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.