Snow blowers launched snow over the wings of Robert Everts' aircraft Thursday, as the pilot landed his final Part 121 flight into Fairbanks International Airport the day before his 65th birthday.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - On the day before his 65th birthday, pilot Robert Everts was given an altered water salute at Fairbanks International Airport as snow blowers launched snow over the wings of his aircraft Thursday.
The owner of Everts Air Cargo and Everts Air Alaska pulled into the runway after taking his last journey as a pilot flight crew member on Part 121 flight operations, a designation that applies to some large aircraft above certain passenger or payload capacity, and which can only be piloted by people under 65 years old. “You can kind of think of it in lay terms as big aircraft versus small aircraft, but more importantly, Part 121 has the highest level of standard under the Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations for safety,” said Paul Quirion, Director of Flight Operations for Everts Air Cargo. After turning 65 on Friday, Everts can still pilot operations under the Part 125 or Part 135 designations. Quirion said Everts can still serve in other capacities on Part 121 flights, including as a flight engineer. For his part, Everts, who has been flying since he was eight years old, said he plans to continue to do so.His chosen aircraft for the occasion was a C-46D produced in February 1945 named “Maid in Japan,” the only one of its kind currently flying under Part 121 operations. “81-year-old airplane, pretty good, last one on the planet. and now it’s done. For now, it’s going to go into its second career hauling fuel,” Everts said. Flying round-trip from Fairbanks to Galena and back with between 12,000 and 13,000 pounds of cargo, Everts arrived back at FAI around 5 p.m. to an assembled crowd, who then joined the pilot in a celebration of his career. Commenting on the blowing snow from his altered water salute, Everts said, “A little bit louder and more violent than I anticipated. Luckily, we got plastic windshields.” Asked what it takes to be a lifelong pilot, he explained, “If you’re looking to fly, you’ve got to have something wrong with you a little bit.”‘That was my last resort’: Iditarod rookie recounts frantic bison encounter on trailParents of ‘Deadliest Catch’ deckhand who died during show filming plead for video not to be releasedAnchorage kids spent 40 hours on stage over spring break — and loved every minute
Air Flight Part 121 Fairbanks International Airport Quirion
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