Skydiving Gigs
10-21-2008, 06:20 AM
#11
On Reserve
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: e175
Posts: 16
I know Skydive Newport it looking for a jump pilot. Season starts in April and goes till end oct. i think hes looking for someone for 2 seasons now. just google to find his website skydive newport RI. owner is marc and only tandom ops
10-21-2008, 06:22 AM
#12
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: CFI
Posts: 47
Originally Posted by Trufactor7
Anybody know how to go about getting a job flying skyjumpers in Florida?
Drop Zones
Heres a list of places in florida that might help get you started. I fly the twotter and the skyvan for a dz and can agree with what everyones saying.... lots of boobies, but to get the job I met a tandem instructor and just started showing up until they let me fly the 182 by myself.... I think thats how most people get started in these gigs.
10-21-2008, 09:13 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Various
Posts: 462
I flew skydivers for a couple of years part time in Caravans and King Airs. Know that you are walking into a community, and that as a pilot, you are scrutinized until you put your time in. It's like a corp gig. Flying is important, but working well with others is just as important. Maint is bare bones so be careful. Most turbine operators in FL require lots of hours and some want you to be a skydiver on top of it. It's not as easy as it sounds, but not too difficult. Showing up in person, resume in hand is the way to do it. You'll sit for hours on a slow day to log 2.0 for the day at .3 or .4 at a time. Most operations will pay $8-$12 a load in a turbine. Maybe as low as $4 a load in a 182. On a busy day you can fly in excess of 20 loads, (from morning until sunset). Training programs are weak at best and safety is what you make it. So be vigilant. It is great flying and very cool people.
Last edited by cruiseclimb; 10-21-2008 at 10:57 AM.
10-21-2008, 11:43 AM
#18
I'm here to help...
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Posts: 95
Originally Posted by Trufactor7
Found the website and thanks for the info. But i currently live in Florida and i dont think it would be any help to me. Would you happen to know any in Florida that are looking?
Care to share the website? I googled but only found the generic skydive (insert city name here) websited. Thanks in advance.
10-21-2008, 02:16 PM
#19
On Reserve
Joined APC: Apr 2005
Position: Lav Cleaner
Posts: 14
This is what she emailed me. I can't take a pay cut at this time so here you go guys.
Contact Cindy Gibson [email protected]
info : "The position is flying skydivers in central Texas. You would need to relocate to Lexington, a small town about 45 min. east of Austin, and be available to fly
except for when we schedule days off (which you can certainly request time off - no problem with that).
A small cabin is provided. It has a single bed, small couch, satellite TV, microwave, small refrigerator, hot plate, kitchen area, etc. There is no charge for rent or utilities, so your living expenses will be minimal.
The maximum weight for our jump pilots is 185 lb.
We fly a C-182, normally to 10,000 or 12,000 AGL, and back down to pick up another load of skydivers, in a
30-minute timeframe. We are entering our slow season (winter), but
activity doesn't cease. Some weeks we fly jumpers on Saturdays and
Sundays only; some weeks we fly jumpers both weekend days plus maybe
three weekdays. We may fly all day from 9 or 10 a.m. - dark, or we may fly
just a few loads. It is highly variable, depending on the weather and time of
year. As an example, we flew 10 loads Saturday, 15 loads Sunday, and
we have a few loads during the week this week; there are also ferry flights for maintenance, and you get paid for those as well.
The pay is $16/hour for flying, which works out to $8/load, plus you get paid for ferry flights and also for keeping the plane and fuel pad clean.
In the past two years, we have flown 750-800 hours per year. Keep in mind, though, that it does vary from week to week and from month to month.
The other issue is that jump-flying is a pretty aggressive style of flying, so be sure you would have the personality to suit that. Not saying that you have to be an aggressive type of person, but this kind of flying is very different from most kinds of flying, especially different from flight instruction. Jump flying requires a lot of working with the plane to keep the best possible climb rate, and then the best possible descent without shock-cooking the engine. We are also aggressive with weather - we don't stop flying just because there are thunderstorms "in the area," since all of our flying is at this field."
And requirements - Single Commercial & H.P. Endorsement
Contact Cindy Gibson [email protected]
info : "The position is flying skydivers in central Texas. You would need to relocate to Lexington, a small town about 45 min. east of Austin, and be available to fly
except for when we schedule days off (which you can certainly request time off - no problem with that).
A small cabin is provided. It has a single bed, small couch, satellite TV, microwave, small refrigerator, hot plate, kitchen area, etc. There is no charge for rent or utilities, so your living expenses will be minimal.
The maximum weight for our jump pilots is 185 lb.
We fly a C-182, normally to 10,000 or 12,000 AGL, and back down to pick up another load of skydivers, in a
30-minute timeframe. We are entering our slow season (winter), but
activity doesn't cease. Some weeks we fly jumpers on Saturdays and
Sundays only; some weeks we fly jumpers both weekend days plus maybe
three weekdays. We may fly all day from 9 or 10 a.m. - dark, or we may fly
just a few loads. It is highly variable, depending on the weather and time of
year. As an example, we flew 10 loads Saturday, 15 loads Sunday, and
we have a few loads during the week this week; there are also ferry flights for maintenance, and you get paid for those as well.
The pay is $16/hour for flying, which works out to $8/load, plus you get paid for ferry flights and also for keeping the plane and fuel pad clean.
In the past two years, we have flown 750-800 hours per year. Keep in mind, though, that it does vary from week to week and from month to month.
The other issue is that jump-flying is a pretty aggressive style of flying, so be sure you would have the personality to suit that. Not saying that you have to be an aggressive type of person, but this kind of flying is very different from most kinds of flying, especially different from flight instruction. Jump flying requires a lot of working with the plane to keep the best possible climb rate, and then the best possible descent without shock-cooking the engine. We are also aggressive with weather - we don't stop flying just because there are thunderstorms "in the area," since all of our flying is at this field."
And requirements - Single Commercial & H.P. Endorsement
10-21-2008, 03:52 PM
#20
Line Holder
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 69
Originally Posted by Trufactor7
Found the website and thanks for the info. But i currently live in Florida and i dont think it would be any help to me. Would you happen to know any in Florida that are looking?
AustinSkyDiving Center.com
