Initial post is aged, pilots can shoot to the last post.




It's fall again! Here in the Wellton / Mohawk valley of Yuma county that brings the start of the produce growing season!

Gila River Flying Service is now hiring seasonal ground crew help, and current openings are for fixed and rotor wing aircraft loaders and tanker drivers. We are a growing aerial application service operating Turbine Thrush and B206 helicopters.

Job description and duties

Aircraft loaders and tanker drivers primary duties are mixing and loading chemicals, as well as fueling of aircraft. Additional duties include pre and post flight care for mix and load equipment, and assisting flaggers, pilots, and other loaders or tanker drivers in completing their respective mission.

Loading and fueling aircraft can be compared to working on the pit crew of a race car, and in the rotor wing division you add the diversity of running the chase vehicle to the mix as well.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate will be a self motivated team player with a passion for aviation, agriculture, and challenge. Candidate must be a problem solver, and be able to function smoothly in a high stress environment.
CDL, EPA card, previous chemical handling, aircraft handling, or agricultural experience are all pluses but not required. We can teach everything but a broken attitude here.

These positions are for ground help only, and are not intended to infer a future in a flying position, and are best suited for an individual moving forward on a career path in farming, agronomy, aerial application, or an aviation career outside of the Airline / Jetset industry. Having said that GRFS is a young and growing flying service and the only limit on a candidates growth within the company or industry are self-imposed.

Job pro's

Feeding America! If you ate a salad anytime from fall through spring, we probably took care of it!
Working in and around cool aircraft !
Working outdoors !

Job con's (realities)

Scheduling. This niche within the industry is primarily a '911 service' A typical 'day' starts at 4pm and ends when the works completed. There may be no spraying that day, which would mean an early day, or there may be spraying in to over time.

Occupational hazards. Fuel, chemical, equipment, and constantly running aircraft are all part of this job. If the thought of hot exhaust, pesticides, HOT LOADING / FUELING of aircraft make you squeamish, this is probably not a position for you to consider.

Stressful working environment. By nature of the primary task at hand, the working environment, materials, and scheduling, these positions can be stressful. Applicants must be able to perform under pressure.

Candidates can respond with a PM here for more information.

For those interested, here are a few examples of our fleet and working environment. Thankyou Zzz for the opportunity to post this job opening here.

Take care, Rob

A new season is already on us and once again we are looking for new help. As always, it's a ground gig, not meant to infer any shot at a seat, but here is a picture of one of the guys that helped us on the ground last fall / winter on his way to IA this summer for his first season on the corn run in one of our Thrush... so as with most things aviation, how far you take this ride will really be up to you.

Take care, Rob

Another good season is upon us, and again we are pleased with continued growth.

Always on the lookout for good ground help, but this year maybe more?

As the mid season lull is almost here I find myself reflecting on adding in another pilot.

It's an advanced ag seat, we run midsized turbine only, over critical crop, and do about 85% of it in the dark.

Having said that, turbine qualified, night ready, produce pilots are fewer in numbers than starting quarterbacks in the NFL, so the traditional hiring pool is pretty slim. We can train a person that has attributes more valuable to us than simply being able to fly.

Some would call it a pinnacle seat, as we tend to be one of the few winter locations, and one of the even fewer that have something to spray pretty much year-round.

Ideally I'd like someone tired of snow and willing to relocate, but I may make an exception for another winter only pilot, for an exceptionally well fitted addition.

That is to infer that this career is really a lifestyle, and one you have to love, to have any hope of success
. Those that do, generally succeed at life as a package.

Seat shifters and gypsies need not apply, my customers mean way too much to me to allow someone whose heart is not in it take care of their livelihood.

Any aspiring aggies in the group?

Take care, Rob

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