Long-term jump pilot jobs?

jrh

jrh

Well-Known Member
Do these jobs exist? Are there any drop zones that fly nice enough planes, stay busy enough, and pay well enough to actually make a living at for a few years? I'm not talking about getting rich or staying for more than two or three years, but a place that is more than a straight up "get in, fly a lot, get out" timebuilding sort of job.

Probably a place flying a larger jump plane, like a Caravan, Otter, King Air, or something turbine powered?

What are the qualifications needed for those larger drop zones? I'm sure insurance dictates a lot. Can a relatively higher time (say, 1500-2000 TT) pilot, with previous jump pilot experience, yet minimal turbine or multi time, get hired at a place like that?

I've been flying a 182 jump plane every weekend for the past couple months and I'm having a blast. The flying is fun and easy and the social atmosphere at the dropzone is always a riot. I always look forward to going to work. The only downside is the low pay and lack of bigger equipment. Otherwise it's a *really* sweet gig. If I found a bigger operator that would keep me flying full time, year-round, I would definitely consider sticking around for a couple years.

Are there good jobs out there?
 
Just how much profit do you think these operations make???

Hint: It is not going to happen. There just is not that much money floating around these places for you to make a decent living. The only way possible is if you owned it, and even then, marginal.

Sounds like you may have a pulse. I see a RJ in your future...
 
There are a few out here in the Seattle area with Caravans. Not sure how much they pay but I've talked to a few pilots and it seems like they enjoy the job.

The two places I would check for here in the NW are Snohomish Skydiving and Kapowsin Skydiving. Kapowsin just lost their caravan though to a crash coming over the Cascades from Boise.
 
Itchy said:
Just how much profit do you think these operations make???

Hint: It is not going to happen. There just is not that much money floating around these places for you to make a decent living. The only way possible is if you owned it, and even then, marginal.
Click to expand...

Haha, ok, fair enough. Let me ask this then--

I know there are big drop zones out there that fly larger, turbine powered equipment year-round.

So how do they staff their pilots? Do they come from highly experienced backgrounds (say, flying freight in Caravans or corporate work in King Airs), then start flying skydivers for fun? Or do they get hired straight from backgrounds in flight instructing?

Do any jump pilots work full time? Or do drop zones universally hire pilots on a strictly part-time basis, like how I'm working at a drop zone only on the weekends?

Itchy said:
Sounds like you may have a pulse. I see a RJ in your future...
Click to expand...

I doubt it! At least not for a few years yet. I'll do the RJ thing after I get tired of chasing all the other jobs that sound more fun.
 
Cessnaflyer said:
The two places I would check for here in the NW are Snohomish Skydiving and Kapowsin Skydiving. Kapowsin just lost their caravan though to a crash coming over the Cascades from Boise.
Click to expand...

Yeah, what's the word on Kapowsin? I was just talking this afternoon with some of the guys at the drop zone about that crash. Are they going out of business? Or will they be getting another plane and flying again next summer?
 
I did skydive spaceland back in July, and I bought another jump that same day, but I have yet to go again. It was a nice operation, I jumped out of the Van, was hoping for the Otter. My jump instructor is currently taking lessons at the Texas Taildraggers, but he said you need 700TT to get on. And if your asking about money, my instructor said he had over 7000 jumps, and lives in a van by the edge of the field, but he jumps everyday of the year and he wouldn't do anything else for a (meager) living. I think its like being in the porn bizz, its a lot of fun, but you really can't do anything else from there!
 
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