I have looked over the website testimonials and online reviews of Alaska Float and Skies and they seem to be a great place to train. I saw some threads from 2014 on this forum, does anyone have an updated opinion?
What are your thoughts about working for Don as a CFI?
Thanks

I went there this May and did the Bush Course just based on the reviews online. It was a great atmosphere and the 2 CFI's I had seemed really happy. It is a fun place with great people! If you go, you will most likely go back. I know I'll be going back for my SES rating next spring. It truly was the most fun I've ever had in a plane!

Thanks for the recommend

I saw on a previous post that you wanted work as a bush pilot. This is one of the best places you can train for that endeavor. Not only is Don know and respected state wide, his depth of knowledge and ability to pass it on to students is the reason people flock to his training. I took my pacer up to Don to learn ski flying. By the second day I was landing on a glacier at 7,000 ft!! Don is always calm and even with hundreds of hours flying in Alaska Ranges he can still fill an hour flight with pearls I did not know. You can find several other good instructors in Alaska but once you add the fun factor of Don's guest lodge and Talkeetna it is the best bang for the buck.
DENNYY

Got my float rating up there this summer, at Alaska Floats and Smokey Skies. The instructors were really fun, and they all seemed like they were having a good time. It feels like a summer camp at Don's place; lots of young people. There's a nice deck above the docks with picnic tables where you can watch the action. It's a really nice environment.

I trained with Lisle, she was awesome. Can't remember having that much fun during training ever. We rescued a marooned sailboat and towed it with a plane (ok that was Don), poached some 50 gal poly drums for dock floats from another lake.

Don is the examiner now. His checkrides are definitely "learning rides" in your best interest. He is a very hands-on examiner too. If he doesn't like how you're doing the maneuver, he grabs the controls and does it correctly for you. Maybe not for everyone.

DENNY wrote:I saw on a previous post that you wanted work as a bush pilot. This is one of the best places you can train for that endeavor. Not only is Don know and respected state wide, his depth of knowledge and ability to pass it on to students is the reason people flock to his training. I took my pacer up to Don to learn ski flying. By the second day I was landing on a glacier at 7,000 ft!! Don is always calm and even with hundreds of hours flying in Alaska Ranges he can still fill an hour flight with pearls I did not know. You can find several other good instructors in Alaska but once you add the fun factor of Don's guest lodge and Talkeetna it is the best bang for the buck.
DENNYY

My goal is to fly in the bush in Alaska. Just got some more details about the position and sounds right up my ally. Thanks for the recommendation.

Zzz wrote:Got my float rating up there this summer, at Alaska Floats and Smokey Skies. The instructors were really fun, and they all seemed like they were having a good time. It feels like a summer camp at Don's place; lots of young people. There's a nice deck above the docks with picnic tables where you can watch the action. It's a really nice environment.

I trained with Lisle, she was awesome. Can't remember having that much fun during training ever. We rescued a marooned sailboat and towed it with a plane (ok that was Don), poached some 50 gal poly drums for dock floats from another lake.

Don is the examiner now. His checkrides are definitely "learning rides" in your best interest. He is a very hands-on examiner too. If he doesn't like how you're doing the maneuver, he grabs the controls and does it correctly for you. Maybe not for everyone.

Thanks for sharing your experience!! I just got some more details and it sounds like a great opportunity for some summer work.

Just gonna throw in another vote for AK floats & skis, I've never been but I know a handful of folks who have, and I have yet to hear anything but glowing reviews

-dave

I did my SES several years ago when it was Just Don and 1 other Instructor. I visited in May whilst at the Airman Gathering, and man they have grown.

It was a fantastic experience. The first flight flying down the river at 20' AGL with the tree tops 50' above you is surreal.

It was a big shock going from a 100# instructor to a 250# examiner for my last flight though...

Rod

I have contacted Don many times regarding Pacers and A&P work. Always quick to respond and friendly also. If I can find a place to stay short term this winter, I might be working on a few of those short wings!

A good friend of mine also uses don for checkrides and really likes his mentality and way of working with students.

If you are looking to fly the Alaska Bush as a job Don is the real deal.
He has been chief pilot for several Air Taxi's that did mostly off airport ops .
He also spent his youth flying for remote fishing lodges and hunting guides that did the hardest bush flying in Alaska.


I have hired pilots that he has trained. when Don puts his stamp of approval on a pilot that pilot will have no problem finding work in Alaska.



Jerry Jacques
www.Bristol-Bay.com