Best Flying Job you have ever had

[CRJ-705]

hey guys, when i was younger i always dreamed of being a pilot and flying for aircraft a large jet like the 777. i recently got my PPL and the more i fly the more my goals have started to change. i think about it now, and im not sure if i want to sit in a plane for 12 hours while the autopilot does all the work and you only get to do like 5 takeoffs and landings a month (the best part of flying i think). ive heard stories where you spend your whole life dreaming and working to make it to the airlines, then when you get their you realize its not to fun and you took all those good fun jobs that got you there for granted.i think it would be awesome flying a dash 8 for jazz or even an a320 where you get to do shorter hops. anyway im just curious whats the best flying job you have ever had and if youve made to the airlines how do the two jobs compare? thanks for answering

[Ag Driver]

Ag Flying is the best and worst job I've ever had.

[ywgflyboy]

You must have done a lot of flying in the 15 days that you have been a member of avcanada

I am not one to comment on the 12 hours Atlantic hops as I have just completed my CPL, but every pilot is different. I started my training wanting to fly the B747! Next thing I knew, it was retired from AC. Now that I am done with my CPL and am looking to get into my first job, my ideas of the perfect career/life are changing. I'd be happy flying for a regional carrier to get to spend my nights at home. You will get lots of time between now and when the time comes to think about and make these decisions. You may take a job with x company to build hours to get on with z company to fly 14 hour B777 flights, but find you enjoy the benefits of of x company.

In the end, if you are in it because you love flying you will make these decisions as you progress through the ladder and you may end up wanting something completely different in 10 years than you do right now.

Cheers

[KAG]

Best job I had was at Kenn Borek. Good sched, great people, fun times had in YEV. I can honestly say I had a great time up north/over seas. When were level at FL410 and chatting about our paths we've taken, it's always the northern stories that come up.
Don't be in a rush to get to the airlines, I can't stress that enough. I'm glad I'm here and this is now my career job, but I'm also thankful I got to see different aspects of aviation before I settled down.

[ettw]

Best flying job I've ever had is High Arctic Twin Otter ski flying...the flying I enjoyed the most but approached with the most trepidation.



Cheers,

ETTW

[Rowdy]

Agreed, The most fun I've had has been in dhc products. So far where I am right now (still driving dehavilland) has a good schedule, interesting flying, great co workers and is generally good times, All i could really ask for is a bit more pay and welll, we could ALL ask for that

[Blue Side Down]

Working as a 2x6 driver for a lodge west of Red. The crew was a blast to work with. It was a summer of pleasant flying and crazy partying with the lost boys (and girls) in neverneverland. Made more than a few lifelong friends there. Special thanks to MM for the opportunity of a lifetime.

[North Shore]

< As the Avatar shows, flying tankers. Fun, hands-on flying, a great group of coworkers, 5 1/2 months of 'work' a year, and the whole winter off to do other things that matter (skiing etc..) to me.

[bmc]

Best job I had was at Kenn Borek. Good sched, great people, fun times had in YEV. I can honestly say I had a great time up north/over seas. When were level at FL410 and chatting about our paths we've taken, it's always the northern stories that come up.
Don't be in a rush to get to the airlines, I can't stress that enough. I'm glad I'm here and this is now my career job, but I'm also thankful I got to see different aspects of aviation before I settled down.

If I had a dollar for every time I heard a cockpit conversation go like that......

Enjoy your time in the north, the bush, flying low and slow. You'll get your 41,000ft job eventually. Be in the moment and savor the fun float job because one day it may be far behind you.

[StudentPilot]

I've only had two flying jobs...but my current job is one of several jobs I dreamt of when I finished my CPL. Now I find myself alternating betweens dreams of finding a way into float flying and ski flying in a C185/DHC2/DHC3/Beech 18, off-strip in Super Cubs/C185s/small stuff, high arctic and antarctic ski flying in a Twin Otter or Basler DC-3 (or radial if someone decides to use one), ag flying, SEATs, or just more of what I'm doing but in a different location.

Of course my job isn't quite as nice as what I dreamt it would be, but it's not all that far off.

P.S. Nice pics ETTW...hopefully I'll be able to take similar ones some day.

[loopa]

That's very motivating BMC

[peakbagger]

Great thread! It can be tricky sometimes to be happy in the moment. I have no doubt my present job flying a 180 on floats/wheels and skis will prove to be a highlight of my career. Though sometimes I have to remind myself of this

[Rubberbiscuit]

I would like to echo the sentiment of others: Enjoy the moment and don't be in to big of a rush chasing tin if you find yourself enjoying what you are doing. I loved everything I did in flying the north. Skiflying, floatflying scheds and cargo. It is however easy to get caught up in the mainstream attitude of "gotta get out of here and in to a jet". It is the simple matter of don't fix it if it isn't broken to a certain extent, and you probably wont realize how much fun you are having until it is behind you!

Best of luck in your endeavours !

[floatplanepilot]

Cloudseeding in and around CB's dodging lightning and hail pumping silver iodide into the storm.

[Severe Clear]

Worked a few different flying jobs from Instructing, dropping skydivers in a 206, DHC-6 in the arctic as well as floats in the dives. I have to say what I do now has been the most fun! Medevac in the big city on a 200. Been doing it for a year and a half now and I still love it. I am home every night, with a great 10 on 5 off sked. Getting called out at 2 am in a blizzard the odd time is a small price to pay to have a good life style.. And at the end of the day ,I actually made a difference in someones life instead of hauling pop and chips to tuktoyuktuk 4 times a day! My back is thanking me now....

Medevac is where it's at!

[beast]

So you don't want a job that involves some time sitting around being bored? Good luck with that

lots of openings in lion taming these days...

[nacho]

Ag Flying is the best and worst job I've ever had.

YES!! Where auto pilot is nothing els but a bungee cord and shoving one of your boots under a rudder pedal. ( On ferry flights, and for the pourpose of taking a bathroom brake only.. )
I wouldn't call it worst though...But I only kow floats and ferrying them things..

Away from the crazy things of aviation these days.
Thank you for the pictures etttw!

[Dagwood]

The Full Circle sums up this thread perfectly

[flying4dollars]

The Full Circle sums up this thread perfectly

Good read!

[flyinthebug]

No doubt it was flying for Baxter Aviation & Harbour Air on the wet coast. One day I had landed at Chatterbox Falls on the coast (coast dogs will know this amazingly beautiful spot)..with 5 german tourists in a DHC2. When we docked, a young gentleman approached the aircraft shaking his head with a grin on his face. He went on to tell me he was an F/O on a 757 and would give his left nut to be driving the -2 that day. We talked about his job and mine for over an hour and I realized at that moment how truly lucky I was.. being paid (well) to fly to the most beautiful places on earth.
That said.. The west coast also offered some of the most "holy @#$!" moments in my career as well. Not a very forgiving place when its 1 mile in fog with a vv of 150 ft..but overall, was the best flying ive ever done.
Fly safe all.

[Nephilim]

Out of Muncho Lake, BC. The best toys to play with. Twin Otter on wheels. Beaver and a C-185 on floats (except the owner had to be sick before ya got to fly the Beaver!). Nothing like mountain flying!!

[mattedfred]

hard to say

highest paying would be Dash8 CA at ACJ

best schedule was when i was an FO on the Dash8 at ACJ

safest would be at ACJ on any type

best flying was when i was the minnow king on an aeronca champ out of lac la croix

most rewarding was when i was a glider famil pilot in RCAC

most challenging was flying an SW2 out of Berens River, Gods River or Red Sucker Lake in August

best landings were in the B1900D

i think overall being on the Dash8 at ACJ is the best job i've had

it's the union, pass travel and the people i get to work with that make it my top choice overall

if any one of those three didn't exist than i would be looking elsewhere

[kevind]

The Full Circle sums up this thread perfectly

I was looking for this to post

Thanks

[AMM]

The Full Circle sums up this thread perfectly

Thanks for sharing. That made my day.

[rightseatwonder]

The more people you ask the more you will hear many opinions. I will be willing to bet, that if you asked pilots around the world this question.... the most common opinion you will hear will be this...

"get on a twin otter"


I heard it all through my training, and I got lucky to do just that. I have a laptop and a box full of photos, friends all over the world, stories to tell, memories forever, passports full of stamps, and I had the privilege of learning from many experienced fliers who had chosen to stay in the DHC-6 world for decades. No disrespect for any other type of flying... but my advice to you....

"GET ON A TWIN OTTER!