Northern States Aviation?
- Thread starter jspeed87
- Start date
Stone Cold
Well-Known Member
I worked there over a decade ago. I couldn't tell you the first thing about it now, other than at that time, the pay was decent for the work. Say hi to Nick for me.
pntbllr233
Pilot
Do they tend to hire below the posted minimums or are they pretty strict on the 400TT?
Last edited:
Tyler Pinkerton
Well-Known Member
It depends on the time of the year. If they get enough applicants well before the season starts, 400tt, but if they still need pilots about 2-3 weeks prior to the season like last year, it goes down to 250 or 300hrs.
futurevagabondpilot
Roving Member
Another Ex-NSA. Feel free to send PM
CosmoHoover
Well-Known Member
I worked 3 seasons for NSA right out of college 2007-2009. It was a great start to my career, got some good experience and logged over 1200 hours. PM me if you would like.
NWpiloté
Well-Known Member
@CosmoHoover - impressive you spent 3 seasons there!! Where are you working now?
Faull
Well-Known Member
Anyone considering a season as a survey pilot with a Pictometry vendor should look at http://www.skylensaerial.com/ Nothing personal against NSA, but Skylens has at least 2 Aztecs in the fleet now, with plans for more, and there are no rules against flying at night like there are at NSA. Anyone with questions feel free to PM me. They will be hiring this month for the 2015-2016 season. I worked there for the last 2 seasons and had an absolute blast. It's a great way to build time, and get paid to tour the country.
futurevagabondpilot
Roving Member
....and "go up and check" is OK. Seriously, that and the night XC make all the difference. The 'Lens is the place to be for single-engine (or possibly multi-engine) Picto work.
ScorpionStinger
Well-Known Member
I seriously wonder if there is a shortage of low-time fresh COM-ASEL guys/gals out there. Seems like Picto vendors have been lowering Insurance limits over the past 2-3 years, increasing pay and working conditions. I could be wrong, but due to 1500hr ATP, and 1000hrs R-ATP rules, seems like it's getting harder for mapping/vendors/aerial survey companies to attract pilots with higher total time for obvious reasons.
So any chance a PILOT SHORTAGE is in effect in this sector???? (yeah, I said the forbidden word: "Pilot Shortage"). It seems like each year minimums are decreasing. Am I wrong?
For those who flew for, or are flying for a survey company, I wonder how many of you guys/gals entered the season leaving from a 4-year university aviation program, a ATP flight school, or a large flight academy to take a survey job. Can anyone share what the typical flight training background of a survey pilot tends to be?
So any chance a PILOT SHORTAGE is in effect in this sector???? (yeah, I said the forbidden word: "Pilot Shortage"). It seems like each year minimums are decreasing. Am I wrong?
For those who flew for, or are flying for a survey company, I wonder how many of you guys/gals entered the season leaving from a 4-year university aviation program, a ATP flight school, or a large flight academy to take a survey job. Can anyone share what the typical flight training background of a survey pilot tends to be?
pilotlife88
Well-Known Member
I'm a new member but, I've been hanging around for quite a while and thought I would throw my two cents in. I've heard pretty good things about Air America. I've talked to a couple guys that have worked for them. From what I've heard, they have 10+ Aztecs and have been buying several more. Seems like they're going to need a lot of pilots pretty soon and they make pretty good money.
Tyler Pinkerton
Well-Known Member
I went through a two year associates program. After I got my commercials, I started flying skydivers. Amassed roughly 200hrs in a 206 last year doing so on the weekends and was hired by my current employer in January into their 206 fleet. I am now flying a Cessna 310 for the company.
We however are not a picto company.
As for the shortage, I heard from someone who was having a discussion with someone from the FAA that the number of Commercial Pilot licenses issued last year was in the HUNDREDS. Now I would assume this number would be for US citizens and does not include the international students who come to America to learn but then go back to their home country.
pilotbry
Well-Known Member
I can't speak for the other vendors but I can tell you that I get plenty of resumes. What HAS shifted somewhat since the "pilot shortage" is the quality of pilots I see. More lackadaisical attitudes and sense of entitlement. So the shortage has had a bit of effect but the main reason we wanted to lower the mins is because 1. We don't believe that total time is the ONLY indicator of a good pilot candidate. 2. I want pilots who are more likely to appreciate the job opportunity and stick around for multiple seasons. I like a sweet spot of about 400 hours but I've had pilots of much higher time turn out to be duds and 250 hour guys that I wish I could have hired back when we had no choice but to keep mins at 500. Mid-season turnover is a giant PITA so I steer away from guys that I think might just want to knock out the last bit of another company's mins and move on. This is an incredible opportunity to get EXPERIENCE and not just hours. In a nutshell, I'm looking for personalities as much as experience. Loyalty, honesty, work ethic, common sense, positive attitudes, all make a great pilot for me. I'll find the cream of the crop while interviewing. The total time has more to do with insurance than anything else.