I spoke with Perris a few weeks ago (tring to get a furloughed friend a job) and they are pretty well staffed. They fly 3 Twin Otters and a Shorts SkyVan. There are many furloughed pilots out there trying to do anything to feed their families, and the skydiving industry ( as far as the turbine DZ's ) is saturated with airline pilot resumes right now. I would still check with your local DZ's, though. Most will require some commitment, though- don't count on getting your time the first weekend. I flew Twin Otters at Skydive Elsinore, and they put me through Flight Safety in Toronto before I could fly their equipment. I understand this is unusual, though. One thing- flying skydivers has its own challenges. It may be one of the more difficult flying jobs. In a high traffic area such as Southern California, you need to be simultaneously listening to 2-3 different frequencies, watching out for VFR traffic, as well as flying your profile. The jump run ( in a multi-turbine jump ship) requires you to figure out actual winds aloft, determine what course and length will allow the jumpers to make it back to the DZ, determine how long the multiple groups will take to exit your aircraft, and hold a level platform while your CG shifts back and forth. You also have to make sure your jumpers miss any clouds in the area during their freefall. I fly for a regional airline, and flying jumpers was usually more labor intensive than my current job. With your flight experience, I'm sure you wouldn't have trouble doing the job, I just think most people underestimate the complexity of the job.
I commend you on your integrity, and wish you luck in your job pursuit!
