Bering Air (OTZ/OME) just took delivery of nine new C208 Caravans and are looking for Part 135 pilots.

By far one of the best outfits to fly for in northwest Alaska, with excellent pay, safety, and equipment. If I was going to go back to work up there, they'd be right at the top of the list of places I'd be banging on the chief pilot's door for a job.

I don't know if they've phased out the Sleds (C207's), but the rest of the fleet is nice, very nice, with Navajos, King Airs and Casa 200 series.

Any of you wannabes or old guys looking to make the move, this would be a good time to make the call or take a trip up to Nome.

Have fun and good luck!

http://www.beringair.com

Gump

It's a shame you can't go Gump. And me with you.

Yeah but what about us wannabes that want to make good money flying sleds? I dream about flying a 207 around Alaska.

Oh, believe me, I've thought long and hard about jumping through the medical hoops to go back.

But, I've got a good life down here in the vast desert wastelands and I'm not going to risk losing all I've worked for down here since I left Kotz. And it wouldn't be the same anyway. My old Compadres are all long gone, and it's the next generation's turn to make their memories up there. I already have mine.

Gump

Whee, Yute Air flys an all Sled fleet out of Bethel, and plenty of other outfits still do too. If ya want to, get up there soon while the gettin' is good. The Sled days are numbered big time.

I got 10K hours in the beasts, but I miss them still. Amazing airplane, and a money maker like no other in it's day.

Gump

There was only 1 lone sled
Left at the nome base when I left there last fall, it's still used occasionally, but the caravan and navaslow are the main deal for now

This is why I'm working on my ratings. Maybe one day!!!

I have 10 more years, otherwise I'd jump on this. What a way to experience life!

I could be wrong, but in getting the impression that the operators up there are starting to feel the pinch for pilots. A relatively new CFI in the flying club I used to be in just left for a job up there. Man, when I was getting out of college, you had to have a bunch of AK time to get them to even look at you! Or know someone. Seems like a good time to be able to go do that kind of flying if you want to and can swing it.

Bering is a bit fussy about times, but they also are looking for long term folk who fly smart. Most of my buds who fly/flew for Bering spent 20+ years with the company. That speaks volumes. Not a lot of AK 135 outfits can say that.

M6RV6 is up in Buckland right now and is the one who told me Bering is looking for crew. He'd be a good source for folk who need to know who to talk to if interested.

Gump

I've seen all the crap those guys and gals load and unload in and out of those Caravans all day long. All you are is a freight lumper with a pilots license. Screw that...[emoji1]

Ha Ha. True that!!!!

A big mistake a lot of guys who are new to AK Part 135 flying make, is in thinking that it's going to be like flying for fun out for the proverbial $100 burger.

It is a lot of physical work, on top of a lot of flying, and a lot of flying in really crappy weather that you'd never be up in on a pleasure flight.

Gump

An old friend of mine once told me the worst flying job he ever had was flying co pilot in a twin otter out of Bethel.....said he never got to touch the controls, but he had to pre flight, fuel, load and unload while the captain took care of other matters......

I flew a Beaver for seven years or so, and I can tell you that loading and unloading those things on floats is a chore.

At least a 207 is close to the ground, and only holds a thousand pounds or so....

I've heard lots of good things about Bering Air. They and Wright Air Service in Fairbanks are two of the really well organized and well managed outfits in northern Alaska.

MTV

Grassstrippilot wrote:I could be wrong, but in getting the impression that the operators up there are starting to feel the pinch for pilots. A relatively new CFI in the flying club I used to be in just left for a job up there. Man, when I was getting out of college, you had to have a bunch of AK time to get them to even look at you! Or know someone. Seems like a good time to be able to go do that kind of flying if you want to and can swing it.

The problem is not finding pilots in AK
The problem is finding pilots that know how to fly!!!

I see a lot of prospective pilots show up here and start training at one of the outfits then they disappear within about a week.
I was with Headoutdaplane a while back and we were talking to a new hire at one of the 135 outfits here and the question was asked:
"what if this doesn't work out for you?"

The answer was simple...

"No problem, I will just go to the airlines"

He made it about a week

TangoFox wrote:

Grassstrippilot wrote:I could be wrong, but in getting the impression that the operators up there are starting to feel the pinch for pilots. A relatively new CFI in the flying club I used to be in just left for a job up there. Man, when I was getting out of college, you had to have a bunch of AK time to get them to even look at you! Or know someone. Seems like a good time to be able to go do that kind of flying if you want to and can swing it.

The problem is not finding pilots in AK
The problem is finding pilots that know how to fly!!!

I see a lot of prospective pilots show up here and start training at one of the outfits then they disappear within about a week.
I was with Headoutdaplane a while back and we were talking to a new hire at one of the 135 outfits here and the question was asked:
"what if this doesn't work out for you?"

The answer was simple...

"No problem, I will just go to the airlines"

He made it about a week

Yes, that is indeed the problem.......and its fostered by many of the large flight training programs in this country, who THINK they are preparing their students for an airline job.

I call it LBCFFS Syndrome. Stands for Licensed But Can't Fly For Shit Syndrome or just CFFS for short.

Problem is, if they can't get through 135 training in Alaska, they aren't going to get hired by any airline in this country that I'd ride on.

The current state of flight training is disgraceful in my opinion. Soon we'll be seeing Chinese first officers in our airlines, trained by the Chinese kids who are currently going through this "airline training" in this country. And that's scary......think Air Aisia and SFO.

Anyone who has initiative, drive and can fly halfway decent (and is trainable) has always been able to get a job flying 135 in AK. Those who sit on their butts in Chicago and fire off emailed resumes to operators and call that an application are probably going to miss the boat.

MTV

Flying and physical work sound great to me but it will always remain just a dream. I'll never convince my wife quit her nice government job so we can scrape by while living in the arctic north. I gotta take some blame, I've always been too chicken to take chances and follow my dreams. I've got a good life.

I want a flying job, but I sure do love flying tail wheels, after learning to fly in a 172. I can't have as much fun as I can in a cub or 180. I have some friends that work in the airlines, and tell me I need to get my atp and work for them. I can't see my self doing that.

Well,
I have worked at Bering Air.
1) Great equipment
2) 135 flying, which means you work, and that means physical labor.
3) You will be cold
4) Good company, MTV is correct about Wright Air Service and Bering Air.
5) The money is better than if you do a career at Alaska Air. You can make $100K and soon, not years down the road. Many make more, and the perks are good.
6) You have to like Kotzebue and be professional and know who your passengers are.

Most can not, or will not like the job. It is for somebody that likes to work, and feel responsible for their work, most pilots do not.

Mike

Amen...

When I was in my 20s, I got my commercial ticket and instrument rating with the intention of transitioning into a flying career. I was surprised when I found out how little entry level flying jobs paid in the 1970s. I gave up on professional flying and continued to work as an engineer. I managed to find flying partnerships that let me fly some really fun hardware on my terms using the better part I was getting than flying could offer. Now that I'm in my 60s, I have made my peace with flying what I can afford rather than what I once dreamed of. The benefit of only flying when I want and avoiding pressure to fly in conditions I'm not comfortable with is ample compensation at this point. More power to those with a burning passion to make flying their life's work. It is great that they have increasingly open windows of opportunity now. I will always enjoy the stories told by folks that fly for a living, particularly those that fly in remarkable settings, but I'm glad I chose to keep flying a hobby rather than turning it into a career.