ALASKA- Fact or Fiction

[CatcherintheSky]

I have heard the stories about guys just showing up and going for it. Bugging chief pilots until they let them sit right seat or fly 206's.

Anybody done it?

I am a CFII with about 700TT and 80 me and would love to fly in Alaska, the thought of being on your own, flying through amazing wilderness...excitement, beauty, flying...Ding sold.

Any advice appreciated.

"Live the dream. It is your life....do whatever the hell you want."

 

[embdrvr]

I got my first "real" flying job by hanging out at an airport where the CP would layover and bugging him in nice sort of way.

 

[2000flyer]

If I were you, I'd try to get a job as a CFI at Merril, then work yourself around the other operators. Just going in cold and "bugging the CP" will become very expensive, especially during the summer tourist season.

It would be my opinion that unless you have mountain experience, preferrably Alaska experience, you'd be a LONG shot at getting hired. I'm not saying it can't be done, but Alaska flying while exciting can also be very unforgiving. I've flown with a friend up there into a strip that was about 75-80' wide and roughly 1500' long. Not being current SEL, there is NO WAY IN THE WORLD I'd attempt that landing on my own for the first time. Heaven forbid the lone moose and bear that should happen to wonder out during takeoff! (Just after landing we found a moose not 20 feet from the runway!).

Just watch the NTSB website that lists daily accidents and you'll see just about one a day in Alaska. Many of those are from very experienced pilots.

I certainly don't mean to sound so discouraging. I just feel you'd have better chances getting a CFI job then making the transition to Bush flying.

IMHO.

2000Flyer

 

[Alaskaairlines]

There are quite a few guys that just go for it, drive up and talk to about every flying company here - usually most get on, but AK experience is key!

EMB, what was your first job?

Well 1500 feet is just about as short as you would want an airstrip for a loded single. I have a friend who fly Conquests, and he gets them boys in about 1800 strips. The rules say he need about 2100 for talkoff, but there is ony 1800 there - but they do it each and everyday. Some of those strips can be only 40' wide and 500' short - but thats more like for Taildraggers.

 

[2000flyer]

We went into the strip in a C206 with those honken huge tundra tires. I don't know about you guys, but I do like the way the look on aircraft, especially a Cub or Husky!

I did get some time in the aircraft as we flew around north of PANC marking moose for an upcoming hunt.

2000Flyer

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Thats lots of fun! Them tires make that Cessna look awesome, and sure nice on rough terain - just flops right over those boulders!

 

[embdrvr]

EMB, what was your first job?

Well 1500 feet is just about as short as you would want an airstrip for a loded single. I have a friend who fly Conquests, and he gets them boys in about 1800 strips. The rules say he need about 2100 for talkoff, but there is ony 1800 there - but they do it each and everyday. Some of those strips can be only 40' wide and 500' short - but thats more like for Taildraggers.

Hey Alaska,
I can't really talk about that first job until the statute of limitations runs out.


Just kidding. It was a really crappy freight flying job but I learned a lot about wx, mx, and decision making. I've flown a Conquest and you can land them pretty short. The problem with any twin on a short runway is trying to abort the takeoff when you lose an engine. In the Pt 121 world we calculate V1 or takeoff safety speed for every departure. Anything bad that happens before we attain V1 we know that we can safely abort. Problem on a short runway is that V1 is a long way from Vr (rotation speed).
Bottom line is that the short runway is fine in any twin as long as you don't ever have to do an abort.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Right on EMBDRVR!

 

[Rick1128]

Catcher,

I would also suggest that you go the Alaska CFI route. I don't knoe of any Alaska operator that does require Alaska experience. The area is just too unforgiving not to. These operators have learn by experience that they need to do this. And it has been expensive experience. More so for some than others.

I have seen way too many pilots, show up who just gotten the seaplane rating, thinking that their now a real 'bush' pilot. They're not even close to starting to become one.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

I'd also add, those guys out in the bush do most of the flying with specials, like 1 mile vis and watching the capstone (quite nice, actually).

They are basically flying VFR in IFR conditions, some call it Bush pilot VFR.

 

[fizz]

IT CAN HAPPEN!!

I came to Anchorage from Colorado 8 days ago with purpose of finding a job. I pounded miles of tarmac, knocked on lots of doors, and talked to many, many people only to hear over and over: "Thanks, but we don't need any pilots right now".
Discouragment was setting in pretty deep, but last night the old addage about the sqeeky wheel proved to be correct. The guy I had been badgering the most called and hired me to come work for him at his small air-taxi flying a C-207 and a Baron. I may have been lucky, but I was also very determined and worked very hard at it. My biggest assets were a place to stay near Anchorage, and these two web sites:

hppt://www.flyalaska.com
The $20.00 for the extra info was worth it.

http://www.adn.com
Anchorage Daily News. Check the classifieds under Aviation.

Good luck. It can happen

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Well Congrats!!

I think all your flight time also added weight to your resume - good luck. PM if you get a chance, we can dicuss some more aviation here in AK.

 

[2000flyer]

IT CAN HAPPEN!!

I may have been lucky, but I was also very determined and worked very hard at it. My biggest assets were a place to stay near Anchorage, and these two web sites:

hppt://www.flyalaska.com
The $20.00 for the extra info was worth it.

http://www.adn.com
Anchorage Daily News. Check the classifieds under Aviation.

Good luck. It can happen

Fizz,

The BIG difference here is you have over 7000 hours total time (according to your profile) and the original poster has 700 hours. Not exactly apples to apples.

2000Flyer

 

[2Green]

Catcher,

You remind me of yourself a few years ago. The difference is that I had even less time. I had the same desire to see a beautiful, vast wilderness and find out what the Alaska flying thing was about. So I quit my job and went to Alaska.

The bottom line is this: If you go up and are determined, you will find a job. It may take some time, and it will take some rainy day cash to get you through the search and then training.

Go to all the bush operators with HQ in ANC: Grant, Hagelands, Arctic, PenAir, and others I've forgotten. Also go to FAI and drive down University Ave next to the airport. You will find one bush operator after another. Most companies have HQ's in these two cities.

Take the first job offered. Once you reach 500 Alaska, the golden number, you can start looking again. By that time you will have networked and know what you want.

I would suggest, if you have a say, getting on flying in the bush (no roads in or out). This is where the action is. The bush is where you get the wild stories, make the most money, and learn the most about yourself and your skills. You will hear more stupid sh!t than you could ever believe. One thing that makes AK so interesting are the characters you meet.

Most companies provide housing, transportation, and time off. All you need to take is a toothbrush, maybe a laptop, and definitely an open mind. It can be a brutal, unforgiving place. You will develop exceptional decision making skills by necessity. You will do things you never dreamt of. You will fly VFR in weather that you have no business being in. VFR 135 boils down to 500/2. If it's that, you go. If it's a mile and clear, you get a special, and you still go. Believe it or not, you won't think twice about it after doing it a few times. You'll be sitting in the office, checking the wx every five minutes, and praying for the ceiling to get to 500. IFR - I Fly River.

The Capstone gps is pretty slick. If you get in a Capstone equipped a/c remember these two things: It can get you further into a jam because you're relying on the moving map, so ALWAYS have an out. Also, remember that your a/c is displayed on the main capstone system and it can be used in enforcement action.

I made more money in Alaska than I had in any corporate job before or any flying job since. I took home an average of $1000/week. If I made less I was pissed. I flew more hours than I could stand. Averaged maybe 130/month with 175 being the most.

I wouldn't trade my experience for anything. It gave me the confidence to do anything in life I want. I made friends that I will keep forever. I have memories and stories that, for some reason, make mouths go agape on pilots I've worked with since.

It's hard, dirty, nasty work. Most love it but some don't. Is it dangerous? Yes. Can you die? Yes.

I'll quote you:

"Live the dream. It is your life....do whatever the hell you want."

Do you mean it?

 

[CatcherintheSky]

Thanks 2Green and others for the advice and ecouragement. I am so glad to talk to those who have done it and help me get my SH*& together. I don't want to end up one of those guys moping around the airport because I have totally burned out of instructing. I love flying too much for that.

I may have an in at one of the commuters out of ANC and I am thinking of sticking it out through the summer to get my total time closer to IFR 135 mins since it looks like I will be able to average close to 125hrs a month over the next few months.

I am committed to not be flight instructing for another winter, so when it comes time, I am making the commitment 100%. I will move there, stick it out and make it happen.

Thanks again guys and I will keep you posted. After all maybe I will just pack up and leave tommorrow.

Live the life.

 

[scubabri]

whats the best route to drive from Minnesota to Anchorage? Without taking a ferry?

Brian

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Basically make your way across to the Alcan and then on up - really easy. Just sketch youtself a mattern on the map.

Fizz, mind telling who you got on with?