Grand Canyon Tours

B767

B767

Well-Known Member
Anyone know what the requirements are to do the site-seeing tours over the Grand Canyon? Ill probably have around 200 TT and 50 (+/-) ME by the time I have my commercial (ERAU) and Ill be near the Grand Canyon and figure it is a good way to get some hours during the summer.
 
B767 said:
Anyone know what the requirements are to do the site-seeing tours over the Grand Canyon? Ill probably have around 200 TT and 50 (+/-) ME by the time I have my commercial (ERAU) and Ill be near the Grand Canyon and figure it is a good way to get some hours during the summer.
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200TT isn't going to open a lot of doors for you, especially in things other than instructing. Last summer I was at 250 trying to find jobs, even as simple as banner towing, but lots of places required 500, and those that didn't were pretty shady (or PFJ).

I'd just get your CFI and try and find an instructing job somewhere. I'm assuming you're in PRC, so maybe SEZ might have an opening? There aren't much airports within an hour drive, eh?
 
It really depends on where you apply to. I know that for a first officer, Scenic air has mins of:
600 TT
400 PIC
50 ME

Personally, I don't think many insurance companies feel really comfortable with an FO having 200hours. I'd say the bear minimum is 500. Unless you have connections, being a CFI may be your best bet. But I've been know to be wrong from time to time!​
 
Currently, Scenic airlines is hiring FO's with a minimum of 600TT and 50 multi.

Air Grand Canyon is only interested if you are around 750TT (I've got a friend flying for them)

The problem you're going to face right now until you get some more time is that you won't meet a lot of insurance requirements or Part 135 VFR requirements.....
 
As far as where you can go with your current time in general, there isn't much available. The ones I can think of off the top of my head:

  • CFI route (however, I do not recommend this if all you want to do is build time, make sure you're also in it for the students.)
  • Ferry Flights
  • Some banner tow opps?
  • Aerial Surveyor
  • Contract yourself out (insurance?)
  • McDonald's!
 
200 total, 50 ME and tree quarters might get you a coke out of a vending machine.

One of our "old sages" here at JC is doing canyon tours and I think he had about 1000 hours and most of that multi-engine.
 
You must have 500tt to operate with each one of the Grand Caynon tour companies. The easiest company, American Aviation, to get on with requires 135 VFR minimums to fly their 172 and 206. IMHO, instructing is probably the only gig you'd be able to qualify for.

Good luck.
 
And he's one bad.... shut your mouth!


Sorry... listen to the Shaft theme. Couldn't help it.

Really, with 200TT you shouldn't really be thinking about trying to find a job where you have paying pax in the back. Maybe in the seat next to you.
 
I think I gave the wrong impression. I am only 18 and will be attending ERAU this fall. I currently only have 100TT and that's it. I was just wondering what other jobs are available besides instructing and had thought about the Grand Canyon seeing as I would already be in AZ. I guess instructing is the way to go.
 
Doug Taylor said:
200 total, 50 ME and tree quarters might get you a coke out of a vending machine.

One of our "old sages" here at JC is doing canyon tours and I think he had about 1000 hours and most of that multi-engine.
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We actually don't really do "tours" anymore. We have one air tour out over the west rim/end everything else is move people from point A to point B so they can get on a bus, van, donkey, whatever to do the tour then fly 'em from point B back to point A.

None of the canyon operators, save the helos, do proper canyon tours anymore it's almost all move from point A to point B get on some kind of ground transpo, do a ground tour, then fly back. You can thank the Federal gubment and the psycho, hippie tree huggers for that. ;)

As far as total time the lowest canyon operator in LAS is 135VFR so its 500TT. Everything else is higher. I had just over 850TT (500ME) when I interviewed and 1,050TT (550ME) when I finally started groundschool. The greenie-weenies out at GCN might have lower but I honestly have no clue what rules they fly under or what their mins are but they're also flying 207's - not twin turbine aircraft.

Scenic is a 121 operator. Vision is a 135 (looking to get a 121 cert). King is 135 VFR. Grand Canyon Airlines/Papallion Air Tours are 135. And as far as fixed wing canyon operators out of Vegas (area) that be the list.
 
B767 said:
I think I gave the wrong impression. I am only 18 and will be attending ERAU this fall. I currently only have 100TT and that's it. I was just wondering what other jobs are available besides instructing and had thought about the Grand Canyon seeing as I would already be in AZ. I guess instructing is the way to go.
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i flew at scare (sky) school across the field from erby diddle after i was fed up with flying there. the owner operates air grand canyon and scare school, and it looked like the usually take their instructors to fly the canyon.

have fun at erby diddle, and don't get suffer from erby diddle pilot complex.
 
pilot602 said:
As far as total time the lowest canyon operator in LAS is 135VFR so its 500TT. Everything else is higher. I had just over 850TT (500ME) when I interviewed and 1,050TT (550ME) when I finally started groundschool. The greenie-weenies out at GCN might have lower but I honestly have no clue what rules they fly under or what their mins are but they're also flying 207's - not twin turbine aircraft.
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air grand canyon!? hahaha
 
caliginousface said:
have fun at erby diddle, and don't get suffer from erby diddle pilot complex.
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I've been told that I *should* be fine as I learned and received a license prior to attending ERAU. So I know there's more then just the ERAU way (in the real world that is...not when I'm there ;) )
 
B767 said:
I've been told that I *should* be fine as I learned and received a license prior to attending ERAU. So I know there's more then just the ERAU way (in the real world that is...not when I'm there ;) )
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well, one of the pricks i knew already had his license like me when we started. however he quickly converted to the "i don't care, i go to erby diddle, bitch" attitude.
 
caliginousface said:
well, one of the pricks i knew already had his license like me when we started. however he quickly converted to the "i don't care, i go to erby diddle, bitch" attitude.
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Well viewing these boards day after day and seeing the type of criticisms people like that get, I'm going to try my very best to not be like that. These boards help too! :)
 
B767 said:
Well viewing these boards day after day and seeing the type of criticisms people like that get, I'm going to try my very best to not be like that. These boards help too! :)
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alright, good job!
 
Doug Taylor said:
200 total, 50 ME and tree quarters might get you a coke out of a vending machine.

One of our "old sages" here at JC is doing canyon tours and I think he had about 1000 hours and most of that multi-engine.
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Actually, a lot of the vending machines around here have raised their minimums to 5 quarters. So it looks like you might be out of luck.
 
SeanD said:
My ground instructor flew for Scenic, its 500TT and 50ME
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It was 1,200 and something about two years ago. Only in late 2004 early 2005 did they drop it to it's current minimums of 600TT, 50ME and 400PIC.

Current Hiring Status (Pilots)
Scenic Airlines is currently accepting applications from pilotswith the following qualifications:
DHC-6-300 First Officer:
  • Commercial Pilot
  • Multi-Engine Land
  • Instrument
  • Airplane
  • Current First Class Medical
  • 600 TT
  • 400 PIC
  • 50 ME
  • IFR current
  • At least 21 years of age
Pilot online application
​
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