Pro RP: What is your current position?
I work as a utility helicopter pilot in Alaska, where a helicopter is often the only way to
transport passengers and supplies to remote areas. Conducting aerial surveys, working on pipeline and power line inspections, slinging equipment to mountaintops, or conducting crew changes for offshore platforms and container ships in the Bell 206 and 407 are just a few examples of my various tasks. The ever-changing weather can be a challenge: besides extreme temperatures, we often deal with complex weather patterns that can shift rapidly and unpredictably.
RP: Tell me about your first experience with helicopters.
Growing up near an army base in Germany, I fell in love with the sound of an approaching helicopter as a child. At the age of 14 I participated in a student exchange to Rouen, a city in North France. The father of my exchange student happened to be a helicopter pilot, and he surprised me with a flight in – I think – a Bell Jet Ranger. To this day, I remember the adrenaline rush of the vertical takeoff and being airborne for the first time in my life. After that I was hooked and became a regular visitor at a local airport for short helicopter sightseeing flights.
RP: How did you get your start in the helicopter industry?
I found myself at a crossroad in my personal and professional life and took some time to reevaluate my life goals. I came back to my childhood dream
10 Mar/Apr 2025
Meet a otor
Jani Hartung
of flying, and to satisfy my ongoing wanderlust, I began researching flight schools all over the world. After comparing training costs, visa requirements and work permits, I settled on a flight school near Portland, Oregon, known for their international program including a two- year work experience.
RPMN: When and how did you choose the
helicopter choose you?
I chose it when I set my mind on becoming a helicopter pilot in 2013. The decision to pursue a drastically different career was a major change in my life, which opened up many unexpected opportunities, but also came with substantial struggles. I had to pay out of pocket for my training, and the road to finally make a living as a pilot was long and hard. I can’t thank my family and many fantastic friends enough for their incredible support.
industry? Or did it
RP: Where did you get your start flying or maintaining professionally?
After finishing flight school I moved to Orlando, Florida, where I conducted “flightseeing” tours over the Disney attractions, the Daytona 500 racetrack, and even the Space Shuttle runway at Cape Canaveral before I relocated to the Florida Panhandle to fly customers over the famous white sandy beaches. Once I had gained the required flight experience, I was fortunate enough to be hired by Papillon Helicopters. For more than four years I took guests above the Grand Canyon, conducted VIP charter flights, and was able to advance into the utility world. While mostly being a tour pilot for so many years might not be for everyone, I always found the sheer awe in my customers’ eyes extremely rewarding.
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