Page 11 - Volume 17 Number 4

turbulence is always a possibility in the West.Diekroeger said “In addition to operating the airplane, our pilots are also expected to assist at the satellite clinics. These duties may include picking up supplies, delivering x-rays, driving the physicians to and from the surgery centers, servicing the company vehicles, or anything else that may be needed. A pilot for our company has to be a team player and they have to display a strong work ethic and initiative.” In addition, it may necessary to shuttle personnel to another clinic, overlapping orthopedic teams to cover cases.Chief Pilot BackgroundCody Diekroeger has been flying with Premier Bone and Joint Centers since 2001, when he came aboard with acquisition of the second King Air. The third plane was purchased in 2006 and a fourth was added in 2009. As a civilian-ranks pilot, Diekroegersays he “broke a lot of horses to pay for his flight training”, starting as a Part 135 pilot in Texas, then graduating to flying Twin Otters and Dash 7s for Rocky Mountain Airways, eventually crewing 737s for Frontier Airlines before going into airline management. His 18,000-hours of mostly-turbine flying time speaks for itself.A unique company-airline operation, Air Doc, Inc. performs its missions safely and routinely, bringing specialized care to distant parts of Wyoming where it wouldn’t otherwise be available. Flying the reliable C90As, its pilots continue to•do their job, with modern panels, comfortably and without fuss. T&TAPRIL 2013TWIN & TURBINE • 9