rpatte1637

Hello, I am talking with a pipeline patrol operator and it looks like I may have a good chance to get the job. I hope to get to fly with one of the pilot and get to see the operation first hand in the near future. They were very nice and helpful during my phone interview, but I need to get a little insight from a patrol pilot about the DOT OQ requirements. Does anyone here have a little insight they can give me on the test, the company sent me some training material to look over and I was told that a lot of the test does not pertain to actual aerial patrol work. I'm not sure if I was just expected a bunch of DOT regulations, like with a FAA written test or am I making this out to be more complex than it really is. I have searched online to see if there are any practice tests that I can take to get an idea what the DOT is looking for, but have not had any luck, can anyone give me an idea of what to expect from the test and/or a place get a practice test to take. Any help from experienced patrol pilots, as to what to expect would be appreciated, I just like to be prepared the best I can be for any job interview. Thanks for your help.

Scott

ERJF15

I flew about 600 hrs in a year in TX. It was good time building. I did it while is was on active duty. The DOT training was a little painful, but no worries.

It will cover no sh!t DOT pipeline knowledge and reporting. Some pretty interesting stuff to me

Outlaw2097

Two tests I remember I had to take. Just study and take them tgey reallt arent all that tricky. There will be questions you probably have never seen before...and those dont apply to what youll be doing, so pick C and move on.

You flying in TX or elsewhere?

Jakeb

I flew it and the company gave the test to me mine may have been different. Only about 15 questions very simple and that was it. Good luck

tlove482

I took the test after a 2 day notice. My boss gave me a pamphlet about pipelines and that was it. Made a 90 on one test an a 80 on the other. Most of the stuff is common sense but some of it gets a little intense. You should be ok if your a good test taker.

rpatte1637

Thanks everyone that sent me their experience with to OQ test, it is greatly appreciated and sounds like it a lot easier than I was making it out to be. I have to take the AOC test and the ROW inspection portion of the PMT test on Tuesday, and then if all goes well, it will be off to training soon after. Two weeks as and observer, a week flying as pilot in training, and then on to fly the lines. After being on unemployment, on and off for the last two years, it will be nice having a job to go to that I’m actually looking forward to. I’ll keep a look out for job opening along my flying route and post them here to help other that might be in my same situation. Again, thank you to everyone for your help with this and to everyone that has posted job openings here over the past few years, it has been a great help to myself and many others as well.

Scott

rpatte1637

Both OQ and PMT test passed, drug test and training over the next few weeks, then it my route to fly. It'll be nice to be off unemployment, after being on and off over the last two years, having a flying job that I actually look forward to going to everyday and being based only minutes from home. Good luck to all the others out there looking, hopefully things are starting to look up for the aviation industry.

tlove482

Congrats. It's gonna be a little overwhelming at first, but once you fly the route a couple of weeks you will know where every tower and airport are on your route. You'll probably know all the frequencies too. Be safe our there. It's easy to get in trouble flying around in class G with 1mile vis.

rpatte1637

Had my first ride along/training flight today. Other than some light queasiness during some of the steep turns that we did while getting the locations of equipment on the right of way, everything else went fine, I’m looking forward to another ride along/training flight next week.

Outlaw2097

Youll fell better once its you flying. Just remember you dont always have to crank it over to 59.9 degrees every time.