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Bering Air
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Bering Air is an American airline headquartered in Nome, Alaska, United States. It operates domestic scheduled passenger and charter airline services, as well as air ambulance and helicopter services. Its main base is Nome Airport, with hubs at Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (Kotzebue) and Unalakleet Airport.[4]
Key Information
History
[edit]In early 1975, Jim Rowe and three college friends embarked on a journey from northern Michigan, and traveled across America in a Cessna 195, landing in Mexico's Baja California peninsula, and eventually settling on the beaches of Nome, Alaska. A few years later, in September 1979, Bering Air was established. It commenced operations on October 3, 1979, with a single De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter. Later, in 1983, with instigation of the increasingly popular bypass mail system, the airline added other small aircraft, including the Piper Navajo, Beech 18, and Piper Seneca. Bering Air, in favor of modern, turbine powered aircraft, later phased out aircraft equipped with radial engines. Thus, the Beechcraft King Air 200, Beechcraft 1900D, Cessna Caravan, and CASA C-212 were introduced. Furthermore, off airport duties were transferred to helicopters, instead of older piston powered aircraft. In 2015, the airline upgraded its fleet with eight Cessna 208EX Grand Caravan aircraft replacing its older Cessna 208B aircraft.[5] Today, the airline is wholly owned by Jim Rowe (President) and Christine Rowe.
In July 2020 Bering Air bought at Ravn Alaska's bankruptcy auction the facilities in Aniak, Kotzebue, Nome and Unalakleet.[6]
Fleet
[edit]As of February 2025, the Bering Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7]


| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | 4 | 9 | |
| Cessna Caravan EX | 17 | 9 | |
| Cessna 408 SkyCourier | 4 (as of August 2025)[8] | 0 | Cargo[9] |
| Beechcraft 1900D | 4(as of August 2025)[8] | 19 | "Combi" configuration on scheduled flights |
| Beechcraft King Air 200 | 4 | 9 | Air ambulance configuration |
| CASA 212-200 | 2 | 0 | Cargo |
| MD Helicopter MD 500E | 3 | 3
AS 350B3 2 |
Long Line capable
UH-1H Huey 2 |
| Robinson R44 Raven II | 3 | 3 | Also operates two R44s for Twin Peak Adventures.[10] |
| Bell UH-1H Iroquois | 2 | 15 | |
| Airbus Helicopters H125 | 2 | 5 |
Retired fleet
[edit]Bering Air has previously operated the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | Replacement |
|---|---|
| De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter | Cessna 208B Caravan |
| De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver | |
| Cessna 206/207 | |
| Cessna 208B Caravan | Cessna Caravan EX |
| Beechcraft 18 | CASA C-212 |
| Piper Seneca | |
| Mitsubishi MU-2 | |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo |
Community services
[edit]Bering Air, along with Grant Aviation, Frontier Flying Service, Northern Air Cargo, PenAir, and Ryan Air Services, participates in the Flying Can service, which allows rural Alaskan communities to recycle aluminum cans and now number 1 PET bottles in cooperation with Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling.[11]
Bering Air provides free delivery on scheduled flights for Airport Pizza, a pizzeria at Nome Airport that takes orders from remote locations served by Bering Air.[12]
Destinations
[edit]Passenger and cargo charter services are flown from Kotzebue and Nome to destinations throughout the United States, and Russia.[4]
Domestic
[edit]Bering Air offers scheduled passenger service to 29 cities in Western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue and Unalakleet.[13][14][15][16]
- Ambler (ABL) – Ambler Airport
- Brevig Mission (KTS) – Brevig Mission Airport
- Buckland (BKC) – Buckland Airport
- Cape Lisburne (LUR) – Cape Lisburne LRRS Airport
- Deering (DRG) – Deering Airport
- Elim (ELI) – Elim Airport
- Gambell (GAM) – Gambell Airport
- Golovin (GLV) – Golovin Airport
- Kiana (IAN) – Bob Baker Memorial Airport
- Kivalina (KVL) – Kivalina Airport
- Kobuk (OBU) – Kobuk Airport
- Kotzebue (OTZ) – Ralph Wien Memorial Airport
- Koyuk (KKA) – Koyuk Alfred Adams Airport
- Noatak (WTK) – Noatak Airport
- Nome (OME) – Nome Airport
- Noorvik (ORV) – Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport
- Point Hope (PHO) – Point Hope Airport
- St. Michael (SMK) – St. Michael Airport
- Savoonga (SVA) – Savoonga Airport
- Selawik (WLK) – Selawik Airport
- Shaktoolik (SKK) – Shaktoolik Airport
- Shishmaref (SHH) – Shishmaref Airport
- Shungnak (SHG) – Shungnak Airport
- Stebbins (WBB) – Stebbins Airport
- Teller (TLA) – Teller Airport
- Tin City (TNC) – Tin City LRRS Airport
- Unalakleet (UNK) – Unalakleet Airport
- Wales (WAA) – Wales Airport
- White Mountain (WMO) – White Mountain Airport
Former destinations
[edit]- Council (CIL) – Council Airport
- Diomede (DIO) – Diomede Island Airport (ice runway, winter only)
- Port Clarence (KPC) – Port Clarence Coast Guard Station
International
[edit]Bering Air offered charter service from Nome and Anchorage to Anadyr and Provideniya in the Russian Far East.[17] This service is currently suspended.[18]
Accidents and Incidents
[edit]- December 10, 1987 – N9979M, an air taxi cargo flight Cessna 207 Skywagon, crashed into mountains due to bad weather conditions, killing the pilot.[19]
- January 5, 1993 – N900YH, a Mitsubishi MU-2, crashed into the Bering Sea due to fuel starvation, injuring the pilot.[20]
- December 18, 1995 – N340K, a Beechcraft G18S, crashed into the ground due to an in-flight fire shortly after takeoff from Nome Airport, injuring the pilot.[21]
- September 8, 1997 – N1123R, a Cessna 208 Caravan, collided with a Cessna 402 while preparing to depart from Buckland Airport. All 17 people on board both planes were evacuated uninjured.[22][23]
- March 2, 2003 – N205BA, a Cessna 208 Caravan, crashed into snow-covered sea ice due to a whiteout condition. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was repaired.[24]
- October 24, 2005 – N1263Y, a Cessna 208 Caravan, crashed into the ground due to pilot error. The two pilots were injured and the aircraft was repaired.[25]
- September 18, 2009 – N349TA, a CASA C-212 Aviocar, overran runway 05 at Savoonga Airport. The two pilots were evacuated uninjured and the aircraft was repaired.[26]
- October 21, 2017 – N363JH, an air ambulance Beechcraft B200, made a belly landing at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. All four people on board were evacuated uninjured and the aircraft was repaired.[27]
- February 6, 2025 – Bering Air Flight 445, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, crashed onto ice around Norton Sound with 10 people on board. The pilot and the nine passengers perished.[28][29][30][31]
References
[edit]- ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Bering Air fleet". Flightradar24. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ "Bering Air Flight Schedules". Bering Air. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. March 27, 2007. p. 85.
- ^ "Bering Air Updates Fleet". Airliner World: 15. October 2015.
- ^ "Southern California company will take over some RavnAir service after bankruptcy auction". adn.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
- ^ "Plane Charters for Western Alaska". Bering Air. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ a b "Global Airline Guide 2025 - 21 Air". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 80.
- ^ "Bering Air Charters". Bering Air. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- ^ "Helicopters - Twin Peaks Adventures". Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-10.
- ^ Tuttle, Logan (June 16, 2010). "Rural recycling finds a PET project". The Arctic Sounder. Alaska Newspapers, Inc. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2010.
- ^ "Airport Pizza Review | Kodiak, Nome, and the Bush | Fodor's Restaurant Reviews". June 27, 2013. Archived from the original on June 27, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2019.
- ^ "Reservations". Bering Air. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Nome Flight Schedule" (PDF). Bering Air. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Kotzebue Flight Schedule]" (PDF). Bering Air. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Unalakleet Flight Schedule" (PDF). Bering Air. October 7, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 22, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Russian Travel". Bering Air. Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Russian Travel". Bering Air. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
- ^ "Crash of a Cessna 207A Skywagon near Ambler: 1 killed". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise near Nome". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Crash of a Beechcraft G18S in Nome". Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "N1123R accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "N2649Z accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "N205BA accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "N1263Y accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "N349TA accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ "Fatigue Featured in Anchorage Alaska Air Ambulance Accident". Aerossurance. July 2, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
- ^ Downing, Suzanne (February 6, 2025). "Breaking: Bering Air flight into Nome overdue with 10 aboard; search is on". Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ Klecka, Joey (February 6, 2025). "Report: Plane with 10 onboard missing near Nome". Alaska's News Source. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
- ^ Helsel, Phil (February 7, 2025). "Report: Missing plane with 10 aboard found crashed in Alaska, no survivors expected". NBC News. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
- ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (February 8, 2025). "Alaska search team finds no survivors in wreckage of Bering Air Cessna Caravan". FlightGlobal. DVV Media International. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
External links
[edit]Bering Air
View on GrokipediaCompany Overview
Founding and Ownership
Bering Air was incorporated on October 3, 1979, in Nome, Alaska, by Jim and Christine Rowe, who established the company as a small air taxi service to connect remote communities in western Alaska.[2] The Rowes, residents of Nome, launched operations earlier in spring 1974 using a single-engine DeHavilland Otter, but formal incorporation marked the official beginning of the enterprise focused on essential air transportation in the region.[2] The airline has remained under family ownership since its inception, with the Rowe family maintaining full control of its operations and strategic direction. Currently, James Rowe serves as President and Owner, while Chris Rowe is listed as Owner, ensuring continuity in leadership and a commitment to serving Alaska's rural areas.[4] As of 2025, Bering Air employs 150 people across its bases, reflecting steady growth while preserving its family-oriented structure.[2] From its origins as a modest air taxi provider, Bering Air has evolved into a vital regional carrier, expanding its role in transporting passengers, cargo, and mail to isolated Alaskan communities that rely on air links due to limited road infrastructure.[2] A significant corporate milestone was securing FAA Part 135 certification, which authorizes the airline for commuter and on-demand operations, enabling safe and reliable charter services essential to its mission.[5]Headquarters and Operations
Bering Air is headquartered in Nome, Alaska, at 1470 Seppala Drive, serving as the primary base for administrative and operational activities. The airline maintains additional hubs at Ralph Wien Memorial Airport in Kotzebue and Unalakleet Airport, which facilitate regional connectivity across Western Alaska. These locations enable efficient coordination of flights to remote villages, supporting the airline's role as a key transporter in areas inaccessible by road.[1] The operational model of Bering Air centers on scheduled passenger and cargo flights, complemented by charter services, targeting bush communities along Alaska's northwest coast. These services operate seven days a week, connecting 32 destinations that rely heavily on air travel due to the absence of ground infrastructure. Charters extend to broader areas, including Canada and the Russian Far East, accommodating private passengers, freight, and specialized logistics such as external load operations for government agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management.[1][6] Bering Air's fleet, consisting of 44 aircraft—including fixed-wing planes like Cessna Caravans and Beechcraft 1900s, plus six helicopters—supports multi-role capabilities for passenger, cargo, and emergency missions.[2][5] Operations emphasize service to isolated regions, where flights are frequently weather-dependent, requiring pilots to contend with variable Arctic conditions to maintain vital links for residents and supplies. This structure underscores the airline's commitment to reliable transportation in challenging environments.[7]Historical Development
Early Years
Bering Air was incorporated on October 3, 1979, by Jim and Christine Rowe in Nome, Alaska, as an FAA-certified regional air service providing air taxi operations. The company launched with a single De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter aircraft, initially configured as a floatplane to serve remote communities during the summer season.[8] In its early years, Bering Air concentrated on essential passenger and cargo transport across the Bering Strait region of western Alaska, supporting isolated villages and industries such as mining and commercial fishing that relied on reliable air links for supplies and personnel. Operations faced typical challenges of small-scale aviation in remote areas, including limited infrastructure and seasonal limitations, but the service quickly proved vital for connecting the region to larger hubs like Nome.[8][9] The first major expansion occurred in the early 1980s, as demand grew; the fleet grew to include additional Otters, a de Havilland Beaver, and Cessna 206 and 207 models to handle increased cargo and passenger needs. A key development came in 1983 with the introduction of scheduled services using a Piper Navajo, enabled by contracts for bypass mail delivery and commuter feeds for Alaska Airlines, marking a shift toward more consistent operations. This period also saw a transition from primarily float-equipped aircraft to wheeled configurations, allowing year-round service on runways and skis during winter months to better accommodate ongoing regional demands.[8]Expansion and Acquisitions
In the 1990s, Bering Air modernized its fleet by transitioning from radial-engine aircraft to turbine-powered models, enhancing operational efficiency in Alaska's remote and challenging environments. This shift included the introduction of the Cessna 208 Caravan in 1995, which provided greater reliability and performance for short-haul routes in western Alaska.[8] The company also incorporated Beechcraft King Air variants and other turboprops during this period, phasing out older propeller-driven planes to support expanded service to isolated communities.[2] In May 1988, company founder Jim Rowe piloted a Piper Navajo on the first non-scheduled flight from Nome to Provideniya in the Soviet Union, pioneering Bering Air's charter routes to Russia.[2] A significant strategic move occurred in July 2020 when Bering Air acquired maintenance and operational facilities from the bankrupt Ravn Alaska for $2.88 million, bolstering its basing and repair capabilities across key hubs like Nome and Kotzebue. This acquisition allowed Bering Air to consolidate its infrastructure, including hangars and support assets, enabling it to absorb additional routes and cargo responsibilities vacated by Ravn's exit from rural Alaska markets.[10] Following the 2020 acquisition, Bering Air pursued further growth to meet rising demand for freight services, driven by e-commerce expansion in Alaska's underserved regions. In 2023, the airline added Cessna 408 SkyCourier cargo variants to its fleet, starting with the first delivery in April, to handle increased package volumes and bulk shipments efficiently. These freighter models, with their high-payload capacity, supported the company's role in regional logistics amid growing online retail needs.[11][12] Bering Air's international operations faced a major disruption with the suspension of charter flights to Russia's Far East, including destinations like Anadyr and Provideniya, due to escalating geopolitical tensions following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Previously reliant on these charters for cross-border connectivity since 1988, the airline shifted focus entirely to domestic and Alaskan services, with no resumption announced as of November 2025.[13]Fleet and Aircraft
Current Fleet
Bering Air's current fleet, as of November 2025, emphasizes versatile turboprop aircraft well-suited to the rugged, unpaved airstrips of Alaska's remote regions. The airline maintains a total of approximately 35 fixed-wing aircraft, all configured for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations in bush country environments, plus 6 helicopters for specialized tasks.[14][5] The backbone of the fleet consists of 22 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX single-engine turboprops (reduced from 23 following the February 2025 crash of Flight 445), which serve dual roles in passenger transport and cargo hauling, accommodating 9 to 14 passengers depending on configuration.[15][16][17] For extended regional connectivity, Bering Air operates 4 Beechcraft 1900D twin-engine airliners, each with 19 seats in a combi setup that balances passenger and freight needs.[18][15] The fleet also includes 3 Beechcraft King Air 200 twin-engine turboprops for medevac and charter services, accommodating up to 9 passengers.[6][15] Additionally, 2 CASA C-212 Aviocar twin-engine turboprops provide heavy cargo and utility transport, capable of carrying large freight, vehicles, or up to 19 passengers.[19][15] Dedicated cargo capabilities include 4 Cessna 408 SkyCourier twin-engine freighters, with deliveries beginning in 2023 and all in service by mid-2025, optimized for high-volume freight transport via their large cargo doors and robust payload capacity.[11][15] The helicopter fleet comprises 6 aircraft, including Robinson R44 Raven II and MD Helicopters MD500 models, supporting Part 133 external load operations for remote access, surveys, and logistics.[5] This composition reflects Bering Air's transition to modern turbine-powered models, enhancing reliability across its Alaska-focused operations.[2]Retired Fleet
Bering Air's retired fleet includes several piston and radial-engine aircraft that supported the airline's early expansion in western Alaska but were phased out to prioritize turbine-powered models for enhanced performance, safety, and compliance with evolving regulations. The transition began with the retirement of older radial-engine types, driven by the need for more reliable operations in remote areas, and continued through fleet standardization efforts in the 2010s and beyond.[2] The de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter, particularly its floatplane variant, was a cornerstone of Bering Air's founding fleet in 1979, enabling access to water-based airstrips and rough terrain. These aircraft were retired in the 1990s as the company shifted to turbine engines, replacing them with more efficient turboprops like the Beechcraft King Air and CASA 212 to reduce maintenance costs and improve fuel economy.[2] Similarly, the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, operated alongside the Otters for short-haul passenger and cargo runs, was retired for the same reasons of aging airframes and the advantages of turbine technology, allowing Bering Air to standardize on modern equipment better suited to bypass mail contracts and community services.[2] Early Cessna 207 Skywagon models, introduced in the early 1980s for cargo transport, served reliably in Bering Air's initial scheduled operations but were eventually retired due to structural age and the arrival of upgraded Cessna 208 Caravans, which offered greater payload capacity and regulatory compliance.[2] The Piper Navajo, added in 1983 as a brand-new twin-engine piston aircraft for mail and charter flights, was phased out by the late 2010s to enhance safety and operational efficiency, aligning with broader fleet modernization that favored turboprops amid increasing regulatory scrutiny on older piston types.[2]| Aircraft Type | Role | Retirement Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| DHC-3 Otter | Passenger/floatplane | Turbine shift for efficiency; aging radial engines |
| DHC-2 Beaver | Utility/short-haul | Replaced by turboprops; maintenance challenges |
| Cessna 207 Skywagon | Cargo | Age-related replacement by Cessna 208 series |
| Piper Navajo | Mail/charter | Phased for safety, efficiency, and standardization |
