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19-year-old Ashli Blain, Firefighting Helo Pilot

This topic can be found at:
https://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/320601935/m/2190065474

September 14, 2020, 04:22 PM
Sigolicious
19-year-old Ashli Blain, Firefighting Helo Pilot
This young lady is going places. Her parents should be very proud.





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Never use more than three words to say "I don't know"



September 14, 2020, 04:34 PM
cgode
Remarkable young lady!
She’s going to be successful in life.


________________________
Those who trade liberty for security have neither
September 14, 2020, 04:39 PM
gw3971
Awesome!
September 14, 2020, 04:50 PM
bald1
Hot stuff! pun intended Big Grin

Seriously nice to see someone that young have such commitment and talent. :thumbsup:



Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club!
USN (RET), COTEP #192
September 14, 2020, 05:44 PM
mod29
Excellent! Awesome young lady.
September 14, 2020, 05:50 PM
Tn226
I would like to think that for everyone of the antifa/blm idiots there are a hundred young people like this wonderful young lady. Maybe overly optimistic but one can always hope
September 14, 2020, 06:55 PM
rscalzo
Probably has more hours and experience than most rotary wing pilots.

Copilot in a CH47?? Now that's impressive. My college roommate flew them in Vietnam.


Richard Scalzo
Epping, NH

http://www.bigeastakitarescue.net
September 14, 2020, 07:10 PM
357fuzz
Impressive. I hope she keeps on flying and uses the accounting degree as a back up.
September 14, 2020, 07:18 PM
reloader-1
Her parents are definitely proud, they own the company she flies for...
September 14, 2020, 07:31 PM
alreadydead
In the helicopter forums this is being discussed.

Some say her dad owns the helicopters so .....

Some say she earned it.

She is not flying fire right now, and there are a lot of people that have been risking it all, where is their story?


__________________________
Keep your rotor in the green
The aircraft in trim
Your time over target short
Make it count
September 14, 2020, 07:52 PM
TMats
Good for her, but I’m baffled at how a 19 year old has enough hours for this job; lots of ex-military that do not seem to make the cut.


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despite them
September 14, 2020, 08:49 PM
reloader-1
quote:
Originally posted by TMats:
Good for her, but I’m baffled at how a 19 year old has enough hours for this job; lots of ex-military that do not seem to make the cut.


Her dad and uncle own Billings Flying Service (the company she works for). Her airtime is a bit... umm... cheaper than others, as the company owns 6 Chinooks and two other Bell helicopters.
September 15, 2020, 08:20 AM
joel9507
Nice to see her taking an interest in the family business!

Thanks for an upbeat story to start the day. Smile
September 15, 2020, 09:07 AM
FlyingScot
Good for her. I suspect she she received harder training and scrutiny because of the parent’s business, no free pass. Yes the opportunity was there but she worked and achieved it on her own. We need this generation of kids and young adults to be like her. Shared with my 19-year old daughter.





“Forigive your enemy, but remember the bastard’s name.”

-Scottish proverb
September 15, 2020, 09:17 AM
slosig
Many opportunities in aviation are a result of being in the right place at the right time. She absolutely got a leg up as the owner’s daughter, but she still had to do the work. Kudos to her for going after it. I dunno about studying accounting though - I can’t imagine not being bored beyond belief after flying fires.
September 15, 2020, 11:37 PM
SigSAC
According the FAA database, she has the following listed:

COMMERCIAL PILOT
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE SEA
AIRPLANE MULTIENGINE LAND
ROTORCRAFT-HELICOPTER
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE AND HELICOPTER
GLIDER

Type Ratings:
C/CE-525S - subject to PIC limitations
C/S-70 - VFR only

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE
INSTRUMENT AIRPLANE
GLIDER

I'd say that she has experience.
September 16, 2020, 12:45 AM
sns3guppy
quote:
Originally posted by SigSAC:

I'd say that she has experience.


She has some ratings, not necessarily experience.

She's carded, which means she meets the minimums. She's a copilot, and despite the interview, not a "command pilot" at nineteen.

It's great that she has the opportnity to play along with her family, and participate. Doing a little flying then taking the rest of the season off isn't what fire pilots do. That's more of a sampling. More power to her.

I was an active commercial pilot at eighteen, too. No reason why not. It helps to have a family to pay for it and provide the aircraft.