Brentco Aerial Imaging
 

Anyone heard of these guys, out of Durango, CO? They have a few jobs in my home state on a job board for pipeline patrol, but cant find a website or even facebook page for them.

Pay is starting around 40k, acording to their posting. Is that about right for pipeline patrol?

I'm not sure about that company, but I fly about 3000 miles of pipeline a week from NC to LA and make a little less than that a year. I have talked to some of the other pipeline pilots that I have met along my lines and most do start out at around $35,000 to $40,000 a year. Also, some companies work on salary and some work off of miles flown, some pay bi weekly some monthly, as for me, I am the later of both, but I fly the same lines each week, so unless weather prevents me from flying part of a week or if the month has either 4 week or 5 weeks, I know about what my check will be each month. Check what type of benefits they have, pay is going to be about the same at all of them, but benefits do vary. The company I work for is very easy going and I have full control of my flight schedule, as long as the pipeline companies are happy they are happy. I usually fly about 4 1/2 days a week and average around 8 hours a day in the air and another 2 hours doing paper work to send to the pipeline companies. I have flown pipeline for the last 3 years and built over 5000 hrs, the pay is good, all flights are VFR and the flying is usually 500' or below for most companies. There are a few companies that have air conditioned airplanes, other wise be aware the summers can be very hot and the winter very cold, since the cessna 172 is not the best insulated. With that said, I still can say that this is one of the only jobs that I have actually looked forward to getting up and going to work at every day.

What are the minimums that they will hire?

Naive question, but what do pipeline pilots do? I went a different route in aviation, but always heard the term. I imagine gas/oil pipelines that are spewing fire would be pretty clearcut, but normally, what do you guys look for?

Thanks!

The company I work for starts at 750 hours, but other are as high as 1500 hours. These minimums are set by either the insurance companies or by the contracting pipeline companies. As for what we do, we are more there to protect the pipeline from other people. Pipelines fall under the DOT and are required to be inspected every 27 day, with a few exceptions that depend on size. We keep a watch on any activity on the pipeline right of way (ROW) and 700 feet either side. We are looking for logging and pulp wood trucks using the ROW as a roadway. Utility companies digging on the ROW to bury cables or other pipelines, building construction, even above grounds pools placed on the ROW. As for actual leaks, unless they are major, you will never see them from the air, the pipeline company have equipment to check for that.

Interesting field in the industry. Sounds like you love your job. Does your company fly anything else other than the 172?

Thank you for the info! Sounds like a fun job!

We only fly the 172 and 177, but there are a few companies that use twins. I believe the twins are at the request of the pipeline companies or when they cover areas that are past single engine glide range off shore. One of the pipeline companies that I fly for wanted me to do a weekly check on a buoy that was about 25 miles out in the gulf, this was just a short term thing but the company I work for was going to request that we use a twin, if it was going to be an extended item.

Thanks for the info!

Brentco pays by the mile, you will fly 3-5 days a week and most of their aircraft are 182's. Benefits are there but don't think their insurance is the best, probably a buy in system. As far as pipeline patrol outfits go they are middle of the pack, some better, some worse.