Sky dive pilot questions

zx6rrider

zx6rrider

Well-Known Member
Noticed that the skydive place about an hour from here is jumping tomorrow and was thinking about stopping in and dropping off a resume. Any pointers? What to wear? How to go about it? walk up to the first person I see and tell them why Im there, ask for the owner ect??? Any knowledge things to brush up on? I have 600 hrs so not exactly overqualified but am an a&p and currently only working pt so I'm available 3 weekends a month. Doesnt say anywhere they are hiring but thought that since next season is right around the corner, now would be the time to swing by. Thanks
 
Nice jeans and a polo would be fine for a drop zone. Ask if there is a Chief Pilot around that you can speak to. Introduce yourself and give them your resume while pointing out that you are an A&P and also if you have any time in a 182, if that is what they use.

When I started, I just sent them an email, but they sort of knew me already. The DZ is based at the same field I instruct out of. My biggest issue with getting the job was getting 25 hours of 182 time for their insurance coverage. I had about 15 hours in a 182 at the time and fortunately they let me do a couple training flights to get a couple more hours in. The rest of the time they let me take up jumpers, with the owner riding along to coach me but also jumping out at altitude, until I had 25 hours. Then I was able to take tandems. Was it a little risky? Yes, but I met coverage after the first weekend working. It is a good time builder. That's it. Not the greatest pay either. I made $10 load in a 182. So if you are efficient enough turning .5s up to 10k you can make about $20/hour.
 
If you weigh less than 200 pounds and are sober you are already two steps ahead of most jumpers and jump pilots. I would just show up and say hello, most dropzones love the idea of a part time pilot who likes working weekends.

I will also add that if you haven't already jumped, don't do it. It will ruin flying for you. Seriously. Staying in the plane once you have tasted freefall is possibly the most depressing thing you can experience.
 
Thanks, they are flying a 206 so figured the insurance thing would be the deal breaker for sure but wouldnt hurt to give it a shot anyways. Mainly lookin for time, working on my CFI but in this area I wouldn't expect to find many students.
 
Well.....I tried jumping back in college but couldn't afford to finish at the time so this idea has two sides to it, maybe Ill get a few jumps in over the summer.
 
Just saw you are from Portsmouth, OH. Are you talking about West Virginia Skydivers? I've never flown for them, but they wanted me to come down for a weekend once to fly for them because one of their pilots had just quit. They have a '68 U206C IO-520 with 300HP. Bob Dolin is the owner. I'll PM his contact info to you.
 
Dropzones are all over the spectrum as far as what they're looking for in a pilot. The only advice I can give is to walk in with an open mind and be ready for anything. It's a really unique industry.

Also, I second the suggestion to not jump unless you want to get hooked on jumping. That's what happened to me. One of the best mistakes I've ever made.
 
jrh said:
Dropzones are all over the spectrum as far as what they're looking for in a pilot. The only advice I can give is to walk in with an open mind and be ready for anything. It's a really unique industry.

Also, I second the suggestion to not jump unless you want to get hooked on jumping. That's what happened to me. One of the best mistakes I've ever made.
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Seriously, this!

I just got my "A" license and love it!

It will be my first flight instructing in two weeks tomorrow since getting my license, I hope I don't have uncontrollable urge to jump out! :biggrin:
 
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cficollegeguy said:
I just got my "A" license and love it!

It will be my first flight instructing in two weeks tomorrow since getting my license, I hope I don't have uncontrollable urge to jump out! :biggrin:
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Congrats, man! A lot of non-skydivers don't realize how getting an A license is a bigger accomplishment than obtaining a private pilot certificate in many ways.

And the urge to jump never leaves you. Even when I worked for a small airline flying 402s, I often daydreamed about what the "spot" would be if I were crossing over a small town airport, or what it would take to launch a 4-way out of the 402's door.

Another tip I just thought of for the OP: Depending on the dropzone, becoming a jumper yourself very well might make you a more competitive applicant for a flying job there. Frankly, flying jumpers doesn't take a ton of skill (thus, it's an entry level job) but if I were looking at a stack of 600 hour pilots and one of them had even the most basic skydiving credentials as a jumper, they would definitely jump to the top of the pile. As I said, skydiving is a super unique segment of the industry and having a pilot applicant who's also a jumper is proof they know what they're getting into and can probably handle it.

Is the extra time, money, effort, and emotional energy spent becoming a jumper worth the added benefit of getting a leg up for a job? I don't know. Only you can decide that.
 
jergar999 said:
I will also add that if you haven't already jumped, don't do it. It will ruin flying for you. Seriously. Staying in the plane once you have tasted freefall is possibly the most depressing thing you can experience.
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Not always. I really enjoyed both. The peak of my jump piloting experience was in Byron, CA I would fly the 206 in the morning and evening when the volumes were light, as it increased we borrowed a Twin Otter from Lodi. I was able to jump as well fly.

To the OP: I was going to suggest if you can afford to do a tandem that is a good way to break the ice.
 
Hawks said:
Not always. I really enjoyed both. The peak of my jump piloting experience was in Byron, CA I would fly the 206 in the morning and evening when the volumes were light, as it increased we borrowed a Twin Otter from Lodi. I was able to jump as well fly.

To the OP: I was going to suggest if you can afford to do a tandem that is a good way to break the ice.
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I go to Monterey for school and planning to fly up to Byron and jumping. I've never been. You jump there? Maybe you could show me around? Would be awesome to meet a local to show me the ropes of a new DZ. :)
 
jrh said:
Congrats, man! A lot of non-skydivers don't realize how getting an A license is a bigger accomplishment than obtaining a private pilot certificate in many ways.

And the urge to jump never leaves you. Even when I worked for a small airline flying 402s, I often daydreamed about what the "spot" would be if I were crossing over a small town airport, or what it would take to launch a 4-way out of the 402's door.

Another tip I just thought of for the OP: Depending on the dropzone, becoming a jumper yourself very well might make you a more competitive applicant for a flying job there. Frankly, flying jumpers doesn't take a ton of skill (thus, it's an entry level job) but if I were looking at a stack of 600 hour pilots and one of them had even the most basic skydiving credentials as a jumper, they would definitely jump to the top of the pile. As I said, skydiving is a super unique segment of the industry and having a pilot applicant who's also a jumper is proof they know what they're getting into and can probably handle it.

Is the extra time, money, effort, and emotional energy spent becoming a jumper worth the added benefit of getting a leg up for a job? I don't know. Only you can decide that.
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Thanks man! It is definitely a unique culture and sport. Tons of amazing people and vibes. I am in CA man, who knows maybe our paths will cross and we can jump sometime!
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Would love to get into skydiving but with the hobbies I have now and still paying to fly, its probably not the best plan financially. I stopped in and talked to the pilot on Saturday and he gave me the owners number. Not sure if I'll follow up or not......They lost a 182 there a couple years back (sounds like it never got off the ground and hit a gravel pile at the end of the runway) and he said its not unusual to take off between the trees at the end of the runway and barely get over the ones on the other end. I dont mind a bit of risk, but sounds like one hiccup or a bit higher density altitude then normal and that may be all she wrote. He was also a bit nervouse about being ramp checked, said it was all as legal as it can be and he passed one last season but gave me the idea that theres a good chance it may hinder your future.
 
zx6rrider said:
Not sure if I'll follow up or not.....
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As I said, there's a broad spectrum of dropzones. You might have found one on the not so good end. I worked for one that was very safe, very by the book, and operated off of a 3700 foot paved runway.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the future.
 
zx6rrider said:
Thanks for all the info guys. Would love to get into skydiving but with the hobbies I have now and still paying to fly, its probably not the best plan financially. I stopped in and talked to the pilot on Saturday and he gave me the owners number. Not sure if I'll follow up or not......They lost a 182 there a couple years back (sounds like it never got off the ground and hit a gravel pile at the end of the runway) and he said its not unusual to take off between the trees at the end of the runway and barely get over the ones on the other end. I dont mind a bit of risk, but sounds like one hiccup or a bit higher density altitude then normal and that may be all she wrote. He was also a bit nervouse about being ramp checked, said it was all as legal as it can be and he passed one last season but gave me the idea that theres a good chance it may hinder your future.
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:eek2:
 
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