Ridgeline Aviation

Ridgeline Aviation is an aircraft charter and remote logistics company based at the Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport in Cordova, Alaska. It was founded in 2008 by Stephen Richards, who owns and operates it. He reports more than 30 years of flying and over 17,000 combined flight hours, with a background in corporate charter, U.S. government work, and relief and development flights overseas.

Services

• Helicopter and airplane charter, including off-airport landings, with cargo baskets and hooks on the helicopters
• External load long-line work between camps or sites, with cargo hook and remote hook
• Hazardous materials transport and remote fueling under HAZMAT authorization
• Survey work such as radio telemetry, LIDAR target placement and wildlife surveys
• Photography and video, with flip-up windows and removable doors
• Remote site support for telecom towers, lodges and cabins, aircraft recovery, science projects, construction and environmental assessments

Fleet

• Eurocopter AS350SD: five-passenger utility helicopter, up to 1,800 lb on the hook
• Robinson R66: turbine helicopter seating up to four passengers, up to 1,100 lb of cargo
• Cessna 170B: three-passenger fixed-wing aircraft for improved and unimproved landing areas

Company facts

• Founded 2008
• FAA Part 135 air carrier and Part 133 external load operator, with HAZMAT authorization for both
• DOI and USFS carded
• Published 2026 helicopter rates: AS350SD $2,200 per hour plus fuel, R66 $1,250 per hour plus fuel
• Charters to USFS cabins in the Chugach Ranger District

Working area

The company flies from Cordova to cabins, camps and remote sites. Charters to destinations such as Childs Glacier, McCarthy, Chitina and Valdez are listed on the pricing page for the Cessna, and helicopter charters are available to most Chugach Ranger District cabins, with pricing by phone. All charter prices are one-way and a fuel surcharge may apply. Multi-hour and multi-day work has separate pricing and policies in a linked PDF.