About Us - Kingfisher Air & Kingfisher Aviation

About Kingfisher

Feel safe during your flying experience. Kingfisher Aviation & Kingfisher Air Inc are licenced and inspected to operate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State of Alaska. Our pilots are examined annually by the FAA. The aircraft are thouroughly inspected by and maintained by a certified mechanic every 100 flight hours - which is about once a month. We are CPR/First Aid certified and have special use permits to operate in the Kodiak Refuge, Katmai National Park and Alaska State Parks. We meet all the applicable insurance requirements by the state and federal goverment. Most important and is a mainstay in our company attitude is to NOT PUSH THE WEATHER. Glen & Kyle take a conservative attitude, and will cancel flights if they deem the weather is not (or will not stay) good enough to safely complete the flight.

"Don't be a show-off. Never be too proud to turn back. There are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old, bold pilots" E. Hamilton Lee, 1949.

The weather always clears and we plan to be here for a long time! We are based in the city of Kodiak on the Lily Lake seaplane base and operate flights from April through November every day the weather is flyable. Currently, we operate two Bush Hawks and a DeHavilland Beaver on floats and we can move up to 2000 pounds or 10 passengers at one time. For your convinience, we offer a courtesy van that can provide you transportation to and from our office on the day of your scheduled flight. Stop by our office at 1829 Mill Bay Road or call us (907) 486-5155 for reservations or information.

Our Pilots & Family History

The Eaton’s have a long history in Kodiak and with aviation. Marty & Linda Eaton originally moved to Kodiak in 1965, and they raised their three sons here, Andy, Glen & Kyle. Flying has been in our family’s heritage for generations, starting with Linda’s father, George Iley Steinke, who purchased his first airplane in 1925 and taught himself to fly. He earned pilots license #1582 (when the licenses were issued in numerical order). After decades of barnstorming, being a corporate pilot, starting an airline and all aspects revolving around aviation, George Steinke was inducted into the Arizona Aviation Hall of fame in 1991.

Kingfisher Aviation is operated by

brothers Glen & Kyle Eaton. Kyle is involved in every facet of the business, inlcuding the day-to-day affairs, reservations, website, flying and aircraft maintainence. Glen offers peak season support with flying and office. Teri Eaton, Kyle's wife, can be found handling the office, taking reservations and keeping everything running smoothly while juggling three small kids!

You can read more about our pilots and professional experience here: PILOTS

About Kingfisher

The story behind our company name.

During one summer at Zachar Bay Lodge, a belted kingfisher flew into one of the large glass pane windows of the lodge, and knocked itself out. Glen nursed the bird back to health over the course of several days and released it back into the wild. The next morning when checking on the floatplane, there was the belted kingfisher sitting atop of the tail of the Aeronca Sedan. After seeing the kingfisher on the tail, it was decided that the company would be called Kingfisher.

Our family has a long history in the aviation industry, and it continues with brothers Glen & Kyle Eaton. Both brothers were born and raised in Kodiak where flying floatplanes is as natural to most people as driving a car. Glen started Kingfisher Aviation in 1998 with a 1947 Aeronca Sedan aircraft while working for Zachar Bay Lodge on Kodiak Island. We strive to provide our passengers a safe, reliable and fun flying experience - whether it is your first floatplane flight or you are a seasoned traveler.