tdelaney

Hi

curious if there is are opportunities for Helicopter pilots with a nigh time restriction to fly?
I really want to be part of this industry and continue on with my education, but worried if this will be a hinderance in getting hired having a night time restriction.

rickair7777

I imagine that would make it very hard to get hired for almost any commercial pilot position. I assume this has to do with vision, and is a medical restriction?

The only possibility I can think of would be those jobs which require daylight in order to conduct the mission...pipeline patrol, sightseeing, game tracking, banner tow, most skydiving, powerline work, vertical lift, etc. Some of those are not usually considered careers though, and even though the mission might be daylight, an employer might still need his pilots to repo aircraft after dark/before dawn. So you would need an understanding boss...

I think your best bet would be to hire yourself...go into business to operate a flying outfit which focuses on daylight missions, and then you can fly when you want. That way if you turn into a pumpkin and get stuck somewhere it won't create issues with the boss.

You could also be a CFI I think, you would just have to make arrangements with other CFI's to do your students' night work. I would ask your FSDO about that though.

Twin Wasp

The only wavier for the night time experience at the commercial level per 61.131 is for pilots living and training in Alaska.

rickair7777

What about someone who already has a COMM ticket and then gets restricted to daytime only? I think such a person could work day jobs (doesn't help tdelaney though).

Twin Wasp

How could you become night restricted? The OP's problem (from their other post) is color blindness. Except for some head injuries, you either are or are not color blind at birth.