For any of you who might be in need of some serious PIC time-building, and who are willing to build that time flying over a concrete jungle instead of any other kind of jungle...

A friend of mine who flies for this company informed me that there are one or two positions available for flying the "traffic watch" fixed wing aircraft here in the Los Angeles metro area. I believe they use Cessna 172's. If you need hours as a paid professional pilot for your resume, to meet requirements for another later career option, then you can get those hours and make enough money to finally afford that Ramen soup you have been dreaming about.

Requirement 1: Commercial Pilot License
Requirement 2: Class 2 Medical
Requirement 3: 500 hours
Compensation: $17.00 per hour (see you at the Ferrari dealership!)

I believe this will be based at Whiteman airport KWHP, in the northwestern part of the LA metro area, just north of Burbank.

This is a delightful area of town with many interesting artistic displays... presented free of charge right on the side of the buildings. Political correctness prevents me from making any personal commentary about the local population demographics, but I can verify that visiting pilots will have many local restaurant choices that offer the full spectrum of truly authentic burritos and enchiladas. For your convenience, the airport is located directly across the street from the Foothill LAPD station.

The good news is that this is not a particularly expensive area to live in. Also, the "Metrolink" commuter train system has stops near the airport, which would allow you to commute from the luxurious Palmdale and Lancaster areas, gateway to the unique combination residential development and shooting range known as Lake Los Angeles.

Kidding aside, this is a real job, referred to me by a commercial rated pilot friend who has flown traffic watch for this company. She told me there are a lot of hours available to be flown. Anyone interested PM or e-mail me and I will be happy to put you in touch. I have no business or financial connection to this.

MTV

The fellow I sold my first Champ to ended up flying traffic out of Oakland Calif.
He went from there to FedEx.

Prime thing I want to mention is that the pilot ONLY FLIES - does not have to look down and do the traffic report also.

Chris C

Not backcountry, but this job would give one real visual reconnaissance experience. Not as difficult as spotting a pipeline milepost near an intersection down there, but your target would be moving. Real maneuvering flight techniques would be helpful. Some of the towers and buildings would be higher than you. Wind management would help you track where you wished to tract to observe what you wanted to observe. Turns would be to target, not to heading. You could learn a lot about on course thermalling.

Just read Chris's post. No sweat, putting your observer in position to see what he wants to see requires more flying skill than putting yourself in position to see.