Taking Flight with Helicopter Pilot and Falconer Olivia Tosi

From an early age, Olivia Tosi had an interest in all things airborne. She was fascinated by birds of prey and even dreamed of taking flight herself. At 17 she got her chance.

“My aunt in Germany owns a winery, and every summer a crop-spraying pilot came and sprayed the vineyards with a helicopter,” Tosi said. “We spent a lot of time at my aunt's place helping in the field, and eventually she asked the pilot if I could tag along.

“On my first flight with him he actually let me fly. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my god, this is it. This is what I want to do.’”

"Slinging Cargo" as a Commercial and Bush Pilot

Now living in America, Tosi splits her working time as a commercial helicopter pilot with her husband’s company, and a utility pilot who supports cargo and firefighting operations across the US and Canada.

“It's essentially anything that requires moving people or slinging cargo underneath the helicopter from A to B—usually because there's no other way to access the site,” she said. “It's true bush flying in the remote wilderness of Canada.”

From Falconry Rehab to the Hunt

Tosi grew up involved with local falconry groups around Germany, but that mostly meant working in their rehab centers. When she moved to America, she discovered that licensed falconers here are allowed to trap, raise, and hunt with falcons. The hobby quickly proved to be her main devotion and an excellent complement to her seasonal schedule.

“The American system works well for me because my summers are busy with flying and my winters are quieter,” she said. “You trap a juvenile in the fall, fly it through the winter, and can release it back into the wild in spring once it's gained hunting experience.”

The move from rehab centers to field hunting has proven to be great for Tosi, but rough on her hunting boots. Luckily, she’s a longtime HAIX fan.

“Now that I hunt, it's hard on the boots, which is why I really need HAIX,” Tosi said. “The rabbits I hunt with the bird live in brambles and thick brush, and since I don't have a dog, I'm essentially the dog. My path runs straight through briars and brush.”

“I'm excited to see how the Combat Forge does this winter,” she said. “They feel much sturdier. I don't see how a briar could get through them.”

Scout 2.0: Olivia’s All-Season Hunting Boot Choice

For years, her flying and hunting boot of choice was the HAIX Scout 2.0. They were sturdy enough to support and protect her feet in the brush, but flexible enough to work the pedal controls on her helicopter.

“I loved them,” she said of her Scouts. “I use them for everything — they went with me to Alaska, where I flew mostly tourism flights, trekking over glaciers and under waterfalls.”

“My Scouts lasted me three, maybe four hunting seasons, which is a lot,” she said.

One Boot, Two Jobs: Flying and Falconry in HAIX Combat Forge

Now with falcon hunting season approaching, Tosi is excited to try out Combat Forge, the new cold-weather hiking boot from HAIX. She has been wearing them for a few months to break them in, a process she said is essential to a great fit.

“I’m a big fan of the boots so far,” said Tosi.  “They’re very comfortable and getting in and out is so easy with the new lace mechanism. The ankle support is also fantastic. Combat Forge are very stable boots and have solid grip on slippery surfaces.”

Combat Forge’s break-in period was also a demonstration that she can use them in place of her old Scout boots on flights.

“Now that I have properly worn in the Combat Forge they softened up enough for finesse helicopter flying, which requires sensitive pedal movements,” Tosi said. “I’m really impressed.”

With ankle support and extra grip, Combat Forge helps keep Olivia Tosi grounded—even when she’s 500 feet in the air.