Hello, I am a new member to the site after reading through the forums for some time.
It has been my goal sense I began flying to work in Alaska as a “bush” pilot. This spring I will be able to pursue this dream by applying to jobs in AK.

I am currently finishing my A&P apprenticeship while I flight instruct on the side. I have 1500 TT, 200 tailwheel, 100 floats, 150 multi. Hold a CFI, CFII, MEI, and Comm (ASEL, ASEL, AMEL).

Appreciate any advice of companies to apply to in the spring or places to avoid. My thought is to mail resumes late winter and then head to Alaska handing out resumes come spring if I haven’t heard anything.

Thank you for the help along my path!

The metric I used in the past to weed out the shady operators in Alaska verses the more legit operators was those who participated in the Medallion Foundation. This is a voluntary self-policing program designed to enhance safety. With that said, I think I did recently (a couple of months ago) see a headline that the Medallion program was going to end, or, funds for it would be cut, or something of the like. I just googled it and can't find what I just mentioned.

Secondly, if you're wanting to fly, I'd probably not mention the A&P. They'll keep you wrenching, and you'll rarely fly.

Finally, if you're interested in the SE AK flying, the hiring is seasonal, and starts late January, and is wrapped up by early March. You'll want to go to JNU, KTN, SIT in person, and knock on doors.

Good luck!

It seems you might be a Vermonter. If so I may have a local contact for you.

ZPilot wrote:The metric I used in the past to weed out the shady operators in Alaska verses the more legit operators was those who participated in the Medallion Foundation. This is a voluntary self-policing program designed to enhance safety. With that said, I think I did recently (a couple of months ago) see a headline that the Medallion program was going to end, or, funds for it would be cut, or something of the like. I just googled it and can't find what I just mentioned.

Secondly, if you're wanting to fly, I'd probably not mention the A&P. They'll keep you wrenching, and you'll rarely fly.

Finally, if you're interested in the SE AK flying, the hiring is seasonal, and starts late January, and is wrapped up by early March. You'll want to go to JNU, KTN, SIT in person, and knock on doors.

Good luck!

I will look up the medallion program and do some research.

My goal is to fly, not be a line mechanic. I was given a great opportunity to get my a&p to add to my list of certificates. Flying remote locations and being able to potentially fix aircraft problems was my reasoning behind the pursuit.

From reading other forum posts from the past, thoughts where the a&p might open doors not available to someone who is just a pilot.

Thank you for the advice.

Bearhawk Builder wrote:It seems you might be a Vermonter. If so I may have a local contact for you.

Yes I am. Will shoot you a message.

With those hours I don’t think you’ll have much issue getting a job. Consider what you want to fly. Floats? Tailwheel? Anything? Based in city? Based in village? Multi-engine? Air taxi? Tours? Locals? Tourists? High pay vs time building?

I disagree with the first reply about your A&P, I would be proud of it. Not necessarily because you will use it at all but because it makes you a more valuable pilot. I wish I had mine. About half our pilots are A&P’s. They never wrench unless it’s an extreme situation away from base. But still good to have. In the current market, if your employer is forcing you to stay in the hangar as a mechanic when you want to be flying, find a different employer. Everyone needs pilots up here.

No idea if my company is part of the medallion foundation or if we’re considered sketchy or what but I have a blast. Aug 27 was a volcano/glacier tour on floats, Aug 28 was bushwheels on the tundra, Aug 29 was delivering freight for the school system in the Navajo. I like variety and I took a lower pay rate to get it. I’m very happy with my choice and have gotten 730 hours since March 13th.

asa wrote:With those hours I don’t think you’ll have much issue getting a job. Consider what you want to fly. Floats? Tailwheel? Anything? Based in city? Based in village? Multi-engine? Air taxi? Tours? Locals? Tourists? High pay vs time building?

I disagree with the first reply about your A&P, I would be proud of it. Not necessarily because you will use it at all but because it makes you a more valuable pilot. I wish I had mine. About half our pilots are A&P’s. They never wrench unless it’s an extreme situation away from base. But still good to have. In the current market, if your employer is forcing you to stay in the hangar as a mechanic when you want to be flying, find a different employer. Everyone needs pilots up here.

No idea if my company is part of the medallion foundation or if we’re considered sketchy or what but I have a blast. Aug 27 was a volcano/glacier tour on floats, Aug 28 was bushwheels on the tundra, Aug 29 was delivering freight for the school system in the Navajo. I like variety and I took a lower pay rate to get it. I’m very happy with my choice and have gotten 730 hours since March 13th.

Ideally I would like to fly a variety but realize that is not very common. Favorite is float flying, had the opportunity to teach a summer on floats and was some of the most amazing and fun flying I have ever had.

You will be easily employable, the shortage is real. The pay is better the further N you go. I read the other day that the Medallion Foundation is or will be no more, with the state budget stuff going on like it is.

gbflyer wrote:You will be easily employable, the shortage is real. The pay is better the further N you go. I read the other day that the Medallion Foundation is or will be no more, with the state budget stuff going on like it is.

Thanks for the information. A couple years ago got the chance to visit the Brooks Range, beautiful country.

The Medallion Foundation is going away because it was absolutely worthless, corrupt, bottomless hole. It may have started out well, but by 9 years ago when I started dealing with it as DO of an air taxi it was a bureaucratic self-aggrandizing waste of money. The best thing about it was the free simulators, except that they broke down with frequency and the folks from Anchorage wouldn't leave their offices fix them. To put it simply it was a joke that had convinced Medicaid/US travel that they should only use Medallion operators. Literally every one I know in the business up here is celebrating its demise. It is only thanks to the ADN for exposing Medallion joke to the public and political light of day...Sorry for the thread drift.

With those hours you will be very employable, Smokey Bay and Kbay in Homer are both actively looking, Grant, Bering Air, the list goes on. Just come on up and walk into the offices of pretty much any airtaxi and you will get an interview (and probably a job).

Headoutdaplane wrote:With those hours you will be very employable, Smokey Bay and Kbay in Homer are both actively looking, Grant, Bering Air, the list goes on. Just come on up and walk into the offices of pretty much any airtaxi and you will get an interview (and probably a job).

Thanks

I agree with most everything said. However, I think rather than a shotgun approach, do your research, pick the top 3-4 operators you would like to work for and target them.

Some operators do mostly tourists, some are geared towards hunting and fishing, some jobs service a single lodge and will really value your A&P, some do only floats, some do only wheels, and then there is geography. SE, Wrangles, Brooks Range, etc.

Remember, the companies with the best operations will probably be harder to get into than the ones with lesser operations.

Narrow it down to what you want to do and go for it!

Also.. Set your limits early, communicate them to the boss and stick to them.. It can be a super fun job, but it is very unforgiving if you miscalculate. You will be asked to fly at the limits of the POH and the FAR’s on a regular basis.

Hsivany wrote:I agree with most everything said. However, I think rather than a shotgun approach, do your research, pick the top 3-4 operators you would like to work for and target them.

Some operators do mostly tourists, some are geared towards hunting and fishing, some jobs service a single lodge and will really value your A&P, some do only floats, some do only wheels, and then there is geography. SE, Wrangles, Brooks Range, etc.

Remember, the companies with the best operations will probably be harder to get into than the ones with lesser operations.

Narrow it down to what you want to do and go for it!

Also.. Set your limits early, communicate them to the boss and stick to them.. It can be a super fun job, but it is very unforgiving if you miscalculate. You will be asked to fly at the limits of the POH and the FAR’s on a regular basis.

Thanks

I agree that the Medallion Foundation rapidly became a joke in many ways. It’s demise was inevitable and good riddance.

As others have said, figure out two things first: What kind of flying you want to do, and what part of the state you want to fly in.

Your answers to those questions will direct your job search to a smaller range of operators. Bear in mind that many float operators are seasonal, unless they also operate wheels or skis. Same with lodge operators. Seasonal can work for some, but not all.

A lot of the bread and butter is moving people and mai/supplies to and from villages by part 135 operators. Doing that kind of work, you should expect to fly 1000 hours plus at least per year. That’s a LOT of flying. The folks who do that stuff generally love it, for a lot of reasons.

Ask a lot of questions, and definitely GO THERE to the operators, hand them a resume, and you’ll learn a lot.

Good luck!

MTV

mtv wrote:I agree that the Medallion Foundation rapidly became a joke in many ways. It’s demise was inevitable and good riddance.

As others have said, figure out two things first: What kind of flying you want to do, and what part of the state you want to fly in.

Your answers to those questions will direct your job search to a smaller range of operators. Bear in mind that many float operators are seasonal, unless they also operate wheels or skis. Same with lodge operators. Seasonal can work for some, but not all.

A lot of the bread and butter is moving people and mai/supplies to and from villages by part 135 operators. Doing that kind of work, you should expect to fly 1000 hours plus at least per year. That’s a LOT of flying. The folks who do that stuff generally love it, for a lot of reasons.

Ask a lot of questions, and definitely GO THERE to the operators, hand them a resume, and you’ll learn a lot.

Good luck!

MTV

Appreciate all the great information.
The sort of flying that most fits what I would like to do is seasonal float flying. Ideally not just tours but some variety in where and different purpose. I realize that i don’t have that much float time or any Alaska time. In order to get the best jobs in the future one has to build experience. My perception, One doesn’t simply walk in and get a awesome float gig at a lodge. Every ad I have seen wants hundreds if not thousands of float hours; have to start somewhere.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom

Cubpilot802 wrote:

mtv wrote:I agree that the Medallion Foundation rapidly became a joke in many ways. It’s demise was inevitable and good riddance.

As others have said, figure out two things first: What kind of flying you want to do, and what part of the state you want to fly in.

Your answers to those questions will direct your job search to a smaller range of operators. Bear in mind that many float operators are seasonal, unless they also operate wheels or skis. Same with lodge operators. Seasonal can work for some, but not all.

A lot of the bread and butter is moving people and mai/supplies to and from villages by part 135 operators. Doing that kind of work, you should expect to fly 1000 hours plus at least per year. That’s a LOT of flying. The folks who do that stuff generally love it, for a lot of reasons.

Ask a lot of questions, and definitely GO THERE to the operators, hand them a resume, and you’ll learn a lot.

Good luck!

MTV

Appreciate all the great information.
The sort of flying that most fits what I would like to do is seasonal float flying. Ideally not just tours but some variety in where and different purpose. I realize that i don’t have that much float time or any Alaska time. In order to get the best jobs in the future one has to build experience. My perception, One doesn’t simply walk in and get a awesome float gig at a lodge. Every ad I have seen wants hundreds if not thousands of float hours; have to start somewhere.

Thanks for all the words of wisdom

Dont sell yourself short. The guy who got the Beaver upside down in Metlakatla a while back got hired to fly seaplanes with a total of five, count em, five hours of SES. Granted, they no doubt gave him some checkout, and there may have been a family connection there, but.......

MTV

mtv wrote:

Cubpilot802 wrote:

mtv wrote:

Dont sell yourself short. The guy who got the Beaver upside down in Metlakatla a while back got hired to fly seaplanes with a total of five, count em, five hours of SES. Granted, they no doubt gave him some checkout, and there may have been a family connection there, but.......

MTV

Thanks, hopefully will work out for the best. I had heard about the accident in the news and was like that’s crazy how few hours.

From the place in Bettles last winter:

"Hi Asa, Thank you for the email. We are mainly a float plane operation, so that would be our requirements at this time for any employment. We would like 1500 minimum on total time and 100 on floats. We are currently flying DeHavilland Beavers and Cessna 185 on floats.

Best Regards,"

At the time I did not have 100 on floats.

asa wrote:From the place in Bettles last winter:

"Hi Asa, Thank you for the email. We are mainly a float plane operation, so that would be our requirements at this time for any employment. We would like 1500 minimum on total time and 100 on floats. We are currently flying DeHavilland Beavers and Cessna 185 on floats.

Best Regards,"

At the time I did not have 100 on floats.

Thanks for the great info

I would highly recommend logging on to flyalaska.com and paying the annual access fee. He keeps a pretty comprehensive list of Alaska flying jobs and it usually goes back several years, so you can get a sense of who hires every year and minimum requirements. Kodiak is a great place to learn a lot about flying floats in a variety of situations. You will haul lots of folks for hunting, fishing, bear viewing, etc. Another bonus is there is relatively little pure flight seeing demand. Look at Andrew Airways and Island Air. You can also fly more than just the June to September seasons of other places. Plus, the weather, winds and tides will up your skill level in a hurry. Good luck.