Rob's story about blowing snow reminds me of an experience from when I
was first learning to fly.  In an effort to build hours, I accompanied
an instructor from Eugene to Seattle in a Cherokee six owned by the
local mortuary to pick up one of its customers.  The evening flight back
was forecast to be perfect with ground fog after 1 a.m.  Over Portland,
ATC told us that the nearest open -- not VFR, open -- airport was Salt
Lake City.  While flying around trying to figure out what to do to avoid
emulating our paying passenger, we happened to fly over Portland Int'l.
and you could clearly see the runway, taxiway and every other light in
the place.  We asked if we could try a VFR approach.  No problem except
for the last 10 ft.  Once we entered the murk, we asked them to turn
down the lights to reduce the glare and just held everything.  The
landing was fine but it took 20 minutes to taxi to the FBO.  It's not
over until the prop stops spinning.


John J. Halle
Stoel Rives LLP
900 SW 5th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
(503) 294-9233 office
(503 545-4307 cell