A lifelong passion for de Havilland Beavers led a landlocked raised girl on a journey to become commercial seaplane pilot.

When “Top Gun” characters Maverick and Goose first uttered the words, “I feel the need. The need for speed,” few could have predicted how the line would change lives throughout the world. But the beckoning call of the cockpit was felt by those of all ages, including young Anna Gullickson.

Whether it was the idea of speed, ruling the sky or a bit of both, Anna dreamt of being a pilot. Her passion for aviation was further solidified during visits to the Canadian Gulf Islands.

“I was just a kid the first time I saw a Beaver pull up to the dock. I heard the sound of the radial engine and I was hooked,” Anna told me as she prepped her own de Havilland Beaver for a day’s flight.

Excited by the idea of flying to remote destinations, Anna said she knew right then that she, “Wanted to be a float plane pilot.”

Some 20 years later, she is. And, she can’t imagine doing anything else.

“Flying for Kenmore Air is amazing. Every day is different. Even when the destination’s the same, the winds and the tide vary,” she said.

Pursuing a Dream
While Anna spent many a summer in the Gulf Islands, she grew up in landlocked Reno, Nevada. Water and seaplanes were few and far between. But that didn’t keep her from pursuing her passion.

Attending Utah State University, she earned her Bachelors in Aviation. Despite being a full-time student, she picked up side work at a small airport in Cache Valley, first fueling planes and then as a flight instructor.

With her pilot’s license in hand, Anna visited the Seattle area for the first time in 2007. She needed her seaplane rating and Kenmore Air was the place to earn it. A natural on floats, she was hired by Kenmore Air in 2008.

“Since then, this has been my home. And it’s amazing,” she said. “I couldn’t work for a better company. The staff is like a small family and the planes are in impeccable condition.”

A Passion for Speed and a Love for Nature
Long before water takeoffs and landings became second nature, powder and skis became Anna’s second home. Her love for downhill was only natural with her Reno roots and Utah collegiate years.

“If I could create my ideal job, I’d fly during the summer and work ski patrol during the winter,” Anna said.

And for a few years, that’s just what she did. As a ski patroller at Crystal Mountain, she provided emergency medical and rescue services. She also met a dashing young man.

A fellow ski patroller, Eric shared her enthusiasm for the outdoors. And, he continues to fully support her love for nature, both on slopes and in the water.

Married in 2012, when Anna broached the subject of starting a 501(C)(3) with fellow pilot Kenmore Air pilot Michael Hays, Eric was fully on board. “He completely supported the idea,” Anna said.

The goal was simple, protect wild orcas. The course was clear, increase public awareness.

And, that’s just what she and Michael are doing. With the help of several friends, not the least of whom is Anna’s supportive other half, Wild Orca was founded at the beginning of 2014.

“I am in awe of how powerful and magical these creatures are,” Anna said. But, she knows if their natural environment isn’t protected, this endangered species faces the serious threat of extinction.

“Every day I fly, there’s the potential of seeing a pod of wild orcas. And, no matter how many I see, it always feels like the first time. But if we don’t protect them, that’ll change,” she said. And that’s a possibility she’s not willing to accept.

Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Like many career paths, flying the line for most airlines used to be a boys club. Though several decades ago Kenmore Air burst that glass ceiling, women pilots are still few and far between.

Anna is just the second full-time female pilot to join Kenmore Air’s crew. And, she’s among only a handful of pilots cleared to fly the entire line, including the large 10-passenger de Havilland Otter.

Though Anna loves the Otter’s speed, Beavers still hold a special place in her heart. “Nothing handles quite like a Beaver,” she said.

Kenmore Air’s upholstery shop sits just above the mailroom. Its non-descript entrance rests at the top of a narrow stairway. Most people give the nearly windowless space nary a glance, let alone have a clue as to the artistry that goes on inside.

Beyond the threshold lies a veritable maze of platforms and sewing machines. The ceiling’s rafters resemble a chandelier of parts. They suspend seat frames in various states of repair. The scent of leather and wood shavings hangs heavy, like a cologne reminiscent of a time before Chinese imports were the status quo – a time when men crafted machines with the strength of their hands and the ingenuity of their wit.

At the center of it all, moving with a quiet sense of purpose, is upholstery specialist, Clarence Kappes.

He graciously let me join him while he was in the midst of a project. I watched as he measured a stretch of leather, measured it again, and then cut. “Custom craftsmanship is the only option,” Clarence explained. “We’re dealing with planes that haven’t been manufactured for years. There’s no factory making Beaver seats. If we want them, we have to search for existing parts and repair them before they can be upholstered.”

The last de Havilland Beaver was built in 1967. Only 1,657 planes were produced. For these planes to keep operating, the ability to completely restore them is key.

“We do everything here. When it comes to the seats, all I start with is a metal frame,” Clarence said. From cutting and shaping the aviation foam – a high density, flame retardant foam – to sewing the leather coverings, Clarence handcrafts each seat. Every step of the process requires him to pay close attention to detail, including his use of French seams.

“It’s a two step process that creates not only a really polished look, but a stronger overall surface,” Clarence told me as he flipped a portion of seatback covering and completed the second seam.

Originally from Minnesota, Clarence began his professional career as a carpenter. It wasn’t until 1998, when he was first commissioned to build cabinets for airplanes, that he began dabbling in aircraft upholstery. “Some of the aircraft cabinets had padding incorporated in areas next to seating,” Clarence said.

Padding on cabinets needed to match the padding on seats and before he knew it, Clarence was an upholstery expert. In need of his expertise, Kenmore Air recruited him in November of 2007. “I’ve been here ever since,” he said.

He upholsters an average of eight seats a month, which equates to roughly one fully outfitted Beaver. “When I’m doing the upholstery, I’m not just doing the seats. I have my hands on everything within the plane that’s covered in fabric. That includes doors, the storage compartment, and the air filtration system. Each aspect of the plane must be taken into account when we’re covering panels,” he said.

What projects does Clarence enjoy doing the most? Those where he gets to be creative.

“I really enjoy when a customer wants to do something different. Being creative like that is fun,” Clarence said.

And throughout the years, Clarence has definitely been creative. Using a variety of fabrics, colors, and stitching, Clarence creates designs that mirror customers’ personalities.

“I also spend a lot of time looking after [Kenmore Air’s] planes. We have 24 in the fleet and they get used a lot – especially the pilots’ seats. It’s essential those seats last as long as possible,” he said.

So next time you’re in a Kenmore Air plane, take a moment. Run your hand over the seat. You will probably be admiring Clarence’s craftsmanship.