Delete

Hey, there's an opportunity for you, Don.... .

Too much work for most.

MTV

mtv wrote:Too much work for most.
MTV

Hahahahaha! Most have no clue.

Gump

GumpAir wrote:

mtv wrote:Too much work for most.
MTV

Hahahahaha! Most have no clue.

Gump

No kidding. Days you loved, days you cursed, and all made you a better pilot.

Oh yeah, screw the drones.

delete

DonC wrote:

akaviator wrote:

GumpAir wrote:[quote="mtv"]
Too much work for most.
MTV

Hahahahaha! Most have no clue.

Gump

No kidding. Days you loved, days you cursed, and all made you a better pilot.

Oh yeah, screw the drones.

I think the days you cursed were more of a learning curve then the CAVU Days.... [/quote]

For sure.


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If only I was 20 years younger.. and not married... and had no kids.

Across the industry there's a pay shortage! People aren't willing to work for nothing when you can go to McDonalds for $15 an hour these days!


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Piperpainter wrote:

.
Across the industry there's a pay shortage! People aren't willing to work for nothing when you can go to McDonalds for $15 an hour these days!

Out of curiosity, what are Alaskan pilots in various slots getting paid these days in 2016 ?

Curious on the age question for pilots in Alaska. Is it rigorous to where you plan to get out by age "x"?

EASA is currently reviewing their regulations to decide if European pilots should be allowed to fly single-pilot commercial operations after age 60 (right now they can't). They're looking for anecdotal evidence either way.

There are a fair number of 60 + guys I know flying 135 and 125 in Alaska, a lot of them retired from something else, and some retired airline types, who timed out in 121.

Which is partly why the pilot shortage....

MTV

[quote="mtv"]There are a fair number of 60 + guys I know flying 135 and 125 in Alaska, a lot of them retired from something else, and some retired airline types, who timed out in 121.

Which is partly why the pilot shortage....

MTV[/quote

The guys I know who started working 135 late in life already had all the certificates and a good bit of flying experience flying in Alaska, in one function or another. Retired State Trooper, FWS, military, etc.

And these guys aren't "bush flying", whatever that is, but jamming throttles on Navajos, Caravans, etc, village to village.

I agree, though, trying to spool up from a low time PPL to flying 135 in Alaska starting at age 60 would be tough at best.

MTV

Somewhat jokingly, I asked if an old codger who learned to fly in Alaska, once flew 135 SE, and now has a few thou under his belt and a lifetime of Lower 48 experience could likely get hired, i.e., me--and then I thought, "Sheesh, Cary, you don't like going out all that much in the cold--what were you thinking?!!!" In reality, I'll still fly in the cold, but that's the only part that's enjoyable--certainly not getting the airplane ready before the flight or putting it away afterwards, and refueling is nothing but unpleasant.

I can imagine doing the Alaska thing, but not enjoying it all that much at an "older age". And since all the flying I've done over all these years has been fun (well, a few hours here and there which weren't fun), I'd hate to spoil a lifetime of good memories.

I think there's still room for a younger person who is fresh out of the private box, but it's true, that by the time a 60 year old would have acquired the experience (i.e. hours), certificates, and ratings, age would have taken the joy out of any -20F operations. Even fast-tracking the required certificates and ratings, it's time consuming to build the time to qualify to do Part 135.

Cary

-20 F is wimp weather, Cary.

MTV

mtv wrote:-20 F is wimp weather, Cary.

MTV

Yeah, but with age comes wimpiness.

Cary

Cary wrote:

mtv wrote:-20 F is wimp weather, Cary.

MTV

Yeah, but with age comes wimpiness.

Cary

Agreed.

MTV

There is a shortage everywhere, and it is hitting us hard. Folks that are even halfway thinking of the airlines are going there as fast as they can to get there hire date as early as possible. Hanging around having fun and adventures for a couple three years in AK first, learning to make decisions and get good hours, is not on their life plan. RAVN (ERA) is losing 2-3 pilots per month to the majors.

I think the big change in the industry up here will be total compensation package. The pay can get better for sure, but there are just no small bush operators that offer any kind of insurance, vacation, 401K etc, even jumpseats got taken away three or four years ago.

To me the shortage is most evident in the lodge float pilots, even four years ago you never saw a fishing lodge beaver pilot position advertised, it was a good ole boys network. Well all the good ole boys are retiring, and for the first time last year I saw three or four lodge jobs advertised. These are 10 to 15K per month jobs, room and board included, so the pay is pretty good.

As I have said before, if I won the lottery I would buy a floatplane and fly in AK, so I am doing pretty well.

The younger crowd arnt as stupid as they look. They see it as the "how much money can They make, with doing as littlest as possible to get there" types. So Aviation to them is very unattractive.

Also the down side is most of the operators up there in AK are seasonal, yeah it might be good pay, but what are you going to do the rest of the year and with what pay?

The airlines sure as heck won't hire you if your needing to take summers off. If they did, I'd be all over it! Luckily my Fed flying job allows me to take off summers to do my firebombing in the summers.