Flew to Valdez Alaska for startup on a SCADA system for the Alyeska Pipeline plant vapor recovery and power generation system. Sq. D Symax PLCs, the system shipped without the special network terminating resistor and the way those were arranged, you couldn't rig up a substitute without having access to a good supply of electronic components, but there was not even a Radio Shack in that town. Had to have it flown into Anchirage, but the part would arrive after the last cargo flight to Valdez. So I had to take "Wilbur's Airlines" a 6 seater Cessna, to Anchorage to pick it up. On the way, the pilot took a dive bomb run INTO the crack of a glacier for the other passenger. I tossed my cookies. After I got back, the pipeline people were shocked that I got back so soon because it had been too late for the regular commercial flights. When I told them I had taken Wilbur's, they when white in the face. Apparently Wilbur used to have 2 planes, but his brother cradled one into a glacier! Alyeska forbade employees from using Wilbur's...
Side note, when I was there was the week in which the Exxon Valdez was taking on the oil it ultimately spilled in Prince Wlliam Sound. I had taken a pic of it at the terminal, just because I thought it was odd that the tanker was named for the town. I sold the pic to a news agency for $1k, but they insisted on having the negative and all rights to it.
