I grew up in Quebec, and since my dad was involved in some big construction projects in remote parts of that province, I got to fly with bush pilots on Otters and Norseman in the 50's and 60's. I saw how hard they had to work and the dangers they faced, though, not being a pilot at the time I couldn't fully appreciate those risks. Later on, I also found out how poorly they were paid. That pretty much eliminated bush flying as a career option for me, though I chose to work on the fringes of that industry as a radio operator with (then) Department of Transport. I got to sit in a warm radio shack and only had to go out into the cold and wet for a couple of minutes each hour for the weather obs.
Once in a while I get nostalgic and wonder if it would have been fun to be a bush pilot. Then I get a big stick and beat myself about the head until I come to my senses!
Most of us on this site have it pretty good. We actually own the airplanes we fly, can come and go (or not) as we please and don`t have to put up with grumpy bosses, drunk passengers, smelly cargo, or weather that can kill you. I think the old-timers would trade places with us in a heartbeat.
