from his role as President of Buffalo Airways. In his place, former employee and now co-owner Gert "The Flirt" is stepping up to the plate. She is quickly put to the test as she has to deal with the harsh weather conditions that come with Canadian winters and the risk of planes crashing due to the heavy crosswinds.

The episode opens with DC-3 pilot Scott "Sourdough" calling in to radio that he has a "hairy" landing and that his plane is on its side in the snow, with one propeller smashed. Gert races to the scene with her snowmobile, followed closely by her dog Chester who sits comfortably in the basket. Once there, she finds Scott unharmed and in good spirits, who jokes that the crash helps him remember to wear his seat belt next time.

Later on, we see a struggling young pilot named Keith who is short on cash, and needs to find a way to buy his own plane to boost his career. Gert, feeling sympathetic to the young pilots' cause, agrees to help him out by giving him a job at Buffalo Airways in exchange for a reduced rate on a plane. Keith, ecstatic at the opportunity, eagerly accepts.

Meanwhile, in Yellowknife, a city in Canada's Northwest Territories, a group of engineers is kept busy during winter as they work on the overhaul of a DC-4. The work is challenging, and as one mechanic puts it, "you can't just snap your fingers and make a no-good part good again." The team is under pressure, and Gert has to keep them motivated, reminding them of the end goal: a successful engine test that will prove that their hard work has paid off.

As the episode progresses, we witness the challenges that come with operating in a harsh environment with strong crosswinds. We see pilots struggling to land their planes safely, including one pilot who has to circle the runway multiple times before making a daring landing that makes the crew breathe a sigh of relief.

The difficulty of navigating icy runways becomes even more apparent when a plane carrying diesel fuel is forced to abort its landing due to dangerous crosswinds and instead, returns to its origin airport. The precious fuel is needed to heat the many remote communities in Northern Canada during winter. Gert, knowing the importance of delivering the fuel, comes up with a plan B to make sure the communities get the energy they need.

As the episode draws to a close, we see Gert and the Buffalo Airways team working around the clock to ensure that everything runs smoothly. She attends to different tasks like supervising the overhaul of the DC-4, organizing the delivery of the diesel fuel, and helping a new pilot face and conquer his fear of crosswinds.

Overall, in "Deadly Winds," we see the risks that are prevalent when flying in extreme weather conditions. However, we also see the grit and determination of the Buffalo Airways team to successfully navigate the challenges and come out on top. The episode emphasizes the importance of teamwork, and how it makes the execution of a challenging job possible.