Ariel Tweto is really focused on her non-profit organization, Popping Bubbles, which works to boost mental wellness and prevent suicide in rural Alaskan communities. While she still holds her pilot's license, her public work has mostly moved away from commercial bush piloting and into advocacy and media. She often flies to remote villages for her non-profit, which is pretty cool (and necessary!).
Does Ariel tweto still fly?
While Flying Wild Alaska wrapped up, Ariel Tweto's main public focus has shifted from commercial piloting to media and advocacy work, though she absolutely still holds her pilot's license and actively uses it for her non-profit work.
Once the show ended, she kept her media career going. She even hosted the Sundance Institute’s Native Shorts television series in 2013 and the Miss Alaska USA pageant in 2014. But these days (as of 2026), Tweto is mostly focused on her non-profit, Popping Bubbles. This organization works to boost mental wellness and prevent suicide in rural Alaskan communities. And yes, that often means she has to fly to remote villages, according to Alaska Public Media.
How old is Ariel Tweto now?
Born in 1987, Ariel Tweto is 39 years old as of 2026.
Most people first saw Ariel on the Discovery Channel series Flying Wild Alaska. That show premiered in 2011, and she was in her early twenties then. It gave viewers a unique look at her family's life and their aviation business, Hageland Aviation Services. They operated in the incredibly challenging environment of rural Alaska.
Does tweto still own era Alaska?
Nope, the Tweto family didn't actually own "Era Alaska." That name was really just a brand used for marketing, mostly by Era Aviation, which SEACOR Marine bought back in 2004.
The Tweto family, on the other hand, owned and ran Hageland Aviation Services. Hageland, along with Era Aviation and Frontier Flying Service, eventually combined to become part of the Ravn Air Group. Basically, "Era Alaska" was a public-facing brand for the Discovery Channel show. It represented the combined efforts of these separate regional carriers, not a single company the Tweto family owned outright.
Is John Ponts still flying?
As of 2026, we don't have any widely available public information about whether John Ponts is still flying, even though he was a prominent pilot on Flying Wild Alaska.
While the show was on, John Ponts became well-known for joining the Tweto family's flight crew. He'd actually moved all the way from Northern California to work with Alaskan bush pilots. His deep expertise, calm way of handling things, and engaging personality were huge parts of the series. The show really brought to life the incredibly demanding world of aviation in remote Alaskan territories.
What nationality is Ariel tweto?
Ariel Tweto is American, and she is specifically an Alaskan Native of Inupiaq heritage.
She was born and grew up in Unalakleet, Alaska. Her cultural background and strong connection to the state's indigenous communities were really central themes in Flying Wild Alaska. Tweto often talks about her heritage and the specific challenges Alaska Native communities face. She frequently weaves these perspectives into her advocacy work for mental health and wellness, which is incredibly important.
How much did era Alaska sell for?
Era Aviation, the company that used the "Era Alaska" brand for the TV show, was sold for a hefty $118.1 million in cash.
This pretty big deal happened on December 30, 2004. Rowan Companies sold Era Aviation to SEACOR Marine (which is now SEACOR Holdings). They announced the deal publicly on January 4, 2005. It was a huge change in ownership for one of Alaska's absolutely crucial regional air carriers, and it definitely shifted the whole landscape of Alaskan aviation services.
When was Ariel Tweto on Wipeout?
Ariel Tweto competed on the popular reality competition show Wipeout in 2011.
She showed up in an episode during the show's fourth season, specifically one called "Hotties vs. Nerds." Her time on Wipeout really highlighted her adventurous spirit, athleticism, and playful side. It was a fun contrast to her much more demanding and serious job as a bush pilot in Alaska's tough environment.
Who owns Ravn?
As of 2026, Ravn Alaska is owned by FLOAT Alaska, a consortium of Alaskan investment firms dedicated to revitalizing essential air services in the state.
The original Ravn Air Group (which included Era Aviation and Hageland Aviation) actually filed for bankruptcy in 2020 after facing some really big operational challenges. Then, FLOAT Alaska bought up the airline's assets and brought it back as Ravn Alaska. Their clear goal was to bring back crucial air transportation links for communities all across Alaska's huge territory, as the Anchorage Daily News reported.
How old is John Ponts?
We don't actually have public records for the exact birth year or current age of John Ponts, the well-known pilot from Flying Wild Alaska.
Just to be clear, this John Ponts is a totally different person from John Eleuthère du Pont, the American heir who died in 2010 when he was 72. The pilot John Ponts was a really memorable guy on the Discovery Channel series. Everyone recognized him for his amazing flying skills and how much he contributed to the tough operations of the Tweto family's aviation business.
How much do Era Alaska pilots make?
Pilot salaries for "Era Alaska" (which was Era Aviation) would've really varied depending on experience and the type of aircraft. But regional airline pilots, like the folks who flew for Era Aviation, generally made anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 a year. That depended on their role and seniority, and it's definitely different from what bigger mainline carriers pay.
Now, major airline pilots can make a lot more — often over $200,000 annually. Regional carriers, though, usually offer lower starting pay. That pay does go up as pilots get more flight hours and specific aircraft ratings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual wage for all airline pilots was $211,790 in May 2022. But keep in mind, regional pilots typically start below that number and see their pay increase as they gain experience.
Is Buffalo Airways still in operation?
Yep, Buffalo Airways is still very much flying as of 2026! They're continuing their long history of cargo and passenger services in Northern Canada.
This airline, based in Hay River, Northwest Territories, got famous worldwide thanks to the reality TV series Ice Pilots NWT. Buffalo Airways still provides crucial air freight, passenger charters, and even wildfire suppression services. They use their fleet of vintage aircraft to connect remote communities and support all sorts of industries across the Canadian North, just as their official website explains.
Who is the CEO of Era Alaska?
Actually, there wasn't a single CEO of "Era Alaska" because it was mostly just a marketing brand for the Discovery Channel series. It represented the combined operations of several regional carriers, not a standalone company with its own dedicated CEO.
The main operator connected to the "Era Alaska" brand was Era Aviation, which SEACOR Marine bought in 2004. Then, Era Aviation, Hageland Aviation, and Frontier Flying Service all merged to form the Ravn Air Group. So, leadership would have fallen to the CEO of Era Aviation during the show's early days. After that, it would've been the CEO of the bigger Ravn Air Group, like Bob Hajdukovich, who was a pretty important person in getting the group started and running.
What show was Ariel Tweto on?
Ariel was most notably featured on the Discovery Channel reality series Flying Wild Alaska, which chronicled her family's bush piloting business.
Besides her big role in Flying Wild Alaska, she also showed off her adventurous side by competing on the popular reality competition show Wipeout in 2011. These TV appearances really helped build her public image as a daring Alaskan pilot with a vibrant personality. Honestly, it helped her reach beyond just the aviation community and into mainstream entertainment.
Where is the pole?
When people talk about "the pole" in Alaskan aviation, especially with all the remote flying shown in Flying Wild Alaska, they're usually talking about the North Pole. It represents the globe's extreme northern reaches and those challenging, often uncharted territories pilots have to navigate.
Sure, the show mostly focused on regional flights within Alaska. But the idea of "the pole" still brings to mind those vast, icy expanses and the really unique navigational challenges that come with polar aviation. Alaskan pilots often fly in areas with extreme weather and very little infrastructure. So, any journey towards such remote geographical markers is truly a testament to their incredible skill and resilience.
