Air Attack/Air Tankers/SEAT/Fire Boss
01-17-2019, 09:18 AM
#42
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,211
01-17-2019, 08:33 PM
#44
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,211
Air attack platforms are contractor positions (unless you're referring to federal ASM, or CDF/CalFire Dyncorp seats); are you posting about a shortage of federal employees, or pilots working seasonally for contractors?
There isn't a contractor shortage, but the DoA and USFS really moved to screw the operators recently by going to one year contracting, and DoI really screwed over the SEAT operators the last few years by cancelling contracts.
There isn't a contractor shortage, but the DoA and USFS really moved to screw the operators recently by going to one year contracting, and DoI really screwed over the SEAT operators the last few years by cancelling contracts.
01-18-2019, 09:09 AM
#46
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Position: BE20
Posts: 6
John, I understand you have prior experience in this segment of the industry. I am posting as a current Agency pilot, about what the agency I work for, the US Forest Service, needs and the missions it performs. Yes, 99% of the ATGS missions are flown by contractors (I used to be one) but it is also a mission we perform 'in house.' Also, there is a shortage of contractor pilots; not quite so in the air tanker world, but if anybody is interested in getting a foot in the door with some of the larger air attack contractors send me a PM and I can put you in touch with the right people.
01-18-2019, 10:43 AM
#48
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,211
CDF has had some vacancies, but it's not for lack of qualified applicants.
The age limit cutoff eliminates some very qualified applicants for the federal jobs, too.
Those who are interested would do well to apply. It can be a long process.
Hopefully the current administration won't screw with this much longer or hose the next season.
Have you got fire experience or ag experience, and any 802 experience? How much conventional gear time?
Last edited by JohnBurke; 01-18-2019 at 11:08 AM.
01-19-2019, 05:13 PM
#50
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,211
Put another way, I've had years in which I flew 15 hours and got 15 days in the field, and others in which I flew considerably more. I know individuals who have done close to 300 hours, but a more realistic goal is 100 hours in the season, with anything above that a bonus. In most cases, you have no idea where you'll be send or what will burn, so it's impossible to predict how much you'll fly.
Pay is by the day, plus by the flight hour, plus per hour of extended standby at the base greater than 9 hours, plus per diem, generally speaking.
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