Author Archive for: joecandlish

Joe started flying in high school, served in the military, and retired in 2022 at age 80 with 26,000 hours total time, including 21,000 of rotor-wing time. His last job was as Chief Pilot, Walton County (FL) Sheriff's Office. Most of Joe's rotor-wing experience was flying wildfire and external load ops, but he did spend seven years doing "EMS stuff" in the US, Saudi Arabia, and Scotland. He also flew offshore in the Gulf and North Sea, was an FAA Part 135 Check Airman in nine different aircraft and served as Chief Pilot, Director of Ops under FAR Part 135 for a total of 13 years. At last count, he had worked for 23 companies as a contract pilot.