Would you leave your flight instructing job for an Alaska air commuter pilot job?
Posted by Hahahaa94@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 46 comments
I was referred by my friend for this job in a very remote part of Alaska.
It is a Cessna 207 gig flying people and mail. 14 days on, 14 days off. They pay is about $70/hr and you get about 80 hours of flying in two weeks. They are also paying for lodging and a vehicle. There is also some guaranteed pay for abd weather days.
Currently, I'm a CFII/MEI at a 141 university and have about 600 hours. I recently got promoted to be a check instructor at this job. Hours have been very inconsistent, in a good month I can get like maybe 50-60 hours of flying, and the pay is not great.
My end goal is to work for the airlines. I'm eligible for R-ATP at a 1000 hours, but I know that nobody is getting hired at that in the current hiring environment.
It's hard to make ends meet financially being an instructor, and it will only get harder during the winter months.
Given that this is a very remote location in Alaska - it's on the frozen tundra basically, accesible only by airplane or a river - food is super expensive up there from what I heard. Also, commuting there would take like 22 hours and 4 flights.
So the question is, would it be a smart move for me to quit instructing and take this Alaska gig? Would this kind of flying would look better on a resume than flight instructing?
Thank you!
Mike93747743@reddit
Single piston in an Alaskan winter? You are in for the education of your life. A PhD in that kind of flying. That being said, it will only work if you can figure out a way to live there. That commute will rip your face off after awhile.
tingtongtravels@reddit
This is either something you know you want to do or don’t. If you’re trying to get out at 1000hrs then this isn’t the gig for you, but if you don’t mind the ride and you’re happy to spend a year learning something new then it’s the right path. I promise you’ll be humbled straight away if you go up north.
Also 80hrs of flying in two weeks seems high especially with winter coming in. Maybe the other AK guys can chime in but I think 6hrs a day of flying probably isn’t happening.
Miserable_Team_2721@reddit
I’d think long and hard about the hardships you will endure to fly a single piston in Alaska.
Yea, you will have some crazy stories to tell… both good and bad if you survive.
In my opinion, you want to be building multi time and then try to get some turbine time in there. I think those will take you further than some crazy war stories.
Working_Football1586@reddit
I’m pretty sure my friends worked for the company you’re interested in. It’s legit very difficult and sketchy flying like flying vrf in imc etc.
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
So are these mostly vfr flights then? I thought it would be IFR. Yeah that indeed sounds sketchy.
Headoutdaplane@reddit
Flights in the sled are VFR....ish.
Read "map of my dead pilots" It is dated by 15 or 20 years now but is still the most realistic look at life life flying the bush communities.
https://www.latimes.com/la-os-bush18nov18-story.html this one is from 2003 but isn't that much changed.
When you get to the airlines and are there 30 years you will still have all your flying stories from Alaska.
alti2d@reddit
Yeah… read that article 20 years ago. So did the FAA. Someone got a certificate yanked over it and got benched for a year before able to retake it and get back to an aviation job. 🤷♂️
So… clearly the FAA pays attention to those articles.
flybot66@reddit
Sure it will. If you survive, it will make you a great pilot. I would not commute though. That sounds exhausting. You are going to need your whits about you to keep it safe.
Sunsplitcloud@reddit
Do it!! Your career progression will unlikely lead you to Alaska in the future and flying in Alaska adds a different level of ‘hours’ to your resume. Plus it’s an experience of a lifetime. Make sure you establish some good QOL for your two weeks off. Try to absorb as much as you can up there. Fly safe and have fun!!
Oregon-Pilot@reddit
It’s a matter of lifestyle compatibility. You’ll be living in communal housing in a glorified double-wife with a bunch of other mostly dudes. Being gone 14 days at a time will damage relationships at home. You’ll fill tote boxes and coolers with food from your home and check them all the way to Bethel to save money on extremely overpriced groceries. The commute will suck.
Bethel is a shit hole, and you’re an outsider in their home. You’ll be treated accordingly, which means you’ve got to kind of earn your spot, in their eyes, no matter what management tells you, and they are, overall, a very good hearted group of people who will invite you to eat moose stew and partake in steam baths with them, if you’re into that, once they like you. On the flying side, you will become a god at crosswind takeoffs and landings. Runways are pothole-filled gravel strips. I can’t speak to the winter flying, as I was only up there for a few shifts over the summer because I figured out quickly that it just wasn’t for me.
In conclusion, it’s the lifestyle that’s the real part you need to think hard about.
ChopAndDrop27@reddit
Sounds rough, but the “communal housing in a glorified double-wife” could make up for it. If that’s your thing.
Oregon-Pilot@reddit
Lol sorry, corrected!
ChopAndDrop27@reddit
Yeah, it was pretty funny. We’ve all been bitten by autocorrect at one time or another.
I had a friend who took a job flying in Alaska. He lasted 1 year. He didn’t want to go thru another winter up there.
554TangoAlpha@reddit
It can be extremely rewarding and the best time of your life, it can also easily kill you. I’ve seen it happen. I loved it, but it is absurd and a different world, not for the faint of heart.
Creepy_Lime757@reddit
Ever heard of the bethel 180
aakilb@reddit
This is exactly what I did. Best career decision I’ve made thus far
justony2003@reddit
Not a flight instructor -
At my part 141 we had two instructors leave for a job in Alaska. Not sure what it is or anything like that, but they are back here instructing now. If I were in your shoes, I would go check it out. I’m sure it would be good experience, but it’s also Alaska…
Wanttobefreewc@reddit
All roads lead to Bethel!
God speed! It’s fun, challenging, and dangerous as all get out. Highly recommend!
lil_layne@reddit
All roads lead to Bethel except that no roads lead to Bethel
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
Yeah I looked on google maps and that's crazy!!
Wanttobefreewc@reddit
Highest per capita taxi cabs in the world.
And there’s a beautiful woman behind every tree!
dsmith3689@reddit
YES
alti2d@reddit
I spent (only) a couple of years in Bethel and consider those years some of the best years of my adventuresome youth. If you want more out of flying than instructing, give it a go.
When you’re older and grayer, you’ll probably look back on that time with fondness and amazement at what you’re capable of.
No, it’s not for everyone. But bad (or no) roads bring good people, and that’s who you’ll find out there working and living with you.
If I had another go around, I’d do it again, and stay longer!
bottomfeeder52@reddit
not only would I in a theoretical sense I am literally gunning for that job specifically
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
Hell yeah man!!
MyPilotInterview@reddit
What is your current ME time? How many hours per month ME are you logging. There is a lot to like about Alaska, but if you’re not getting ME time I would consider the opportunity carefully.
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
I don't have much at all, we haven't had multi students yet and probably won't til next summer.
UsedandAbused87@reddit
There no job I'd ever take in Alaska. That place sounds like my personal hell; cold, dark, snow, and isolated
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
This is also my fear.
Headoutdaplane@reddit
Yup, it keeps out the weak and the uncommitted.
UsedandAbused87@reddit
If being cold, dark, and snowy means weak and uncommitted I'll wear that name to the grave.
drowninginidiots@reddit
Do you like cold? Dark? Flying vfr in bad weather? Then it’s a great choice. Your first week you’ll probably deal with more challenges than you’ve ever dealt with before. You might also become addicted to the adventure and decide you don’t want some cushy airline job.
If you go interview, I’d suggest spending an extra day or two to see what it’s like being there. I’d also suggest moving to somewhere in the vicinity of Anchorage to save yourself a lot of traveling time and expenses. Otherwise your 14 days off effectively turns into 10 or 11 days off. It also makes it possible to take a bunch of food with you, saving a lot of money.
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
I hate the cold and the dark, but I also don't love instructing much. I'm actually decent at it, but I just miss flying the damn plane rather than talking and teaching students to do it. Thats part of it why I'm considering this job.
EezyBake@reddit
I'd take it. Some consistency and a change of scenery would be good.
I just started teaching at a school and although im having a blast, I work a second job just to support myself, so yeah
theflyingcowboy@reddit
All roads lead to bethel, head west amigo.
Greenn17h@reddit
Make sure you vet the hell out of the company. Find an ex employee or 3 and pick their brain. Talk to non-flying staff (front desk folks, etc.). I once accepted what I believed to be a dream job in Alaska. Turns out the guy was arrogant, unsafe, and a royal dick. He did an excellent job of hiding it during interviews, ground school, etc, but once we were done with that his true colors showed. After I quit the head customer service woman invited me (and the other employee who quit 12 hours after I did) out drinking where she explained that this happened every year, and he had a horrible reputation in the community.
OnigiriEnthusiast@reddit
Flying in Alaska, especially your type of gig, can be extremely challenging yet rewarding. Your aviation skills will grow exponentially. It's not for the faint of heart though. Western and Northern Alaska has chewed up and spit out many pilots, especially those from the lower 48 without any real Alaska or cold weather time. That being said, if you are up for it, I'd say yes. I loved my time flying 135 in Alaska and miss it daily
Hahahaa94@reddit (OP)
Yeah, i have a lot of mountain flying experience but no actual IMC since its too cold where I live.
OnigiriEnthusiast@reddit
That will definitely help. Just go in with wide eyes, ask questions, and be safe. As PIC, don't let anything push you around, from the operation or get the job done-itis.
DeluxeBurger01@reddit
Alaska is its own beast. Come visit. It’s winter here already, so you’ll at least get a sense of how bad it’s going to be.
I fly with several people that did the Bethel thing to build time. Some pretty amazing stories
AKcargopilot@reddit
I still have dreams of going back to the 1900 and dodging black water to land in Dutch. It was the most fun 4 years I’ve had in my career. You would build time and experience faster in AK than anywhere else.
Longjumping_Proof_97@reddit
100%
CaptMcMooney@reddit
yes, absolutely, sounds like a great adventure
jwpc59@reddit
Flying Alaska is no joke!! Take the experience and get a warm jacket.
AK_Dude69@reddit
Go visit if you’re concerned
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I was referred by my friend for this job in a very remote part of Alaska.
It is a Cessna 207 gig flying people and mail. 14 days on, 14 days off. They pay is about $70/hr and you get about 80 hours of flying in two weeks. They are also paying for lodging and a vehicle. There is also some guaranteed pay for abd weather days.
Currently, I'm a CFII/MEI at a 141 university and have about 600 hours. I recently got promoted to be a check instructor at this job. Hours have been very inconsistent, in a good month I can get like maybe 50-60 hours of flying, and the pay is not great.
My end goal is to work for the airlines. I'm eligible for R-ATP at a 1000 hours, but I know that nobody is getting hired at that in the current hiring environment.
It's hard to make ends meet financially being an instructor, and it will only get harder during the winter months.
Given that this is a very remote location in Alaska - it's on the frozen tundra basically, accesible only by airplane or a river - food is super expensive up there from what I heard. Also, commuting there would take like 22 hours and 4 flights.
So the question is, would it be a smart move for me to quit instructing and take this Alaska gig? Would this kind of flying would look better on a resume than flight instructing?
Thank you!
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