06/12/2026
Bringing the Beaver home on floats for summer always makes us a little emotional.
Every year it’s an ordeal getting Big Bird off the water before freeze-up and back on floats as soon as the thaw allows. This year the stakes were even higher- she got a brand new engine. If you know anything about ordering airplane parts and shipping to rural Alaska, you can only begin to imagine the fiasco of having anything done even close to as planned. And then, of course, there’s the sheer labor of actually putting it all together. Then getting the floats reinstalled which requires an appointment and trip to the big city. Two steps forward, one step back, but always one foot in front of the other. Thankfully, we have a fantastic team and we got it done, together.
It doesn’t feel like summer has truly begun until she’s home…
…and she is home, now. So here is to the start of another epic Alaskan air taxi summer! ✈️💙🏔️
Tia | Alaska Beaver pilot
Martin Boniek Dock hand 1
Connor Heaton Dock hand 2
Behind the scenes:
Amanda Barker Photographer
Rebecca Boniek Dogs & sunshine
