Doug Makkonen
Doug Makkonen started flying fixed wing and took his helicopter training with Sky Rotors in Toronto. He flew for a year in British Columbia before joining Trans North in 1974. In 1996, he lifted four Austrians off the East Ridge of Mt. Logan at 15,000 feet. His Jet Ranger took one at a time until he ran out of time and then he took the last two at once. It was for this he received the bravery award.
In 2002, Doug flew 300 metres of ice core, 400 pounds per load, down to 9500 feet where a larger aircraft flew it to Whitehorse. Helicopters and pilots do not perform well in high altitudes. The pilots were not acclimatized so they were on oxygen all the time. Doug Makkonen won the Bell Helicopter Award in 1995, the Yukon Commissioners Award for Bravery in 1996 and, in 2003, the Robert E, Trimble Award (at the Heli-Expo Convention in Dallas, Texas) for his distinguished mountain helicopter flying. The award was established in 1961 for pilots who displayed exceptional ability and good judgement in high altitude flying, provided outstanding service to others, contributed to high standards of safety and brought credit and recognition to the helicopter industry.1)