Summer Job Oppurtunity

[TRBojet]

For anyone interested in a summer flying job:

My company is looking for one or more (not sure) aerial attack pilot for the upcoming fire season. It's a CWN (Call When Needed) 3-month contract flying a Twin Commander. Basically, that means that some forest agency (mostly Western) will call and you will go to a specific region for fire surveillance. I have limited knowledge about the specifics of the flying, but I think you just take up a another person who "controls" the actual firefighting from the air.

I think the minimuns are similar to IFR 135 mins:

1500TT or PIC (not sure), 100 Night, etc.
25 in AC-50 (which could be provided by our company)

Pay is $1800 base salary, plus $15/flt. hour, and $85-100 a day per diem. Not a bad way to make some money for a summer job. I think the last year's CWN airplane flew between 250-300 hours for the contract length.

All these numbers are not firm, but they should be real close. PM for further details about applying or more info.

 

[TRBojet]

Just to clarify.....

The $1800 salary is PER MONTH, NOT a 3-month total.

Sorry.

 

[labbats]

I'd do it if I had the hours. Sounds like the $ adds up, and fun to boot.

 

[Movin' on up!]

Air attack

Can you PM with info for this job? Thanks!!

 

[414Flyer]

yeah, it can be fun. I can certainly recommend it.

 

[CelticCitation]

Just a little more info. The job requires 200 multi, 100 of which needs be in the last 12 months. This is a government requirement. However, if you are close, the comany will get you 25 hours in the AC-50 to meet the time in type requirement.

I did it a couple of summers ago, and it is unlike anything else I've seen in aviation. 500 feet above and head to head with heavy tankers making drops. Real cool. Very dependant on the fire season. Either too busy or sitting on your butt. Very little in between.

Great idea to post here, TRBojet.

 

[Future SNA]

Man I'd jump on this in a second if I lived out west, the AC-50 is a blast to fly, and trucking around low and fast like that, minus the thermals, could be in for some fun flying.

 

[Prof. ATP]

CelticCitation --

So now it's in public: the company will train anybody off the street but not me?

Seriously, firefighting can be pretty cool. You carry a firefighter with you, and it's not unheard of to be working four radios at once between the two of you. You meet some interesting people, the pay can be pretty good, and every now and then you get to feel like you did something that makes a difference. On one of my first fires, we spotted an outbreak headed for a fire truck. They were off frequency and it took some time to get the word to them that they had to MOVE. We finally got through to them and they got out of the way just in time.

Just don't get freaked out the first time that you notice that you're covered with ash.

 

[414Flyer]

I often brought back the Cessna 340 with ash streaks all over it after flying air attack over a fire.

I think you just have to have 100 pic hours, as long as you have the other requirements, in last year, doesnt have to be multi pic.

I just got carded on Tanker 65 yesterday, so if you hear or see Tanker 65 on a fire or tanker base, I will be there

 

[rchcfi]

414flyer or Prof. ATP,

I am headed down to Idaho to start the ground school in 2 weeks. Needless to say, I am as excited as anyone could be right now. And that's comin' from a bush pilot who certainly has seen his fair share.

Was wondering if you could elaborate a little more on exactly what you did when you flew air attack. The only thing I've gotten so far is "plan on movin' around". I'm looking for more specific duties etc. I'll be talking to my new boss tomorrow and might be able to get some more info., but I was just looking for some exciting stories!

THX

 

[Prof. ATP]

Where in Idaho are you working? Please PM me with details; if you're working for us you have to suffer through indoc from me and aircraft training from CelticCitation.

Air Attack duties are pretty simple: show up at the airport at the appointed time, preflight the aircraft, and wait. Clean the airplane while you wait. Be ready to go. Over the fire, stay at the briefed altitudes: there are lots of aircraft in a small area, so altitude separation is important. Keep the fire in sight, make sure that the observer can see the tanker drop. You fly the airplane and let them fight the fire, but speak up if you see something like smoke where there shouldn't be any. Watch for other airplanes, keep an eye on your fuel.

Remember that you are part of a crew. Each Air Attack you fly with will be a little different, so try to get to know them a little.

 

[414Flyer]

Some air attack pilot gigs are mostly in one spot for a fire season (BLM contract), and others are all around as needed, especially if its for USFS contract). I spent the better part of the 2002 fire season from Santa Fe, because that national forest staged a recon plane there to do daily flights to look for fires.

You will fly with someone who is an ATGS, which is Air Tactical Group Supervisor. They can make decisions about ordering up tankers and other assets to a fire, and you will orbit overhead so he can size up the fire and determine if tankers are needed. Sometimes you will guide in wildland fire engines to the fire. ALso he will want to watch the tanker drops, so you will have to position the plane to give him good visibility of the drop.

Some of the ATGSs are calm and can handle a sky full of aircraft just fine, and others are not quite so calm and competent. Many of them are retired USFS who can come back for fire seasons. After a season of doing it, you will pretty much be able to size up a fire and give a description of it almost as good as they can.

 

[rchcfi]

Thanks for all the info. I have been researching the web all day and have been doing a lot of reading. It just seems to get more exciting by the minute.

 

[moving2vegas]

leaving huh?

They finally kick your a$$ out of Homer? Drop me a PM with your questions. I'm flying air attack in AZ right now using twin commanders. Seasons' just starting. From what I hear about Avcenter, S. Gunter, and the operation they seem to be a good outfit. Pays a bit low for air attack but it's fun flyn' and Pocatellos' alot drier. Commander is a dream compared to the islander (once you learn to taxi.) Straightforward 135 ride followed by a real basic OAS check flight. Stay safe,,,keep it out of the trees.

 

[414Flyer]

You flying them at Safford?

I have been at the silver city tanker base the last week.