Flying Wild Alaska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flying Wild Alaska |
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| Created by | Discovery Channel |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 31 |
| Production | |
| Production location(s) | Alaska, United States |
| Running time | Approx. 43 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | Discovery Channel (2011–2012) |
| Original release | January 14, 2011 – July 20, 2012 |
Flying Wild Alaska was a documentary TV show that aired on the Discovery Channel in 2011 and 2012.
The show follows the Tweto family from Unalakleet, Alaska. They run a big airline called Era Alaska. Their main operations are based in Unalakleet. The show also features adventures from their other bases in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Deadhorse, and other remote places in Alaska. It shows how they deal with extreme weather and challenging flights to deliver important supplies and people.
Contents
Meet the Tweto Family and Pilots
The Tweto Family
- Jim Tweto was the chief operating officer (COO) of Era Alaska. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska at 18 for a hockey scholarship. Soon, he discovered his love for flying. In 1980, he moved to Unalakleet, where he met his wife, Ferno. When several airlines merged in 2009, Jim became the COO of the new, larger Era Alaska.
- Ferno Tweto is the Unalakleet station manager and Jim's wife. She grew up in Unalakleet and is also a pilot. Ferno met Jim when he arrived in Unalakleet, and they have worked together at the airline ever since. They have three daughters, and two of them are featured on the show.
- Ariel Tweto is Jim and Ferno's second daughter. She works with the ground crew in Unalakleet. Ariel is also known for being a contestant on the TV game show Wipeout. During Flying Wild Alaska, Ariel started taking flight lessons to become a pilot, and she earned her private pilot certificate in 2012.
- Ayla Tweto is also part of the Unalakleet ground crew. She lives in Anchorage and is studying to become a paramedic. Ayla visits her family in Unalakleet often and also has her private pilot's certificate.
Other Pilots and Crew
The show also features many other brave pilots from different cities across Alaska. These pilots face unique challenges every day as they fly in tough conditions.
- Jared Cummings is a pilot based in Kotzebue. He is very skilled at landing planes in unusual places, even off regular airports.
- Sarah Fraher is a pilot based in St Mary's.
- Luke Hickerson is a lead pilot and flight instructor based in Utqiagvik (Barrow).
- Ben Pedersen is a pilot based in Unalakleet.
- John Ponts is a pilot based in Utqiagvik (Barrow). He used to be a professional skateboarder in San Diego. He learned to fly to find empty swimming pools to skateboard in from the sky!
- Erik Snuggerud is a lead pilot based in Bethel.
- Doug Stewart is a pilot based in Nome.
- Nick Stone is a co-pilot based in Nome.
- Chelsea Abingdon Welch is a flight instructor in Unalakleet who helped Ariel Tweto learn to fly.
Adventures in the Sky: Episodes
Flying Wild Alaska had 3 seasons and 31 episodes, each showing the incredible challenges and exciting moments of flying in Alaska.
Season 1 (2011)
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate | |
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| 1 (1) | "Meet the Twetos" | January 14, 2011 | |
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The Tweto family and their airline battle the arctic weather to deliver supplies and passengers to remote parts of Alaska.
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| 2 (2) | "Life or Death" | January 21, 2011 | |
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Pilot Luke Hickerson transports dangerous chemicals. Jim arranges to transport a casket after a death in the cold winter.
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| 3 (3) | "Blow it Up" | January 28, 2011 | |
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Pilot Doug Doherty flies explosives near Russian airspace. Pilot Ben hits a large bird during his flight.
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| 4 (4) | "Indian Summer" | February 4, 2011 | |
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Jim searches for landing strips in warm weather. Ferno and Ariel prepare a feast, and the week ends with an icy plunge.
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| 5 (5) | "Tundra Taxis" | February 11, 2011 | |
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Crews race to finish a new hangar in Bethel. Jim inspects the progress. John Ponts deals with strong crosswinds in Unalakleet.
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| 6 (6) | "Greenhorn Ben" | February 18, 2011 | |
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Pilot Yuri Ivanoff trains for a promotion but faces heavy ice. Jim makes a river landing, and a new pilot flies in bad weather.
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| 7 (7) | "Deep Freeze" | February 25, 2011 | |
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Era Alaska delivers a special package to Iditarod champion Lance Mackey. Jim and Ferno handle many schoolteachers on a busy day.
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| 8 (8) | "Bush Brawl" | March 4, 2011 | |
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A dangerous frozen river landing challenges Jim and Ferno. Ariel's flying lessons are frustrating. A big snowstorm shuts down Western Alaska.
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| 9 (9) | "Trick or Tweto" | March 11, 2011 | |
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Halloween brings strong crosswinds. Ariel takes over as station manager during a power blackout, testing her skills.
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| 10 (10) | "Goodbye Sun" | March 18, 2011 | |
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Many people leave Unalakleet as winter approaches. In Utqiagvik, a smuggler tries to bring in illegal items. Luke races to complete a rescue before the sun sets for two months.
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Season 2 (2011)
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate | |
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| 1 (11) | "Arctic Winds" | October 28, 2011 | |
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John Ponts battles turbulence. Jim and Ferno leave the terminal to the pilots. Sarah fights for survival during a rescue flight.
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| 2 (12) | "Tomorrow Island" | November 4, 2011 | |
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Pilots land vital vaccines on a treacherous runway near Russia. Ariel Tweto continues her flight training.
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| 3 (13) | "Money in the Sky" | November 11, 2011 | |
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Pilots deliver a special drill through fog. Luke brings the first ATM to Wainwright. Erik races to deliver supplies before a storm.
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| 4 (14) | "Era Alaska Rises Again" | November 18, 2011 | |
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Jim faces a risky landing on a frozen river. Luke has trouble taking off. A pilot carries vaccines to Russia's border.
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| 5 (15) | "Every Dog Has Its Day" | November 25, 2011 | |
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The Iditarod dog sled race helps Era Alaska. Ayla, Ariel, and Ferno run with reindeer. A pilot deals with a malfunction.
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| 6 (16) | "Blizzard BBQ" | December 2, 2011 | |
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A late winter storm threatens flights. Ben deals with ice, while Erik takes extreme measures to ship medicine to a snowed-in village.
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| 7 (17) | "Guts and Glory" | December 9, 2011 | |
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Jim flies rock climbers to Brooks Range. Luke takes a whaling crew over the sea to find a hunting spot.
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| 8 (18) | "Top of the World" | December 16, 2011 | |
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Jim searches for missing mountain climbers. Luke races a village elder to a hospital. A pilot tries to set a speed record to the North Pole.
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| 9 (19) | "Breakup" | December 23, 2011 | |
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Era Alaska helps a village hit by heavy flooding. Two pilots get lost in fog near the Russian coast. Jim's plane has an engine fire.
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| 10 (20) | "Cakes on a Plane" | December 30, 2011 | |
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Ponts' old skate crew builds a skate park. Ariel flies a new plane with dangerous results. Erik battles turbulence with a special delivery.
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| 11 (21) | "Prop, Drop and Ball" | January 6, 2012 | |
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A heavy load of propane tanks shifts during takeoff. Basketball leads to new work assignments. Jim and Ferno air drop supplies.
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| 12 (22) | "New Wings Over Alaska" | January 13, 2012 | |
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Ariel looks for seagull eggs. Erik has a rough flight. Sarah takes her first flight in a new plane.
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| 13 (23) | "One Flying Family" | January 20, 2012 | |
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Era Alaska helps transport fire crews. Ariel flies solo for the first time. Ponts navigates a deadly pass on his training flight.
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Season 3 (2012)
| Episode # | Episode title | Original airdate | |
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| 1 (24) | "Running Out of Time" | June 8, 2012 | |
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Era Alaska survives a brutal winter. Ariel Tweto searches for a missing friend. Sarah Fraher attempts a difficult landing. John Ponts tries an emergency medical drop.
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| 2 (25) | "Zero Cabin Pressure" | June 15, 2012 | |
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Alaska's harsh winter affects Era's planes. Sarah Fraher's aircraft door opens mid-flight. Doug's brakes freeze. Jim attempts a risky landing.
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| 3 (26) | "Solar Flare Danger" | June 22, 2012 | |
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Villagers lose water due to cold. Solar flares put Ponts and Ben in danger. A criminal is loose in Unalakleet.
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| 4 (27) | "Return to Diomede" | June 29, 2012 | |
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The Iditarod dog sled race begins. Pilot Doug Stewart lands on a melting runway. Pilot John Kapsner searches for lost snow-machiners.
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| 5 (28) | "Money Pit" | July 6, 2012 | |
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Erik faces mechanical issues. Doug and John struggle to keep their plane on an icy runway. Ariel gets a surprise visit.
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| 6 (29) | "Radio Silence" | July 13, 2012 | |
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Ariel disappears from radio contact during a solo flight. Erik struggles to land his plane on a narrow runway.
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| 7 (30) | "Into The Wind" | July 20, 2012 | |
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Jim Tweto makes a very difficult landing. Sarah Fraher battles strong headwinds to deliver fuel to a research station.
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| 8 (31) | "End of an Era" | July 20, 2012 | |
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In the series finale, Jim Tweto considers retirement. Doug loses his avionics. Ariel finishes her pilot training and becomes a private pilot.
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Where to Watch Repeats
Repeats of Flying Wild Alaska can be seen on the digital TV network Quest.
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