diverdriver2

Two new job listings for jump pilots. Skydive Mesquite needs Cessna 182 pilots. And B.I.G Skydiving on the big island of Hawaii needs a Cessna TU-206 pilot.

Follow the link to find more details.

Job Listings | DiverDriver.com

jcullen4

How many hours can a jump pilot expect to accrue during the summer season in a turbine a/c?

JohnBurke

You might need to be a bit more location-specific.

urp99

I put on 450 at a C-182 DZ last summer, I would expect more at a turbine DZ.

jcullen4

In the Midwest. I'm currently killing it with hours in a survey job and have taken a jump job for the summer because I want a change and want to do/fly something different and new, and just was curious how many hours I might be able to gain over the summer/fall season.

urp99

Which DZ are you at? I fly for Wisconsin Skydiving Center in southern Wisconsin. I put on between 400 and 450 last summer, and the part time guy (weekends only) got about half of that. I was thinking a survey or patrol job that a guy could do during the week and flying Skydivers on the weekend would be a good combination.

frbrgr18

FYI: Skydive AZ in Eloy is in dire straights. From what I’ve heard around Christmas they had their entire pilot group quit. They pay them $125 a day to fly twin otters and skyvans (caravans?) I guess they just lost a bunch of flying from getting grounded by the us military due to maintenance. I heard they had something like 4-5 engine failures last year including a duel engine out plus a bunch of other shoddy stuff. Pilots walked due to maintenance and pay and now Skydive AZ is suing them! My source for this info worked there for a year and I guess they require an 18 month “training” contract so they are suing him and a few other pilots for the training costs. If you’re a low time guy looking for a diver driver gig I’d steer clear of these guys!

JohnBurke

From what you hear?

Your information is incorrect, mate.

300 hour pilots who wanted to get quick time without instructing were willing to sign 18 month contracts, yet didn't want to fulfill their contracts, and yes, some were sued. Some only worked a few weeks before seeking other work, while some got their time in, and ran to the airlines before fulfilling their contracts.

Your suggestion that all bailed due to shoddy maintenance is ill informed and just shy of slanderous. You've no experience there, yet you're giving your recommendation to steer clear, and this with your first post. How nice that you could enter with zero credibility and put your first shot right through your foot.

SDAZ does hire inexperienced pilots, who frequently go on to rapidly wear out brakes and tires and beat up airplanes, given their lack of judgement and experience; SDAZ runs a very busy schedule at times (much of the time) and puts a LOT of landings and cycles on the aircraft. It's the busiest drop zone in the world, and the largest.

Yes, there was a dual engine-out. The pilot ran out of fuel; it was his fault. Learn your facts. He landed just short of the runway, no passengers aboard, and did no damage.

The pay there is considerably more than the pilots are worth at their experience level, especially given that they're walking in with wet commercials and climbing into twin turbine equipment as PIC, only to walk away 18 months later with over 1500 hours and no outlay for CFI, MEI, etc.

No, a Skyvan is not a caravan. You don't even know what's flown, have no experience there, and yet shoot off your mouth and your keyboard based on your buddy's statements...one who apparently couldn't be bothered to honor the contract he signed. Correct?

As for all the pilots leaving; a number of the pilots left in December and January; most went to regional airlines, one to fly widebody equipment, another to fly for a corporate department, another to do aerial survey work. Several of those who left had been there for a number of years, and had no contract, nor did they need one.

Pilots who complained of maintenance frequently failed to write up their complaints or list the nature of what was wrong, and then complained that what they didn't report wasn't fixed; one cried when dressed down for bringing the squawk to maintenance's attention at the end of the day, five minutes before close; he'd known about it since before the maintenance shop opened and failed to make it known. Two pilots flew aircraft with low tire pressure, a check required by procedure at SDAZ as part of the preflight, and pilots are provided with a calibrated tire gage to check. When questioned, they said they'd used calibrated equipment. When it was determined the tire gage hadn't been touched, they said they used their calibrated eyes. Such pilots who lack the integrity, professionalism, common sense, honesty, and ability may well complain, but for you to repeat such stupidity here based on your own lack of experience is not only irresponsible, but perpetuating a lie.

Regarding your stipulation that the military grounded SDAZ or lost military flying due to maintenance, your information is badly skewed and incorrect. SDAZ does a high volume of military HALO, HAHO, static line, and other training with US and foreign military services, and two years ago opened a second dedicated airport to accommodate the volume of training traffic. The military has used SDAZ for a long time and continues to do so.

About the only thing you got correct is that SDAZ has a continuing need for pilot or pilot applicants...though you got the reason for that wrong, as well.

brocklee9000

Just curious, how many pilots do they hire with such low times? I've heard of the 18 month contract, but I thought they wanted 1000 total time and/or turbine experience? The lowest I've seen are 500 hours with HP time on a 182/206. I know it's common to advertise higher mins then they actually will take, but just how low will they go? And why not advertise at least somewhat lower? I definitely would have applied there back when I was wet behind the ears a year ago, but I had already been turned down or ignored for all sorts of 250-500 hour jobs. I didn't want to apply with comically low hours to a 1000 hour listing haha. I guess I'm asking to satiate my own curiosity, and maybe for anyone else who might be low-time and comes across these forums.

JohnBurke

Apply.

See what happens.