There’s an undeniable authenticity to “Ice Airport Alaska,” a show where the peril is palpable, the wind chills are bone-deep, and the storylines write themselves. This Sunday’s episode, “Flight to Glory,” looks to be no exception, promising a trifecta of frozen calamities and logistical nightmares.
First up: a trainee helicopter pilot experiences the stomach-churning reality of a mid-air engine shutdown. Forget simulated emergencies; this is the real deal, with a newbie at the controls hundreds of feet above the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. One imagines the waiver he signed was longer than the flight manual.
Then, there’s the high-altitude grocery run. Because apparently, Instacart doesn’t deliver to Denali. This isn’t your average milk-and-eggs errand; it’s a high-wire act of bush piloting, demonstrating the tenuous supply lines that keep remote Alaskan communities from starving. One wrong gust of wind, one patch of unexpected ice, and it’s ramen for a month.
And just when you thought things couldn’t get more intense, the US Army shows up with their largest helicopter deployment to date. Forget “Apocalypse Now”; this is “Apocalypse Now-ish,” with a dash of frostbite and a whole lot of logistical wrangling.
There’s a sliver of levity amidst the potential disasters. “Flight to Glory” also features an Arctic-sports daredevil taking to the skies. Details are scarce, but one can only hope it involves skis, a ramp, and maybe a penguin or two. It’s a welcome diversion from the otherwise nail-biting tension of Alaskan aviation.
Tune in Sunday at 9/8c on the Smithsonian Channel to witness the controlled chaos of “Ice Airport Alaska.” It’s a world where engine failure, aerial grocery deliveries, and military exercises are just another day at the office. And for viewers, it’s a guaranteed escape from the comparatively mundane realities of life below the Arctic Circle.
“Ice Airport Alaska” airs Sundays at 9/8c on Smithsonian Channel.
