What do you write about on a day like today when blocked memories come flooding back? This is the time of year when a certain set of blocked memories surface, but usually not for another 10 days.

Today, that set of memories has weighed heavy on my mind. Last year I posted about these memories and you can read about them by clicking on the following link: UA 232 – Sioux City

UA232 is not the only memory that gets unblocked when I hear about a plane crash. I also remember other major crashes and where I was at the time I heard about them. I also remember a smaller crash.

I remember visiting the site of this helicopter crash. I had flown in this helicopter many times when I worked for Western Aero Ag as an aerial sprayer hand just after graduating from high school. They used this helicopter to spray fields and I would work the rig where we mixed the chemicals and loaded them into the helicopter. I also at times would work as a flag man when our automated systems stopped working. I also drove the big chemical rig that had a mobile helicopter pad on the top of it.

This was an unfortunate crash. The helicopter had just been put through annual maintenance checks and was being taken on a certification flight. I had the day off since I was not needed that day, or probably would have been in the helicopter. The helicopter ran out of gas, and a later investigation showed that the tank bladder had come detached and was holding the float valve in the full position. Luckily the injuries in this crash were minor.

I also have had memories today of my long trip home from South Africa in September 2001, an unplanned landing in Alaska for a medical emergency and a few other times where we didn’t land where we were supposed to. Oh, and the time I had to ride in a jeep out to a waiting plane on a runway in India.

The Asiana Airlines crash in San Francisco today has definitely triggered some memories. I still feel safe flying though, as it is still statistically the safest way to travel. I find it amazing that today there were only two deaths. When I first turned on the news and saw footage of the crash I was sure that there would be many fatalities. I am thankful that our planes are well designed to quickly evacuate passengers during emergencies. If this had not been the case, we would be hearing an entirely different story today.

Since I have been able to clear out some of my memories by writing, I will hopefully not have too much trouble getting to sleep tonight.

Steven