# Matt Dearden is "Flying from Shangri-La" which is also the "Worst Place to be a Pilot"

An episode of [Backcountry Aviation Radio](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1826298836), 11 Feb 2026, 1 h 53 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2512483/episodes/18649551-matt-dearden-is-flying-from-shangri-la-which-is-also-the-worst-place-to-be-a-pilot.mp3

This episode is with with Matt Dearden, a UK-based pilot who was featured in the UK TV program titled "Worst Place to be a Pilot" that followed the adventures of UK pilots building flight time with Susie Air in Indonesia. Matt later wrote a book titled "Flying from Shangri-La" that is an amazing read and recap of his time there. It follows his beginning days in a Cessna Caravan and later in the Pilatus Porter. We talk a lot about those experiences and some not mentioned in the book. I wanted to know how Matt's experiences relate to every pilot in the backcountry, regardless of where in the world the airstrip happens to be located. Get Matt's book on Amazon Follow Matt on Instagram Sign-up for our newsletter, The Scout Report: HERE Want to support Backcountry Aviation Radio? Shop HERE to get the gear.

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