Biography

Jim Tweto was born on November 26, 1954 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. He was married to Ferno Tweto. He died on June 16, 2023 in Shaktoolik, Nome, Alaska, USA.

In 1990, Jim and Ferno's small company merged with Hageland Aviation and in 2008 with Era Alaska. Jim became the COO of Era when they merged with Frontier Flying Service in 2009 to become the largest regional airline in Alaska.

Built fishing boats in the 1980s naming his company Gussik Ventures in which gussik means "white person" in the Eskimo language. His boats were adopted by the locals and he built nearly three-quarters of the fishing boats in the region.

While in college, Jim began shifting his focus to aviation. He relocated to Unalakleet, Alaska, to focus on flying in the early 80s. There, he met his future wife, Ferno. In 1984, with his commercial certificate he started flying for Ferno's father who owned a small airline. After they married, Jim and Ferno started their own company out of their small apartment with just a Cessna 185.

Grew up in Silver Bay, Minnesota. He won a hockey scholarship to the University of Alaska-Anchorage and moved to Alaska when he was 18.

Father of Elaine Tweto, Ayla Tweto and Ariel Tweto.