Alaska - seeking advice/feedback on journey to become commercial pilot.

[Brian Hubbard]

Hello, I am new to the forum and was recommended by a friend Grant Wallace, a founding member of supercub.org to post a question here about my interest in flying to and working as a pilot in Alaska. I was thinking some background on me might be helpful for context. I am a fairly recent owner of a 1946 7 AC Aeronca Champ based out of Two Harbors, Minn. I live and work in Northern Minnesota. I have my private pilot cert and I am working on my instrument. I am aspiring to complete my commercial multi engine land and sea and perhaps flight instructor within the next 12- 18 months or so and then fly my Aeronca to Alaska from northern Minn in the summer. A slow and steady pace! I have driven the alcan hwy and lived and worked in Alaska before for one year some time ago and know the beauty and I have great respect for this vast area. I have been living on a homestead here in Minnesota for a couple of years now and I am used to living, one might say “off grid”and I would like to think this is may be helpful for my upcoming adventure to Alaska. Do you have any recommendations on where I might go to find work as a pilot in Alaska? Things to consider when flying the Aeronca to Alaska? I would like to be a float plane pilot one day or generally be in a place where I might work into a position. I am thinking SE AK but do not have a solid preference at this point. Any feedback or recommendations is greatly appreciated! I have been thinking of finding a job in education/natural resources as this is my current career and then gaining some Alaska flight time while I navigate the potential of being a commercial pilot in Alaska. Thanks for your time and consideration.

 

[DENNY]

You are on the right path!!! Having a CFI is always a good backup. The more hours the better, so fly everyday!!! Last year a young gal came up from Maine alone in a Cessna 150!! Loaded planes at lake hood for the summer and is now working as pilot in Kodiak!!! Plan on arriving in AK by this date next year. Fly everyday!!!! Hours matter to the insurance company and that matters to the boss. Go to the Great Minnesota aviation gathering, find Mike Vivion bend his ear until he gives you pointers or better yet flys with you. Bust your butt and you could be flying a beaver on floats in two years!! Everyone is looking for entry pilots right now so call around next week and see what they need as basic entry pilot. Get a second job if needed for gas and to cover training. You can sleep when you are a old guy with nothing to do but post on internet forums!!!
DENNY

 

[Charlie Longley]

It really helps to do a lot of exclamation marks!!!!!!!!

Just joking. Show up, have a good attitude and you’ll do OK. I wouldn’t put to much weight on having a CFI. I did fine growing up/ starting out as a pilot in Alaska without one.

 

[DENNY]

If ya can't be there in person to put the boot up the ass what else ya got!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DENNY

 

[alaskadrifter]

Get your ratings, and then come up and hand out resumes. Lots of good options up here right now with the pilot shortage in full swing. If you have 135 vfr hours you could go right into a 206/207, if not then there are a lot of good SIC job opportunities. I’m not the most in the loop any more with who is hiring low time pilots, but it’s a small world in AK. Let me know closer to when you are looking to come up and I’ll see if I can at least point you in the right direction. Like someone else said, this time of year (or earlier) is when most places are gearing up for the summer. If you want to do float flying you will need some Alaska time under your belt. I believe outfits like Katmai Air Taxi and Alaska Seaplanes will start you off on wheels and transition you to floats. Good luck!

 

[Brian Hubbard]

Thanks for the feedback! Great to hear! Denny-I have met with Mike Vivion a few years ago and will circle back with him. Great guy and awesome experiences! Next weekend is the Great Minnesota Aviaition Gathering and I am planning on being there.

I’ll do some research and make some calls as well on basic pilot entry positions. Thanks for the resources!!!

 

[Brian Hubbard]

Thanks for the connection! I know Don M and he has been very helpful here in Two Harbors and is helping me with planning logistics for travel to AK! Great to hear you know him as well!

 

[aktango58]

500 hours for most jobs.

500 hours to fly 135.

500 hours before they can let you fly 135.

Less than that and you can only load baggage and people until you get 500 hours.

Did I mention you need 500 hours?

The better companies begin looking in November, but really start in January for summer hires. There are jobs out there that are year around, 2 weeks on, 2 off, that will hire all year.

For floats there are few companies that look at less than 1,000 hour pilots, if all time is floats it makes a difference. Put the champ on floats!

That said, there are a few ways- Alaska Seaplanes out of Juneau, and Taquan Air in Ketchikan. Seaplanes you will fly whees for a while, but 800 hour pilots are moving to the Caravans. Taquan are floats only.

How much time do you have? Can you build float time? I know one guy that flew his personal plane on floats after work every day to get his needed hours to go commercial, his friend flew with him to get the float time...

Fly with anyone you can that has worked up here and get pointers... one of the folks around here must be able to pick up a phone and get you a job if you show your worth to them.

You learn lots from other guys that have been there... and just kidnap Mike V if you have to!:lol:

 

[Brian Hubbard]

Haha! This is helpful knowing the hours. I have a ways to go with about 175 hours and just about to do my check ride for instrument. That’s a great tip as well about floats on the Champ and flying with others that have floats. It seems so far away but starting to feel like it is attainable. Thanks!!!

 

[scout88305]

Fly that Champ to AK a few times while fuel is relatively cheaper than a few years back. Carry some jugs to take advantage of mogas when available. Up and back will net you about 50 hours per trip. If you fly a lot when up there you'll have more in the log book. Knock on doors and shake hands. Canada time is good too and many recognize that as AK time. Piloting a Champ north demonstrates good decision making and confidence. That means more to many than a pedigree of University hours as long as you have the ratings. It takes $ and time to rack hours and financing the party is hard when jobs are not flexible for extended days off. My first summer on floats I either was flying to Ontario or working. I was on a mission to accumulate hours to reduce insurance premiums and I did little else that summer. AK list is a good place to see the trends in entry level pilot requirements though you can sell yourself in some cases but insurance carriers pretty much call the shots on operators being able to take the risk. http://alaskaslist.com/?cityid=1&lang=en&search=pilot&view=ads&subcatid=94&area=

Here is a photo of Don Murray based in Two Harbors flying off my wing near Chicken AK and myself fueling my Scout at Toad River truck stop along the ALCAN highway on one of the trips north. You might as well build hours going somewhere and meeting potential employment options if one is able to have that kind of freedom. This particular trip we made AK in three days from MN. Most it took me was 5 days. Have fun!! Eric








http://alaskaslist.com/?cityid=1&lang=en&search=pilot&view=ads&subcatid=94&area=

 

[Brian Hubbard]

Thanks scout88305! Great to see the pictures of you and Don! What a trip! Thanks for the details on flight time to AK via Alcan from northern Minn and sharing the direct web link, this is helpful! Great point on flying back and forth a few times to accumulate hours. Can you or anyone else reading help me with the following? I am trying to figure out the regs if I need a Transponder to fly in/out/through Canada. I am hearing mixed feedback from a few pilots and instructors, that I do need transponder in order to cross back into the lower 48 upon return. Do you have any resources you can recommend for what equipment is needed to do this? I am working through the informatin on AOPA as my current resource. https://www.aopa.org/travel/international-travel/canada P.S. Don gave me all the sectionals from this trip and some feedback on routes, although outdated maps it’s been helpful for day dreaming on this trip and gearing up to purchase updated sectionals/TACs. Thanks!

 

[scout88305]

I believe you can still get a transponder waiver
https://www.eaa.org/~/media/Files/News/BNP-0815-Border-Crossing-v2.pdf

 

[mghallen]

Hello,

If you want to consider wheels....You can fly commercial 135 SIC with the ratings only. There is no need for 500hrs. That maybe one way to skin a cat.

I maybe hiring this fall for a SIC in Texas with future advancment to AK....

I will be happy to answer any questions however. PM me if you like.

Mike Allen

 

[skywagon8a]

....You can fly commercial 135 SIC with the ratings only.

You can only log the SIC time if a two pilot crew is required.

 

[Goose]

You can only log the SIC time if a two pilot crew is required.

There are a couple companies up here that will and are hiring pilots with commercial/instrument and less than 500 hours. As far as Aviation in Alaska, the pay has come up dramatically in the last few years and there are opportunities like I haven’t seen in 18 years of flying here. Feel free to contact if you me also if you have questions. Dennis

 

[aktango58]

You need a waiver to cross the lower border without a transponder, and it takes some time to get. Up here- not so much.

Beware of an idea to fly up here to build time and go home. Many never leave.

Take the above job offer now, and go with it!!!! Get the COM/Inst. done and get to work.

 

[Henny]

Checkout http://www.flyalaska.com/. $36 for one-year, but just about every job in the state is listed there. Gives you a good idea of where the jobs are located and what the requirements are.

 

[Brian Hubbard]

Thanks! Just signed up for the flyalaska.com. Another great resource! One can see the need for good pilots in AK after viewing the listings. I just PM Dennis and Mike Allen. Thanks aktango58 and skywagon8a!

 

[Pacerfgoe]

Get at least half of those 500 Hrs at nighttime as PIC.....you can thank me in 5 yrs.

 

[Pacerfgoe]

Double post

 

[aktango58]

We live right by 9AA9, and should have fuel there by mid-summer. If coming this way feel free to stop in, I can show you some great spots to fly a champ. Wouldn't mind getting a ride- been a while since I sold mine.

 

[Dave Calkins]

Get the ratings. Get as much time as you can afford. Show up and act like you are an individual who is trainable.

You will find a position.

AlaskaDrifter mentioned a "Katmai Air Taxi". There is a Katmai Air Service I fly and wrench for. They do not transition wheel pilots to floats.

 

[mvivion]

Brian,

Youve got lots of good advice on this forum to date. I think Dave Calkins post sums it up very well. There are lots of opportunities. A gent who posts on this forum by the handle “Speedo” went down a similar path. Would be a great idea to message him and pick his brain as well. He’s a super guy, and will offer sound advice.

Hope to see you at Anika County this weekend, and look forward to seeing that Champ.

MTV