Turbine Jump Pilot Position
05-03-2014, 06:51 AM
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 650
I will throw in a couple of points. I worked at a DZ for almost two years and got most of my turbine time there. I will say that it is a shortcut into the industry. Proof of that is my current job will not hire you without turbine time so there is no way I would have gotten in here if I were just beating around the pattern as a CFI. Plus I was making about $40K a year pushing toggle monkeys out of the back of a plane pretty much full time. If I would have worked only weekends then I may have a different story to tell.
I know of this DZ and I know people who have worked there. None of them have anything bad to say about it. Now I don't know anything about pay there so I can't speak to that. The PAC 750 is a blast to fly and it sounds like you will move into the Otter. Not sure how they work the Casa as it is a type rating bird. Maybe they let you fly right seat. If you can live with the pay I would say do it. It is turbine PIC and no matter what you hear on the internet single or twin that is worth more than all the 172 time you can log. You won't find another place that will turn a 250 hour pilot loose in a 750HP plane.
When I was ready to move on I spoke with several employers about the "type" of flying (no airlines but hey there are other flying jobs than the airlines). ALL of them said the same thing. Flying jumpers in turbine airplanes put me above guys that were going gear up, flaps up and auto pilot on. One company in NC actually said that they can teach anyone to use the autopilot but needed to see that you could take off and land. If you have never flown jumpers then you have no idea what the flying is like. You are dealing with maintenance, the owner and angry jumpers everyone wanting something. Then you take off, climb, fly an ILS in the jump run and do an emergency decent back to the airport 20 times a day in 100* heat. Add to that you are hauling anywhere from 12-24 people that are moving around and all want to hang outside the door at the same time and you get a 2000lb + CG shift all at once. It is by far not easy flying.
I know of this DZ and I know people who have worked there. None of them have anything bad to say about it. Now I don't know anything about pay there so I can't speak to that. The PAC 750 is a blast to fly and it sounds like you will move into the Otter. Not sure how they work the Casa as it is a type rating bird. Maybe they let you fly right seat. If you can live with the pay I would say do it. It is turbine PIC and no matter what you hear on the internet single or twin that is worth more than all the 172 time you can log. You won't find another place that will turn a 250 hour pilot loose in a 750HP plane.
When I was ready to move on I spoke with several employers about the "type" of flying (no airlines but hey there are other flying jobs than the airlines). ALL of them said the same thing. Flying jumpers in turbine airplanes put me above guys that were going gear up, flaps up and auto pilot on. One company in NC actually said that they can teach anyone to use the autopilot but needed to see that you could take off and land. If you have never flown jumpers then you have no idea what the flying is like. You are dealing with maintenance, the owner and angry jumpers everyone wanting something. Then you take off, climb, fly an ILS in the jump run and do an emergency decent back to the airport 20 times a day in 100* heat. Add to that you are hauling anywhere from 12-24 people that are moving around and all want to hang outside the door at the same time and you get a 2000lb + CG shift all at once. It is by far not easy flying.
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