We are planning a rafting trip with some friends and family, and the rafting company is recommending a certain company for those that want to fly in to SMN the day before (if they don’t want to drive).

I’ll be flying myself, but found they seem to have a history of cutting corners, and not learning their lesson after the 1st hand slap.

2017 issues

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposes-72400-civil-penalty-against-gem-air

2022 issues:

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposes-239000-civil-penalty-against-idaho-based-gem-air


Beyond this I don’t know much about them. Would you fly with this operation or let loved ones? I am debating on whether or not I should inform other rafting party members that are planning to fly with them know, or if ignorance is bliss. Or perhaps they are running a tight ship now (I hope).

Looks to be a trend to me. The 2022 case looks like after the engine out, investigation led to other findings. Hard pass here. Yes, it's expensive to operate a P135, but everyone has to play by the same rules.

scottf wrote:
[snip] ... I’ll be flying myself, but found they seem to have a history of cutting corners, and not learning their lesson after the 1st hand slap.

2017 issues

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposes-72400-civil-penalty-against-gem-air

2022 issues:

https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposes-239000-civil-penalty-against-idaho-based-gem-air


Beyond this I don’t know much about them. ... perhaps they are running a tight ship now (I hope).

Over a six year period (2016-2022) the company neglected to complete several critical inspections while presumably operating the aircraft for hire. The company also blew off mandatory AD's that affect safety of flight. When the FAA discovered the company's shenanigans the Agency cited the company for "careless and reckless" operation.

Those lapses are not trivial. They appear to be a big deal to me. Clearly, Gem Air's schedulers, the Director of Maintenance and the maintenance department, AND the company CEO are willfully failing to meet requirements of their Part 135 Certificate, the air taxi rules that other companies must follow, and just basic rules of aviation safety. Just one or two minor lapses over a seven year period MIGHT be overlooked... but seven? and perhaps more undiscovered lapses? That's a serious pattern that I'd certainly want to know about before climbing into one of their aircraft as a passenger OR a pilot.

What's the problem with sharing this very relevant safety information with your friends? IMHO, NOT sharing it, or even thinking about leaving your friends in the dark seems a bit odd.

Ha that's a timely post. Doing a river trip in July, months ago I booked to fly Boise-Salmon with same without a second thought. Then I coincidentally just completed a couple days of backcountry training up there and a bunch of the campfire talk was about the history... running engines over TBO, more fuel exhaustion incidents than a fleet of student pilots... You know it's a reassuring operator when you start studying the terrain on the route of flight. So should I show up in a survival vest and helmet to set expectations?

stretch wrote:Ha that's a timely post. ... So should I show up in a survival vest and helmet to set expectations?

Wear nomex as well as a helmet.

Have you read the study done a few years ago by the Alaska FSDO on crash survival in back country ops? Helmets reduce mortality and serious injuries by about 1/3. Downside is helmet hair.

Thanks for the feedback all, I am in agreement that this should be shared if anyone from our party plans to use them as an air taxi, just wasn't sure if by some chance maybe they were under new ownership or something and have changed practices but that does not appear to be the case.

This particular 135 is being recommended by the rafting guide company to all of their customers... I did let them know about the track record... I am assuming they would already be aware but maybe not. I did check with the rafting company which operator they use to actualy fly into the middle fork, and thank heavens they use a different operator to actually fly us into Indian Creek from Salmon.

I grew up in Salmon, I know the family that owns and operates Gem Air. They're good people and I've flown with them several times without issue. I happen to also be a licensed whitewater guide (not a career, a working vacation every summer sort of thing) so I have had a lot of experience dealing with 135s flying folks in and out of the back country.

That said, I haven't ever looked at their record before, and it can't be ignored.

If anyone is looking for a river outfitter, I highly recommend Aggipah River Trips, family run since the 70s and the patriarch - Bill Bernt - is an old timer of the sort we'll never see again on this planet. I've been good friends with his son since high school, they're a second family to me.

Thanks CParker

There are other air taxis in the area.

McCall aviation seems to be pretty solid, Middle Fork Aviation is a stalwart that specializes in BC ops. There's also Sawtooth but I've never worked with them.

We are actually planning to fly into Indian Creek from SMN with Sawtooth, however this flight was booked by the rafting company and beyond our control. From what I can tell they seem to have a solid reputation.

scottf wrote:We are actually planning to fly into Indian Creek from SMN with Sawtooth, however this flight was booked by the rafting company and beyond our control. From what I can tell they seem to have a solid reputation.

And, GOOD FOR YOU for taking the time, the initiative and the effort to do some research on these outfits whose hands you are placing your life and the lives of your party.

Over the years, I have observed some really sketchy air taxi operators and some really, really great ones. It always amazes me that people will generally get on any licensed air taxi operators planes without the slightest research as to that outfit's safety record.

So, good for you for doing the research, and double good for you for also spreading the word. There are good (actually some great) outfits out there, so there's no need to support an operator with that sort of record.

MTV

IIRC The Caravan crash at Burley was one of theirs too.

FAA registration shows the crash at Burley was Spirit Air, out of Salmon. No idea if these are the same company or not. The unpainted smokestack it hit was Gem Potato processing.