A bush flying legend has passed

[NWONT]

Packsack Pete Johnson has been flying bush planes in Pickle Lake as long as I can remember. It was with deep and profound sadness that I learned of his passing. I first met him in the early 70,s when I was starting my apprenticeship as an engineer and Pete was flying a piston Otter for Hooker Air. My company, Ontario Central Airlines, bought out Hooker Air and Pete came with the deal. We worked together after that and became good friends. Pickle Lake was a going concern back then and often there would be 20 ski planes on the ice or float planes tied to the docks. As runways were built in the north the float/ski planes disappeared.... one by one. Pete started his own company called "Osnaburg Air" and flew many people to his outposts and also provided a taxi service for the native people. I know Pete has touched countless aviators in his life long career. He has mentored many a young float/ski pilot as they began their lives as a bush pilot. Pete's daughter, Christine has started a Facebook page in his honor. It's called " Celebration of the life of Pete Johnson." Pete's family would surely enjoy it if you could log on and tell a story, an anecdote, post a photo and mention how you met Pete. He is the last of the Pickle Lake bush pilots. He can't be relaced but will always be remembered. This is a photo I took of Pete about a dozen years ago at his base in Pickle Lake.

[NWONT]

Correction....Pete’s Memorial page is “Celebration of life for Pete Johnson”

[W5]

RIP Pete.

[NWONT]

I've been around a long time and I've seen a lot!!! I've seen how aviation has changed and the attitude of young aviators. To be honest.... I thought I would see about 50 or 60 comments about a legendary bush pilot but I saw one!!! The era of real pilots is long gone. But I do know that pilots from that era and who have stood shoulder to shoulder with this Pickle Lake Legend couldn't be bothered to say a word on his passing. Nobody gives a shit anymore!!! Todays pilots get trained to hit the auto-pilot button and do paper work. You have no idea what you have missed. I used to be fairly active on Avcanada but I just couldn't stomach the bullshit anymore. What happened to Catdriver, Antique Pilot and many others? They just lost interest in a lost art form. So long and good bye!!!!

[New Antique Pilot]

I've been around a long time and I've seen a lot!!! I've seen how aviation has changed and the attitude of young aviators. To be honest....They make me sick. I thought I would see about 50 or 60 comments about a legendary bush pilot but I saw one!!! The era of real pilots is long gone. But I do know that pilots from that era and who have stood shoulder to shoulder with this Pickle Lake Legend couldn't be bothered to say a word on his passing. Nobody gives a shit anymore!!! Todays pilots get trained to hit the auto-pilot button and do paper work. You have no idea what you have missed. I used to be fairly active on Avcanada but I just couldn't stomach the bullshit anymore. What happened to Catdriver, Antique Pilot and many others? They just lost interest in a lost art form. So long and good bye!!!!

NWOT,

I am still around. I have kind of run out of subject material. I did not know Pete very well. Different companies when I was in PL then I moved on to greener pastures. I met Pete again in 2012 at Billy Koval’s memorial and Jack Hooker’s memorial in 2016. But I do know that Pete operated for many years one of the last Otters with the original 1340 engine. That is getting to be a rare bird. And apparently he operated it without any major problems which is testament to his ability and knowledge of that old engine. I was told that by a major engine overhaul shop.

NAP

[Canoehead]

Sorry for your loss NWONT. I flew in and out of YPL a bunch, spent many hours droning around the area in a turboprop doing medevacs so very likely heard Pete on the radio at some point. Still, not lost on me the fact that guys like Pete were the forerunners and trailblazers to what I loved (love) doing. I might suggest posting this over on the other forum (AEF). Lots of guys on there who flew floats back in his era.

[NWONT]

I guess it,s just inevitable that with technology everything must change. Not that long ago, it seems, aviators would meet at the end of the day and discuss anything they had learned about the machines they were flying, engine issues, weather conditions, runways, ice landing areas and they would explain things to the younger, new aviators coming in. We called it “mentoring”. In the last years of my life in aviation I noticed nobody actually talks to each other anymore. as soon as they park themselves on the couch, everybody has an IPad or some screen in front of them for the rest of the day. Aviation today seems to be a laptop computer, smart phone and an elaborate GPS. You seldom hear a pilot say “I sure learned a lot flying with that guy!!” Everything is now learned from screens. That,s all too bad. These guys are missing a lot. Another thing you see fairly often on Avcanada is..”I gave my word and signed an agreement with my employer to give him my loyalty for an agreed amount of time for the expense of my training. I don,t want to live up to it. How can I renege and take off on him?” There was once a saying... “ A man is only as good as his word!!”

[montado]

Is it the new generation that shaped the industry, or is it your generation that shaped the industry for the new folks coming to fill the seat NWONT?

It’s like you are blaming these new guys as if they had any say in what salaries, working conditions, job security etc all look like today. Of course things are changing, and change is not comfortable. I am sure when the 20 somethings today hit retirement age they will be sharing their views of how things changed from their days of iPads and now (insert change) is killing the good old days.

Is the industry safer today than when you started? This is probably a big reason for many of the changes. CRM sure has come a long way. Fact is for job security and pay, many will be lured to the airlines. It takes a different kind of person to strap into a beaver/otter and actually do some work! Maybe those jobs just don’t appeal to new generations for the reasons above? But I don’t know what you expect from the new generation!

[Dias]

I worked in Pickle Lake for 10 years and never had the pleasure of meeting him. That goes to how much aviation has changed in Northern Ontario. Once the runways were built and wheeled IFR aircraft could service all these communities more regularly everything was suddenly different. Once turbine engines were introduced you could be back from your first trip before they could even have enough heat in a radial to start it in the winter. It's great that they continue to operate the old time piston float planes for the tourists but for the service of the Northern communities runways, turbines, and GPS completely revolutionized the efficiency.

[beech 18]

May 17, 2021

First met Pete Johnson in January or February 1973. We were both working
for O.J. Wieben’s Superior Airways / Severn Enterprise Ltd.
Pete was flying Cessna 180 CF-JQM on skis at the time.

Pete’s natural talent as a bush pilot was evident to everyone early in his career.
When he wasn’t flying he would always be around seeing what was going on with
his aircraft. Always cheerful and liked helping us in the maintenance department
with what he could.

A while ago I was mentioning a story to a friend about Pete Johnson. Pete was flying
O.J. Wieben’s Otter CF-DDX on skis in the early winter of 1974 out of Pickle Lake,
Wiebenville and Sioux Lookout. The heater in the Otter was unserviceable for over a
month due to no available parts. Pete flew DDX everyday for over a month with
no heat in -20c to -40c weather. He never had anyone riding shotgun in the Otter to
help load and unload. He did that all himself while flying with no heat. He must have
been frozen in that aircraft, but he never ever complained about no heat and he never
missed a trip.

[valleyboy]

Pete and I go back a very long time. Back then there was a true force of nature and an atmosphere of comradely, I can always remember the "saying" -- "Savant Lake is the asshole of the world and Pickle Lake is a 100 miles up it"

I never actually flew with pacsak but I must admit to the odd party. That was the days of Orville on one side and Dave on the other. Strangely back then there were not the company boundaries like today. We were all comrades, we were pilots and always helped each other out. No company politics back then, we left all that to the owners. I think that's what has really changed.

Pete worked hard and also played hard (back in the day) It's true another local legend has passed. It some how leaves a bit of a void that can never be filled.

Save a good spot for me Pete --

[RoverL60]

Good post. Thanks

[NWONT]

Damn, there are a couple of excellent post here unlike the usual shit slinging. Valley boy, you speak right from my heart. We were brothers, we were dedicated to the planes and everybody that kept them flying. We didn't have a time clock and we didn't want one. We worked until the job was done and the bird was back in the air. Montado, you are also right on. We worked like dogs and accepted the pay and working conditions that we were given. Your generation brought in unions and put an end to a lot of things. I know I'm going to ramble hear but just remember, I'm getting old and not all here or there. I'm trying to wrap my mind around a pilot coming to Pickle lake and working for 10 years and not wondering who is that guy with the old piston power Otter on the water front. I, personally would have done what I have done a hundred times. I'd drop into the office and introduce myself. I know what the greeting would be.... what it always is... coffee pot is in the corner, grab a cup and sit down. Welcome stranger, what brings you to Pickle? Do you need to go to the store? the coffee shop for lunch? or the airport? The trucks out in front and the keys are in it!! The next time you drop in the greeting would be much the same except you would be referred to by your first name because you're not a stranger any more. Pete loved his planes, loved his family most, and loved the native people..... and they loved him. If they couldn't afford the flight.... he would just do it and we'll talk about money another day. I've been to a lot of places in my time. The north, the Middle East and throughout the Caribbean. I love history and would learn all I could about the places I was priviledged to work in. There is a ton of history in the Pickle Lake area and Pete knew it all.... because he saw it all happen. I know some people come to the north to get some time in their log books and get to hell out. That is their choice. So sad that you missed everything that should have gone into your memory for your twilight years. You could have heard it first hand from a crusty old guy with a huge smile and hands big enough to pick up a basket ball. For a laugh, when I was on fire alert in Pickle I would drive the youngsters out to Central Pat and stop the van and say... "Guess what boys? We are parked in the middle of the runway that DC-3's used to fly off of. That was 20 years ago and the trees were 20 ft high. Many of you are right to say we did little or nothing to make aviation safer. All I can say is we were dedicated to keeping WW11 era airplanes flying. We didn't fight our employers, maybe we should have, but we didn't. I'll relate another story. Back in the 70's I showed up at the OCA hangar in Gimli to start my days work as an engineer. I did that before I started flying. A Dc-3 was dragged into the hangar. Needs works and need to fly in the morning. I worked all day on it. Took a quick break about 8PM to go home, covered in oil for a quick supper. Back to work. Barney Lamm is leaving his office after I'm back on the job. He doesn't know how much more work is needed but mentions the plane is needed. When he comes back at about 7:30am I'm just pushing it out of the hangar. Barney says, "Did you work all night?" I said yes I did. Barney knew all his employees and said, "Weren't you going to go home to Dryden for the weekend?" I said, "Yes I was." He said go home, get some sleep come back after lunch and the C185 on skis will be fueled up for you. You don't need to drive all day. The plane is yours for the weekend." Just another bullshit story that builds loyalty I guess. Damn, I get long!!

[NWONT]

Here's a little Pickle Lake history for you. The guy on the step ladder is my old friend Sam Cole. This is 1977 and the DC-3 needing and engine is CF-IAZ. Sam is freezing his fingers off working for Pat Air on the ice at Pickle working with these guys to hang that engine for less than the going rate. This was way back when hard work would get you ahead.... not unions. To make an extremely long story short.... Sam became the very first, non-Japanese B747 Capt'n for JAL. I never get tired of telling this amazing success story.!!!!

[Phlyer]

I love your stories NW!
Cheers to you - even if people don't pipe up it is still cool to hear about your friend and your experiences... may he rest in peace

[The Barrel Man]

I grew up in Pickle Lake and my parents lived close to Pete’s house. One thing that needs to be pointed out is how Pete every year on Canada Day (or Blackfly festival to us Pickle Lakers) would offer free rides to all the kids. He’d be doing circuits all day in the Otter and Beaver. It was the highlight of my youth and I was lucky enough to be able to bring my own kids later in life (more for me then them ha ha). How long had Pete been doing that? I remember he had a set of smashed Cessna wings up at the old airstrip and I mustered up the courage to ask him if I could have them! Of course he declined the deal. Although I wasn’t super close to Pete I would occasionally stop by the dock and chat with him when I could. 100% correct about the new generation missing out. My hero’s growing up were the Pickle Lake pilots. My free time was spent riding my bike between the float base and the airport to ask if I could sit in the cockpits. Austin Airways, Air Manitoba, Central Air, Winisk Air, Kelner Airways. Those were the days.

[NWONT]

I remember those old wings. They were laying in the bush a few feet from these old cat train sleds. This was on the old Central Pat Airport. Most don't even know it even existed but this photo I took a dozen years ago is in the runway.

[cncpc]

I've been around a long time and I've seen a lot!!! I've seen how aviation has changed and the attitude of young aviators. To be honest.... I thought I would see about 50 or 60 comments about a legendary bush pilot but I saw one!!! The era of real pilots is long gone. But I do know that pilots from that era and who have stood shoulder to shoulder with this Pickle Lake Legend couldn't be bothered to say a word on his passing. Nobody gives a shit anymore!!! Todays pilots get trained to hit the auto-pilot button and do paper work. You have no idea what you have missed. I used to be fairly active on Avcanada but I just couldn't stomach the bullshit anymore. What happened to Catdriver, Antique Pilot and many others? They just lost interest in a lost art form. So long and good bye!!!!

Well said.