As a new commercial pilot, I'm looking to build time as a bush pilot. Do any of you guys know of any supplementary bush pilot training, before entering the field? Thanks!

 

There are lots of bush flying classes for weekend warrior types. For a professional pilot, most of the time, it's on the job training and mentorship though. My friends who fly back country Alaska have never taken those bush flying clinics in Idaho and such.

-An A&P is almost mandatory if you want a real bush flying job, in super cubs, 185s and whatnot flying in the BC or Alaska.

-Like helicopters, it's a unique set of qualifications and type of work that removes you from a lot of other types of aviation. You'll have to wear many hats.


Aviation is shrinking rapidly. Sometimes the best thing to do is keep your head in the books, because you never know when you'll have to self teach yourself skills that you will have to employ. It's not the safest way of doing things, but there isn't always someone around to hold your hand. This is a great website. It's not all short field landings and takeoffs from sandbars, back country flying is a lot of reading terrain and weather and creating your own VFR transition routes through rugged terrain for winds, obstacles, performance and emergency landing sites. This site is great, especially his ridge crossing advice.


http://www.mountainflying.com/index.html


to re-iterate, I'm not recommending going out and trying everything with no instruction, I'm just saying sometimes flying is that way.

 

Thanks, appreciate the tips!