What to do after first survey season?

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bp

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I'm finally on the tail end on my first season with a "Northern" Pictometry vendor. Spent some time looking for diver driver jobs and other miscellaneous work in the mid Atlantic region, but everyone wants you there for the start of the season. I'll be finishing with around 1000TT, 390XC, 850PIC, 84INS, 72NT. Planning on getting my AMEL at seasons end, but not many other prospects out there with the timing.

Anyone care to share their career progression after surveying?
 
bimmerphile said:
I'm finally on the tail end on my first season with a "Northern" Pictometry vendor. Spent some time looking for diver driver jobs and other miscellaneous work in the mid Atlantic region, but everyone wants you there for the start of the season. I'll be finishing with around 1000TT, 390XC, 850PIC, 84INS, 72NT. Planning on getting my AMEL at seasons end, but not many other prospects out there with the timing.

Anyone care to share their career progression after surveying?
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I spent four years mapping to 1500 hours then got hired and PIC typed into the right seat of a Citation 560 Ultra doing 135.

PM sent.
 
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I networked back home starting around this time last year. I got my multi add on, then got a gig sitting right seat on King Air 200/90s with a 135 outfit. I tried to find chief pilot's direct lines so that way I could call to see if I could send a resume.

Good luck!
 
I came out with about the same times... Still doing survey but for a company with a way better schedule.
 
Thanks all! I might be able to pick up a few trips in the right seat of a Kingair 200 with a company back home, but that's not steady work. I'm kind of enjoying the survey lifestyle; it would just be nice to have some time off on occasion...
I've also been looking into Cape Air, but I don't think I'll be back in time before they finish hiring. Also a little hesitant to send out CVs without having the multi yet
 
bimmerphile said:
Thanks all! I might be able to pick up a few trips in the right seat of a Kingair 200 with a company back home, but that's not steady work. I'm kind of enjoying the survey lifestyle; it would just be nice to have some time off on occasion...
I've also been looking into Cape Air, but I don't think I'll be back in time before they finish hiring. Also a little hesitant to send out CVs without having the multi yet
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My company does survey work with a 2/2 or 3/3 (it varies) schedule flying twins and we're looking for people. PM me if you're interested and I can give you some details. The schedule is kind of unpredictable but I've generally had pretty huge chunks of time off in the past 6 months I've been there. Very good company.
 
JordanD said:
My company does survey work with a 2/2 or 3/3 (it varies) schedule flying twins and we're looking for people. PM me if you're interested and I can give you some details. The schedule is kind of unpredictable but I've generally had pretty huge chunks of time off in the past 6 months I've been there. Very good company.
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Jordan, is this year round or certain time frames?
 
How many hours a month (good & bad month) can one expect doing Aerial Survey/Picto....?

Are certain vendors known to fly more than other?

background: Nearing 700-800 tt range. Just thinking of other options. Have mountain flying & busy airspace experiences instructing, looking for other options, CFI gig slowing down a bit.

Thanks
 
@ScorpionStinger - my lowest month was 32 hours in November. My biggest month was 170 hours in March. Nov/Dec were pretty slow for me but then January - April I got over 100 hours every month.

I flew for NSA and I flew a ton (650 hours over the season). I think it more has to do with the pilot then the vendor. I was pretty aggressive and always went to "take a look", some guys were not as aggressive. One thing about our operation is we could not fly at night, but some other vendors would let you (Air America).

I was instructing for a bit over a year before doing survey and it got me real close to 1,500. Go for it!
 
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