The series centers on the adventures of bush pilot, Baloo the bear, whose air cargo freight business, "Baloo's Air Service", is taken up by Rebecca Cunningham who has a young daughter named Molly. Upon his default on delinquent bills with the bank, and his perceived irresponsibility in running a business by Rebecca, she takes over the business and renames it "Higher for Hire", making her Baloo’s boss. An orphan boy and former air pirate, the ambitious grizzly bear Kit Cloudkicker, attaches to Baloo and becomes his navigator. He sometimes calls Baloo "Papa Bear". Together, they are the crew of Higher for Hire's only aircraft, a 20-year-old modified Conwing L-16 named the Sea Duck.