So how many of us have flying jobs this summer? Are you still waiting to hear back from the operators? What issues do they have? ie: hours, experience or insurance requirements. What area are you going to flying in? Ontario, Quebec, Western Canada, Alaska? What plane will be flying or upgrading to? What is your take on how it looks like this summer for flying or being a bush pilot?

Good topic and timely.

Resumes went out at the beginning of March, two phone call replies already and it's still early...a good sign. No road trip this spring after doing them for the past two springs with little luck, seemed like a waste of time to me and I even missed phone calls from potential employers while I was away. Spent the past year working outside of aviation to pay for more float hours. Managed to get to 200hrs on floats with 650TT, hopefully this is the magic number this season but it seems to increase every year. Business is up in aviation so I'm hoping it is the same in the bush. Looking for an entry level float job or even a dock job leading to the same.

Good luck to all.

I'll be hitting NW ont in the last week of this month.

I would be ecstatic to get dock/fly, but with my times i'm just looking for dock.

Good luck and happy hunting everyone!

applied for many places, alll across this big country of ours...( i think about only 46 places actually, and 2/3 of those are solely float ops)
40% told that 500 on type (DHC-2 or bigger) is insurance minimums with 1000 float a must ( i am a wee bit short, although i am nearly 6 feet tall - ha, bah..never mind)
40% still have the same crew as last year
10% not replied.
the other 10% i am waiting patiently. I am pessimistic as i think this is late in the season (for my comfort level and my bank account) despite the lakes being stiff until early June last year...I may have to return to the same place as last year...reluctantly.
happy thoughts happy thoughts happy thoughts
good luck to all!!

Over 260 looked at this posting and only 21 have answered the poll. Amazing to see this. I did the poll so we can see what the market for bush pilots was like.
As for me, I sent out over two hundred resumes to Canada & US and received over five replies back. One for a Part 135 operation flying into Canada and the rest in Canada. Some flying jobs in Beaver's, C-185 and one for a twin engine Aztec on floats. Just received an e-mail today and due to insurance requirements I won't be working at one place. I still have to hear from a number of other places.
Best of luck to all.

DEL...

May be a personal question but what kind of times do you have and what are you're thoughts on when hiring is finished for the upcoming season?? I'm thinking we still have almost two months before hiring is done.

The hiring for the summer season is about over. The reason is that a lot of operators start in May. I know that as I worked as dockhand and we started May 3 of last year and I was there till Sept. 30. That was in Northwestern Ontario. Even back in early Feb. I have replies stating they had hired already for the summer or knew that there pilots were coming back.
As for my aviation background, I have B.Sci. in aviation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, about 900 hours, 125 seaplane time and just finishing off my CFI in the US.

I don't think the hiring prosses is over, because the experienced pilot are moving up this time of the year and I didn't saw a lot of cessna job open. So you should kept calling and ask for a job until the first of may, who know what's gonna happen, just a single call at the right time.

I can't believe I voted ...but yes, I'm flying again this summer. Lucky or what?

The hiring process isn't over, not a chance. Even places where they say all there guys are coming back. What they don't know is that all there guys are looking for other work, something bigger, better, and for better pay. Guys will leave places between now and the start of the season. It's the same every year. Even when the season has started, hiring isn't necessarily done. Like someone said, it's all about timing.

Well said shimmydampener...

Keep on truckin.
Where I work we hired someone on extra in June cause we needed the help on the dock...and he ended up flying. (low-timer)
Don't give up til the ice comes in again. (if ya really want it)

The hiring is never completely over. Guys quite, get fired, get injured, etc.... I was hired later may last year when I walked in the door where I work now, I was also offered another job early august. There is alway somewhere with an opening out there, you just have to find it and of course be lucky enough to get the job.

I've been working full time as a float pilot year round in bc for eight years. Lucky I guess. Almost 7000tt.
I know that the company i work for is still looking for Beaver drivers for the summer season.
Good luck ya'all

Dog,

So what hours are they looking for the Beaver pilots? What other expericance do they want?

Trust me guys the hiring is not over yet! Many companies think they have all they need because of pilots who have committed to them last fall or existing pilots coming back again. There is alway a last minute shuffle just before the season gets under way because of pilots playing both sides of the fence and get something better at the last minute which in turn requires a replacement.

Good luck to all trying to crack that first job.

I voted too, so I guess that means I will have to work this summer!!! Bummer!! Of course I haven't checked my latest lottery tickets yet!!

CLguy, I'll buy your lottery tickets if I can have your job if you win.

It's a deal Shimmydampener! Make sure you get me the ones that pay out lots!!!!

Seems like hiring season is still on...two phone calls within the last 4 days with one very serious. Looks like the kicker is 200hrs on floats as a minimum.

DEL wrote:Dog,

So what hours are they looking for the Beaver pilots? What other expericance do they want?

I think it's like a 1000 tt but it could be less if you have some local experience.
Like anywhere a visit and a good personality go a long way to lower those numbers.
There are other local operators who have historicaly hired low time guys (Aircab in Coal Harbour).
Don't forget to make the extra effort guys; it can set you apart from the others in the pile of resumes.
While I'm giving advice: make a half decent resume. I was amazed at what I've seen coming in. Taylor you resume to the employer that you are appling with: One page, TT, PIC, Multi etc, relevant skills, Time on types that they operate. Also make sure to have some referances that check out.
Good luck.

Just phoned a bunch of places in NWO, none had finished hiring yet. As everyone already knows I'm sure, the mins were somewhere in the 200-250 on floats range. Keep looking, keep phoning, keep dropping in everyone. Prospects look decent this year.

3rd year dock hand coming back for another round. I'm slowly gaining hours by flying a little here and there, and also hopping on for a dual-control ride with cargo, but I'm just hoping that this year I can get past that barrier of "hireability".

I guess you gotta do what you gotta do, but I'll get there soon enough, if the insurance companies let me, of course. :o)

Well, I can now change my survey answer from "waiting to hear" to "flying" for the upcoming season. As I said the minimums are 500tt/200-250 on floats, that with a couple of good recommendations seems to be the answer this season.

zero wrote:Well, I can now change my survey answer from "waiting to hear" to "flying" for the upcoming season.

Right on man! Good to hear you found something, congrats! Where will you be for the season?

N. Ontario as soon as the water softens up.

How's everyone else doing? Got something solid yet? Are there operators still looking to fill spots?