K2 Aviation Staff
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SUZANNE RUST Suzanne started her career in aviation by working at the National Transportation Safety Board's Anchorage Regional Office while attending college. The three years she interned built a solid foundation for understanding aviation safety. When the Rust family purchased K2 in 1996, she focused on building a team that would put passenger and pilot safety first. Through the years, Suzanne and Todd's family has grown to include three kids. She enjoys the outdoors and values the opportunity to share Alaska with visitors. She enjoys serving in her community. She currently serves on the Denali Overflights Advisory Council, that advises the Superintendent of Denali National Park through the Secretary of the Interior, on mitigation efforts to reduce the impacts from aircraft overflights. You may often find her on the deck visiting with guests. |
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TODD RUST Todd Rust, Director of Operations, came to Alaska with his family in 1959. His father started Rust's Flying Service, a float plane operation, where Todd worked as dock hand and later as a pilot. After college, he worked for Northrop and Lockhead Martin as an aeronautical engineer. He returned to the family business in the early 80's and has been overseeing operations for up to 19 airplanes and 39 pilots. He and Suzanne have three children. |
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COLIN RUST Colin Rust has worked as a dock boy during his high school years. In 1980 he got his Airframe and Power plant Certificate from Northrop University. Later he received his Inspection Authorization Certificate. He began working as Director of Maintenance in 1996. Colin has his Dive Masters certification in scuba diving, helps teach scuba and dives regularly with his wife Gail year-round in Alaska's waters. They have three wonderful grandchildren. Michael, Lucas and Madison and are very involved grandparents. |
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DAN BALDWIN Dan Baldwin came to Alaska in 1961. His father was a flying preacher and Dan traveled throughout Alaska. He learned to fly when he was six and got his pilot's certificate when he was 17 years old. He has always flown small airplanes. He has been with Rust's Flying Service/K2 Aviation since 2001 and became the Chief Pilot in 2005. |
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RANDY KILBOURN Station Chief Pilot - 14 Years Randy is a fifty year resident of Alaska. He has been flying for 35 years, has more than 7,500 hours and is qualified to fly both float planes and ski planes. He joined the K2 team in 1997 and quickly took on the role of managing K2 Aviations operations and making certain that K2 Aviation stayed a leader in safe mountain operations. K2 Aviation is recognized as a leader in the industry for safe operations. He is an enthusiastic student of Denali history and geology. |
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| Pilots | |||
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CHRIS HOPMAN Chris Hopman was born and raised in Boring, Oregon, a small town just outside Portland. From a very young age Chris knew he wanted to be a pilot. School projects from as early as kindergarten showed Chris flying some kind of airplane or helicopter. Chris earned his private pilots license before graduating high school. A few years later Chris was a commercial pilot and received his first flying job towing banners up and down beaches and around sporting events. He flew Super Cubs from Miami to New York City to San Francisco and everywhere in between. His love of fishing, hunting and flying drew him to Alaska. He spent time flying and building his flight time in Homer an western Alaska before coming to work at K2 in 2010. |
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ED DEARWENT Ed came to Alaska with the U.S. Air Force in 1968. He learned to fly in an Air Force Aero Club in 1969. When he retired in 1974 he started flying for K2's sister company, Rust's Flying Service at Lake Hood, Anchorage. In 2003, Ed returned to the Rust Family business at K2 Aviation. He flies single engine floats, skis and wheels, as well as the twine engine Piper Navajo. Now, with more 19,000 hours of experience, Ed has been flying for over 38 years. He spends winters in Florida where he enjoys flying his 1949 Cessna 140 around the country. |
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BARRY GRANT Barry Grant came to Talkeetna as a tourist 15 years ago and flew with K2. At the time, he was living in Arizona and flying medivac. He flew medivac for 23 years before moving to Alaska building his own home. Barry is the Indiana State Banjo Champion and can be found playing at the Fairview when he is not flying. |
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DALE KEEN Dale is originally from N.E., Pennsylvania. He started flying in 1973 and received his Private Pilot cerificate in 1974 while working as a line boy at the local FBO. He graduated in 1977 from college receiving a B.S. degree in secondary education. He competed Air Force Pilot Training in 1979 and spent 7 years as active duty military flyng . He went on to fly for the airlines until discovering Talkeetna and settling here. He then began to fly for K2 Aviation during the summer seasons. |
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AL KNABE Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Al learned from his father to fly airplanes. Al worked for, and retired from, LLNL Laboratories in California as a senior engineer. While working as an engineer, Al got his private certificate, commercial, instrument, multi-engine, single engine land and sea certificates, as well as an Airplane and Power plant Mechanic certificate. He was president and owner of the Diablo Aerosport Aviation School where he taught aerobatics, spin training and tail wheel endorsements. He began flying in Denali in 1994 and has been with K2 for 12 years. |
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TONY MARTIN |
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MIKE RUSHTON Pilot - 4 Years Mike and his wife Kristina winter in Hawaii where they grow vegetables and tropical fruit. They have a new baby, Heidi, and we think she is the cutest! In Hawaii, Mike flies some air tours over the volcano and does tail wheel instruction and spin training with his Cessna 140. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to fly in some of the most beautiful places in the world." |
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CHUCK WEST Chuck has been flying in Denali for 8 years and has been with K2 aviation for 5 years. In high school, he began his aviation career by jumping out of airplanes. Following a few years of service in the Navy, Chuck got his Private Pilot and Commerical Certificate. He worked for the IBEW for 25 years retiring as a journeyman electrician. He and his wife life on an airport in Independence Oregon. Chuck and two daughters and one granddaughter. |
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CHRIS WILSON Training/Lead Pilot - 7 Years Chris Wilson has made his home in Alaska since 2001. He joined the K2 Team in 2003, quickly gained the respect of his peers and took a lead position as our company instructor - training and evaluating pilot staff. Flying has always been a passion and a way of life for Chris. He started flying gliders when he was 17 years old and continued on into fix winged aircraft. He enjoys the back country and loves to fly all our single engine airplanes. |
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JEFF BABCOCK Pilot Jeff Babcock loves Alaska and spends most of his free time in the Alaska backcountry. Moving to Alaska 31 years ago with a goal to become a State Trooper pilot and see as much of Alaska as possible, Jeff was hired in 1981 by the Alaska Department of Public Safety and soon after became an Alaska State Trooper. After spending much of his 23 year Trooper career as a State Trooper Pilot, patrolling the backcountry of Alaska, Jeff retired with the rank of Captain and continues to pursue his two passions, aviation and photography. Jeff's 28 year aviation safety record is unmatched, and as he fly's visitors year round into the Alaska wilderness with K2 Aviation, he loves to bring his passengers on a safe and enjoyable aviation journey that includes the rich history of Alaska's heritage. Along with his wife Sonja, Jeff owns a Fine Arts Studio in Wasilla that teaches Alaska's youth to dance, cheer, and tumble. Jeff spends any free time he has fishing, hunting, photographing, and of course, flying. |
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| Mechanics and Ramp Staff | |||
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TREVOR ENGWIS Trevor Engwis can be found out on our ramp cleaning or fueling airplanes. He is constantly working to make certain that the passengers experience is excellent. This past year he spent his winter exploring Thailand. |
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RYAN KIRBY Mechanic - 5 Years Ryan came to K2 Aviation 5 years ago. He was fresh to Alaska and ready for adventures that he just couldn't find in Michigan working for Great Lakes Aviation. Now well established as the "go to" guy in the K2 maintenance hanger, Ryan hones his maintenance and piloting skills in his off time, working on his own Maule M-7. On skis all winter, but as soon as breakup comes the floats go on and all the wildlife in the area keeps a wary eye on the horizon. Hunting and exploring in the nearby Talkeetna mountains keep Ryan busy year round. If he can't get there by airplane, you may find him cruising by in any one of his many vehicle projects that look like they're right off the set of Mad Max. While a bit of a mad scientist in his home shop, we definitely appreciate his fine work and attention to every detail in the hanger at K2. |
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DALLAS HAMAN Dallas came to K2 Aviation after spending ten years in his home state of Colorado where he was a pilot and mechanic for Beagles Aircraft. That was in 2004. Now, after seven years here in Talkeetna with K2, he's keeping this fleet fine tuned and ready to take anyone, anywhere, anytime. He's also doing a bit of the tour flying himself lately as commercial pilot, and is a great guide around Denali. The local kids have quite a mentor in Dallas as he volunteers his time to the "Build a Plane" project, offering his skills and leadership to fuel the youngster's interest in aviation. Dallas also has a couple of planes of his own. Between those planes, his love of old cars, and the Bed and Breakfast that he runs with his wife Kate, there isn't much "sittin' around" time for Dallas. |
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| Customer Service / Marketing | |||
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KATHRYN Morale Officer - 8 Years Though technically not working for K2 Aviation this year, Kathryn somehow found a way onto our employee page - that's just how charming she is. Currently focused on raising her small children, she still stops by the office and fills the position of "Morale Officer." Always ready with a smile for everyone who walks in the door, Kathryn loves to be a part of making your vacation one full of laughter and happy memories. Having worked for K2 Aviation since 2003, she really knows her stuff, and is sure to impress you with her quick answers to Talkeetna trivia questions. If you don't catch her in the office she's probably out riding bikes with her family, volunteering, or simply enjoying life. |
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RAELEEN HALES Raeleen was born and raised right here in Talkeetna (third generation!) She has worked at the airport for the last 3 years and this is her second season at K2. Besides studying to become a CPA, she has taken on the task of home schooling her 2 darling kiddos which keeps her busy in the winter months. |
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DEBORAH HANSEN Deborah Hansen has worked in Alaska tourism since 1994 and for K2 since 2005. She currently serves on the Alaska Tourism Industry Association Marketing Committee, is on the Board of Directors for Adventure Green Alaska. She is the Alaska Admissions Representative for Wellesley College and heads the silent auction for the Ski for Women. Her educational background includes an MBA from Stanford University and a BA in economics from Wellesley College. She has previously worked as Director, Passenger Services for the Alaska Railroad, as well as Director, ATU Services for Alaska Telephone Utility, Anchorage, Alaska. |
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ELAINE MARTIN Gift Shop / Retail Manager - 5 Years Elaine grew up in Alaska and has been a part of the fun-loving, eclectic Talkeetna community since 1985. She participates in local music and theatre, and enjoys the artistic diversity that characterizes our small town. As Retail Manager, she orders K2's logo-wear and local artisan products for our Main Street gift shop/booking office, The Moose's Tooth. A favorite part of her job is planting and maintaining the colorful flower beds at our downtown location. |
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STEPHANIE SMOTHERS Stephanie Smothers joined the K2 team in 2006 after moving to Alaska. She and her family had traveled to Alaska during vacations and decided that they wanted to raise their children in a place where they could hike, backpack and fish. Their goal was to live a simpler life. They currently live off the power grid. They hunt, fish and garden. Prior coming to K2 Aviation Stephanie had her own business that provided marketing and bookkeeping support for small business. She enjoys managing the office staff, meeting clients and sharing the K2 experience with clients. |
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DAVID NELSON David was born right here in Talkeetna. He has worked for K2 since 2007, so he knows his stuff. You might see him around town, just look for the pink bicycle. In the winter months David keeps busy laying his footprints around the globe. |
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JESSE BROWN Jess is a familiar face for those flying Denali. Her love affair with the Alaska Range started with a mushing trip in 1991. Six weeks later, she left the east coast to live in Alaska permanently. She worked on the Talkeetna airfield for over 20 years providing guidance to both tour and expeditions coming to Talkeetna. She can be found helping K2 customers at our gift shop next to our Historic Log Cabin. |
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| Flight Following Staff | |||
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GARETT LAWRENCE |
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