Actually there are a lot of similarities to working with helos and planes in the lower 48. My experience in the Channel Islands suggests that 1) you always prepare for at least one unexpected night out; 2) Weather can change drastically in a very short time,especially fog; 3) Weather at one end can be dramatically different from the other.

My first trip to Santa Rosa was delayed a day because the plane could not take off due to high Santa Ana winds. Meanwhile out on the island, conditions were perfect - calm and blissfully clear -due to those very same Santa Anas were were counteracting the normal northwesterlies.

I am going out to Santa Rosa tomorrow - by boat, which has challenges of its own...the things we do for science!