Where the Road Ends and the Flying Begins — Bush Pilot Nate Herbert & Black Moose Outposts

Episode Summary Shawn sits down with Nate Herbert, bush pilot and founder of Black Moose Outposts, a fly-in wilderness fishing and hunting operation based out of Red Lake, Ontario — the furthest northwest you can drive in the province. What started as a napkin sketch during COVID has grown into twelve camps and a fleet of nine aircraft, including de Havilland Beavers, Blackhawk Caravans, and a Pilatus PC-6 Porter on floats. Nate takes us inside what real bush flying looks like — from navigating months of wildfire smoke to landing on unmarked lakes with dark water and no weather radar. He shares how his dad lit the aviation fire in him (even though he spent most of his childhood getting airsick), what it takes to hire and train bush pilots, and why he believes bush flying is one of the most future-proof careers in aviation. Along the way, we get a look at Black Moose's fire suppression missions supporting Northern communities, the differences between flying a Beaver, a Caravan, and a PC-6 in the backcountry, and what it's like to hand the controls of a floatplane over to a 70-year-old guest living out a lifelong dream. Key Points Nate's Path into Aviation Nate grew up in Red Lake, Ontario — a town with deep bush flying roots going back to the gold rush era of the 1930s when its airport was the second busiest in the world behind Chicago. His dad was a pilot, and flying was simply transportation. Nate actually hated flying as a kid — chronic airsickness kept him miserable on every flight. The turning point came at age 15 when he overheard his parents say the family airplane would go to his cousin if he didn't get his license. He got it at 18 and never looked back. Red Lake and the Bush Red Lake sits at the end of the road in northwest Ontario — people in Toronto can drive to Florida faster than they can drive there. Everything north of Red Lake is accessible only by winter ice roads or aircraft. It's a place where aviation isn't a hobby — it's how you get to town, get to school, and get home. Black Moose Outposts Born out of a COVID-era conversation between friends about dream jobs, Black Moose was supposed to be two camps and one airplane. It's now twelve camps and nine aircraft. The operation runs May through October, with 90% of business being fly-in fishing trips. Offerings range from fully self-guided wilderness drop-offs with zero contact for a week, all the way up to high-end guided packages with private chefs and 24/7 hosts. Newer camps feature full indoor plumbing, individual room climate control, and family-friendly accommodations. The Fleet Two Cessna 185s (one commercial with boat STC, one private)Two de Havilland Beavers (piston, original radials — one with STOL kit, one military surplus)One Blackhawk Caravan on Wipline 8750 floatsOne Cessna Caravan EX with Yukon prop on Wipline 8750 floatsOne Pilatus PC-6 Porter on Wipline 6100 floats Bush Flying Realities No live weather, no radar, no controlled airspace beyond a five-mile zone around Red Lake. Pilots have to read weather visually and navigate by instinct and experience. Smoke from wildfires was the worst veteran pilots had ever seen last season — not days, but months of reduced visibility. Nate's safety philosophy: smoke can be pushed carefully, but cloud and fog will kill you. Fire Suppression Flying Black Moose supports wildfire response across Northern Ontario — evacuations, gear supply runs, initial attack crew transport, and fire mapping at 50–100 feet above the trees. Last season, Nate's team flew the initial firefighting crews into a Northern community that had no water bomber support — the fire burned right to the edge of the sprinkler line his crews helped set up. Advice for Aspiring Bush Pilots Nate values work ethic over flight hours. Backgrounds in bush firefighting, welding, farming, or any demanding hands-on work carry more weight than a logbook full of hours. Float time helps get through the door, but Nate says he can teach the flying — he can't teach someone to work hard. The Future of Bush Flying Nate sees bush flying as one of the most secure aviation careers. Northern communities will always need air access, adventure tourism continues to grow, and the hands-on, unpredictable nature of the work makes it resistant to automation. Fun Questions — Quick Hits In-flight snack: Small cans of tuna, Costco applesauce, Icon elk and bison jerky, and a Red BullDream aircraft: F-16 or a Corsair (he's already flying his dream bush plane — the PC-6)Flying companion: His dad — the one who lit the fireDream trip: Flying a Cub or PC-6 through Iceland Links Black Moose Outposts website: blackmooseoutposts.comNate Herbert on Instagram: @nateherbertWipaire (Wipline Floats): wipaire.comAviNation: https://www.avinationusa.com/