Alaska Bushpilots
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: KEGE
If you want to fly in Alaska, you pretty much have to be up there. Long, long ago I flew up there and our chief pilot flat told me "I won't hire anybody that isn't here, ya gotta make a commitment to Alaska first."
A lot of the posts seem really positive about flying up there, wasn't my experience - I wonder where they were flying? Galena or Bethel in the winter? So cold the Jet-A pumps don't work so ya gotta burn Avgas.... So cold ya gotta keep one running or you'll never be able to start again.
Summers in Anaktuvic, mosquitoes so big you dodge them in a king-air. Days so long you come home after a full day of flying and figure, heck I’ll wash my car and change the oil, when you’re finished you realize the sun’s still up and in two hours it’ll be your 5am show time.
And then weather reports are scarce and pireps are days old, runway conditions, awe who cares your flying the bush, runway – we don’t need no stinkin’ runway. Just remember if you’re flying beer or the mail the reported weather will always be good. And with that good luck, buried many many pilots up there, some very experienced.
A lot of the posts seem really positive about flying up there, wasn't my experience - I wonder where they were flying? Galena or Bethel in the winter? So cold the Jet-A pumps don't work so ya gotta burn Avgas.... So cold ya gotta keep one running or you'll never be able to start again.
Summers in Anaktuvic, mosquitoes so big you dodge them in a king-air. Days so long you come home after a full day of flying and figure, heck I’ll wash my car and change the oil, when you’re finished you realize the sun’s still up and in two hours it’ll be your 5am show time.
And then weather reports are scarce and pireps are days old, runway conditions, awe who cares your flying the bush, runway – we don’t need no stinkin’ runway. Just remember if you’re flying beer or the mail the reported weather will always be good. And with that good luck, buried many many pilots up there, some very experienced.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Rip-off Strasse
Hey guys!
I`ve checked out both previous mentioned links.Seems as if they`re doing the "pay-to-peek" gig, but before I cough up the dough I would like some input from the AK guys about whether the 135 operators are actually as desperate as it seems.
I`m familiar with the Anchorage bowl area as I did some flight instructing at Merrill Field a coulpe of years back, and also have a good idea of what the companies are like.
At the time I`m hanging out in Europe trying to get in with, well, anybody really.But if there is need for pilots in the bush I`d love to go back and do some real hands-on flying.Kinda got bit by the bug last time around, so any input is welcome
I`ve checked out both previous mentioned links.Seems as if they`re doing the "pay-to-peek" gig, but before I cough up the dough I would like some input from the AK guys about whether the 135 operators are actually as desperate as it seems.
I`m familiar with the Anchorage bowl area as I did some flight instructing at Merrill Field a coulpe of years back, and also have a good idea of what the companies are like.
At the time I`m hanging out in Europe trying to get in with, well, anybody really.But if there is need for pilots in the bush I`d love to go back and do some real hands-on flying.Kinda got bit by the bug last time around, so any input is welcome
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: I wish I knew sometimes
If your looking at flying in Alaska, it would not hurt to take a peek at that rather large piece of land to the east. Flying in the Canadian arctic is a great experience as well. Add to that getting a visa "may" be easier in Canada. I stress maybe. Same deal though, you have to show up and prove you want to do it. Lots of incredible flying from Alaska all the way to Greenland. A massive and breath taking landscape.....Bush pilots are a breed unlike any other, no matter where the border lies.
Good luck
Good luck
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Rip-off Strasse
The visa-deal is a lot easier with Canada, but I don`t have Canadian licenses
And I don`t think the Canadians will recognize European or FAA licenses without a conversion process either.
But, yes, I would love to do some flying in Northern Canada.I suspect that the experience is just the same as in AK, but with a lot more area to cover.Also tried looking at Greenland, but can`t really find any info on anything.Got any links Canadiankid?How`s Greenlandair doing?
And I don`t think the Canadians will recognize European or FAA licenses without a conversion process either.
But, yes, I would love to do some flying in Northern Canada.I suspect that the experience is just the same as in AK, but with a lot more area to cover.Also tried looking at Greenland, but can`t really find any info on anything.Got any links Canadiankid?How`s Greenlandair doing?
