Above Alaska Aviation

[ago.xr]

Hello everybody,
has anybody had any experience with these guys Alaska Pilot Training, Hunting, Fishing, Aircraft Maintenance (http://www.abovealaska.com/) ?
I was thinking of doing my PPL over there for several reasons (taildragger training, awesome scenarios, challenging flying...) but couldn't find any opinions about them neither here nor anywhere else.

Thanks.

[ago.xr]

Hey there,
It seems not many of us have much experience of flight training in Alaska unfortunately...
Does anybody have an idea (or opinion) about the potential benefits of getting the PPL in the Alaskan weather/terrain on taildraggers?
I'm really convinced it'd be a tremendous boost to my overall stick&rudder skills but I never got the chance to discuss this with anybody...

[Pilotbobby]

Sorry I don't post on these boards often, hence my low post count.

I don't know much about that particular outfit, but overall flying in Alaska is a whole other animal than the rest of the world. I've got my FAA PPL and I was always interested in going out there to get my tail wheel endorsement. Alaska offers a whole ton of new experiences that simply cannot be gotten anywhere else. In fact, there is a series I watched concerning pilots in Alaska. I don't know how much of it is staged and how much is real, but it was a lot of fun to watch. I think it was called "Flying Wild Alaska." I'm sure that'll give you at least some perspective of the type of training you would expect to receive out there. Hope this helps.

[MarkerInbound]

Reading their web page you don't get the private in a taildragger, they start you in a 172.

benefits of getting the PPL in the Alaskan weather/terrain

You'll have many more "shouldn't have done that" memories. Besides getting good at preheating your aircraft you don't want to be battling weather as a primary student. There's a reason the Air Corps did and the Air Force still does their basic instruction in southern states.

[ago.xr]

Reading their web page you don't get the private in a taildragger, they start you in a 172.

Unfortunately true... I got some info about the courses available at FlyAboveAlaska and apparently there is no FAA PPL provided on tailwheel aircraft, as you said you start on the 172.