Bush Flying in Indonesia: From IT Desk to Remote Mountain AirstripsA tidy flat, a good salary, a steady routine — and a growing knot of anxiety. That was Matt Dearden’s life before he walked away from IT and flew halfway across the world to become a bush pilot in Indonesia.In this episode of No Ordinary Monday, Matt takes us inside the reality of remote aviation, flying for Susi Air across one of the most challenging aviation environments on Earth. What followed was a crash course in flying beyond the textbook: single-engine turbine aircraft, dirt airstrips carved into mountain slopes, jungle valleys that shift from clear skies to dense cloud in minutes, and communities where aviation is the difference between isolation and survival.Flying the Pilatus Porter on the FrontierWe explore the aircraft that makes this work possible — the Pilatus PC-6 Porter — a rugged STOL plane designed for short, steep, and unpredictable runways. Matt explains how “pioneering routes” connect remote villages across Indonesia’s 17,000 islands, why cargo can range from medical supplies to fuel drums to live pigs, and how pilots manage risk when terrain, weather, and human decision-making collide.He’s candid about aviation accidents — how they rarely have a single cause, but form chains of small decisions — and the mindset required to keep flying with humility, discipline, and focus in high-risk environments.Alone in Cloud, Low on OptionsThen the story tightens.Mid-afternoon, alone in cloud, flying on oxygen with fuel drums banging behind him, Matt is hit with sudden nausea. The horizon spins. There’s no autopilot. No outside visual reference. Just instruments, terrain warnings, and willpower.Enjoyed this episode?Follow No Ordinary Monday, share this episode with a friend, and leave a quick five-star rating or short review. Your support helps keep the show independent, ad-free, and focused on extraordinary real-world stories — every Monday.Episode Links: Matt's Website - https://mattdearden.co.uk/Matt's Book - https://www.amazon.com/Flying-Shangri-really-Worst-Place-ebook/dp/B0DHWCHSNKSocials: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdeardenhttps://www.instagram.com/indopilot/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/IndoPilot/For More Info Visit: https://www.noordinarymonday.com/ep023-matt-dearden-bush-pilotSend us a textSUPPORT US - NOM is a 100% independent show. Help us keep the lights on by buying us a coffee (or a beer) - https://buymeacoffee.com/noordinarymonday. We're deeply grateful for any level of support. SHOW SOME LOVE - click five-stars on whatever platform you're on, and leave us a review, or tell a friend about the show. WANT TO BE A GUEST? You can submit your own career story through our website at noordinarymonday.com, email us at [email protected].

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related