2013 Float Pilot Predictions

[Lost Lake]

I have noticed a few float operators starting to look for float pilots for next year already. It looks like minimums have really shrunk. Weagamow Air (not to finger point) wants a Beaver pilot with 500 TT and 200 hr floats. Where I fly, I see low time beaver pilots who have absolutely no idea on how to fly them. When I started, standards and minimum hours were substantially higher. If anyone has ever checked out the registry on still existing beavers, there are still 800 left. Of those, I'm guessing at least 1/2 have been written off at least once. Pretty much the same for single otters. Weather and lakes haven't changed over the years, so I would presume the necessary experience and skills haven't either.

I guess I'm just wondering if operators are going to take the chance on lower time pilots, or suck it up and finally pay a years decent wages for qualified, experienced float pilots.

Hey while I'm at it, if any operator out there is looking for someone like that, drop me a pm. Like they post on Pilot Career Center for pilot minimums: Only qualified, professional operators who expect qualified professional pilots should contact me.

Happy New Year Everyone. Safe Flying for 2013!!

[Commonwealth]

I like, like like.

[rubberduck]

In our case (at Weagamow) we tend to have guys stick around for a season than move on somewhere that doesn't have you living on a reserve most of the year. We like to think we pay fair and treat our guys well but living up north is not for everyone, no matter the pay check. Seems like the float pilot sector is thinning out though. We get about 10-15 resumes for right seat on our navajo for every one or two folks who apply to fly our Cessna. And for those of you reading this who have sent in resumes saying you will work for free, or buy yourself a PPC to get hired, you are embarrassing yourself and this profession. I can guarantee your resume has seen the inside of our round bin. We pay our pilots and if you don't like that please look elsewhere.

As for our mins for our Beaver pilot this season, 500tt and 200 floats is an estimate for what we expect to hire. They will maybe spend a month or so on the Cessna until our beaver gets in the water and probably build another hundred hours or so while they learn the area and our operation. They may not. We have hired guys before that we have had to let go because we could not let them safely go on their own. We have also hired folks that require very little training for the amount of experience they have. At the end of the day we will never send someone who is unsafe to fly our customers, for they our our bannok and butter.

It seems the majority of the applications we get are from guys with less than 500 on floats or more than 10000. Not much in between these days though. Time for another coffee before some fishing. Happy New Years to all!

[Northern Flyer]

Good post rubber duck.

If a new hire can hold his or her own on the Cessna, the beaver should be a piece of piss.

[Relic]

Maybe you should post the names of those willing to work for free on here. That way they will never get hired or be respected by those of us trying to put food on our tables and hopefully one day own a house bigger than an RV. But who am I kidding, I don't mind that the bus driver that drops me off at my "glamorous" job makes more then I do.

Keep selling yourselves short boys


But thank you weagamow for introducing their resumes to your round bin

Happy new year

[Cat Driver]

If you want to make more money why don't you get a job driving a bus?

[Relic]

If you want to make more money why don't you get a job driving a bus?

Because this way I can pretend I make lots of money

[999]

If you looked at all the float plane accidents in Canada over the past years, I'm sure you would find that a good percentage of them had experienced, high time people at the controls.

[Lost Lake]

If you looked at all the float plane accidents in Canada over the past years, I'm sure you would find that a good percentage of them had experienced, high time people at the controls.

And you have statistics to prove this? Also, what do you consider high time?

[yukonbackcountry]

We fly because we love it. I am glad to some operators how will give the low time guys a chance to prove what they can do. You will notice that the operaters out West hire hire time guys and pay for higher time wages. Remember we all started with 1hour.

[timgwen]

Hi:
I am looking for a floatplane operator in Labrador to drop wife
and i and canoe into remote lake for week camping. do you know
anyone that might be of service? timgwen@charter.net
thanks.

[Lost Lake]

Labrador is a pretty big province. I would suggest you target the area. Lots of operators in central que who might help.

[mrsapproach]

Portland creek outfitters are a reputable company who would be more than happy to accomdate your request. check them out at that website provided.

http://www.portlandcreekoutfitter.com/
hope this helps

[draggintails]

I wont lie. When I saw the beaver position with those hours i said "its about time!!" and began to get excited that maybe just maybe there is hope for lower timed pilots. But than again who am I kidding. I only have 200tt and 10 on floats but I wasn't born yesterday!! haha. I know it ain't gonna happen but this does get me thinking. The guys that do have 500 TT or more atleast the ones I know definately have the instructor gig going or something to that nature. In all my years of flying I have only run into 4 people that went up north looking for work and out of that... only 1 of them went for floats!!! I love floats! Its the best type of flying there is(i come from a hunting and fishing background so its in my blood) but I have this feeling like the majority of pilots would rather stick it out south. Thats fine and dandy but what happens to the north?? The totals become lower and more appealing... or do the planes just sit waiting for people with higher times to come-a-knocking??

I feel confused with bush/float operators........what do you guys actually want??
And does a low timer even stand a chance??

It just seems that you can get an instructor rating and your on your way.......what do the pilots get out of this.

I am not being arrogant nor want anyone reading this to get that from this.....I just want to know what is going on with this industry because I would love to be a part of it.

[1000 HP]

When I moved up north I was hired as Chief Pilot and started flying a Cessna 180 on wheels skis. I had 1100 hrs and 190 on tailwheel. 5 on floats. No ski time. It was March and 2 months later, I was checked out on the 180 now on floats. I checked the new guy out who had 9 hours so he had 1 more than me. Then I flew back in an Islander and got checked out on the Beaver. By then I had almost 20 hours on floats. It was a long time ago and I don't think that happens much anymore. That first season, I just about killed myself and my passengers a few times that I know about, and probably even more that I don't. I flew 600 hours that summer and 900 that year. It was the busiest and best year ever. And I learned a lot.

My last few years flying full time were really slow compared to the old days. Mostly drunken tourists and government work. Not too many trappers around anymore. Too bad. I semi-retired at the end of 2009. I think the float flying is going to taper off even more in North America as the US economy grinds to a halt. Not too many rich folks left down there and with the government bankrupt, it's not likely to get better. I'd suggest any young fellas learn Mandarin or Vietnamese and go work in Asia.

This summer I don't plan on flying much. Just a little amphib caravan work to keep a foot in the door. I'm doing other stuff now that pays better. It's not nearly as much fun though.

[Lost Lake]

Well no-one has contacted me so far. A few openings already, especially for Dehavilland products. I'm guessing employers are still trying to save a couple thousand a month. (This equals somewhere between 1 and 1/2 of the weekly rate of one guest depending on rates).

It doesn't take much to justify the extra cost to keep customers happy, but hey, that is still the mentality of a lot of bush operators. let's hope for an accident free season!