Your Denali Team
Meet your team
Maintenance
Have confidence in the best maintenance team in the state, our aircrafts are pristine!
Pilots
Riley Martin
Chief Pilot
Riley is a lifelong Alaskan with a passion for aviation and the outdoors. Since June 2019 Riley has been flying commercially as an instructor, ferry, lodge, and 135 pilot. Whenever he’s not working Riley spends his spare change on gas for whatever airplanes he can wrangle up to go fly. Outside the cockpit, Riley enjoys skiing, biking, running, climbing, and skipping rocks in the front range around Anchorage and Talkeetna.
Joe McAneney
Joe McAneney is a glacier pilot renowned for flying the radial-engine de Havilland Beaver in the heart of Denali National Park. With a deep understanding of Alaska’s extreme weather and rugged terrain, Joe expertly navigates his aircraft to remote glacier landing zones, supporting climbers and adventurers on their expeditions. His precision flying in the Alaska Range, particularly around Denali, has made him a trusted name for safe and reliable glacier landings, helping explorers reach some of the most remote and challenging locations in the park.
Phil Chidekel
Phil started flying gliders when he was 13 and has since unapologetically flown everything he could get his hands on. He has worked as a backcountry canoe guide, flight instructor, and aerospace engineer. He loves mountains, sunshine, and de Havilland Canada.
Jack Wilson
Hailing originally from the south, Jack brings a warm southern charm to the rugged north, his distinctive accent a comforting presence amid the vast Alaskan expanse. His deep knowledge of aviation and dedication to safety make him a trusted guide for adventurers. Whether he's flying climbers to the base of Denali or flight flightseeing tourists, Jack's passion for the Alaskan frontier and commitment to his craft are evident in every flight. When he's not in the cockpit, he enjoys sharing his love for aviation and the outdoors with the next generation of pilots.
Chad Smith
With over 20 years of 135 commercial flying in the back country of Alaska, Chad believes Denali National Park is by far one of the coolest places on the planet. When not piloting one of the most amazing machines created, the Turbine Beaver, Chad enjoy spending time with his daughter on their mountain bikes or on ski’s. Anything that gets them in the mountains!
Dorothy Olmstead
Dorothy was captivated by the allure of flight, and she pursued her dream with unwavering determination. Now, with years of experience under her belt, she fearlessly guides her aircraft through the rugged Alaskan landscape. Dorothy's presence in the cockpit serves as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring pilots, proving that gender is no barrier to success in the world of aviation. When she's not soaring above the glaciers and peaks of Denali, Dorothy can be found snowboarding and being an amazing mother to her son.
Dave Rief
David is a 4th generation pilot but the first of the previous three to fly professionally. He’s a flatlander from Kansas but has been coming to Alaska since he was 8 years old to visit family. Previously, he’s enjoyed flying corporate charter all over the lower 48. However, the most fun he’s had flying was the time he spent teaching some beginner aerobatics and upset recovery to students at Kansas State University, but he has a feeling his time at K2 will top that. He’s an avid skier so in the winter you can catch him at Alyeska shredding some fresh pow.