How to go from zero to bush pilot in Alaska?
Posted by LegitimatePlatypus96@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Hello! I (30M) have decided that I want to move to Alaska in the spring of '27 and work in aviation. I'm aware of the danger involved, but the idea of eventually working as some sub-type of bush pilot in Alaska (float pilot, glacier pilot, etc.) is absolutely enchanting to me. I've been in large and small planes a lot but I've never flown one before. Later this summer I'd like to visit Alaska for up to a week to have some fun, check things out a bit and maybe make some connections. Maybe I'd do a discovery flight on that trip if it makes sense and I'm lucky enough to find someone to do that with.
Currently I work two restaurant jobs in Minneapolis, MN and I have no experience working in aviation. My new and still-evolving plan is to continue working both jobs until the end of summer and then quit the lower paying one to get a job working in aviation, probably something like a ramp agent at MSP airport in order to get aviation experience and get closer to the industry. I would then work those jobs until the spring and move to Alaska as soon as my employment and housing situation there is sorted.
At this time, I have enough to pay the low end of what it costs to get a private pilot's license. I'm inclined to just study, do flight simulators, and maybe even ground school while I'm working and saving in MN. I think it makes more sense to do the actual flight training and PPL acquisition in Alaska though, as I'd rather learn to fly in the actual environment where I would be flying and be taught by people who have actually flown there. In theory, all of my flight hours would be "Alaska hours" as an added bonus for doing it that way. From there, I have a lot more questions.
What would I have to do to get from my PPL to the point where I'm a commercial bush pilot flying for a company in Alaska? Do companies there often offer to pay for your instrument rating and commercial license in exchange for a certain amount of time working for them? Does it make more sense for me to do something other than ramp agent in the meantime? How solid of a plan is this overall? What would you do differently?
Sorry for the wall of text. Would especially love to hear from people in Alaska, but any and all feedback is appreciated.
bowleshiste@reddit
Sorry, but this is not a solid plan at all.
No one is going to pay for your pre-ATP ratings. There are more commercial pilots than there are jobs, so there's zero reason for a company to pay for a non-commercial pilot to train when there are plenty available that are already trained.
I also wouldn't recommend doing your PPL in Alaska. I don't have personal experience, but pilots in Alaska have a reputation for bending the rules a bit and flying planes with sketchy maintenance. Do you PPL somewhere else. Learn to fly the way you're supposed to in a plane and weather that are less likely to kill you, then go learn to be a cowboy later.
Commercial_Meat_8522@reddit
Where did this guy come up with this idea?
bowleshiste@reddit
He said something about having zero aviation experience before he deleted the post. So it basically came from knowing nothing about the industry
LegitimatePlatypus96@reddit (OP)
Wow. I should completely abandon this plan and come up with something else. Thanks for letting me know that this career path is just as cooked and inaccessible as the rest of them.
draggingmytail@reddit
There’s currently a surplus of pilots, especially low time pilots. No one’s going to hire a PPL to do anything, because they can’t legally fly for your company.
I can’t speak towards bush flying, but you’re going to need to get your commercial on your own before anyone will even touch you.
Emergency_Rhubarb_91@reddit
Never heard of a company paying for instrument and commercial. If you find one let me know bc I’ll be applying. You are going to have to pay for all your training most likely.
LegitimatePlatypus96@reddit (OP)
That is a preposterous amount of money. There's no way all of these people just have that. Is everyone doing this either a millionaire or chained to it by massive debt?
MLZ005@reddit
Or took longer and got their ratings while working
Murphy0317@reddit
If that’s your passion and dream, follow it.
Loads more folks will be able to comment of the Alaska part of your dream. But seems to me you should try and get a ramp hand/ dock hand job up there over MSP. Try and get up this summer to not waste a season.
LegitimatePlatypus96@reddit (OP)
I'm definitely the type to "just go for it," but I also understand that Alaska is a very dangerous and expensive place. I need another year to stack up if I want to comfortably pull off a move there and a PPL acquisition. Industry transition would also add another layer of unnecessary uncertainty to an already bold plan.
554TangoAlpha@reddit
No one is going to pay for your training besides you. Yes, it is slightly better to get all your hours and ratings in AK if you want to work there long term. Will also help with networking. Sounds like you should move to ANC, keep working and get ratings on the side at merril field or wherever. CFI in ANC until you get hired on somewhere out west like Bethel. Hope you like being a "bush pilot" in Bethel lol. Also, don't come up to alaska and go around telling people you want to be a "bush pilot" all the real bush pilots died years ago. Now its more like following the magenta line on your garmin from Bethel to Kipnuk and back all day in a clapped out 207. But hey you get to go home to a barely working frat house with you and 6 of your new best friends for 2 weeks at a time.
Commercial_Meat_8522@reddit
Haha no one is going to pay for your training. Low time pilots are a dime a dozen . If you can’t deal with these things then don’t do it
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello! I (30M) have decided that I want to move to Alaska in the spring of '27 and work in aviation. I'm aware of the danger involved, but the idea of eventually working as some sub-type of bush pilot in Alaska (float pilot, glacier pilot, etc.) is absolutely enchanting to me. I've been in large and small planes a lot but I've never flown one before. Later this summer I'd like to visit Alaska for up to a week to have some fun, check things out a bit and maybe make some connections. Maybe I'd do a discovery flight on that trip if it makes sense and I'm lucky enough to find someone to do that with.
Currently I work two restaurant jobs in Minneapolis, MN and I have no experience working in aviation. My new and still-evolving plan is to continue working both jobs until the end of summer and then quit the lower paying one to get a job working in aviation, probably something like a ramp agent at MSP airport in order to get aviation experience and get closer to the industry. I would then work those jobs until the spring and move to Alaska as soon as my employment and housing situation there is sorted.
At this time, I have enough to pay the low end of what it costs to get a private pilot's license. I'm inclined to just study, do flight simulators, and maybe even ground school while I'm working and saving in MN. I think it makes more sense to do the actual flight training and PPL acquisition in Alaska though, as I'd rather learn to fly in the actual environment where I would be flying and be taught by people who have actually flown there. In theory, all of my flight hours would be "Alaska hours" as an added bonus for doing it that way. From there, I have a lot more questions.
What would I have to do to get from my PPL to the point where I'm a commercial bush pilot flying for a company in Alaska? Do companies there often offer to pay for your instrument rating and commercial license in exchange for a certain amount of time working for them? Does it make more sense for me to do something other than ramp agent in the meantime? How solid of a plan is this overall? What would you do differently?
Sorry for the wall of text. Would especially love to hear from people in Alaska, but any and all feedback is appreciated.
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