“Smokejumping is how I fell in love with flying,” said Ashley. “Twin Otters are one of the aircraft that we jump out of.” Wildland firefighters utilize a fleet of backcountry friendly aircraft including the C212 CASA, C-23 Sherpa, and the Dornier along with fire suppressing single engine air tankers, heavy air tankers, helicopters and other aircraft to fight fires around the United States. During 11 years with the Forest Service and seven years as a smokejumper, she completed 95 total jumps and 29 fire jumps.
After a knee injury sidelined her for a season, Ashley decided to look at other professional opportunities. Wildland firefighting is seasonal work. During the 2014 off-season, Ashley began working on her private pilot’s license. After that, every winter she would add an additional rating.
Transitioning to a new career was not an easy decision. “I really loved my job and the community that I worked in,” Ashley explained. Then in 2017, her knee injury worsened. Instead of fighting fire the following season, she worked as a smokejumper base and completed her commercial rating. At the end of the fire season she got her multi-engine and applied for a job with Twin Otter International.
Ashley’s job as a pilot for Twin Otter International means frequent travel. She has a camper at home in Idaho where she’s also the scholarship chair for the Idaho 99s chapter. “Because it’s Idaho, we have some of the best backcountry in the lower 48,” said Ashley. “We get a unique array of applicants trying to do different things. Some of the applicants are a little older too. It’s really inspiring to see women in their 40s and 50s who are looking to do something a little bit different with their life.”
As a self-described low-timer with 700 hrs, Ashley’s current position with Twin Otter International offers the chance to time build while conducting dual pilot surveying operations. “It’s a really unique opportunity to learn in a crew environment,” said Ashley. “I think that’s great. It’s been very advantageous for me to learn from other people who have more hours and more experience as my first aviation job.” She is commercially licensed, multi-engine and instrument rated and typed in the DHC-6 Twin Otter.
Her long term goal is to return to the Forest Service as an agency or contracted pilot. She’s fortunate to be connected to a small community of former smoke jumpers who worked as commercial pilots before returning to the Forest Service as lead plane pilots or air attack pilots. “Specifically, smokejumpers—we love the aircraft portion of it,” said Ashley. “To move on and become pilots, and to continue to become a part of the community—it’s pretty neat.
Ashley credits her involvement with organizations such as 99s, AOPA and Women in Aviation International with connecting her to rental aircraft, instructors, part 61 schools, mentors and a sense of community. “When you start in aviation you know nothing, and you feel like you’re walking around in the dark a little bit,” said Ashley. “Being involved in communities is another resource for jobs and scholarships.”
Last updated May 4, 2020
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.