Anchorage

Retiring pilot honored with water cannon salute at Anchorage airport

Longtime Northern Air Cargo pilot Wally Niles of Wasilla made his last flight just days before his 65th birthday on Tuesday. FAA regulations require retirement at 65.

Niles’ career was more than 39 years, flying for the company based at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Niles began working for NAC in March 1980 and flew the DC-6, Boeing 727, Boeing 737 and Fairchild “Flying Boxcar.”

He received a water cannon salute while taxiing the Boeing 737-300 to the NAC ramp after a flight from King Salmon.

Bill Roth

Bill Roth is a staff photojournalist at the Anchorage Daily News.

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