Picto Job Questions

epilotdream91 said:
Dont mean to hijack thread but, Does anyone know of any picto company hiring pilots now?

~620TT
~ 500 PIC
~ 120 dual given
~ 120 Turbine in a C208B

PMEL, CSEL, IFR rating, CFI
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Air America often hires pilots in May, when our regular season ends, but it can be hit or miss whether hire then and how much work there is during the summer. We've also hired a few pilots this fall/winter, as there has been quite a bit of mid-season turnover this season. It would be worth applying to Air America now just in case there are openings at the end of the season or sooner, but it is also likely you may not hear anything back until August, when we get ready to hire for the next season (starting in September or October).
 
epilotdream91 said:
Dont mean to hijack thread but, Does anyone know of any picto company hiring pilots now?

~620TT
~ 500 PIC
~ 120 dual given
~ 120 Turbine in a C208B

PMEL, CSEL, IFR rating, CFI
Click to expand...

Where do you live?

If California try Aperture Aviation. Glass cockpit C206's 8 on 6 off. Airline'd to and from your airplane every Wednesday. 2 pilot operation so building time is slow but pay is relatively good.
 
T/O w/FSII said:
Where do you live?

If California try Aperture Aviation. Glass cockpit C206's 8 on 6 off. Airline'd to and from your airplane every Wednesday. 2 pilot operation so building time is slow but pay is relatively good.
Click to expand...

Is Aperture the snapshot call sign? I've been hearing them a lot lately in Houston.
 
Yakob said:
Air America often hires pilots in May, when our regular season ends, but it can be hit or miss whether hire then and how much work there is during the summer. We've also hired a few pilots this fall/winter, as there has been quite a bit of mid-season turnover this season. It would be worth applying to Air America now just in case there are openings at the end of the season or sooner, but it is also likely you may not hear anything back until August, when we get ready to hire for the next season (starting in September or October).
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I called air america today and told me exactly this, i semt a resume hoping for the best thanks!
 
T/O w/FSII said:
Where do you live?

If California try Aperture Aviation. Glass cockpit C206's 8 on 6 off. Airline'd to and from your airplane every Wednesday. 2 pilot operation so building time is slow but pay is relatively good.
Click to expand...
Im in FL at the moment but i can relocate anywhere, i'll take a look on Dr. Google, thanks!
 
Heads up that SkyLens, who I currently work for, needs a body ASAP: "I just had a seat come open unexpectedly and need a C172 pilot who can start immediately. Training needs to start this weekend (Feb 20th thru 22nd, 2016) at the latest. If interested and available, please review the application requirements in the original post and respond as soon as possible."

SkyLens Hiring for 2015-16 Season (new low mins)
 
Does anyone know what differences there are between places like Air America and Skylens? It sounds like the actual work is very similar but I'm guessing there are pros and cons of each place
 
Adam Unruh said:
Does anyone know what differences there are between places like Air America and Skylens? It sounds like the actual work is very similar but I'm guessing there are pros and cons of each place
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Having never worked at either, judging solely by a few messages with the owner of Skylens and what other Skylens pilots say, Skylens "appears" to be one of the better Picto operations.
 
Adam Unruh said:
Does anyone know what differences there are between places like Air America and Skylens? It sounds like the actual work is very similar but I'm guessing there are pros and cons of each place
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The work would be almost exactly the same, as both companies are third-party vendors for the same company. I have only worked at Air America but I know that one major difference is at SkyLens you would be a W-2 employee, while at AA you would be an independent contractor (which of course has its disadvantages). Another difference is Air America pilots get scheduled time off during the season (2 one-week relief periods), while as far as I know SkyLens pilots do not. Besides that there are likely some differences in pay and company structure. For instance, SkyLens appears to pay a daily salary ( http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/skylens-hiring-for-2015-16-season-new-low-mins.223120/ ), while Air America pays by the Hobbs hour but with a daily minimum guarantee for if you don't fly because of weather, maintenance, ATC denial, etc. Also, SkyLens provides a single-occupancy hotel room and rental car directly, while at Air America you would receive a daily per diem to cover these expenses. This can be nice since any per diem you don't spend is yours to keep, but it can also be a disadvantage if you end up somewhere expensive by yourself (since we would often share expenses)- like happened to me when I was by myself in the Bay Area and then Seattle for about a month my first season. Since both companies do the same kind of work, both have a season starting around October and ending in May or June, with some work during the summer (but not as much and it can be hit or miss).

I enjoyed my time at Air America, made more than I could have at just about any other job I could have gotten with the experience I had when I started there, and got some good flying experience out of it as well. I have not met any SkyLens pilots in person, but some other Air America pilots have run into them on the road and from what I hear it sounds like a good company to work for as well. Also, the SkyLens pilots who post on this board usually have good things to say about the company. Either company would probably be just fine to work for, and I would probably apply for both if I were in your position. However, chances are neither AA nor SkyLens will be hiring until around September, when it is almost time for the 2016-17 season to start.
 
Yakob said:
The work would be almost exactly the same, as both companies are third-party vendors for the same company. I have only worked at Air America but I know that one major difference is at SkyLens you would be a W-2 employee, while at AA you would be an independent contractor (which of course has its disadvantages). Another difference is Air America pilots get scheduled time off during the season (2 one-week relief periods), while as far as I know SkyLens pilots do not. Besides that there are likely some differences in pay and company structure. For instance, SkyLens appears to pay a daily salary ( http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/skylens-hiring-for-2015-16-season-new-low-mins.223120/ ), while Air America pays by the Hobbs hour but with a daily minimum guarantee for if you don't fly because of weather, maintenance, ATC denial, etc. Also, SkyLens provides a single-occupancy hotel room and rental car directly, while at Air America you would receive a daily per diem to cover these expenses. This can be nice since any per diem you don't spend is yours to keep, but it can also be a disadvantage if you end up somewhere expensive by yourself (since we would often share expenses)- like happened to me when I was by myself in the Bay Area and then Seattle for about a month my first season. Since both companies do the same kind of work, both have a season starting around October and ending in May or June, with some work during the summer (but not as much and it can be hit or miss).

I enjoyed my time at Air America, made more than I could have at just about any other job I could have gotten with the experience I had when I started there, and got some good flying experience out of it as well. I have not met any SkyLens pilots in person, but some other Air America pilots have run into them on the road and from what I hear it sounds like a good company to work for as well. Also, the SkyLens pilots who post on this board usually have good things to say about the company. Either company would probably be just fine to work for, and I would probably apply for both if I were in your position. However, chances are neither AA nor SkyLens will be hiring until around September, when it is almost time for the 2016-17 season to start.
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Thanks. That helps. Probably couldn't go wrong with either one. However the couple weeks of time off would be nice too
 
The AA per diem structure is awesome when you've been in Canada making international per diem for over a month. I'll be paying for my multi add-on in the cash I've saved off of per diem alone.
 
I saw a couple AA guys in Allentown this year, they were walking from the FBO to the flea bag hotel. One of the things that drew me to Landcare was single rooms and they never fussed if we went over the lodging cap to stay at a quality hotel, we just had to let them know. Money is not everything and I've had too many years shacked up in tents and plywood boxes. Transportation was never an issue either. Every company does thing a little different but it is only 8 months of your life. It comes down to what your individual priorities are. Mine included privacy. I will add that Landcare would pay you an additional $25 a day to double up but I only saw that work with 2 guys all season. As far as AA working you on a 1099, I have know idea how they get away with that but not my concern.
 
frankgh said:
I saw a couple AA guys in Allentown this year, they were walking from the FBO to the flea bag hotel. One of the things that drew me to Landcare was single rooms and they never fussed if we went over the lodging cap to stay at a quality hotel, we just had to let them know. Money is not everything and I've had too many years shacked up in tents and plywood boxes. Transportation was never an issue either. Every company does thing a little different but it is only 8 months of your life. It comes down to what your individual priorities are. Mine included privacy. I will add that Landcare would pay you an additional $25 a day to double up but I only saw that work with 2 guys all season. As far as AA working you on a 1099, I have know idea how they get away with that but not my concern.
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1099 is all well and good until it's tax time, and if you actually do your taxes it's a colossal pain in the ass, or at least was for me.
 
There are certain benefits to being the independent contractor but if the IRS ever decides that AA has misidentified their employees... It has been debated here many times before, I wish them the best.
 
Tax deductions for equipment (iPad, Headsets), vehicle mileage to name a couple. I'm sure my accountant has more. If you don't itemize then there is nothing there for you and as most picto guys are fresh out of school with no mortgage, I would guess most of them do not itemize. If your tax guy wears a green robe, holds a torch in one hand and twirlers a sign with the other, he might not be up on contract pilot tax rules!
 
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