ERJF15

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but I flew pipeline my last year of active duty before moving on to airline. I flew about 600hrs or so in that one year. If you like climbing over cows and power lines, then it's an option.

2StgTurbine

I would set your aims a lot lower. You would be lucky to get some right seat time in a 172 now.

2StgTurbine

I was looking into that about 6 months ago, but many places are saturated with pilots. For example, one place wanted 500 hours to sit right seat in a 172 to aid the actual pilot. They even told me I it was against their policy for me to log time even with my CFI.

Your two options are to get your CFI and wait in line or start finding people who own aircraft and get on their good side.

flyinfinn86

my position is very similar to these low hour commercial pilots. i have my commercial asel and amel with instrument add on, advanced ground instructor rating, and recently received my mei a month ago. the problem is that i am out of money and cannot afford to get the cfi and cfii. the only plus that i have going is 167 hrs multi with 145 of that as pic. does anyone know if it is common for companies to lower tt requirements if i exceed the minimum multi time requirements?

flyingreasemnky

you might want to consider aerial survey work. i was in the same boat and couldn't afford my cfi about a year and half ago. i got on with an aerial survey company with about 240TT flying a C172 around the country. i've been working with them ever since and am now flying one of their Aztecs. the time is all solo and you build it quick. i'm now at 1104.1TT/307.0multi. (just flew 6.7 today) i got one of my friends a job here for the start of this season and he is now around 600TT (he had about the same amount of time as you in october).

lakehouse

by next fall I will have over 1000TTL, I want a winter gig, I fly jumpers in the summer, any shot you could help me out next fall, I have been dying to do this for a winter, was no dice this winter, but tried hard. I can give great references and would tell ya I would love it and stay for the season.

flyinfinn86

do you know any internet links of companies who specialize in aerial survey work?

lakehouse

They are all over this website, try the search option

flyingreasemnky

unfortunately, once you get over 1,000TT, they will probably just toss your resume in the garbage. they only really hire people around 700 and below. yes, sometimes there are exceptions but for the most part they believe if you have over a certain amount of flight time then you won't have the same motivation. also, they are afraid you will leave during the season at that point.

my company is: http://www.landvue.com
there are three other companies that subcontract for the same company we do. Air America: Air America Flight Center, LLC - The Leading Flight School and Aircraft Rental Center in Daytona Beach, Florida (best pay by far) Northern States: Northern States Aviation, Aerial Survey, Reliable Airborne Platforms, Imaging, Sensing, (decent pay but really restrictive boss) and Desert Winds (they just got bought by a new owner and don't have a website. they're are moving from their base in Arizona to Washington.)

Keep in mind that we are in the middle of our season so it is doubtful we will be hiring. Although, I know Desert Winds and Air America just had to hire some people mid-season due to attrition (survey companies hate to loose people mid-season).

crabinow16

I called North State yesterday and talked to the chief pilot. He said that they want 500hrs and 10hrs IMC PIC as their minimum. How would one get in contact with Desert winds if they do not have a website? Also where can you find companies that fly the pipeline?