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Alaska Pilot Jobs Guide

Alaska Bush Airplane

Alaska flying often conjures up thoughts of rugged flying through vast landscapes. Of daring pilots that risk adverse conditions to get vital supplies into remote villages and settlements. And of tired old airplanes pushed to their life limits.

But Alaska Pilot Jobs are as varied as the state. While much of the flying is providing air travel and needed cargo deliveries to the states residents and visitors, the airplanes and types of operations this takes place under varies.

Flight training is available in Alaska – and there are flight schools that employ flight instructors. The remote flying in support of the state’s outlining communities will mostly be done by either part 135 or part 121 operators.

Alaska Part 121 Pilot Jobs

Part 121 of the federal aviation regulations (FARs) pertains to the operation of scheduled air carriers. Operations that fall under this are often said to be part 121 operators.

Part 121 operators typically fly larger and more complicated airplanes and have set schedules for doing so. They are restricted to operating at airports that have certain minimum levels of support and services.

PenAir Saab 340

Part 121 operations are more restricted than other types of flying. They have more stringent training and checking requirements for employees. Each flight is provided a flight release by an FAA licensed dispatcher. The dispatcher and captain work together to authorize the flight as safe and legal for the conditions before beginning the flight. Each flight has defined performance requirements as well as tightly defined weather minimums with alternate airport planning.

Pilots employed by part 121 carriers must hold an Airline Transport Pilot rating (ATP). There is more experience required in addition to the ATP to work a captain for part 121 carriers. Part 121 pilot jobs are among the highest paying pilot jobs in Alaska.

Part 121 carriers can either carry passengers, cargo, or a combination of each.

Part 121 Pilot Employers in Alaska

  • Corvus Airlines – Anchorage
  • Lynden Air Cargo – Anchorage
  • Northern Air Cargo – Anchorage
  • Peninsula Aviation Services (PenAir) – Anchorage

Large Part 121 Pilot Employers With Crew Domiciles in Alaska

A few large part 121 operators that are headquartered in the mainland United States have pilot crew bases in Alaska. These include:

Alaska Part 135 Pilot Jobs

If a person provides transportation of people or cargo for hire the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) require that operation to have a commercial operating certificate. As mentioned above, for scheduled operations with larger airplanes a part 121 certificate is required. For all other commercial operators that are making themselves available to the public a part 135 certificate is required.

Part 135 operators typically fly smaller and less complicated airplanes. They have more restrictions as to the type of airports (or off field landing spots) that they can fly into than non commercial carriers – but part 135 operators have a lot more landing surfaces available to them.

Part 135 operations are more restricted than non commercial carrier operations – though have significantly more freedom of operation than scheduled air carriers.

Dispatchers are not traditionally required to be involved with the operation of part 135 flights. However, in the state of Alaska, many part 135 operators are participating in the Medallion Shield program which provides dispatching services.

Pilots employed by part 135 operators must have a commercial pilot license with an instrument rating and minimum experience requirements depending on the type of operation.

Part 135 visual flight rules (VFR) pilot experience requirements:

  • 500 hours of total flight time
  • 100 hours of cross-country flight time. At least 25 hours of this must be at night.

Part 135 instrument flight rules (IFR) pilot experience requirements:

  • 1,200 hours of total flight time
  • 500 hours of cross-country flight time
  • 100 hours of night flight time
  • 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time with at least 50 hours that in actual flight

Alaska Air Ambulance Pilot Jobs

Air Ambulance employers typically operate as part 135 carriers. These will have the same basic pilot requirements as other part 135 jobs – except that many Air Ambulance operators will require additional training and/or experience.

Most fixed-wing air ambulance work takes place in King Airs, PC-12s, or smaller corporate jets.

Working as a fixed-wing air ambulance pilot has very unique duties and lifestyle. Most air ambulance work involves being on-call for long periods of time.

Alaska Bush Pilot Jobs

Bush flying operations in Alaska require a commercial operating certificate. These operations take place under part 135. Most bush pilot jobs are for visual flight rules (VFR) flying so have the minimum requirements mentioned above for part 135 VFR pilots.

Part 135 Pilot Employers in Alaska

There are a lot of part 135 operators in Alaska.

  • 40 Mile Air – Tok
  • 4 W Air, – King Salmon
  • Advanced Placement Aviation – Eagle River
  • Adventure Airways – Homer
  • Air Excursions – Juneau
  • Air Madura – Anchorage
  • Alaska Air – Talkeetna
  • Alaska Bush Floatplane Service – Talkeetna
  • Alaska Central Express – Anchorage
  • Alaska Fly-By-Night – Chugiak
  • Alaska Island Air – Togiak
  • Alaska Land Exploration – Fairbanks
  • Alaska Mountain Transport – Port Alsworth
  • Alaska Scenic Air – Aniak
  • Alaska Skyways – Anchorage
  • Alaska West Air – Nikiski
  • Alaska Wilderness Outfitting Company – Cordova
  • Alberts Air Alaska – Wasilla
  • Aleutian Specialty Aviation – King Salmon
  • Alpenglow Aviation – Wasilla
  • Alpha Aviation – Anchorage
  • Alpine Air Alaska – Girdwood
  • Andrew Airways – Kodiak
  • Antler Aviation and Wildlife Service – Dillingham
  • Arctic Air Alaska – Fairbanks
  • Arctic Air – Kenai
  • Arctic Air Transport – Anchorage
  • Arctic Backcountry Flying Service – Kotzebue
  • Arrowhead Outfitters – Wasilla
  • Arctic’s Air Academy – Palmer
  • Asher Air – Wasilla
  • Aurora Aviation Services – Delta Junction
  • Avalanche Enterprises – Port Alsworth
  • Aviation Expeditions – Fairbanks
  • Aviation USA – Anchorage
  • Backcountry Air – Wasilla
  • Baker Air – Kotzebue
  • Bald Mountain Air Service – Homer
  • Baranautica Air Service – Port Alexander
  • Bay Air – Dillingham
  • Bear Mountain Air – Wasilla
  • Beluga Air – Homer
  • Bering Air – Nome
  • Bettles Air Service – Fairbanks
  • Birchwood Aircraft Services – Bettles
  • Birchwood Air Taxi – Anchorage
  • Branch River Air Service – Anchorage
  • Bristol Bay Air Service – Dillingham
  • Brooks Flyers – Willow
  • Bush Air Cargo – Anchorage
  • Bush Hoppers – Dillingham
  • Bushwacker Air Service – Fairbanks
  • Bush Wings Air Service – Talkeetna
  • Chordline Aviation – Juneau
  • Clearwater Air – Anchorage
  • Coastal Air – Naknek
  • Coastal Seaplanes Service – Yakutat
  • Cook Inlet Aviation – Homer
  • Copper Valley Air Service – Glennallen
  • Cordova Air Service – Cordova
  • Coupchiak Aviation – Togiak
  • Coyote Air – Fairbanks
  • Craig Air – Wasilla
  • Crow Creek Air Service – Anchorage
  • Davidson Aviation – Anchorage
  • Deckload Aviation – Kodiak
  • Denali Air – Denali National Park
  • Denali Flying Service – Kodiak
  • Desert Air Transport – Anchorage
  • DioAir – Anchorage
  • Eagle River Air – Anchorage
  • Earth Center Adventures – Haines
  • Egli Air Haul – King Salmon
  • Eider Air Service – Cold Bay
  • Ellison Air – Anchorage
  • Emerald Air Service – Homer
  • Family Air Tours – Ketchikan
  • Fejes Guide Service – Anchorage
  • Flight Safety Alaska – Anchorage
  • Fly 4 You – Anchorage
  • Fly Denali – Denali National Park
  • Fox Aircraft – Wasilla
  • Freeman Carter Aviation – Homer
  • Fresh Water Adventures – Dillingham
  • Frontier Flying Service – Anchorage
  • Full Curl Aviation – Wasilla
  • God’s Country Aviation – Bethel
  • Golden Eagle Outfitters – Delta Junction
  • Goss Air Taxi – Fairbanks
  • GQ Aviation – Eagle River
  • Grant Aviation – Anchorage
  • Grasshopper Aviation – Wasilla
  • Gulf Air – Yakutat
  • Hageland Aviation Services – Anchorage
  • Harris Aircraft Services – Sitka
  • Hawk Mountain Air – Chugiak
  • High Adventure Air Charter Guides and Outfitters – Soldotna
  • Homer Air – Homer
  • Husky Air Services – Anchorage
  • Ice Age – Port Alsworth
  • Iditarod Air – Anchorage
  • Iliamna Air Taxi – Iliamna
  • J and M Alaska Air Tours – Anchorage
  • Junipogo – Chugiak
  • Kalinin Aviation – Juneau
  • Kantishna Air Taxi – Denali National Park
  • Katmai Air – Anchorage
  • Kavan Air – Anchorage
  • Kavik Aviation Services – Kenai
  • K Bay Air – Homer
  • Kenai Aviation Operations – Kenai
  • Ketchikan Airways – Anchorage
  • King Air – Naknek
  • Kingfisher Air – Kodiak
  • Lake and Peninsula Airlines – Port Alsworth
  • Lake Clark Air – Port Alsworth
  • Land and Sea Aviation Alaska – Anchorage
  • Last Frontier Air Ventures – Palmer
  • Lee’s Sea Air – Kiana
  • Legends – Willow
  • Litzen Guide Service – Kenai
  • Mack Air – Wasilla
  • Magnuson Airways – McGrath
  • Mallen Air – Fairbanks
  • McCarthy Air – McCarthy
  • Minta – Pilot Point
  • Misty Air – Wasilla
  • Misty Fjords and Outfitting – Ketchikan
  • Mountain Air Service – Ketchikan
  • Mt Hayes Air – Delta Junction
  • Mulchatna Air Taxi – Dillingham
  • N2 Alaska – Talkeetna
  • Natron Air – Soldotna
  • Navair – Fairbanks
  • Neacola Man Air – Wasilla
  • Neitz Aviation – Bethel
  • Nordic Air – Petersburg
  • Norse Flight – Anchorage
  • Northair – Kenai
  • North River Air – Kodiak
  • Northstar Aero – Fairbanks
  • Northstar Trekking – Juneau
  • Northwestern Aviation Services – Wasilla
  • Northwind Aviation – Homer
  • Nunak Air Taxi – Toksook Bay
  • Osprey Air – Chugiak
  • Otter Air – Anchorage
  • Pacific Airways – Ketchikan
  • Pacific Wings – Petersburg
  • Paklook Air – Bethel
  • Pathfinder Aviation – Anchorage
  • Pirate Airworks – Ketchikan
  • Polaris Air – Fairbanks
  • Pollux Aviation – Wasilla
  • Precision Air – Anchorage
  • Precision Plus – Chugiak
  • Ptarmigan Air – Bethel
  • Quicksilver Air – Fairbanks
  • Rainbow River Lodge Aviation – Sandy
  • Ram Aviation – Wasilla
  • RDM Pilot-Guide – Ketchikan
  • Redemption – Kodiak
  • Rediske Air – Nikiski
  • Reeve Air Alaska – Anchorage
  • Renfros Alaskan Adventures – Bethel
  • Ridgeline Aviation – Anchorage
  • RJ Aviation – Big Lake
  • Roto Aviation Company – Sutton
  • Rusts Flying Service – Anchorage
  • Ryan Air – Anchorage
  • Scenic Mountain Air – Moose Pass
  • Scott Air – Craig
  • Sea Hawk Air – Kodiak
  • Seawind Aviation – Ketchikan
  • Seward Air Taxi – Seward
  • Shadow Aviation – Fairbanks
  • Sheldon Air Service – Talkeetna
  • Silvertip Aviation – Wasulla
  • Skydance Aviation – Anchorage
  • Sky Trekking Alaska – Wasilla
  • Sluice Box – Anchorage
  • Smokey Bay Air – Homer
  • Snow Goose Airways – Anchorage
  • Sof Air – Ketchikan
  • Sound Aviation – Palmer
  • Sourdough Air Service – Bettles
  • South Bay – Anchorage
  • Southeast Aerial – Gustavus
  • Southeast Aviation – Ketchikan
  • Spernak Airways – Anchorage
  • Sportman’s Air Service – Anchorage
  • Steller Air Service – Homer
  • Suburban Air Express – Fairbanks
  • Sunday Air Taxi – Dillingham
  • Sunlight Aviation – Anchorage
  • Sunrise Aviation – Wrangell
  • Swift Fork Air – Fairbanks
  • Swift River Air – Anchorage
  • Talkeetna Aero Services – Anchorage
  • Talkeetna Air Taxi – Talkeetna
  • Talon Air Service – Soldotna
  • Tanalian Aviation – Anchorage
  • Tazimina Air – Nondalton
  • Tikchik Airventures – Dillingham
  • Tikchik Narrows Lodge – Dillingham
  • Tok Air Service – Tok
  • Trail Ridge Air – Anchorage
  • Transmountain Aviation – Kasilof
  • Transnorthern – Anchorage
  • Trinity Air – Fairbanks
  • Tri-Star Aviation – Fairbanks
  • True North Air – Dillingham
  • Trygg Air Alaska – Anchorage
  • Tucker Aviation – Dillingham
  • Tundra – Fairbanks
  • Ultima Thule Air – Chitina
  • Ursus Air – Wasilla
  • Valley Aviation – Denali National Park
  • Venture Travel – Ketchikan
  • Vertigo – Kodiak
  • Viking Air – Chugiak
  • Warbelows Air Ventures – Fairbanks
  • Ward Air – Juneau
  • Wiederkehr Air – Palmer
  • Wild Blue Air – Homer
  • Wing and a Prayer Aviation – Cantwell
  • Wings Airways – Juneau
  • Wolf Mountain Aviation – Palmer
  • Wrangell Mountain Air – McCarthy
  • Wright Air Service – Fairbanks
  • Yukon Air Service – Fairbanks
  • Yute Air Taxi – Fairbanks

Alaska Flight Instructor Jobs

Flight instructor jobs in Alaska are similar to instructor jobs in other parts of the United States. Though flying is often seasonally restricted more often in Alaska – making it difficult to have consistent paychecks.

Flight Schools in Alaska

  • Angel Aviation – Anchorage AK
  • Arctic Flyers – Anchorage AK
  • Land & Sea Aviation, LLC – Anchorage AK
  • SkyTrek Alaska Flight Training, LLC – Anchorage AK
  • Kirst Aviation – Fairbanks AK
  • ProFlite of Alaska – Fairbanks AK
  • Fly Around Alaska – Palmer AK
  • Fly Around Alaska – Talkeetna AK
  • Missionary Aviation Repair Center – Soldotna AK
  • Alaska Floats & Skis, Inc. – Talkeetna AK

Government Pilot Jobs in Alaska

Border Patrol Pilots

Several government pilot jobs are available in Alaska. These can be found with federal agencies, law enforcement agencies, state, and local governments. Some examples of available government pilot jobs include:

  • National Park Service
  • Alaska State Troopers
  • Alaska Wildlife Troopers
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Pilot
  • U.S Fish & Wildlife Service
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pilot

Alaska Pilot Pay

Pilots in Alaska are paid in similar ways to other pilot jobs in the United States. They can be paid either hourly or salary based on the type of operation and the preferences of the specific employer. Benefits at Alaska pilots employers are similar to comparable pilots jobs elsewhere.

Pilots often have higher pay rates in Alaska than they do in other parts of the country. This is to account for the higher cost of living in the state and likely won’t mean a better quality of life versus pilots living in the lower 48 states.

Greg started his professional pilot journey in 2002 after graduating from Embry Riddle. Since that time he has accumulated over 8,000 hours working as a pilot. Greg’s professional experience includes flight instructing, animal tracking, backcountry flying, forest firefighting, passenger charter, part 135 cargo, flying for a regional airline, a national low cost airline, a legacy airline, and also working as a manager in charge of Part 135 and Part 121 training programs.

Greg Thomson