The Superior National Forest Seaplane Base is the only U.S. Forest Service seaplane base in the U.S., and as you’d expect, the pilots who work there love what they do. Back in 2010 Dave Quam and Jim McManus from the Seaplane Pilots Association visited the base in Ely, Minnesota, interviewed a few pilots, and captured it all on video.
There aren’t many operators looking for pilots with turbine and amphib experience, who also have polished instrument skills. Island Air Express in Southeast Alaska is one of them. Last Spring, Aidan met up with Chief Pilot Pat Goodrich in Ketchikan to hear more about what he does and what he looks for in the pilots he hires. If you like floats, turbines, and IFR, this short interview is well worth a listen.
When John Gowey was a kid, he watched floatplanes from Kenmore Air fly over his house. Today, he’s the Chief Pilot. If you’ve ever thought about flying floats for a living, don’t miss this interview. You’ll learn about this unique oddball flying path, and how to get started.
Our first Oddball Pilot Aircraft Walkthrough features Talkeetna Air Taxi. In this video, TAT owner and Director of Operations Paul Roderick introduces you to two of the most rugged bush planes in existence: the de Havilland DHC-3 Turbine Otter and DHC-2 Beaver.
Our first Oddball Pilot interview is with Paul Roderick, owner and Director of Operations of Talkeetna Air Taxi in Alaska. TAT has been around since the early days of Alaskan flying, helping pioneer flights to Mt. McKinley, finding glacier landing sites, supporting climbing expeditions, and assisting with mountain rescues. Today the company also provides more extensive expedition support, including logistical support, route checks, and helping climbers recon new routes.
