E357: Evan Davis - How Flying Saved My Life

E357: Evan Davis - How Flying Saved My Life

From Pilot to Pilot by Justin Siems

April 23, 2026 · 1h 27m · Season 1 · Episode 357

About this episode

Evan Davis shares his inspiring journey of overcoming addiction and becoming a pilot in Alaska.

NEW SPONSOR ALERT!! Truly honored to have Avemco as new sponsor for the podcast. save 5% on your aircraft insurance by with Avemco. Call (888) 635-4297 or visit www.avemco.com/4297-owner - www.avemco.com/4297-nonowner ! Subscribe to the Pilot to Pilot Magazine This is one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring aviation stories you'll ever hear. Evan Davis didn't take a traditional path to becoming an Alaska pilot—he fought through addiction, FAA scrutiny, and personal demons to get there. His story proves that your past doesn't define your future, and that the aviation community has room for second chances when you're willing to do the hard work. Evan Davis was eight hours into his flight training when his AME asked the question that changed everything: have you ever struggled with alcohol? He told the truth — and the FAA grounded him before he ever soloed. More than a decade later, Evan is a PC-12 medevac captain based in Wasilla, Alaska, flying out of Kotzebue two weeks a month, north of the Arctic Circle. In this conversation, he walks Justin through the whole arc: getting honest on his medical application, a Valentine's Day slip two months into sobriety, the HIMS program, and…

People in this episode

Host: Justin Siems

Guest: Evan Davis

Topics covered

  • aviation
  • addiction recovery
  • personal stories
  • flight training
  • second chances

Keywords

  • aviation
  • addiction
  • FAA
  • flight training
  • PC-12
  • medevac
  • sobriety
  • HIMS program

Sponsors

Avemco

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Alaska, Kotzebue, Frank Church, Homer, Arctic Circle

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