Title:
Pilot Ken Eichner with Passenger in Helicopter Over Ketchikan
Photographer:
Pro Pix / Steve and Dolores McCutcheon
Description:
Ken Eichner: A Legacy of Helping Others
Honored with the Federal Aviation Administration's "Wright Brother's Master Pilot" award for 50 years of safe flying, Ken Eichner was known for helping people and for his many rescues. Eichner founded TEMSCO Helicopters in 1958 with business partners Bob Young and Joe Soloy. TEMSCO, an acronym for timber, exploration, mining, survey, cargo operations, has a wide range of helicopters. TEMSCO's fleet supported Southeast Alaska's growing industries and aided in challenging rescue operations inaccessible to fixed wing aircraft. TEMSCO has expanded beyond Ketchikan, with bases in Juneau, Petersburg, Skagway, and near Denali National Park.
Eichner proved that helicopters are an invaluable tool for our rugged and remote landscape. The use of helicopters remains essential for projects like the Swan Lake (in Ketchikan) to Lake Tyee (in Petersburg) Intertie Project. Construction of the 58 mile line providing shared electrical power was done exclusively by helicopter support, as the right-of-way was inaccessible by other means.
Eichner was also involved with the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) since it was organized following the crash of a Pan American Airways passenger plane near the Airport on Annette Island in 1948. This non-profit organization conducts wilderness search, rescue, and recovery missions in cooperation with local governments, the Alaska State Troopers, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Forest Service. The all-volunteer crew services 5,000 square miles of rugged terrain. KVRS utilizes trained dogs, electronic tracking, boats, and helicopters to support ground crews in rescue operations.
Honored with the Federal Aviation Administration's "Wright Brother's Master Pilot" award for 50 years of safe flying, Ken Eichner was known for helping people and for his many rescues. Eichner founded TEMSCO Helicopters in 1958 with business partners Bob Young and Joe Soloy. TEMSCO, an acronym for timber, exploration, mining, survey, cargo operations, has a wide range of helicopters. TEMSCO's fleet supported Southeast Alaska's growing industries and aided in challenging rescue operations inaccessible to fixed wing aircraft. TEMSCO has expanded beyond Ketchikan, with bases in Juneau, Petersburg, Skagway, and near Denali National Park.
Eichner proved that helicopters are an invaluable tool for our rugged and remote landscape. The use of helicopters remains essential for projects like the Swan Lake (in Ketchikan) to Lake Tyee (in Petersburg) Intertie Project. Construction of the 58 mile line providing shared electrical power was done exclusively by helicopter support, as the right-of-way was inaccessible by other means.
Eichner was also involved with the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad (KVRS) since it was organized following the crash of a Pan American Airways passenger plane near the Airport on Annette Island in 1948. This non-profit organization conducts wilderness search, rescue, and recovery missions in cooperation with local governments, the Alaska State Troopers, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Forest Service. The all-volunteer crew services 5,000 square miles of rugged terrain. KVRS utilizes trained dogs, electronic tracking, boats, and helicopters to support ground crews in rescue operations.
Collection:
Ketchikan Museums: Ketchikan Daily News Collection, KM 93.2.15.60
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Pilot Kenny Eichner with passenger in helicopter over Ketchikan
Pilot Kenny Eichner with passenger in helicopter over Ketchikan