Pipeline / Powerline patrol

[TWA]

Anyone know how to get into it? I've heard from some people that 1500+ hours are required and others that it's the most entry level position out there. What's the deal?

 

[NW_Pilot]

Anyone know how to get into it? I've heard from some people that 1500+ hours are required and others that it's the most entry level position out there. What's the deal?

Like most all good jobs in aviation! "know someone"

 

[avbug]

Good grief. Powerline flying or towing banners is NOT a job that requires you to have connections and letters of recommendation. The best thing you can do for yourself is show up at the door of the employer and talk to them in person. Most of the time the guy that gets hired is the one standing in front of the desk when the job comes open.

Pick up a copy of Trade A Plane. Between now and spring you'll see no end of people looking for someone to tow banners, and usually powerline patrol jobs come up too. A recent job was advertised for pilots in Cessnas to chase UAV's around in California...they're paying dirt poor wages and want low time pilots. Drop zones are always looking for pilots, especially on a summer-seasonal basis. Lots of places to go fly. Get on Climbto350.com, pick up Trade A Plane, or go to any number of other sources advertising for pilots.

 

[NW_Pilot]

Good grief. Powerline flying or towing banners is NOT a job that requires you to have connections and letters of recommendation. The best thing you can do for yourself is show up at the door of the employer and talk to them in person. Most of the time the guy that gets hired is the one standing in front of the desk when the job comes open.

Pick up a copy of Trade A Plane. Between now and spring you'll see no end of people looking for someone to tow banners, and usually powerline patrol jobs come up too. A recent job was advertised for pilots in Cessnas to chase UAV's around in California...they're paying dirt poor wages and want low time pilots. Drop zones are always looking for pilots, especially on a summer-seasonal basis. Lots of places to go fly. Get on Climbto350.com, pick up Trade A Plane, or go to any number of other sources advertising for pilots.

And how dose one know that the job is going to be open so they can be the one standing in front of the desk when the job comes open? Usually by knowing someone that knows about it!

 

[Princedietrich]

Or by looking in trade-a-plane. Or in the back of AOPA Pilot or Flying magazine.

If all else fails, when you see a banner tow fly overhead, jot down the tail number and look up who owns it on the FAA website. Then google the phone number and give em a call. Or you can go to the local airport FBO and ask the guy slinging the fuel hose what companies are on the field and what they do.

 

[avbug]

And how dose one know that the job is going to be open so they can be the one standing in front of the desk when the job comes open? Usually by knowing someone that knows about it!

You missed the point. Again.

Nobody is going to build an extensive network of contacts to help you get into the exciting world of banner towing. Nor is it necessary. Any more than one needs to know someone to apply at McDonalds. What will help you is to get up, go to the office of the company for whom you want to work, and physically put yourself in front of the hiring desk. Companies like to hire people they've met over a pile of meaningless resumes in the desk drawer.

Is getting hired flying banners or pipelines or powerlines all about who you know? No. That's laughable. It really is.

Spend the three bucks on Trade a Plane, pick up the phone, make a road trip, go to work.

 

[avbug]

I just glanced at Climbto350.com. Right off the bat I spotted an ad for traffic watch pilots in albany NY. Start immediately. Four hours of flying a day.

Trade a Plane...I'm looking at an ad for a 300 hour charter pilot flying twin commanders to the Bahamas.
Two ads for banner pilots. One for a factory test pilot at Aviat in Wyoming...two hundred fifty hours and a CFI is what they want, plus tailwheel experience.

On and on it goes.

Then again, airlines are hiring pilots with a few hundred hours right now...which ought to scare you enough to start taking the bus, but that's the way things are. Start filling out applications.

 

[navigator72]

Dropzone.com is a great source for skydiver jobs

there's currently 6 pilot jobs for jumper drivers on the first page. Including one in Fiji.

 

[Princedietrich]

Hmmm, now I think I could deal with a little South Pacific action.

 

[TWA]

Ok, so it's a safe guess that pipeline patrol is a very entry level position? I already knew that towin banners and droppin meat had very little requirments, but had heard that some patrol companies required over 1000 hours.

 

[avbug]

The most "entry level" position out there is airline pilot. With airlines hiring at such pathetic levels as 300 hours total time presently...it doesn't get much more entry level than that.

Powerline patrol could be anything from a part time gig flown by a single pilot 135 operator, to a regular helicopter inspection and repair operation. The pilot experience requirements will vary considerably.

If you're looking for your first job, then you don't have the experience to be using stupid language like "dropping meat." fom the perspective of one who has spent plenty of years flying jumpers and jumping, I can tell you it just makes you sound foolish.

 

[TWA]

Avbug, I am very sorry if I have offended you. However, from viewing the caliber some of the jumpers in my area, I strongly feel that the term "dropping meat" is appropriate. If you feel that flying right over a running medical helicopter preparing for departure is safe practice, then I stand corrected.

Thank you for your help, it is much appreciated.

 

[avbug]

Perhaps if you're hand-out begging for a job, insulting the community for who you might fly isn't such a smart idea.

Sometimes part of being a professional is knowing when to shut up.

 

[Princedietrich]

Don't worry TWA, like I've mentioned before, when avbug busts your chops it's just his way of saying that he cares and doesn't want you to die. :beer:

 

[TWA]

I see, tough love from avbug. I'm so touched :blush:

 

[670X]

To answer your question about Pipeline patrol...
You have to have 1,500 to be covered by insurance at one operator I know.

1-2 hundred feet all day with 60-90 degree banks is not really entry level flying.

 

[TWA]

Thanks 670, that's the kind of info I'm lookin for.

 

[avbug]

1-2 hundred feet all day with 60-90 degree banks is not really entry level flying.

If you're doing 60 degree to 90 degree banks while flying powerline patrol, you're making some serious mistakes. It's not exactly a hard charging or particuarly challenging line of work.

 

[NW_Pilot]

You have to have 1,500 to be covered by insurance at one operator I know.

Yea, Ins big issue every ware!

Ferry Industry Averages,
700TT For Single Piston
1000TT For Hi-Pro Or Retract
1,200TT For Most Hi Pro Plastic Planes Like Cirrus
1,500TT For Turbo Prop


Twins Piston 1200TT
Twins Turbo Prop 1500-2,500TT

Plus Time in Make And Model or Check Out some times factory training Columbia Now Known As Cessna 350-400.

Best way to solve insurance issue is become pre-approved by the very few insurance agencies . Don't cost a thing but your time.

1-2 hundred feet all day with 60-90 degree banks

Sounds like fun!!

 

[670X]

AVBUG read what I wrote, not what you think I wrote.....PIPELINE...... most turns are required due to some construction or other unexpected object/leak ect ect. I would go on but apparently you know it all already.
Cheers

 

[avbug]

AVBUG read what I wrote, not what you think I wrote.....PIPELINE...... most turns are required due to some construction or other unexpected object/leak ect ect. I would go on but apparently you know it all already.

If you're doing 60 degree to 90 degree banks while flying pipeline patrol, you're making some serious mistakes. It's not exactly a hard charging or particuarly challenging line of work.

 

[UndauntedFlyer]

Flying powerline/pipeline patrol must be one of the most dangerous flying jobs there is. Not as bad as crop dusting but next to it I would think. Never had the pleasure of earning a living in that way but it seems like a job to avoid. International single engine ferry pilot is another one to stay away from, or so it seems. There just is not enough money to risk your life in such a way. But if you do any of these things, God and good luck must be with you.

 

[670X]

If you're doing 60 degree to 90 degree banks while flying pipeline patrol, you're making some serious mistakes. It's not exactly a hard charging or particuarly challenging line of work.

A serious mistake to one is a thorough inspection and delightful day to another.

Sorry AVBUg if 4K miles a week of single pilot cross country in all sorts of weather not to mention the Rocky Mountains sounds "Not exactly hard or challenging."
If I get that jaded in the future I will put a gun in my mouth. Life must really suck for you, or did I just hear a song about you? Yeah I think that Bucky guy sang it
something like "I'm so much cooler online"?
How's the "Six Pack" coming? or the "Three way" chat's. LMAO

Pipeline beats working any day of the week...now where is my XM guide?

 

[avbug]

If I get that jaded in the future I will put a gun in my mouth.

Careful now. That's just enough to cost you your medical, you know. Mental instability.

Much like your delousions of an exciting life.

If you want to play drama queen and yank the airplane around unnecessarily, have a ball. Chances are you'll wind up in one, some day. I've spent a good share of my career beneath powerlines within a few feet of the ground in a number of different aircraft, invariably in mountainous terrain, generally under adverse conditions...and still don't see it as a great drama.

Perhaps you're young enough to be just that little bit arrogant and just that little bit adventurous that powerline or pipeline flying really is that exciting to you. Good for you. Enjoy it. The truth is you sound like the kids who start banner towing and proclaim it to be the most dangerous endevor in this lifetime. Such inexperienced claims are a little like listening to a ten year old with his new BMX bike proclaiming himself to be the baddest boy on the block. The problem is that nobody really cares, and the youthful exuberance is okay for the ten year old.

Not for you.

Get a grip. It's pipeline patrol (which really doesn't differ significantly from powerline patrol by the way...been there, done both)...not combat. I grew up flying in the rocky mountains, and unless you were raised in the flats of Kansas, it's just not that big a deal.

If you're doing 90 degree banks while flying your pipeline patrol, it's a sign of inexperience, poor piloting technique, and poor judgement and skill. At least you've endevored to make yourself known.

 

[WestHouston]

Careful now. That's just enough to cost you your medical, you know. Mental instability.

Much like your delousions of an exciting life.

If you want to play drama queen and yank the airplane around unnecessarily, have a ball. Chances are you'll wind up in one, some day. I've spent a good share of my career beneath powerlines within a few feet of the ground in a number of different aircraft, invariably in mountainous terrain, generally under adverse conditions...and still don't see it as a great drama.

Perhaps you're young enough to be just that little bit arrogant and just that little bit adventurous that powerline or pipeline flying really is that exciting to you. Good for you. Enjoy it. The truth is you sound like the kids who start banner towing and proclaim it to be the most dangerous endevor in this lifetime. Such inexperienced claims are a little like listening to a ten year old with his new BMX bike proclaiming himself to be the baddest boy on the block. The problem is that nobody really cares, and the youthful exuberance is okay for the ten year old.

Not for you.

Get a grip. It's pipeline patrol (which really doesn't differ significantly from powerline patrol by the way...been there, done both)...not combat. I grew up flying in the rocky mountains, and unless you were raised in the flats of Kansas, it's just not that big a deal.

If you're doing 90 degree banks while flying your pipeline patrol, it's a sign of inexperience, poor piloting technique, and poor judgement and skill. At least you've endevored to make yourself known.

Not to keep beating this horse, but why do you say banking 60-90 degrees on a pipeline route is a sign of inexperience and whatnot? I flew a route with a guy the other day and he did fly the airplane in this manner. When I asked him why he said to follow the right-of-way exactly is the only sure way to not stray into unexpected obstacles, and see all of the pipeline. I'm not arguing, I just want to know what your reasoning is behind that statement. You said you did fly pipeline? Did you find it unecessary to bank that steep?

 

[avbug]

Yes, I have flown powerline and pipeline patrol, as well as other low level flying such as ag (crop dusting) and firefighting.

See my previous comments. Nothing has changed.

 

[WestHouston]

Yes, I have flown powerline and pipeline patrol, as well as other low level flying such as ag (crop dusting) and firefighting.

See my previous comments. Nothing has changed.

Ok. I guess I don't follow. You said it was poor technique, inexperience, and so on, my question is why? I'm going to be doing this soon and am trying to understand it better. Thanks in advance.

 

[24 carat]

Are we all on the same page regarding the turns here?

I get the feeling some people talk about 90 degrees banked turns (which would be ludricous at low level), yet other people actually seem to mean a turn of 90 degrees left or 90 degrees right, which would then be made with an appropriate bank of turn.

 

[svcta]

I get the feeling some people talk about 90 degrees banked turns (which would be ludricous at low level),

I've never done line patrol of any kind, but I have been very close to 90 deg. bank, if not there at well under 100' in the past. Time is money, and when you've got a time constraint in front of you minutes wasted in the air just don't work. For what it's worth, I never regarded it as dangerous as a knee jerk reaction. It was all fairly well calculated and it was something that you built up to. Besides, how else do you learn about top rudder?

 

[avbug]

I get the feeling some people talk about 90 degrees banked turns (which would be ludricous at low level), yet other people actually seem to mean a turn of 90 degrees left or 90 degrees right, which would then be made with an appropriate bank of turn.

60 to 90 degrees of bank, if you'll re-read the previous posts.

1-2 hundred feet all day with 60-90 degree banks is not really entry level flying.

The poster has been discussing banks, not the bend in the pipe or powerline.

Again, read the thread.

If you need to crank the airplane over to 90 degrees at low altitude, then you've made grave errors, or are about to. If you find something that needs a better look, then fly a circle around it and continue on your way. You'll spend more time seeing it, see it from several angles, and can do it at a lesser bank with greater safety, a greater ability to stay heads up and look around you (watching the powerline or pipeline continuously is a good way to get yourself killed. Take time to look around).

Same thing when spraying a field. I don't care how many times and how many years you've been into that same field. Get in the habit of diving into it and spraying, and one day it will kill you. I was there when a man who had sprayed the same field for 30 years got his vertical stab ripped off by an illegal powerline that had never been there before. It entered the field from an illegal tap, without any supports and was nearly invisible. Had he taken the time to fly around the field and look it over, then he would have seen it.

You can get away with your steep turns close to the ground for a long time, perhaps. You may even become complacent and think it's not a big deal. You may feel yourself ten feet tall and bullet proof. Chances are that if you're doing this job and don't own the business, you're doing it because you're inexperienced and don't know better, like the previous poster in this thread. It's still no excuse.

You're not ten feet tall, and you're not bullet proof.