Who are we?

Homer Air is an FAA licensed Air Carrier in operation since 1954. Owned and operated by local Alaskans. We love Alaska and love providing air service to Homer and the surrounding communities.

Homer Air is committed to safety and service whether you are interested in bear viewing, flight seeing or traveling across the Kachemak Bay to Seldovia, Port Graham or Nanwalek let us show you safe enjoyable flying experience.

History of Homer Air Homer celebrated its 50th Anniversary in August of 2004. We began flying the Kachemak Bay in 1954 before there was a paved runway in Homer and most of the villages around Kachemak Bay didn’t have runways at all. A few different people have owned Homer Air over the years and it has remained and important part of the City of Homer and a vital link to the communities across the Kachemak Bay. Homer Air is now owned by Dana Pruhs, a native to Alaska and operated by a great crew of professionals from around the world who love to live and fly in Alaska. To this day we maintain a commitment to safety and service that keeps Homer AirStrong and looking forward into the future.

Meet the Homer Air staff
Our management staff comes from all over the world.

Owner: Dana Pruhs is originally from Fairbanks Alaska, he owns and operates a number of Alaskan businesses including Homer Air.

Director of Operations: Andy Smircich is originally from Sitka Alaska. He has been in aviation for over 12 years and a graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He lives across the bay from Homer in Seldovia with his wife and two kids. He loves to work, fly gliders, play with his dog Sadie and be home.

Chief Pilot: Zack Tappan originally from Santa Fe New Mexico has been flying in Alaska for over 8 years. Loves life by the sea in Homer where he can fly, kayak, sail and spend time with his wife 2 kids and black dog working on their house.

Administration Manager: Nancy Tappan is from Geneva Switzerland and fell in love with Alaska while traveling through. She came back to stay for good in 2001. She has been a Swiss licensed pilot since 1992 and loves to kayak, hike, fly, do wood and glass work and spend time building her house with her family.

Station Manager: Mark Pilant grew up all over Alaska and settled with his family here in Homer. He fishes, hunts, camps and enjoys the outdoors.

Director of Maintenence: Joe “Idaho Joe” Benallo is from Mcall Idaho with over 10 years maintenance experience. He came to Alaska to enjoy the outdoors when he is not at work you can find him fishing out in the bay on his boat.

Line Pilots: Our line pilots are all skilled Alaskan pilots. We don’t hire pilots with less than 2000 hours of experience. One Thousand hours of that experience is required to have been accrued flying professionally in difficult Alaskan environments.