How was the season for entry-level float jobs this year???

[northernexplorer123]

Hey everyone,

Im Looking to get into the bush next season, just curious how other entry level pilots did this year?
How long were you on the dock?? What company/Where?? What A/C did you start on?

I have 250 hrs 150 PIC a Multi-rating and 80 TT on floats. What are my chances of getting hired??

Thanks,

Northernexplorer

[moose_meat]

It's been a slow year everywhere pretty much... hopefully it will start to pick up next year!

[CPLMike89]

Season was pretty slow...

looks like we'll still be on the dock next season if things stay the way they are. Been with this company since April and im nowhere near the front of the line for a flying spot. Usually here your first flight crew opportunity is F/O on a twin otter or navajo. But gotta look at it positive at least I have a job where as other low timers were not as lucky this season. So heres to things picking up soon.

Best of luck

Mike

[moose_meat]

I guess I never actually answered your question completely though:

Licensed commercially in April - Been on the dock since May, was taken up for evaluation flights by June, started doing cargo trips in July, flying passengers in August, now am a dockhand/pilot. So far, done about 125 hours this summer, roughly 90 of which is PIC.

FYI: Had a friend calling every single place he could find last winter/spring for about 2 months straight looking for ANYTHING half decent before he finally was hired somewhere. I had a bit better luck as I had a connection/good reference: Use networking as much as you can!

[Kzanol]

Don't go to floats... I had a entry level flying job last year in which I got 110 hours. This brought my total to almost 300 hrs on floats and I couldn't get a float job this spring to save my life. I had one company which seemed semi-interested but they just hired the guy from the year before in the end.

[kevinsky18]

One of the companies I fly for hired a fellow for a direct flying job this spring with 50 hours floats. I'm guessing he's logged about 200+ hours this summer and has a firm position for next year.

I know another pilot who got a direct hire flying position, again with 50 hours floats but then the recession forced the parking of the aircraft so she remained on the doc for most of the summer. She got a bit of flying in towards the end of the season and will most likely get a call back in the spring.

I personally haven’t heard of any 7 hour rating guys getting even a dock job this summer. I think it’s a combination of fewer over all jobs and the 50-300 hour guys are taking the dock jobs that the 7 hour guys would have normally gotten.

I’m predicting next season will be much the same.

[FighterPilot]

I guess I was lucky, not only did I get a dock job with 0 float hours, they gave me a float endorsement and got several job offers from some of the surrounding operators.

[Quad18star]

Which area , Fighter pilot?

[FighterPilot]

NWO

[cessnafloatflyer]

I had three 50 hour students this Spring and they all found work with less than 300 TT. One on a Beaver to boot! So, it's out there.

[FighterPilot]

So, it's out there.

Exactly, they're out there, you've just gotta be willing to work your ass off and show them your not going to @#$! the dog.

[N181CS]

I bet the sub 300TT Beaver jock was flying GVGL

[cessnafloatflyer]

GVGL -- negative -- he was NOT flying for Walter.

[moose_meat]

I know a couple of guys that had to move pretty far for jobs. One went to Northern Saskatchewan and flew dual on a beaver all summer and another went to the Yukon.

Saying don't go to floats is the same as saying "don't become an instructor" - the work is out there, you just have to call the right place at the right time. I was hired with 25 hours on floats this summer, and am planning on coming back next year. There probably isn't many places that would look at me with only 160 hours on floats and 360 hours TT but if I wanted to move I'm sure I could find another place.

Look hard, and don't be afraid to call the same place more than once! A lot of places just want to see that you are eager to work. Don't be ridiculously annoying but keep your name in their minds!

[KHills]

I know a couple of guys that had to move pretty far for jobs. One went to Northern Saskatchewan and flew dual on a beaver all summer and another went to the Yukon.

Dual on a Beaver?? YUCK. why? Dont get me wrong, its better than sucking on your big toe all summer, but what is 100-200 hours dual on a Beaver worth? Will that same company bump him to the left seat next season? again, better than nothing i suppose. it will at least expose you to the enviroment and make some decent contacts.

I flew my first season this last summer...more dock than flying, but i got in a bit of time before I hit some serious problems and left the company in Aug. The things you read on this forum about operators and first season experience are all too true, and not uncommon.

If you cant find a job that will play by the rules, dont take it. simple as.

I know the feeling of being new and horney for the float world and willing to take whatever came to me. And its hard to know what the company is really like before you get there..but you need to be prepared to say 'so long, nice knowing ya' when things get sh*tty and your life is at stake. It's not worth your life. period.
and ill admit its tough to say no after working 90 hours per week for the previous 3 months when the last month you will almost double what you flew in the previous 3. all that work. coming so close to your goal to say 'no, its not safe I will not do this, goodbye.' but it needs to be done.

[Nahanni]

ohhhhh VGL and Walter. Oh Boy!

Anyone out there know who took the spring job?

[moose_meat]

Will that same company bump him to the left seat next season?

Yea that was the idea I guess.... he got to fly some solo circuits and stuff to get a feel for it last summer I guess, and I think the possibility of left seat next summer is what they sort of hinted at. I guess whether they follow through with that or not is another story.

[KHills]

Will that same company bump him to the left seat next season?

Yea that was the idea I guess.... he got to fly some solo circuits and stuff to get a feel for it last summer I guess, and I think the possibility of left seat next summer is what they sort of hinted at. I guess whether they follow through with that or not is another story.

for his sake hopefully its not just another carrot...

[peakbagger]

It is out there, but probably not by phone or internet. I managed to land a full time year round flying gig with a 7 hour rating 225tt, but it involved a ton of shoveling and camp work. Definetely some luck involved aswell. Being in the right place at the right time turned out to be the key.