Flying Wild Alaska

mikea said:
I sure am glad that I don't fly way up dere in Alaska where those brave, brave pilots have to face LANDING IN A CROSSWIND!

"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."

Got that, Ariel?
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If she's spending most of her time in the LA area going to college, why isn't she taking lessons down there?
 
murphey said:
If she's spending most of her time in the LA area going to college, why isn't she taking lessons down there?
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Because it is a good story-line to carry the semi-scripted show that she co-produces from episode to episode.

According to her college newspaper, her goal in life is to have her own TV show. With flying wild alaska she is about 1/2 way there. She is a co-producer and cast herself as this ditzy teenager when in fact she is 25, has a communications degree (or is about to get it) and hasn't worked on the family farm for 6 years.

This is a show, not much 'reality' to it. I like it because it displays the useful aspects of GA. But you can't take the contrived story lines, the fake drama and the poor sound and video editing too seriously.
 
Ariel's voice makes me want to poke my ears with icepicks.

The overly-dramatic scenes of flaps being deployed, and windsocks flying in the breeze, make me want to throw a brick at my tv.
 
mikea said:
I sure am glad that I don't fly way up dere in Alaska where those brave, brave pilots have to face LANDING IN A CROSSWIND!

"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."

Got that, Ariel?
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Slightly off topic, but I was watching a news show yesterday (don't recall which station) that had commercial airliners in the UK, I think, landing in SUCH STRONG CROSSWINDS that they had to develop NEW LANDING TECHNIQUES to land.

After the commercial, they showed one airliner landing in a crab and definitely side-loading the gear, such that the nose whipped over to parallel the runway immediately after touch down. (I think I did that too, early in my flying career.)

The second and third airliners actually, wait for it ... crabbed into the wind, and then kicked the crab out right before touchdown and remained generally alligned with the runway. UNBELIEVABLE! :yikes:

I hope that someday I can learn those "new" crosswind landing techniques. :rolleyes:
 
I see lots of airliners landing in a crab and side loading the gear... I think they are trained to do that on the bigger birds.. The gear is designed to just take it
 
On some airliners, bank angle at touchdown is limited due to the engine nacelles hanging under the wing. Especially with four engines.
 
Just out of curiosity, where's TSA at Unalakleet. I see turboprops and pax but no scanners and blue-handed inspectors. I didn't think anyone got a free ride.
 
On some airliners, bank angle at touchdown is limited due to the engine nacelles hanging under the wing. Especially with four engines.
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I heard a rumor years ago that Boeing spend a bunch of money redesigning the nacelles on 737's to increase the clearance a few inches.
 
mikea said:
I sure am glad that I don't fly way up dere in Alaska where those brave, brave pilots have to face LANDING IN A CROSSWIND!

"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."
"You need to use the aileron."
"You need to use the rudder."

Got that, Ariel?
Click to expand...


heh - I had to start laughing when I saw that part.
 
weilke said:
Because it is a good story-line to carry the semi-scripted show that she co-produces from episode to episode.

According to her college newspaper, her goal in life is to have her own TV show. With flying wild alaska she is about 1/2 way there. She is a co-producer and cast herself as this ditzy teenager when in fact she is 25, has a communications degree (or is about to get it) and hasn't worked on the family farm for 6 years.

This is a show, not much 'reality' to it. I like it because it displays the useful aspects of GA. But you can't take the contrived story lines, the fake drama and the poor sound and video editing too seriously.
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Think of all the story lines that shows as bogus.

Ariel's upset because Pons is going to Bethel. What happens when she's in LA?
She's never been kissed because all of the few guys around are her cousins. All the guys in LA, too? :dunno:
 
weilke said:
Because it is a good story-line to carry the semi-scripted show that she co-produces from episode to episode.

According to her college newspaper, her goal in life is to have her own TV show. With flying wild alaska she is about 1/2 way there. She is a co-producer and cast herself as this ditzy teenager when in fact she is 25, has a communications degree (or is about to get it) and hasn't worked on the family farm for 6 years.

This is a show, not much 'reality' to it. I like it because it displays the useful aspects of GA. But you can't take the contrived story lines, the fake drama and the poor sound and video editing too seriously.
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I know, I know, I know. I can enjoy with the pseudo-reality that they create with everything else, but this just grates on my logic-nerves.
 
weilke said:
Because it is a good story-line to carry the semi-scripted show that she co-produces from episode to episode.

According to her college newspaper, her goal in life is to have her own TV show. With flying wild alaska she is about 1/2 way there. She is a co-producer and cast herself as this ditzy teenager when in fact she is 25, has a communications degree (or is about to get it) and hasn't worked on the family farm for 6 years.

This is a show, not much 'reality' to it. I like it because it displays the useful aspects of GA. But you can't take the contrived story lines, the fake drama and the poor sound and video editing too seriously.
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Yep- probably 99% boring in reality.
 
What I don't understand is how those tiny little dogs can do OK in the snow (and they seem to like it)..... that is some pretty harsh weather.
 
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weilke said:
This is a show, not much 'reality' to it. I like it because it displays the useful aspects of GA. But you can't take the contrived story lines, the fake drama and the poor sound and video editing too seriously.
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While I like to complain about aspects of the show too, consider that it makes general aviation flying seem an approachable endeavor at the same time that it is exciting, noble ("only lifeline to America's last frontier,") and even heroic ("battling -40 degree winters....")

I also liked the interview and back story of how Sarah decided to become a pilot, and the enthusiasm in her voice on just how much she enjoys flying in Alaska.
 
Hell, I'd watch it just to see a couple of takeoffs and landings. Where else in the thousand channel wasteland do you get to see that?
 
Jim Logajan said:
While I like to complain about aspects of the show too, consider that it makes general aviation flying seem an approachable endeavor at the same time that it is exciting, noble ("only lifeline to America's last frontier,") and even heroic ("battling -40 degree winters....")

I also liked the interview and back story of how Sarah decided to become a pilot, and the enthusiasm in her voice on just how much she enjoys flying in Alaska.
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I wish they showed more of Sarah and less of Ariel. She truly has a passion for aviation and it seems like she is a darn good pilot
 
DavidWhite said:
I wish they showed more of Sarah and less of Ariel. She truly has a passion for aviation and it seems like she is a darn good pilot
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Agreed. Did you see the one where both she and John crabbed the planes onto the runway - one after the other - in that gusty crosswind on the snow?
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
Agreed. Did you see the one where both she and John crabbed the planes onto the runway - one after the other - in that gusty crosswind on the snow?
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Yes.

Plus Sarah is WAY hotter than Ariel.
 
DavidWhite said:
Yes.

Plus Sarah is WAY hotter than Ariel.
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Oh and she did that flour bombing in a taildragger and that upset training too.

I looked back on the first season which is in Netflix streaming and saw one episode with a female / male pilot married couple - both worked for Era - the girl was a blonde - what happened that female pilot? Has she been on other episodes?
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
Oh and she did that flour bombing in a taildragger and that upset training too.

I looked back on the first season which is in Netflix streaming and saw one episode with a female / male pilot married couple - both worked for Era - the girl was a blonde - what happened that female pilot? Has she been on other episodes?
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I think you mean Sarah and Pons. They were dating in the first season, but broke it off in before the second season. Maybe he spent a little too much time with Ariel.......if you know what I'm sayin.
 
TripleZ said:
I think you mean Sarah and Pons. They were dating in the first season, but broke it off in before the second season. Maybe he spent a little too much time with Ariel.......if you know what I'm sayin.
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No I do not. I mean a MARRIED couple, not in Unakleet - in one of Era's many other hubs in Alaska. The girl was blonde and talked about how she used to be an airline pilot and was away from her husband 21 days a month and now they see each other every night. Definitely not Sarah.
 
TripleZ said:
I think you mean Sarah and Pons. They were dating in the first season, but broke it off in before the second season. Maybe he spent a little too much time with Ariel.......if you know what I'm sayin.
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Stop it. Ariel has "never been kissed." She said, "TEE HEE TEE God no! Not like that!" when Pons left.
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
Oh and she did that flour bombing in a taildragger and that upset training too.
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Would have loved to have seen those negotiations...

"Jim, if you want me on your daughter's silly TV show this year, you're paying for upset training. It'll be good TV and I get to log something useful." ;)
 
I do like that they show female pilots out there, so women have more role models! Though Ariel has said a couple times that her entire family except her have pilot certificates, but you never see her mother or sister flying!
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
No I do not. I mean a MARRIED couple, not in Unakleet - in one of Era's many other hubs in Alaska. The girl was blonde and talked about how she used to be an airline pilot and was away from her husband 21 days a month and now they see each other every night. Definitely not Sarah.
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Sarah was originally one of their office staff wasn't she ?
 
yep - that was in last week's episode. As she ran down her bio, she said she was office staff and wanted to fly.
 
Well, I'll pass along all your best wishes....

Moving to Alaska for college, this adventurous woman has hobbies such as ice climbing, hunting and my favorite, flying! Sarah started to learn to fly in 2003 and has quickly worked her way up to flying a Cessna 207 out of Bethel for Era Alaska. Sound familiar? Yes, this is Sarah Fraher, who you can watch brave extreme flying conditions on the show "Flying Wild Alaska" on the Discovery Channel!


Sarah has graciously offered to commute from Alaska to Frederick, MD to attend the Women Fly it Forward event. She is overjoyed to introduce our future flyers to aviation and will be an inspirational addition to to what is destined to be a memorable event. We look forward to having her!
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Yay to Victoria!
 
gprellwitz said:
I do like that they show female pilots out there, so women have more role models! Though Ariel has said a couple times that her entire family except her have pilot certificates, but you never see her mother or sister flying!
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I know, and every time they show the father and mother in a plane, she acts like a "passenger" - not like someone with a PPL. You never hear her talk about pilot stuff. Does the FAA show they all have PPL's?
 
kimberlyanne546 said:
I know, and every time they show the father and mother in a plane, she acts like a "passenger" - not like someone with a PPL. You never hear her talk about pilot stuff. Does the FAA show they all have PPL's?
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Ariel has a Student Pilot certificate and first-class medical, dated 4/2011.

Ayla has a Private ASEL and second-class medical, dated 6/2011.

Jim has an ATP/AMEL with comm privileges on ASEL and first-class medical dated 11/2011.

"Elaine Lenore" (presumably Ferno) has Private ASEL and third-class medical dated 1/2010.

So, yes it appears that they are all certified pilots except Ariel.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Ariel has a Student Pilot certificate and first-class medical, dated 4/2011.

Ayla has a Private ASEL and second-class medical, dated 6/2011.

Jim has an ATP/AMEL with comm privileges on ASEL and first-class medical dated 11/2011.

"Elaine Lenore" (presumably Ferno) has Private ASEL and third-class medical dated 1/2010.

So, yes it appears that they are all certified pilots except Ariel.
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Wow. Thanks.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
"Elaine Lenore" (presumably Ferno) has Private ASEL and third-class medical dated 1/2010.
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Elaine is another daughter who has not appeared on the show.

I could not find an FAA database record for Ferno under either her maiden name (which appears to have been Ryan) or Tweto.

Ron Tweto, brother of Jim Tweto, who died a few years ago still appears in the FAA database.

This 2010 story provides some tidbits:
Her sister Ayla, 24, is training to be a paramedic in Anchorage but visited Unalakleet on weekends and also appears in the show. Another sister, 21-year-old Elaine, spent the fall in London. Both are pilots.
​
"I had written into the contract that I get to review all these episodes so I can make sure that they don't inadvertently show something that's not legal just because they took it out of context," Jim Tweto said.​
http://www.adn.com/2010/12/18/1611395/alaska-bush-pilots-fly-as-the.html
 
Jim Logajan said:
Elaine is another daughter who has not appeared on the show.

I could not find an FAA database record for Ferno under either her maiden name (which appears to have been Ryan) or Tweto.

Ron Tweto, brother of Jim Tweto, who died a few years ago still appears in the FAA database.

This 2010 story provides some tidbits:
Her sister Ayla, 24, is training to be a paramedic in Anchorage but visited Unalakleet on weekends and also appears in the show. Another sister, 21-year-old Elaine, spent the fall in London. Both are pilots.
​
"I had written into the contract that I get to review all these episodes so I can make sure that they don't inadvertently show something that's not legal just because they took it out of context," Jim Tweto said.
​
http://www.adn.com/2010/12/18/1611395/alaska-bush-pilots-fly-as-the.html
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That makes sense. So maybe when she says "I am the last in my family to do this" she really means the last of her siblings.
 
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