Now Hiring: Lake Clark Air! 🗣️

I applied for a ground crew job at Lake Clark Air in June of last year, hoping to get my foot in the door for a flying job eventually.

Because I didn’t meet the Part 135 VFR requirements, we discussed an alternative path to the cockpit. I’ll include that conversation, if anyone would like to negotiate a similar deal.

Here’s the job post:

A pathway to the sky—my conversation with the assistant manager…

“Starting as a full flight follower/front desk agent would be the best way to get your foot into the door and establish yourself with Lake Clark Air in order to move towards a pilot position in the future. A part 135 PIC position requires a minimum of 500 hours (25 hours at night). Lake Clark Air is usually looking for a 700-hour minimum unless we are hiring someone in house (one of our mechanics, flight followers, or ramp crew for example transitioning into pilot positions).

At your current experience and time level [400 hours], it would be most realistic to plan a 2-3 year transition into full time flying. Until you reach your 100-hour mark (25 night) Lake Clark Air has limited options for gaining the remaining time. However, we do want to see you moving forward towards your goal and would work with you as best we could to help.”

Here were some perks discussed—i imagine they’d vary depending on experience, so this is just for reference…

1) Employee rental rates on our C-172. It would be up to you to schedule rentals and you would need to obtain renters insurance. My suggestion would be to rent at night whenever conditions allow to be filling in the night time (100 hours) you will eventually need for Part 135 IFR work. Sasha Alsworth can provide additional info if you are interested in this option. 

2) Occasional opportunities to fly Part 91 and non-revenue freight to our lodge in Port Alsworth. This opportunity would not be a regular occurrence but the frequency would increase as you gain experience and time in the area.

3) Occasional opportunities to ride along on company flights and fly an empty leg with an instructor/trainer. This opportunity would not be a regular occurrence but the frequency would increase as you gain experience and time in the area. 

4) Sitting in on company ground training to make you more familiar and prepared when it is time for our formal Part 135 training.

Because these opportunities would not be a regular occurrence, working the full-time flight following position would provide regular income while you are filling in the needed flight time. This also positions you for priority training when you meet your time requirements if you have already built a good reputation within the company.   

Once you hit your 500 hours (25 night) you would be eligible for consideration for a starting position for PIC SEL. You would want to keep your position as a flight follower at this time as well. Our PIC SEL position provides a good amount of flying in the summer months but not in the winter, due to the poor weather conditions. 

If you are doing well in the SEL program then the transition from SEL to MEL would be offered when you hit your 1300 hour mark (100 night). Moving into the PIC MEL IFR position opens up year-round flying opportunities and would allow you to transition into full time pilot work and place you into position to be moving quickly into higher pilot wages.

This whole process would realistically take 2-4 years depending on how much initiative you are taking to find opportunities to advance. Lake Clark Air is structured to allow you to work into full time flying at the top end of Alaska’s pay scale, but it would take a long-term commitment and approach on your part to get to that position.

Are you interested?

Send your resume to Glen Alsworth at [email protected].

Good luck!