Alaska Airlines jets

This morning Rick and I stood on our front porch to watch the 7:50 jet land at the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue (http://www.alaskaair.com/airport/AirportGuides.aspx?code=OTZ ).  When the jet drops down into the local airspace from 32,000 feet,  it is a crescendo of sound that penetrates the quiet of this Alaskan town.

As the Alaska Airlines jet made its approach, we felt the sound move through our bodies. With a sharp determination and landing lights illuminated, the plane made its graceful descent onto the landing strip. Brakes surged and engines exhaled sharply to avoid the hill at the end of the runway. Another beautiful landing.

You can set your watch by the landings as they can be heard no matter where you live. Three of flights land and take off each day, mostly on time. They originate in Anchorage. On rotation, they stop in Nome on the way to Kotzebue or after leaving this city. On the last flight out on Friday, you can see many familiar faces waiting to walk through security and board. On Sunday night, it's the same. People are returning from Anchorage or other cities in this great state.

Alaska Airlines transports more than just passengers. They also carry freight. Lots of freight in and out of this town. Sometimes they fly "combies," those planes that have a movable wall for more or less cargo space. They bring the U.S. mail on all three flights. People receive their mail on a space available basis. When Rick moved up, it took six to eight weeks to receive the large uHaul boxes that we mailed from Oregon. So far I've received four of the boxes that I sent up. Only nine to go. ;)

Tonight Rick and I watched a cargo plane take off while we were out on the tundra. What a graceful beast. The plane flew over the water into the pink sky of sunset at 10:10pm. In the distance, the sun cast its rays down onto the horizon.

Destination? One of the eleven villages in the Northwest Arctic Borough. Another day of travel complete.