Helicopters, Glacier Trekking, and Dogsledding!
TEMSCO Helicopters was founded in 1958 in Ketchikan, Alaska, and has operated in Alaska ever since. As the originators of helicopter glacier tours in Alaska, we have the privilege of introducing guests to the rugged landscape that we call home. Though Alaska is breathtaking from any angle, we believe that the best way to experience the raw beauty of the great land is from the air.
Skagway is a small town with a big history that became a household name during the Klondike Gold Rush. At one point in 1898, it was the largest city in the state. Now, the population of Skagway is 1,240 (and more than double that in the summer). Even with a smaller population, the excitement and energy of the frenzied Gold Rush days remains and makes a summer in Skagway truly unforgettable.
About TEMSCO Helicopters, Inc.
TEMSCO Helicopters has a rich history in Alaska that dates back to 1958. The company got its start doing various contract/utility work before eventually becoming the originator of the helicopter glacier tour in Alaska. The company as a whole is now involved in many different sectors including firefighting, heliskiing, and tourism. In Skagway, most of our work comes from our guests off the cruise ships. We offer glacier trekking tours, as well as dogsledding tours that take place in the snow atop a glacier – both of which are bucket list experiences for many of our guests.
Our employees are integral in providing a safe, professional, once in a lifetime excursion for our guests. Job openings vary, are mostly seasonal in nature, and all have a strong focus on customer service. Though we operate year-round, our busiest time of year is when cruise ships are visiting Alaska. The cruise season begins in late April and ends in late October. The work environment in Skagway is fast-paced, exciting, and fun, with an emphasis on maintaining a safe environment for ourselves and our guests.
Temsco is one of the premier tour operators in the State of Alaska, and we pride ourselves in the experience that we offer to our guests, but also our employees. Just like our tours, a summer working in Skagway, and a summer working for Temsco, is a once in a lifetime experience.
The Employee Experience
Working in Skagway is, in and of itself, an experience unlike any other. Skagway is definitely a small town where people wave when they drive by each other, and it’s common to get “stuck” at the grocery store catching up with people you see there every week. With a small footprint, and a small population, it’s easy to feel like you know pretty much everyone in town. Because of that, much of the time small towns lack a certain…excitement. But not Skagway. Every summer Skagway’s population more than doubles with seasonal employees. All those fresh faces to town bring with them an energy that makes Skagway seem bigger than it actually is. Skagway also does a really good job of having many entertaining community events to attend throughout the summer.
As a fairly remote Alaskan city, Skagway also has amazing access to the natural beauty that surrounds us. There are numerous hiking trails (including the world famous Chilkoot Trail), backcountry cabins available to rent, and access to biking, fishing, and kayaking. TEMSCO, being a helicopter company, has unique access to these great outdoors. We also partner with other companies in town to make their experiences available for our employees at a complimentary or reduced rate. From train rides to zip lining, rock climbing to oceanrafting, there’s no shortage of fun to be found during your time off.
Of course, we not only play hard, but we work hard too. Depending on your position at Temsco, you may be responsible for picking guests up off the ship and bringing them to our heliport, relaying safety information, loading and fueling helicopters, answering phones and taking reservations, or guiding groups across the glacier ice. We recognize the benefit of cross training our employees to provide variety, so it wouldn’t be uncommon to have multiple positions available to you. It’s important to note that due to the nature of our business, all of our positions are customer service oriented, and very safety sensitive.
Ideal Candidate
All of our team members spend a great amount of time interacting with our guests and therefore play a vital role in their experience. We are looking for people that are willing to go above and beyond to make sure our guests have an experience of a lifetime. The following are characteristics that we look for in potential team members.
- Must be a US citizen or have a green card – we will not be sponsoring any J1 visa applications.
- Safety Focused
- Enjoy working in customer service
- Value working as a team
- Friendly and outgoing
- Polite and courteous
- Willingness to learn
- Excellent communication skills
- Patience and a positive attitude
When hired, we ask that all employees sign a contract and agree to work for the term of the contract. Upon completion of their contract, employees are eligible for an end of season bonus based on their hours worked throughout the summer.
Room and Board
TEMSCO offers affordable employee housing for those interested. Each housing unit has 3 bedrooms – one master bedroom (double occupancy) with a bathroom, and two single occupancy rooms that share another bathroom. Depending on which housing and room you are in, rent ranges from $225 to $275 a month. TEMSCO covers all other housing costs including water, garbage, electricity, and internet. We do everything we can to make sure that you are comfortable in your home away from home. As such, all units have full kitchens that include limited supplies such as dishes, utensils, pots, and pans. Each house also includes a clothes washer/dryer, though you will need to provide your own laundry detergent. If you are living in company housing, you will also need to bring your own bedding and towels.
Though it’s hard to get too far away from anything in Skagway, our housing is still all the way across town (a bit over a mile) from our heliport. The distance is certainly short enough to walk, and we’ve had employees do so in the past. However, it’s also far enough away that we provide a couple of other forms of transportation for employees to use. There are a couple of shared vehicles we make available for employees to use to get to work, and a number of bicycles available on a first come – first served basis.
We take pride in providing top-notch employee housing, and we expect our employees to maintain this high standard. TEMSCO will provide the cleaning products to make it easier for you to keep your space nice and tidy, but it will be up to you and your housemates to work out an amicable cleaning schedule.
Employee Perks
- All employees are encouraged to partake in our tours
- TEMSCO partners with other companies to make their excursions available to our employees at a complimentary or reduced rate
- Employees are eligible for an end of season bonus upon contract completion
- Affordable housing with all the fixings included – cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, electricity, water, internet, transportation, and more
- Beautiful work surroundings that inspire exploration
- Living and work environment that leads to lifelong memories and friendships
- The chance to experience the last frontier - ALASKA!
Getting Here and Getting Around
It is the employee’s responsibility to make their own way to Skagway. Though we are only a hundred miles away from two larger metropolitan cities, transportation between these areas does require some planning. The two main cities serving Skagway’s transportation needs are Juneau, AK, and Whitehorse, YT, Canada.
The most common route that employees take to reach Skagway is through Juneau – Alaska’s capital city. Once in Juneau, you could catch a ferry through the Alaska Marine Highway (https://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/). This trip can take up to 6 ½ hours and goes through some of the most breathtaking country you’ll ever see. Another option is to take a small plane with the local commuter airline – Alaska Seaplanes (https://www.flyalaskaseaplanes.com/). By air, the trip is about 45 minutes. While flying between Juneau and Skagway is certainly quicker, even in the middle of summer the weather can be tricky. Sometimes planes may not fly due to low clouds, wind, or generally unfriendly skies. If you decide to fly, you should check the ferry schedule and make sure that that you have a backup plan. For employees who fly or take the ferry to Skagway, we will be there to pick them up and take them to housing.
Another option is to drive to Skagway. We are lucky as far as Southeast Alaskan towns are concerned in that we are connected to the road system. If you're feeling adventurous, and have a dependable vehicle, you can always drive the few thousand miles to Skagway along the Alcan or Cassiar highways. It's quite the trip!
Once in Skagway, you’ll find that it’s definitely a small town. At 22 blocks long (not quite two miles) and 4 blocks wide it certainly isn’t necessary to have a car (though it is convenient). The most common form of transportation is biking. TEMSCO has a limited number of bikes to borrow, though some people do bring their own bike if feasible. Company housing is a 10 to 15-minute bike ride to our base which is located on the waterfront. Shared vehicles are also provided for transportation to/from work.
For Fun
This is the land of the Midnight Sun! While Skagway is small, you will quickly learn it is filled with adventures for anyone looking. Alaska is the perfect place for anyone that enjoys the outdoors. Employees can enjoy their free time kayaking, camping, fishing, hiking and so much more! As a TEMSCO employee, you will have the opportunity to take part of some phenomenal local excursions at a complimentary or reduced rate. You can spend your free time on a zip line course, horseback riding, a guided hike, bike tour, river rafting, a train tour, or on boat tours of the Lynn Canal (to name a few). After your big day of adventure, employees can unwind with dinner at one of Skagway’s great eating establishments, listen to a local band, or roast s’mores around a campfire. The opportunities for fun are limitless!
How to Apply
Apply online via the link below. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.