Risk Management Magazine

Aviators know winter weather conditions can deteriorate quickly and create a wide range of issues they must deal with such as poor visibility, turbulence and icing. But they have two tools to help them manage the challenges — flight planning and frequent weather briefings.

I think everybody has at least one “there-I-was” story. In my 30 years in Army aviation, I have acquired a few. To me, these stories are life lessons. After all, if it didn’t kill you, it should make you smarter. Here’s one of my life’s lessons.

As a National Guard CH-47 company, we are always subject to possible call up for state and national emergencies or deployment overseas. When Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast in 2008, we found ourselves being called on like never before.