Dangerous Flying Jobs

W. Scott Olsen

Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Pilots involved in high-risk aviation missions, such as test flying, firefighting, hurricane hunting, medevac, and weather modification, transform inherent dangers into manageable challenges through extensive training, meticulous planning, and rigorous crew coordination.
These seemingly extreme flights are not reckless but are critical for advancing aircraft safety, protecting communities, gathering vital scientific data, and providing emergency services.
Highly skilled professionals in these fields emphasize deep knowledge of their aircraft and mission, constant situational awareness, and proactive hazard mitigation to operate successfully in unpredictable and severe environments.

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Air Force Test Center Flight Safety deputy chief Bill Koukourikos and Public Affairs specialist Laura Mowry approach their T-38.|

There is always an edge, a place where what we know, the very best of our machine and our skill do not match what might happen, a place where “a wing and a prayer” holds operational truth. Most of us avoid this edge with every bit of planning we have. But then there are those other guys, those guys who fly the crazy flights. They test the edge so the rest of us know where it is.