Subieguy14

I've been looking at surveying jobs, currently sitting at 510 TT, 93 multi, 54 instrument.


Most surveying is 7 months on the road at the time. Which im alright with, but if i could get a rotation schedule that would be nice too.


So far the only companies ive found are,


-Skylens(2nd pick)
-Landcare
-Williams
-Sandhills(top pick)
-JAVimagery, which I cant find a website or anything for as far as mins and applications
-Air America, Which apprently is dead last on the surveying pole now.


are there any other companies i should be looking for?

Cheese7

Aero-Graphics, Inc.
Aeroptic, Inc.
Atlantic (theatlgrp.com)
Keystone Aerial Surveys, Inc.
Kucera International Inc.
Northern States Aviation

Not sure if they are hiring, what their mins are, how many hours their pilots log, or how much they pay. If anybody has any of this info, that would be helpful.

I know survey season starts in October, but does anybody know when the best time to apply would be?

tonsterboy5

Let me just start off by saying Sandhills will get you the rotation you desire but at a huge cost. They pay minimum wage+ overtime for all after 40 with a guarantee of 56 hours a week. $460 a week.( it will be very hard to go over 8 hours a day for several months due to the survey window) Other companies pay by the flight hour with daily min and pay anywhere from 20-35 a flight hour. On days with no flying minimum wage is better but once you start flying 5 hours a day flight pay is better. Also Sandhills won’t let you pick your hotel and most of the time they use a 3rd party site so you will get no benefits or points. Trust me, after living on the road for 6 months being able to pick a nice hotel when you want makes a huge difference in moral, the other days you can pocket the perdiem difference of the cheap hotel. Sandhills will alway pick the cheap hotel and take the extra money themselves. Also having a crap load of points will allow you to go on vacation for free after the long season if you get to book your own hotels.

Subieguy14

Thanks for the info. I'm kinda desperate for a job right now so I will take whatever I could get.


I recently stumbled upon Aperture with a 8 on 6 off schedule, and about 38k starting with full benefits etc etc... I barely meet their mins though. So I guess we will see what happens.

rayburton72

Aperture Aviation out of San Jose, CA works an 8-on/6-off schedule, with solid pay ($38.5k salary when i started last year, plus per diem).


Home based, and they fly your commercial to and from your assignment each rotation. Good company with decent benefits and IMHO, a great staff that respects pilots and safety.

deftone

Sounds like a good gig. How much flying every month is there?

BLURCEO

Northen states is dead. All the planes fly under Ground Imaging now. Which is part of Williams.

JAV usally post the 35 when they are hiring.

Pilotjoe91

It's funny how some of the low-time pilots on here are complaining about the choice of hotels. Spoiled. From 250TT-1500TT, find the company that builds the time the fastest. I understand pay is important due to the outstanding debt, but 90% of companies that provide jobs to low hour pilots won't give as much. Be humble. Suffer now and enjoy your future later.

El Pilot

Ground Imaging hires around those hours too and we can pick our own hotels. No Super 8, No Days Inn, no sharing rooms. We stayed at 121 style hotels for the same type of work. You know the type with, complimentary drinks on tap... to each their own I guess.

Subieguy14

Can you give me so info on sandhills, schedule pay, etc etc?


I have a friend who knows 3 people there... apparently it shouldnt be hard for me to get a job with them.


I also hear they asked the pilots about doing a 2 week on 1 week off schedule instead of 4/2