Offering a view from a new perspective

Ian Fitton has combined his passion for flying with his love for the outdoors to create a fledgling business: Mt. Shasta Helicopter.

A 12 year Mount Shasta resident, Fitton has been taking helicopters into the air for three years now. Having covered most of Siskiyou County from the ground while hiking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing and mountain biking, Fitton is knowledgeable about Mt. Shasta and the many beautiful sites surrounding it.

While remaining respectful of the mountain and the terrain he loves, Fitton said he enjoys taking people up to see the wonders of Siskiyou County from a new perspective.

While it is required that helicopters stay at least 2,000 feet above National Forest land, Fitton said he enjoys seeing the gigantic mountain from an even greater distance.

“Once you’re in the air, you don’t feel like you need to get any closer [to Mt. Shasta]... if you do, it doesn’t seem as grand,” he said. “There’s so much beautiful terrain to cover without being invasive.”

Other than Mt. Shasta itself, there are countless other sights to see from the sky, such as Castle Crags, the Mt. Eddy Wilderness, the Fall River area, Lake Shastina and Mossbrae Falls, to name a few.

“Flying up the Sacramento River from Redding is also really beautiful,” Fitton said.

In addition to sightseeing opportunities, Fitton is available to take people up for aerial photography, news gathering, agricultural or real estate development purposes.

If a customer is interested in having their experience documented and doesn’t want to take photos on their own, local photographer Shay Stemm is available to take photos with professional equipment, Fitton said.

After graduating from Mount Shasta High School in 1999, Fitton attended Southern Oregon University and obtained a degree in art. About three years ago, he was inspired by his brother, a respiratory therapist who flies aboard medical helicopters in the Bend, Ore. area.

“I realized that was something I’d like to get into,” Fitton said. “I really want to help people.”

Fitton did some research, and soon realized that his dream was attainable. He began taking flying lessons through Air Shasta in Redding.

“Before my first flight, I got an hour of ground instruction, then you go up and you take the controls to get a feel for flying. It seems impossible at first, but then you get used to it,” he said. “Helicopters have extremely sensitive controls, and it takes a long time to build muscle memory in the wrists.”

After jumping through all the required hoops – including learning the regulations, building up hours of flight time and performing a Federal Aviation Administration check ride – Fitton received his helicopter pilot’s license.

This past spring, after more hours in the air and another FAA check ride, he earned his commercial license. That’s when he began thinking about starting Mt. Shasta Helicopter.

Fitton said he’s received a great response from the community and thoroughly enjoys providing people with a new experience – especially older people who may have lived in the area for a long time and have never seen their home in quite that way before.

While he escorts locals and tourists in the air, Fitton is keeping his focus squarely on his goal of eventually landing a job where he’s able to help others. Ultimately, he’d like to become a medical pilot, he said.

“This is a great way for me to build hours and experience.”

Last month, Fitton passed a written test to receive his flight instructor rating, which will allow him to teach others to fly helicopters.

Fitton will be leaving on Saturday to do his flight instructor check ride. By the end of the month, he hopes to offer local flight instruction for those who’d like to become pilots themselves.

Fitton flies out of Dunsmuir’s Mott Airport. He tries to keep prices affordable and flies two different helicopters to best fit his customer’s needs.

The cost to fly a single passenger in a Robinson 22 is $265 per hour. The pricing in the larger and faster Robinson 44, which can hold three passengers, is $510 per hour and requires a booking of at least one half hour.

“Robinson is well-known for its performance and reliability,” Fitton said. “Safety is always my number one priority.”

His second priority, he said, is that those who take a flight with him enjoy their experience.

“There’s just so much to see, and it’s so amazing to see it from above,” he said.

For more information visit www.mtshastahelicopter.com or call Ian Fitton at (530) 859-1054.