How many hrs does a new float pilot get in a season?

[PattyLew]

Additionally, how many hours does a seasoned float pilot get on avg?

[Rowdy]

I managed just over 100hrs my first season in the 180. Coming off the dock, expect anywhere from 50-100hrs. The seasons have varied greatly from there. A couple of 400hr seasons.. a couple of 250ish. Really depends on where you are, who you're working for and what you're flying.

[C-FDPB]

+1 for what rowdy said. I just finished my first season flying the 180 and working the dock. I got about 65 hrs on the 180 and another 60ish on the beaver. Not really much of a change from the guys that flew the 180 last year. They were on the beavers this year and got around 350 hrs. So realistically your first year flying will probably include some dock time, so i'd expect anywhere from 50-150 depending on the operation. 150 hrs being very generous.

DPB

[ragbagflyer]

I flew about 450 my first season, and have always done between 400 and 600 between June and early October but I've only ever been employed by regular sched or charter operators and never by a lodge that also happens to have an airplane. My first season was obviously on the high side. The amount you fly is affected by quite a few variables. If you want to know how much you'll fly at a given company you're better off asking previous and current pilots from that company how much they've flown in past seasons.

[flightpath.cyyb]

It definitely depends on the company. I know Slate Falls might give you 30 hrs on a 206, but the chief pilot where I am now got 600 hrs his first season. I got 225 hrs my first season.

Ragbagflyer is right. Best to talk to the employees.

Do you have a job lined up with a specific company?

[PattyLew]

No job lined up, cyyb. Won't be employable until the 2016 season. Just curious how my next few years might line up.

[trey kule]

278.567

[flyinthebug]

1st season...combined dock & 206 driver...350 hours.

Once I became somewhat experienced, I could count on 600-800 per year (on the west coast).

Hope this helps.

FTB

[goingnowherefast]

30 first season, 250 second season. Depends on where you work and how busy they are.

[jspitfire]

300 on floats my first season, but also got thrown back to wheels for about 80 hours over the summer.

[phillyfan]

Nearly impossible to answer. Most operators don't know how many hours the airplanes will fly from year to year. Depends on a million variables, from the overall economy, the value of the dollar, what kind of fire season happens and whether exploration work exists or not.
If you can get a job, work hard and hope for the best.