Airships, wow! What's it like to fly one of those?

Also how do you go about getting training for those? What is your job like in general, if you dont mind? There can't be that many operators out there.

Clutch,

I did not want to be there and tried to get out but could only take the jobs I was offered. My job search was not limited. I applied to companies all over the world but could not break out of oddball flying jobs. It is a rut that people can get hung up in. Bush jobs lead to more bush jobs and so on. I tried my hardest and even though Alaska Airlines was my overall goal I applied to everyone. I even sent resumes every fall to UPS and FedEx.

When the phone would ring it was from someone wanting me to fly a Piper Aztec in Puerto Rico or a Fish and Wildlife contract in Alaska. My preference was to have walked into a 727 FE job right out of college and never touched a piston plane again. All I could do was to take the jobs I was offered. I wish I had known you back then so you could have helped me.

Skyhigh

Pony,

I have had to earn a living outside of aviation to support a family life. I still get calls to fly floats or in the bush. It seems that there is a shortage of pilots with the background to do that stuff while the airlines are flooded.

Who knows in a few years guys with piston and bush skills might be worth more than jet jocks.

Skyhigh

It's like riding on a boat. Seriously. You get trained when you get hired, or if you are super rich, like John & Martha King, you go buy a rating for 100K+. My job, is flying the airship. That part is somewhat fun. The other stuff kills it, when you don't fly, you help out on the ground crew. You might be booking hotels, etc... There aren't many operators, just Goodyear, The Lightship Group and Airship Ventures, within the USA.

Pay is decent, roughly what you would make as a 2nd year FO at the higher tier regional carriers, but that's all you'll ever make as a line pilot. Get promoted to Chief Pilot, you might make 1st year Captain pay, but again, no pay raises ever.

QOL sucks. 340 days a year on the road, living in hotels of various accommodations. Working with ground crew that, while fun to work with, aren't exactly what you would call "professional". You get 4 weeks of vacation per year, but good luck getting it when you want/need it.

Oh, and be willing to sign a 3 year training contract. I'm just at the end of year 1 and trust me, it isn't worth it.

Was the 340 days a year on the road a mistype?

USMCFLYR

4 weeks of vacation, is 20 days of vacation, according to the company. So yes/no, depending on how you want to look at it. Needless to say, you don't get much home time.

I see what you were talking about - but I'm saying that your times add up to that if you aren't on VACATION - then you are ON THE ROAD every other day of the year. I didn't know of many other jobs (especially paying what you say you are getting paid) that actually keep people out on the road that much except maybe the 365 non-vol military IA.

USMCFLYR

Oh yeah, if you aren't on vacation you are on the road. The only other thing that I can think of similar to it is military deployment.

I just saw the MetLife airship at my local airport today. Really cool. Was always curious to know what was involved in flying those! But I'm now sorry to hear the QOL sucks, but what kind of time do you log on those things? Turbine multi?

I am sure that people will say "man that is some good experience". I can't imagine that the flight time will be good for much more than other airship jobs.

Skyhigh