It’s easy to find information on how to become an airline pilot. But what if your ultimate goal is a less traditional flying job? Aidan recently posed this question to his F/O and the second shift crew from Era Alaska in Nome. The result? Some good perspectives and advice, especially if you’re just starting your career in aviation.
Bouncing around in small airplanes for a living is not always as glamorous as it sounds. And yet, as Ross Nixon discovered one day after things got really ugly in the cockpit, the pleasant memories more than make up for the ones we’d just as soon forget.
Vic Olsen’s been flying in Western Alaska for almost 40 years. He’s a rare exception to the “Grouchy Bush Pilot Syndrome” that hits most pilots once they’ve been working in the bush for a long time. Put simply, he loves flying. Last summer Aidan finally sat down with Vic at Nome City Field to look back on his interesting career.
Aidan finally interviews Corey Konik, the Bering Air helicopter pilot who played a role in the Mount Osborne rescue we covered back in May. While they talk briefly about the rescue, most of their conversation is about helicopters: learning to fly them, and making a living doing it. There’s lots of good advice for you if you’re considering a rotary wing career.
Bethel is a place where many new pilots start their Alaskan flying careers. It’s also representative of a typical bush hub. Join us for a 51-minute driving tour of the largest community in Western Alaska. Along the way you’ll visit the airport, the town, and some residential areas. You’ll also hear about what it’s like to live and work there.
When a climber on Alaska’s Mount Osborn recently pressed the 911 button on his Spot Tracker satellite GPS messenger on April 20th, an emergency response was quickly launched out of Nome. Aidan recently sat down with Jim West Jr. and Larry Eggart from Nome Search and Rescue to discuss aviation’s role in the mountain rescue.
You had questions, Aidan and the crew at the Era pilot house in Nome have answers. Pull up a chair and enjoy this wide-ranging discussion covering aerobatic training, wildlife survey flying, aerial firefighting, working abroad, and lots more!
Our second Q&A session, from the Era pilot house in Nome. Aidan and a few other folks discuss the hiring outlook, low-time right seat jobs in Alaska, flying in Antarctica, the best aviation training options, supporting a family, international work permits, and more. Listen in …
Ben Rowe’s parents founded Bering Air in 1979, and over the years he worked his way up from painting the hangar floor to being Chief Pilot. In this interview you’ll hear about the history of aviation in Nome, what it’s like to work for the company, what it’s like to live in Nome, and more!
We get a lot of questions. In this first Q&A session, we tackle: becoming a commercial pilot later in life, getting a job abroad, humanitarian aid flying, and more. Listen in …
