Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
My best time as a pilot was when I flew the Alaskan wilderness as a bush pilot and then later as a contract pilot for the State of Alaska Forestry. Huge fun. Wildly satisfying. Daily challenges and opportunities for lifetime memories.
The pay wasn't all that bad either. On any day I could be flying IFR in a complex twin and the next trip I could be in the 185 or Beaver landing off airport. During my time with the forest service several times I was able to fly across the entire western half of the north American continent, from Alaska to New Mexico at low level. Totally alone and left to my own devices. Few rules. No procedures manual. No line checks. Just fun.
SkyHigh
Sky -
YOU DID IT! Congrats. There were multiple examples of upbeat elements to this post. I'll even say that I am now slighty jealous of your experience since I have long had dreams of flying the Alaskan bush - or any bush for that matter. I probably sent out 25 resumes back in the late 80's to a variety of companies in Alaska /out so much as a letter of rejection. I eventually called one (an operator that use to fly Beech 1900s - but they were struggling I think after having a mishap and the investigation found some lax procedures). When he asked where I was from (Oklahoma) he laughed and told me I basically had no chance. He advised that I take all my savings, come to Alaska and get an efficiency apt near the airport, hang around/work at an FBO and network myself into a job. He said that if I had a job by the time my savings ran out then "welcome to Alaska flying", but if not - go home. I made one of those choices that you always talk about and went a different route. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.
Well.....thanks for the one upbeat story. I see by your next post though that you slipped comfortably back into your old niche.
USMCFLYR