Hageland Aviation Services, Inc. was founded as a sole proprietorship in Mountain Village, AK by Mike Hageland. He started the company with one Cessna 180, which he used to transport passengers and cargo to the nearby villages. Today Hageland Aviation has scheduled passenger service to more destinations in Alaska than any other airline in the world.
 The Hageland Aviation Services Timeline
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| 1960's Mike Hageland served in the US Army European Command. After 6 months in Europe, he is granted reassignment to Vietnam as a flight engineer. |
September, 1981. Mike Hageland carries first customer Rick Trasco. Flying Cessna 180 N91361.
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| April 1972 Mike Hageland earns his pilot's license in Minnesota. Ten days later, he, his wife Jeanette, and child pack up their home and drive north to Alaska. |
| 1972-1981 Mike Hageland flies commercially through these years and takes a two year sabbatical to commercial trap and fish. |
| 1981 Mike Hageland applies for and receives an air taxi operating certificate from the Alaska Transportation Commission. The operation consists of one Cessna 180, based at Mt. Village. |
| 1982 In April, a new C-207 was purchased to expand the operations. Tom Hawkins joined Mike Hageland as a partner in June. |
| 1983 Hageland Aviation Services becomes a corporation. |
| 1985 Tom Hawkins moves to Bethel, AK to open a new operations base. Their presence was increased by purchasing more airplanes and hiring new pilots. |
| 1988 A passenger and freight terminal is built in St. Marys, AK. |
| 1989 Ron Tweto began working for Hageland Aviation in St. Marys. |
Ron relaxing down by the river.
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| 1990 Ron and James Tweto merge their company (based in Unalakleet) with Hageland. Hageland Aviation begins servicing Unalakleet, Aniak, and McGrath areas. |
| 1992 Received a 401 certificate enabling transport of US mail. The first twin-engine IFR certified passenger plane was purchased - a Cessna 402C. In addition, they purchased a hangar in Bethel, AK. The operation consisted of a total of fourteen (14) aircraft. |
1994 A new hangar and terminal facility was built in St. Marys during the summer.
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| 1995 Bought a new hangar in Kotzebue and leased their first turbine-powered aircraft, a new Cessna 208 Caravan. Tom Hawkins left the company and Ron Tweto was elected the new president. Company Headquarters moves to St. Marys. |
1996 Based on the success of their first Caravan lease, they leased a second one.
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1997 In February, opened a new base in Barrow, AK. In November, a new base in Nome, AK was opened.
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1999 Leased the first Cessna Caravan II - twin turbine, nine passenger.
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2000 Became an active member in the Alaska Air Carrier Association (AACA) and the Alaska Aviation Safety Foundation (AASF). Began involvement with the FAA Capstone project. Hageland Aviation is the largest user of Capstone Technology in the state of Alaska.
May '01 Dillingham opens all cargo service. |
All of our aircraft are equipped
with Capstone Technology.
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| Winter '02 Hageland Aviation Services is the first carrier to use computer mutli-media training aids for the Cessna 207. The project was undertaken by a University of Alaska-Aviation college intern. |
| Spring '02 First Beech 1900c is delivered. The Beech 1900c can carry 19 passenger charter flights or a 9 passenger combi-configuration. |
| Aug. '02 Headquarters moves into the former Reeve Aleutian Airways facility located on Old International Airport Rd next to Anchorage Int'l Airport. |
| Jan. '03 Becomes corporate member for the nonprofit Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (AAHM). Formal internship program is established with the University of Alaska-Aviation program. |
