Comments on: How to Become a Bush Pilot

By: Rushad Patel

Rushad Patel — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:32:24 +0000

I hold an FAA CPL and trying to find a job as a bush pilot. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Rushad

By: Andreas

Andreas — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:07:55 +0000

Is there any way how one can become a pilot even if he had a cardiac operation (valve replacement) ??

By: MORT MASON

MORT MASON — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:11:24 +0000

I was an Alaska bush pilot for 35-years, and logged 20,000 safe flying hours. In all that time, I never once came across a “bush pilot flying course” of any nature. One does not require any license beyond a Commercial Pilot License to flly and charge freight or passengers. If flying floats, a Commercial ASES (Airplane Single Engine Land) rating is required to charge others for your flying.

To be a bush pilot, you must either own your own airplane (no one will rent an airplane to you for that sort of flying!) or work for (a) an air taxi operator, (b) a hunting/fishing lodge, or (c) an Alaska Registered Guide.

I speak for North America, of course, and know nothing about African bush flying. I did once accept a position with Bally Air Service in Dar es Salaam (with Tim Bally) at one time, but did not travel to Africa after having learned that I would have to buy my own uniforms. The salary was too meager for that, I thought.

And, by the way, I was also an Alaska Registered Guide for those 35-years. My two books, “Fying the Alaska Wild” and “The Alaska Bush Pilot Chronicles” will give you a better insight into what flying the bush is really all about.

Still, great article!

By: JV

JV — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:58:49 +0000

I have been looking into this as a possible career choice. This article answered most of my questions that I had.

By: africanbushpilot

africanbushpilot — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:55:19 +0000

I like the article.
I’m a bush pilot in Tanzania with Cessna Caravans.
I have flown in Botswana as well.

I have a blog too africanbushpilot.blogspot.com

By: KiloHotel

KiloHotel — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:48:54 +0000

Thanks for the info. Being a bush pilot is my life dream!

By: Florian Rhyn

Florian Rhyn — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:24:26 +0000

Good afternoon!

Thank you very much! It is wrote very clearly. In the whole internet so many bushpilots say, that they went to Canada/Alaska/Somewhere and became a bushpilot. But I never came to know, how I can became one of them.
My father’s got a 1959 Cessna 175 Skylark. I flew with him across europe since I was eight years old. Now I’m 18 and it was ever the greatest wish for me to fly in the wilderness. I hope, after my apprenticeship I’m going to live my dreams!
When I age to 20, then I travel to New Bern to get the PPL, like my father. Mercifully I was born in New York, so I have an US-Passport and one of Switzerland. Maybe I’m going to became first a glacier pilot here in Switzerland and then going to Alaska or Norway to be Bush-/Taxi-Pilot!
Oops, I wrote down my whole livestory! Sorry for this! But it’s a great exercise to learn english.

Best greetings from Switzerland!

Florian

By: N. Chrystine Olson

N. Chrystine Olson — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:39:34 +0000

Great article. I know a few bush pilots and they all love their work. Also handy friends to have if you love to fly and haven’t gotten your own license yet. I still get shivers when I think of landing on the Ruth Glacier in Alaska a couple years back.

By: J. Bortfost

J. Bortfost — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:11:41 +0000

Very nice Cedric, I enjoyed the article a lot. Very informative. I have been doing my ppl and now want to get a commercial license. The whole idea of becoming a bush pilot is very attractive and you steered me in the right direction Thank you!