Alaska flight training that builds real-world pilots
Birch Creek Aviation trains pilots in the heart of Alaska, combining FAA-certified instruction with true bush flying experience—extreme weather, gravel bars, short strips, and float operations—so you graduate as a confident, job-ready airman.
Our mission
Our mission is to turn aspiring pilots into capable Alaskan airmen, ready for whatever the mountains, weather, and runways throw at them.
Services
Flight training built around Alaska—private through multi-engine and floats
From your first discovery flight to advanced ratings, we offer a full progression of training: Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, Multi-Engine, and Seaplane. Every lesson is grounded in real Alaska operations—short fields, gravel, winter weather, and backcountry navigation—so your hours translate directly to real-world flying.
Core certifications & ratings
Earn your Private, Instrument, Commercial, and CFI with structured syllabi, experienced instructors, and aircraft equipped with Garmin 430s, ADS-B, and modern glass panels.
Alaska Pilot Experience with lodging
Train full-time in Anchorage with on-site housing for out-of-state students, making it simple and cost-effective to focus on flying for weeks or months at a time.
Floatplane & multi-engine training
Add seaplane and multi-engine privileges with dedicated aircraft, including a floatplane on Aerocet floats and a Piper Seneca III for commercial multi training.
Benefits
Why pilots choose Birch Creek Aviation
You’re not just buying flight hours—you’re investing in becoming the kind of pilot Alaska operators trust. Our training blends bush skills, strong airmanship, and a laid-back but professional culture that supports you from first flight through advanced ratings.
Real Alaska bush environment
Train in South Central Alaska and beyond, flying in and out of gravel bars, short strips, and diverse terrain that sharpen your judgment and stick-and-rudder skills.
Whole-pilot training philosophy
We go beyond checkride prep to focus on personality management, risk assessment, decision-making, and weather strategy—habits that last a lifetime.
Experienced instructors & maintained fleet
Learn from career aviators with 15,000–25,000 hours and a team that maintains our Cessnas, Seneca, and floatplane in-house with rigorous 100-hour and annual inspections.
About Us
Anchorage-based, Alaska-bred flight training
Birch Creek Aviation was founded by Vance Sasinowski, whose passion for flying began in Iliamna, Alaska in 1991. After decades flying and managing operations for regional airlines, Vance partnered with long-time colleague Luke Hickerson in 2024 to build a school that reflects how Alaska really flies. From our base at Merrill Field in Anchorage, we run a laid-back, professional training environment where instructors are self-starting, creative multitaskers and students are treated as future colleagues in the Alaska aviation community.
Contact Us
Ready to start or continue your pilot journey in Alaska? Reach out and we’ll help you map a clear path from where you are today to your next rating or career goal.
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FAQ
Here are answers to common questions aspiring Birch Creek pilots ask before they start training with us.
What types of pilot training do you offer?
Do you provide housing for out-of-state students?
How long does it take to go from zero time to commercial pilot?
Will you help me find a flying job after training?