AIDAN OLSON

Admin Volunteer

Aidan grew up camping and hiking all around the country, allowing him to grow fond of nature and all that it has to offer for all types of recreation. He turned that passion into a degree from the University of Wisconsin in Forest Sciences. This progressed to a year of backcountry skiing and living in the mountains with his dog as he was working in forest preservation and restoration, further expanding his love for the outdoors. 

 

After a few glider flights and a ride in a 150, Aidan knew he wanted to be a pilot, and after his year in the mountains he went to flight school in Arizona. The desert offered him many new adventures and introduced him to the world of aviation. His goal is to combine his love of the outdoors and his love of aviation into a long and enjoyable career. 

 

Currently a cargo pilot flying as a First Officer on the Embraer 120 for Freight Runners Express, Aidan lives in Milwaukee and when he isn't flying, he still enjoys going on hikes with his dog and canoe camping in the Boundary Waters as well as the rivers and lakes of Wisconsin. He hopes that one day he can paddle and portage the entire Wisconsin river...then fly the length of it in a float plane! 


Recent Posts

CALL TO ACTION: COMMENTS REQUESTED TO REOPEN GIANT CITY AIRSTRIP

By Erin White • April 29, 2026
Giant City State Park in southern Illinois has posted a survey asking for public comment on reopening its backcountry airstrip. Your RAF Illinois State Liaison, Mike Purpura, and Illinois Ambassador Dave Warner have diligently worked for several years to bring this exciting project to fruition. This recreational asset will provide access to a place in southern Illinois with distinctive geography, geology, and plant and animal diversity. The State Park offers abundant fishing, hunting, and hiking opportunities throughout its 4,000+ acres. Giant City airstrip stands to be a true gem in the region for pilots if opened back up for public use. Your Help is Needed Click on the link below to access the Community Feedback Survey and provide comments supporting the reopening of the airstrip.

KAREN LARSON

By lellington • April 29, 2026

WORTH THE READ: CHRIS NUGENT GUEST EDITORIAL

April 24, 2026
Our many RAF supporters have such vast and varied experience, and we’re capturing some of their words of wisdom to share with you. This guest editorial is by Chris Nugent, Arizona Pilots Association President and RAF Supporter.

CAMPGROUND IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED AT SILETZ BAY

April 24, 2026
Thanks to an RAF grant awarded to Oregon Ambassador Sarah Brown and Oregon Liaison Richard Mayes, volunteers have completed improvements at Siletz Bay State Airport (S45) on the Oregon coast. Twenty-seven volunteers led by Brown met on April 17 to clean up the camping sites and replace the rusted fire rings and collapsed wooden picnic tables. The project was conducted in partnership with the Oregon Department of Aviation. 

RAF GRANT AWARDED FOR LUSK MUNICIPAL PILOT SHELTER

April 14, 2026
RAF Wyoming Liaison Joe Feiler has tapped his passion for teaching and is applying an innovative approach to building a pilot's shelter or “ramada” at Lusk Airport in southeastern Wyoming. Feiler was awarded an RAF grant for materials for this planned 12 x 20-ft ponderosa timber-framed structure, and he has gathered a team of career and technical education teachers from all over Wyoming to collaborate on the structure, to be built of Wyoming-made materials. “While it would be relatively easy to gather a small group of pilots and construct a basic shelter in just a few days, the true value of this project lies in the collaboration and educational opportunities it creates,” Feiler said. The project begins with Casper College engineering students providing plans. The timbers will be milled at the Devils Tower Wood Products sawmill located in Hulett, WY. The University of Wyoming will host a timber framing workshop, offering graduate credit to career and technical education educators interested in expanding their knowledge of timber framing. Local pilot volunteers from the Lusk community will work alongside Career and Technical education teachers to construct the 12 x 24-ft concrete pad. The final phase of the project will be the erection of the ramada, completed by SkillsUSA middle school students for their community service project, which will be entered in the 2027 Wyoming State SkillsUSA contest. Gold medalists advance to the national competition. “It is noteworthy that these students earned a national gold medal in 2025 for a previous Lusk community service project,” Feiler pointed out. Each student participant will benefit from the practical experience in carpentry and woodworking, construction planning and safety, team-based project execution, and gain the skills aligned with Wyoming’s workforce needs. “By intentionally integrating education, industry, and community needs, this project becomes more than a pilots’ shelter—it becomes a hands-on learning environment and a showcase of high‑quality construction using locally sourced materials,” Feiler added. Learn more about Lusk by visiting the Airfield Guide . Submitted April 14, 2026