Staff

Meet our professional and experienced staff!

Claire came to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1966 with her family and, except for traveling, has been in this great state ever since. She graduated from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks with an AA Degree in Aviation Technology and an FAA Airframe & Powerplant license. Claire holds an FAA Commercial Single Engine and Multi Engine Certificate with an instrument rating. In the 42 years she has been flying in Alaska, she has accumulated over 10,000 hours of flight time and flown across in state in a variety of aircraft for several different air taxis. She started Smokey Bay Air in 1998.

A native of Alaska, Deb grew up flying with her parents and twin sister all around Alaska. Her parents, who are both licensed pilots, often flew the family to remote Alaska destinations for family outtings. Deb received both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Business Studies from Uppsala Universitet, in Uppsala, Sweden. After college, her father encouraged her to become an Alaskan Bush Pilot. Deb has been flying commercially in Alaska ever since. Deb holds an FAA ATP multi-engine certificate with commercial and instrument single-engine land, sea and helicopter privileges. She has 5,800 hours of logged flight time, almost all of which was accumulated flying in Alaska. Deb lives year round in Homer with her 6 year old son, Johnny and baby girl, Kate.

Kelly grew up in Colorado and moved to Alaska with his girlfriend, Dorothy, in 2002 for a job in Denali National Park. From there they moved to Anchorage where Kelly worked for the Parks and Recreation Division of the Municipality of Anchorage for a couple of seasons before moving to Homer. Kelly attended Kenai Peninsula College at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, obtaining a degree in General Business. He began working at Smokey Bay Air in May of 2006 and has been a full time employee since. He and Dorothy have built their own cabin in Homer and both enjoy spending time doing house projects and working on their land.

Bill is a licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization with over 45 years aircraft mechanic experience. In 1960 Bill started his mechanics career as an A&P mechanic for the Alaska Air National Guard and Cordova Airlines. In 1965 Bill moved to Kansas and started Sheldon Aircraft Service. Next he moved to Colorado and worked for Valley Airpark and again formed his own business in Colorado, again called Sheldon Aircraft Service. In 1983 Bill returned to Alaska and started Pennisula Aircraft Salvage and Pennisula Air Metals. He has been the Director of Maintenance for Smokey Bay Air since 1998. Bill is also a licensed pilot. He resides in Homer with his wife. They enjoy spending time with their kids and grandkids.

Sarah was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. She started flying gliders at 16 and attended flight school in McMinnville, OR where she earned her commercial, seaplane, tailwheel and flight instructor ratings. She worked as a flight instructor, glider tow pilot, and apprentice mechanic restoring aircraft in Oregon. Sarah moved to Alaska in 2005 where she earned her FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics certification. Sarah began flying at Smokey Bay Air Spring of 2007. She lives in Homer with her boyfriend Jimmy, dog Maggie and enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and playing banjo.

Stephanie grew up in Hopkins, MN and attended college at Wake Forest University in NC for a degree in history. After college, she worked at a gold mine in the Forty-mile region of Alaska. There she learned to weld, and operate and repair Caterpillar tractors. Her trip out of the mine after that first season; a thirty mile hike alone through the mountains to the nearest town; inspired her to become an Alaskan bush pilot. She has flown Twin Otters for skydivers in Mexico and Chicago, and she worked as a flight instructor in Minnesota, before accepting a pilot position at Smokey Bay Air. Stephanie holds an FAA Multi-Engine and Single-Engine Land and Sea Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating. Stephanie is an Alaska State certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT 1).

Jim is a native Alaskan who grew up next to Merrill Field in Anchorage. Over the years, Jim has lived in 14 towns and villages throughout Alaska. Upon joining the US Navy in 1972, Jim attended US Navy Electronics School and attained the rank of E-5 in 3 years. After being discharged from the Navy in 1976, Jim earned his pilot certificate and started flying commercially in 1983. Jim has accumulated over 10,000 accident free hours of Alaska flying time. This experience is mostly in 200 and 400 series Cessna's, Caravan and Twin Otter aircraft landing at over 100 different airports and many other off airport locations in Alaska including glacier landings on Mt. McKinley. In 1992 Jim graduated from UAA in Anchorage with an A&P certificate and began working on aircraft full time. He has since attained an Inspection Authorization. Jim has worked on a multitude of aircraft over the years from Turbo Props to J3's. In 2006 Jim completed a ground up show quality restoration of a Piper J3C-65 that was featured in the Alaska Airmen's Association Trade Show that year. Jim enjoys living in Homer, raising his foster children and misses his grown daughter Rachel, now attending college.

Sonja was born in Switzerland and raised in Homer, Alaska. She is half Swiss and half Native Alaskan, and proud of her heritage. She returns to us after a 2 year hiatius in Hawaii and Oregon. She previosuly worked at Smokey Bay Air for 3 years. Sonja enjoys spending time with her close knit family, traveling, rafting, clam digging, bike riding and swimming in the ocean. Sonja gradutated from Homer High School and attended Seattle Central Community College, graduating with an Associate's Degree. She lives in Homer with her husband, Akin, and 2 year old daughter, Annabelle. With her welcoming smile and great sense of humor, we are glad to have Sonja back at Smokey Bay Air!

Wes comes from a family of pilots and grew up flying with his father in the mountains of Colorado. After spending three years in the U.S. Army’s elite 1st Ranger Battalion, Wes moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended the highly prestigious Spartan School of Aeronautics and the University of Tulsa. He graduated Cum Laude with a double major in International Business/Spanish, and a minor in Economics. Wes has flown planes as large as the Gulfstream III corporate jet to the small, but venerable, J-3 Piper Cub. Wes holds an FAA Multi-Engine Land and Single-Engine Land and Sea Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating, as well as a Senior Parachute Rigger certificate. Wes is an Alaska State certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT 1). Although Wes has flown in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Mexico, he believes that Alaska is the most beautiful flying he has done in his lifetime.

Sarah was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri - Kansas City and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communications in 2005. She has exceptional customer service skills and looks forward to providing an outstanding experience at Smokey Bay Air. Sarah's next goal is to become a pilot. Sarah enjoys hiking, running and biking. She is dangerously single and lives in Homer with her very old, arthritic, one eyed dog, Oscar. She is excited for her family to come visit her in Alaska. This is Sarah's second summer season with Smokey Bay Air. We are very glad to have her back!

Andrei was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. He moved to Maryland with his family at the age of 18. Andrei graduated from University of Maryland with a degree in Computer Science. He has flown commercially in the Grand Canyon, Texas, Western Alaska, South Central Alaska and in Denali National Park. Andrei holds an FAA multiengine ATP certificate with commercial and instrument single engine land and sea privileges. He has more than 6,000 hours of flight time, more than half of which was accumulated flying in Alaska. Andrei's hobbies include scuba diving, hiking, camping and hitting golf balls at the local Homer golf course. Andrei enjoys spending as much time as possible with his new born girl, Kate.

Micaela grew up in Big Lake, Washington and spent several summers in Alaska before deciding to move to Girdwood in 2003. After restoring her '59 Chevy Bel Air with her father, she became interested in mechanics. She eventually pursued an FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification, which she received in 2008. Although Smokey Bay Air is her first job in the aviation industry, she enjoys applying the skills she's learned to obtain her A&P certificate to real applications. Micaela spends her free time playing outdoors, snowboarding, cross country skiing, camping, hiking, hula hooping and unicycling.

Paul grew up in San Diego, CA and learned to fly when he was 14 years old. Paul has worked as a flight engineer on the C-141 and C-5 transports, traveling to every part of the world. He was a pilot for the US Army in the Marshall Islands and a contract pilot the the Edwards AFB Flight test center. He began flying in Alaska in 1988, in Kotzebue. Paul holds an FAA multiengine and single engine ATP certificate with commercial and instrument single engine sea privileges. Paul has accumulated more than 10,000 hours of flight time. Paul works for Smokey Bay Air in Ft. Wainwright on our BLM, Alaska Fire Service contract.

	Smokey Bay Air	1-888-482-1511
	2100 Kachemak Drive, Homer AK 99603	907-235-1511
	reservations@smokeybayair.com	Fax: 907-235-1501
	©2008 Smokey Bay Air. All rights reserved.
*Serving Kachemak Bay, Glacier & Volcano Tours, Statewide Charters, Bear Viewing, Fly-in Fishing & more*

	Claire came to Fairbanks, Alaska in 1966 with her family and, except for traveling, has been in this great state ever since. She graduated from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks with an AA Degree in Aviation Technology and an FAA Airframe & Powerplant license. Claire holds an FAA Commercial Single Engine and Multi Engine Certificate with an instrument rating. In the 42 years she has been flying in Alaska, she has accumulated over 10,000 hours of flight time and flown across in state in a variety of aircraft for several different air taxis. She started Smokey Bay Air in 1998.
	A native of Alaska, Deb grew up flying with her parents and twin sister all around Alaska. Her parents, who are both licensed pilots, often flew the family to remote Alaska destinations for family outtings. Deb received both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Business Studies from Uppsala Universitet, in Uppsala, Sweden. After college, her father encouraged her to become an Alaskan Bush Pilot. Deb has been flying commercially in Alaska ever since. Deb holds an FAA ATP multi-engine certificate with commercial and instrument single-engine land, sea and helicopter privileges. She has 5,800 hours of logged flight time, almost all of which was accumulated flying in Alaska. Deb lives year round in Homer with her 6 year old son, Johnny and baby girl, Kate.
	Kelly grew up in Colorado and moved to Alaska with his girlfriend, Dorothy, in 2002 for a job in Denali National Park. From there they moved to Anchorage where Kelly worked for the Parks and Recreation Division of the Municipality of Anchorage for a couple of seasons before moving to Homer. Kelly attended Kenai Peninsula College at the Kachemak Bay Campus in Homer, obtaining a degree in General Business. He began working at Smokey Bay Air in May of 2006 and has been a full time employee since. He and Dorothy have built their own cabin in Homer and both enjoy spending time doing house projects and working on their land.
	Bill is a licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic with Inspection Authorization with over 45 years aircraft mechanic experience. In 1960 Bill started his mechanics career as an A&P mechanic for the Alaska Air National Guard and Cordova Airlines. In 1965 Bill moved to Kansas and started Sheldon Aircraft Service. Next he moved to Colorado and worked for Valley Airpark and again formed his own business in Colorado, again called Sheldon Aircraft Service. In 1983 Bill returned to Alaska and started Pennisula Aircraft Salvage and Pennisula Air Metals. He has been the Director of Maintenance for Smokey Bay Air since 1998. Bill is also a licensed pilot. He resides in Homer with his wife. They enjoy spending time with their kids and grandkids.
	Sarah was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. She started flying gliders at 16 and attended flight school in McMinnville, OR where she earned her commercial, seaplane, tailwheel and flight instructor ratings. She worked as a flight instructor, glider tow pilot, and apprentice mechanic restoring aircraft in Oregon. Sarah moved to Alaska in 2005 where she earned her FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics certification. Sarah began flying at Smokey Bay Air Spring of 2007. She lives in Homer with her boyfriend Jimmy, dog Maggie and enjoys hiking, snowshoeing, and playing banjo.
	Stephanie grew up in Hopkins, MN and attended college at Wake Forest University in NC for a degree in history. After college, she worked at a gold mine in the Forty-mile region of Alaska. There she learned to weld, and operate and repair Caterpillar tractors. Her trip out of the mine after that first season; a thirty mile hike alone through the mountains to the nearest town; inspired her to become an Alaskan bush pilot. She has flown Twin Otters for skydivers in Mexico and Chicago, and she worked as a flight instructor in Minnesota, before accepting a pilot position at Smokey Bay Air. Stephanie holds an FAA Multi-Engine and Single-Engine Land and Sea Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating. Stephanie is an Alaska State certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT 1).
	Jim is a native Alaskan who grew up next to Merrill Field in Anchorage. Over the years, Jim has lived in 14 towns and villages throughout Alaska. Upon joining the US Navy in 1972, Jim attended US Navy Electronics School and attained the rank of E-5 in 3 years. After being discharged from the Navy in 1976, Jim earned his pilot certificate and started flying commercially in 1983. Jim has accumulated over 10,000 accident free hours of Alaska flying time. This experience is mostly in 200 and 400 series Cessna's, Caravan and Twin Otter aircraft landing at over 100 different airports and many other off airport locations in Alaska including glacier landings on Mt. McKinley. In 1992 Jim graduated from UAA in Anchorage with an A&P certificate and began working on aircraft full time. He has since attained an Inspection Authorization. Jim has worked on a multitude of aircraft over the years from Turbo Props to J3's. In 2006 Jim completed a ground up show quality restoration of a Piper J3C-65 that was featured in the Alaska Airmen's Association Trade Show that year. Jim enjoys living in Homer, raising his foster children and misses his grown daughter Rachel, now attending college.
	Sonja was born in Switzerland and raised in Homer, Alaska. She is half Swiss and half Native Alaskan, and proud of her heritage. She returns to us after a 2 year hiatius in Hawaii and Oregon. She previosuly worked at Smokey Bay Air for 3 years. Sonja enjoys spending time with her close knit family, traveling, rafting, clam digging, bike riding and swimming in the ocean. Sonja gradutated from Homer High School and attended Seattle Central Community College, graduating with an Associate's Degree. She lives in Homer with her husband, Akin, and 2 year old daughter, Annabelle. With her welcoming smile and great sense of humor, we are glad to have Sonja back at Smokey Bay Air!
	Wes comes from a family of pilots and grew up flying with his father in the mountains of Colorado. After spending three years in the U.S. Army’s elite 1st Ranger Battalion, Wes moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he attended the highly prestigious Spartan School of Aeronautics and the University of Tulsa. He graduated Cum Laude with a double major in International Business/Spanish, and a minor in Economics. Wes has flown planes as large as the Gulfstream III corporate jet to the small, but venerable, J-3 Piper Cub. Wes holds an FAA Multi-Engine Land and Single-Engine Land and Sea Commercial Certificate with an Instrument Rating, as well as a Senior Parachute Rigger certificate. Wes is an Alaska State certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT 1). Although Wes has flown in the United States, Europe, Africa, and Mexico, he believes that Alaska is the most beautiful flying he has done in his lifetime.
	Sarah was raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri - Kansas City and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Communications in 2005. She has exceptional customer service skills and looks forward to providing an outstanding experience at Smokey Bay Air. Sarah's next goal is to become a pilot. Sarah enjoys hiking, running and biking. She is dangerously single and lives in Homer with her very old, arthritic, one eyed dog, Oscar. She is excited for her family to come visit her in Alaska. This is Sarah's second summer season with Smokey Bay Air. We are very glad to have her back!
	Andrei was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia. He moved to Maryland with his family at the age of 18. Andrei graduated from University of Maryland with a degree in Computer Science. He has flown commercially in the Grand Canyon, Texas, Western Alaska, South Central Alaska and in Denali National Park. Andrei holds an FAA multiengine ATP certificate with commercial and instrument single engine land and sea privileges. He has more than 6,000 hours of flight time, more than half of which was accumulated flying in Alaska. Andrei's hobbies include scuba diving, hiking, camping and hitting golf balls at the local Homer golf course. Andrei enjoys spending as much time as possible with his new born girl, Kate.
	Micaela grew up in Big Lake, Washington and spent several summers in Alaska before deciding to move to Girdwood in 2003. After restoring her '59 Chevy Bel Air with her father, she became interested in mechanics. She eventually pursued an FAA Airframe & Powerplant certification, which she received in 2008. Although Smokey Bay Air is her first job in the aviation industry, she enjoys applying the skills she's learned to obtain her A&P certificate to real applications. Micaela spends her free time playing outdoors, snowboarding, cross country skiing, camping, hiking, hula hooping and unicycling.
	Paul grew up in San Diego, CA and learned to fly when he was 14 years old. Paul has worked as a flight engineer on the C-141 and C-5 transports, traveling to every part of the world. He was a pilot for the US Army in the Marshall Islands and a contract pilot the the Edwards AFB Flight test center. He began flying in Alaska in 1988, in Kotzebue. Paul holds an FAA multiengine and single engine ATP certificate with commercial and instrument single engine sea privileges. Paul has accumulated more than 10,000 hours of flight time. Paul works for Smokey Bay Air in Ft. Wainwright on our BLM, Alaska Fire Service contract.