I Get Paid for This… Yak Tuna

Island hopper Yak Tuna has the most remote commercial passenger flying job in the UK. Interview by Yayeri van Baarsen.

How did you get into flying?

I’ve always wanted to fly, ever since I was a kid. At 13, I applied for a scholarship through Fly2Help and Cotswold Airport, which included 7 hours of flying from Cotswold airport and really gave an insight into the world of aviation. From then on I knew that this was the career I was going to pursue.

Tell us about your job?

I’m a Captain for the Airtask Group, flying the BN-2 Islander out of Oban Airport. We offer charters all around Scotland and passenger flights between the Inner Hebrides. On Wednesdays I visit the Isles of Coll and Flying CV Tiree before flying back to Oban and doing the reversed route in the afternoon, on Thursdays it’s Colonsay and Islay. Although we do fly tourists, it’s more like a bus service: Yak Tuna flies passengers between the Hebrides and all over Scotland. Started current job: June 2019 Now flying: BN-2 Islander Favourite aircraft: BN-2 Islander for work: “The Islander is the most especially at weekends when flying school kids “You could take off from Edinburgh and land home. It’s also essential for the remote communities. By boat it takes about 3 hours to get to the mainland for a hospital appointment, whereas by air it’s 20 minutes. It's quite remote up here. We have two other staff to assist with ground handling and checking in passengers, but for the rest it's very much down to me. I enjoy the lone working; it gives a great sense of freedom. Leadership and people skills are important in this job as I am very much on my own once you get going, and you can be dealing with all types of different scenarios. Competency is key along with not being over confident as that can lead you into trouble and affect decision making – it is OK not to fly.

What makes this job so interesting is the flying itself. Even watching the sun set over the desert from the cockpit is amazing. though I’m always visiting the same four airports, every day is different. Weather, wind and how the light hits the terrain create And your favourite airfield? a new experience every time. Bad weather can sometimes become Easter Airfield, a small grass airstrip north of Inverness. Located a bit of a challenge, but the Islander is the most reliable aircraft in the heart of the Highlands it offers great facilities – since I first I’ve ever flown. Simple to operate, rough and rugged – it’s a flew there about seven years ago it has expanded a lot. What hasn’t machine you can trust. Since it’s the only aircraft here at Oban changed, though, is Easter’s fantastic GA atmosphere. and I’m the only pilot, it almost feels like my own aeroplane. And because I only fly seven to eight hours a week, it doesn’t feel like Do you fly much outside of work? work, it’s pure enjoyment.

What training did you have?

After obtaining my CPL ME/IR, in 2017 I became a flight instructor. Afterwards I joined a company doing flight calibration, which gave me experience flying the DA62 and PA31 over quite a large part of the world, and became a Pilots Assistant on the King Air in the meantime. In 2019 I wanted to move back to Scotland and get into commercial air transport, so I joined the Airtask Group. The company offers extensive line training in all kinds of weather conditions.

What’s been your favourite flight?

Flying across rural Saudi Arabia. As far as the eye can see, there’s only desert, nothing else. Just sand for hundreds and hundreds of miles. The weather can change quickly – sometimes I’d see huge thunderstorms in the distance. This barren environment makes you realise you’re completely on your own – which appealed to me. Also, watching the sun set over the desert from the cockpit is amazing.

And your favourite airfield?

Easter Airfield, a small grass airstrip north of Inverness. Located in the heart of the Highlands it offers great facilities – since I first flew there about seven years ago it has expanded a lot. What hasn’t changed, though, is Easter’s fantastic GA atmosphere.

Do you fly much outside of work?

As much as possible! Alongside work I do some flight instructing and I also enjoy light aerobatic flying.

What is your most valuable career advice?

Starting out you’ve got to work hard for little money to build up flying experience. It’s a stage everyone in aviation encounters, but some people forget this and want a high-paying job straight away – sometimes this isn’t always possible. Also, don’t set your goals too narrow; GA offers plenty of opportunities. After getting my licence I looked at every possible job, just to gain experience. I never anticipated I’d end up where I’m now, with a dream job!

The Islander is the most reliable aircraft I’ve flown.

Flying CV

Started current job: June 2019

Now flying: BN-2 Islander

Favourite aircraft: BN-2 Islander for work: “You could take off from Edinburgh and land on a beach - it’s a real versatile machine.” Outside of work, Decathlon: “It’s a tailwheel, with great basic aerobatic capabilities, and a good backcountry aircraft.”

Hours at job start: Approx. 2,000

Hours now: Approx. 2,500