They WON'T come looking for you. 99% of what's required in getting an entry level Part 135 job in Alaska is being a warm body walking thru the door, and saying, "Here I am, I'm ready to go to work today. Which flight do I take out to Bethel?"

Gump

Alright, I admit it. I chickened out and moved to Anchorage 'cause I couldn't take more Fairbanks winters. And I stopped working on my commercial after I got squished like a bug, and started concentrating on more minor things like a project airplane and relearning how to walk.

I made my money for college planting bell peppers and tobacco, and sprigging, staking, and hanging the 'baccy, and sweating the grades to get scholarships, and swallowing hard and taking loans I'm now repaying. Then I putting off learning to drive and plowed all that money other kids paid for title, registration, IM, and gas into lessons instead, as I biked across town to class and work and back rain, snow, and shine.

At this point, I can walk three miles at a time, and plan to make five miles by the end of the month. I couldn't keep up with you cutting brush anymore, either, though I wish I could - I know just enough about landing off airport to know how very ignorant I am.

Now, if you've got any tips on how to get my teenaged godkid to think that flying is still cool - she lost interest once boys went from icky to awesome - I'll gladly listen. Otherwise, I'll just drive her to wherever she's going, watching as she has her head down and types faster on a little cell phone than I can on a computer, and think "Kids these days! No driving lessons until you put the phone down and watch the road!"

Am I the only one that read Chickenair's post as him offering to give some youngsters "bush pilot training," which implies flying airplanes, and then made them clear brush? Sort of a bait and switch on the "bush?"

If so, it's pretty funny.

Maybe he is using the Obama philosophy When did "Hope and Change" turn into" Bait and Switch" as soon as he got into office

1SeventyZ wrote:Am I the only one that read Chickenair's post as him offering to give some youngsters "bush pilot training," which implies flying airplanes, and then made them clear brush? Sort of a bait and switch on the "bush?"

If so, it's pretty funny.

heh Z

say real quickly:

bush pilot
bush pilot
bush pile it
bush pile it

The first-real-taste of flying I received was when I was 15. I knew of a retired school teacher with a private airstrip outside of town, heard most Sundays he would be there with hanger doors open. I trekked out to see him. He explained to me he had been building a new airstrip about 40 miles north, had put a hanger on it the year before. Over the winter he found the roof leaked like a sieve. With a hand shake, the following morning we were in his Luscombe flying out to his ranch; I spent every day that week on the roof(no pay of coarse). And after the job was done; I spent the rest of my summer flying with him in his Pietenpol and RV6.

I like to think i have some appreciation for a hard days work, To be honest, I might not have a point here. I just wanted to share that story w/ you

DonC wrote:Maybe he is using the Obama philosophy When did "Hope and Change" turn into" Bait and Switch" as soon as he got into office

1SeventyZ wrote:Am I the only one that read Chickenair's post as him offering to give some youngsters "bush pilot training," which implies flying airplanes, and then made them clear brush? Sort of a bait and switch on the "bush?"

If so, it's pretty funny.

Just like how threads end up in Hot Air. The Turbo Encabulator thread for example. You bait and I switch.

I think Chickenair was making a funny that some missed, but it is an interesting topic. I agree with everybody's thoughts. A lot of kids that have been handed everything, don't seem to have much ambition, never had to bend their back, you wonder how they will ever make it in life. There are others that I am impressed with and can't believe their focus, much more so than the kids of my generation (WWhunter; glad yours is one of those). Most of this generation have not done a lot of physical labor and if they are smart enough, won't have too. There seems to be too many of the other ones that did not apply themselves and have no work ethic. These are the ones that scare me, the ones the rest of us support, in ever increasing numbers.

On bush pilot jobs; I don't know about in Alaska now, but in Canada, bush pilot jobs are hard to come by, with seasoned commercial pilots filling most of the slots. Good luck with that dream. Steve

I knew it would get a rise out u Z


Just like how threads end up in Hot Air. The Turbo Encabulator thread for example. You bait and I switch. [/quote]

steve wrote:On bush pilot jobs; I don't know about in Alaska now, but in Canada, bush pilot jobs are hard to come by, with seasoned commercial pilots filling most of the slots. Good luck with that dream. Steve

That's also true in Alaska, but at the bottom end, there's always enough turn over for a new guy with some drive and ambition to get in the door. But it means being up there, banging on doors, and being willing to do some grunt work in some not so desirable places, and working your way into that left (or right) seat.

Unless your daddy owns the company, you're not gonna show up in downtown Anchorage with a new certificate and 1,000 hours total time, get the keys to the new Caravan, and base out of town. You'll be in Bethel, doing charters in a 172, and living in some wonderful, character building pilot houses. Meeting wonderful, character building characters!!!!

It's actually a small aviation community, and it doesn't take long to get a rep. Good and bad.

Gump

Steve hit the nail on the head, I was trying to be funny about the "Bush Pile it" thing. But I was serious at the same time. I'm a disabled Vet (but obviously still alot tougher that the youngsters I meet) and these youngsters volunteer to help me cut firewood and not a single one of them returns the next day! My buddy, also a retired Vet and I joke about it all the time. He and I are out there cutting as much as possible. We both heat our shops with wood stove. Hell, I cut and hauled 1/2 cord this morning before work He and I will cut about 2 cords tomorrow or Monday. We turned a 450 Honda Foreman into a log skidder. Pretty cool....boom with a winch and skid plate on the back. We can move some pretty big trees
To defend the youngsters a bit....they do bring beer when they come out to the shop to B.S. So their not all bad

steve wrote:I think Chickenair was making a funny that some missed, but it is an interesting topic. I agree with everybody's thoughts. A lot of kids that have been handed everything, don't seem to have much ambition, never had to bend their back, you wonder how they will ever make it in life. There are others that I am impressed with and can't believe their focus, much more so than the kids of my generation (WWhunter; glad yours is one of those). Most of this generation have not done a lot of physical labor and if they are smart enough, won't have too. There seems to be too many of the other ones that did not apply themselves and have no work ethic. These are the ones that scare me, the ones the rest of us support, in ever increasing numbers.

On bush pilot jobs; I don't know about in Alaska now, but in Canada, bush pilot jobs are hard to come by, with seasoned commercial pilots filling most of the slots. Good luck with that dream. Steve

GumpAir wrote:
It is heaven... If you want to get paid to fly 5 to 8 hours a day in some of the most remote, beautiful, fun places on the planet, and enjoy a totally different culture and way of life. It's certainly not for everyone, but if you go up eyes open and mouth shut, you'll learn that there's a lot more to life than what's considered norm for middle class America.

Gump

What I can't understand is why the majority of people in this nation spend their entire lives shopping and eating at restaurants. It's an endless cycle. People work and then their weekends are spent at the malls and other big box stores. Isn't there more to life than just material things? Sometimes I wonder if I'm made for another world....

Dot_AK wrote:And I stopped working on my commercial after I got squished like a bug, and started concentrating on more minor things like a project airplane and relearning how to walk.

You can't tease us like that. I want to hear the story behind being squished like a bug. If it's too personal or just too boring then make a good one up!

TexasNick wrote:

GumpAir wrote:
It is heaven... If you want to get paid to fly 5 to 8 hours a day in some of the most remote, beautiful, fun places on the planet, and enjoy a totally different culture and way of life. It's certainly not for everyone, but if you go up eyes open and mouth shut, you'll learn that there's a lot more to life than what's considered norm for middle class America.

Gump

What I can't understand is why the majority of people in this nation spend their entire lives shopping and eating at restaurants. It's an endless cycle. People work and then their weekends are spent at the malls and other big box stores. Isn't there more to life than just material things? Sometimes I wonder if I'm made for another world....

You are not alone. Though I do enjoy the occasional evening out my consumption is mostly centered around aviation - either my plane, or paying the airlines to carry me to what is important in life - seeing family and friends.

Since we are talking about the new generation this won't be hijacking the thread. I see myself and my old habits at the beginning of my adult life (before I knew better) in a lot of my young employees. Earn more, spend more. No savings that amount to much. I try to tell them where this will lead them. They don't listen

I am no man of leisure nor do I ever see myself as being one but all things being equal I would rather enjoy myself and work at things I enjoy, instead of busting my butt for cash to pay for things I never really needed in the first place. Like Chickenair I would rather cut my own firewood than work longer at some job to pay for heating oil, if it were up to me. Tell some young people (or middle-aged people too) about this idea and they will look at you as if you are from Mars. On the other hand, some of the young folks here are the opposite. They are what some of you would describe as hippy-granola types, though I reject that label as an oversimplification. I worry about them too because I don't think they have a plan to earn enough to cover the future or an emergency. But they are happy, they don't live beyond their means, and they always seem to land on their feet. Who can complain?

My first step for me was to kill my TV habits and it was smoother sailing from there - less pressure to keep up with what advertisers would tell you about what they want you to think is important. I'm lucky in that I mostly love my job. At least I can say that. Even so I'm thinking of scaling back for more family time, and spending even less so I can afford it.

Don't get me started on children and the double-income trap. Time. How much is it worth?

This transcends politics by the way.

I have a friend who used to work in the park here who decided he wanted to be paid as a pilot, in Alaska. He set up a plan and executed it. He worked and saved and scrimped, made sacrifices and cut back, along with his wife. He bought a Cessna 152, went to the lower 48 and got his commercial-multi-instrument, came back and flew the heck out of his little spamcam earning Alaska hours and made himself marketable. Now, where he went wrong is deciding on a second-seat gig with Hageland last year But I think he wants to work himself back into something smaller, instead of the other way around. I've never caught him posting here. Maybe he's lurking and will share his two cents

Your friend did all right going to work for Hageland's. They keep their airplanes squared away, have an interesting mix in the types of flying and locations, and all in all, have good folks in the organization.

http://www.hageland.com/index.htm

Gump

GumpAir wrote:Your friend did all right going to work for Hageland's. They keep their airplanes squared away, have an interesting mix in the types of flying and locations, and all in all, have good folks in the organization.

http://www.hageland.com/index.htm

Gump

Oh, nothing against the outfit, at all. Just gentle ribbing about having to put in the SIC time in the 1900's. Would he rather be PIC in one of the sleds? I'll have to ask him

northbird wrote:The first-real-taste of flying I received was when I was 15. I knew of a retired school teacher with a private airstrip outside of town, heard most Sundays he would be there with hanger doors open. I trekked out to see him. He explained to me he had been building a new airstrip about 40 miles north, had put a hanger on it the year before. Over the winter he found the roof leaked like a sieve. With a hand shake, the following morning we were in his Luscombe flying out to his ranch; I spent every day that week on the roof(no pay of coarse). And after the job was done; I spent the rest of my summer flying with him in his Pietenpol and RV6. ....

Sounds like John Howroyd. Nice guy. ( and BTW that's not an airplane hangar, it's a barn )

Eric

N131CP wrote: Unless you've got big debts or a family to support I can't see how money makes a difference in considering a flying job in Alaska. Heck - doing that job you must get experiences every day that you couldn't buy no matter how much money you had. ......

No offense, but low pay might not seem like a sacrifice unless you're the one on the receiving end. "A labor of love" or in this case "experiences you can't buy" both sound good, but they don't put food on the table or savings away toward the future.

Eric

I certainly agree that our younger generations have less exposure to the physical hardships of our parents and grandparents. It's just a reality of the economic structure and how we live today.

That being said; I'll fully accept the critisicm of my generation being soft and lazy when the previous generation accepts the responsibility for raising us that way.

In my defense though, unlike the Men in my family prior: I paid for my own education, Served 4 years in the military Volountarily, Owned my own house and airplane by 28 and will not be relying on any government sponsored retirement, company pension, or social security for my family's well being.

Bill

hotrod150 wrote: No offense, but low pay might not seem like a sacrifice unless you're the one on the receiving end. "A labor of love" or in this case "experiences you can't buy" both sound good, but they don't put food on the table or savings away toward the future.

As one who spent a lot of years on "the receiving end" of the low pay and sacrifice, all I gotta say is that I wouldn't change one second of the journey. To trade financial comfort and material "stuff" for the memories, friends, and experiences. No way.

Yeah, I won't get to retire at 60 or 65, and have money for bigger, fancier airplanes, but so be it. I don't do well sitting still, and I need something to do to keep my mind occupied, or else I usually get myself in big trouble. Kinda like my old red heeler, Hoser, in that respect.

Gump