Navajo Captain

Skymaster · Post by **Skymaster** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:28 pm

Hi, just wondering how much a Navajo Captain should earn a year ? Thanks
What is the average ?

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:22 pm

Most families I know of live on an average yearly income of $100,000 per year. You as a "Ho Captain - $20,000 and your wife, who stayed in school and has a decent job, will contribute the $80,000.

niss · Post by **niss** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:35 pm

You think thats bad? Im a Captain of a 140 and Im negative $5000 a year!

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:02 pm

48,000

185/310 · Post by **185/310** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:08 pm

Average is ruffly $36 000

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:10 pm

Keerist Philly! He wants to know how much he'd make FLYING a 'HO, not BEING one!

Ralliart · Post by **Ralliart** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:03 pm

I was at $36,000 salary recently plus per diems and some other small benefits. Worked about 21-25 days per month.

phillyfan · Post by **phillyfan** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:23 pm

Naw a decent Ho could make a fair bit more than that. Even if he's only working Mon-Fri. 2 Handjobs a night = $100, 1 Hummer = $80, 1 in the pooper = $150

With that Scedule you would make better than $6500 a mth.

See now you got me thinkin about my career choice again.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:39 pm

" 1 in the pooper = $150 "

Is that what you charge?

Watch out for S&J.

co-joe · Post by **co-joe** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 7:40 pm

36K down south and 50-60 up north or overseas or survey type stuff I think. Remarkably close to King Air captain pay. Hmmmm?

Liftdumper · Post by **Liftdumper** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 8:21 pm

Kenworth or Peterbilt endorsed= $80,000

wallypilot · Post by **wallypilot** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:26 pm

charter/cargo, etc....i am guessing low to mid 30's

survey should be 48K+ with healthy raises each year. any less, you're being screwed.

Ralliart · Post by **Ralliart** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:40 pm

I've always wondered........what is it about VFR survey flying that would pay so much more than IFR charter/cargo?

Not trying to stir the pot, I'm just curious.

Nark · Post by **Nark** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:43 am

VFR survey guys basically fly an ILS all day.

ie, flying 300' agl +/- 20' and left or right 200m of track. Something like that

I went along for 6 hour survey flight once, I was a hell of alot more tired than a 12 hour IFR day.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 5:09 am

Nark wrote:VFR survey guys basically fly an ILS all day.

ie, flying 300' agl +/- 20' and left or right 200m of track. Something like that

I went along for 6 hour survey flight once, I was a hell of alot more tired than a 12 hour IFR day.

More often than not (at least in my experience) they want you to fly +/-25 metres left/right of track and +/-15 metres altitude-wise, with some larger deviations allowed over a couple of kilometres.

With survey flying the pilot has more responsibilities than to just fly the airplane - ex. self dispatch, planning flights, arranging logistics (fuel/hotel, etc) and you're away from home 1-3 months each rotation depending on the company. Plus you're flying close to the ground all day where there are lots of things to jump up and hit you (towers, birds, helicopters...) And these days, most companies that I know of on the fixed wing side do not pay flight time on top of that (to prevent pushing the weather.)

flyinthebug · Post by **flyinthebug** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:59 am

Skymaster.. In answer to your question it depends on where your flying. Northern = 50K plus per annum. Southern OR coastal 40K plus. Seems backwards but those numbers are fairly realistic.

As for VFR survey flying... I just did 6.4 hours yesterday and got out of the plane like it was a 14 hour duty day with 10 legs and all in IMC. Its truly challenging and the ONLY time you can deviate from "the line" is in a rate 1 turn to start the next line. Its NOT for everybody but the pay is indeed decent. If you have a good crew with the survey, it REALLY makes things easier, but the flying is on the dials constantly.

Fly safe all

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:00 pm

flyinthebug wrote:but the flying is on the dials constantly.

Don't forget to look out of the window once in a while...

bob sacamano · Post by **bob sacamano** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:12 pm

I've done some survey flying, it wasn't as sophisticated as some of the other posters on here, it was just in ontario.

I hate to put down any type of flying, so you won't find me doing that. But to say that this is harder than that and to give numbers (i.e. 8 hours of this is harder than 12 hours of that) is just plain stoopid.

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:18 pm

bob sacamano wrote:I've done some survey flying, it wasn't as sophisticated as some of the other posters on here, it was just in ontario.

I hate to knock any type of flying, so you won't find me doing that. But to say that this is harder than that and give numbers (i.e. 8 hours of this is harder than 12 hours of that) is just plain stoopid.

Agreed!

A common mistake survey pilots make, especially when starting out, is flying the line almost completely on instruments which causes fatigue in many ways (and not to mention the safety side of things - "V" is for VFR!) If you fly it mostly visually like they did in the "old days" (using landmarks) and every few seconds do a quick scan of your cross track and altitude, it's a lot less tiring, often more accurate (less chasing the numbers) and can actually be enjoyable -... other than unfolding yourself from the shape of the seat after you've sat in it for over 6 hours straight!

Sorry for the semi-hijack.

flyinthebug · Post by **flyinthebug** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 4:53 pm

Good advice guys. I did find myself kinda fixating from time to time but I DO take a break in the turns

I`ll remember the "V" and what it represents but I still need the lines to look semi straight when they bring them up on the puter at days end. I will try your advice next mission. Cheers
Fly Safe all

Skymaster · Post by **Skymaster** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 6:06 pm

Thank you for your answers , I appreciate .

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:16 pm

flyinthebug wrote:Good advice guys. I did find myself kinda fixating from time to time but I DO take a break in the turns I`ll remember the "V" and what it represents but I still need the lines to look semi straight when they bring them up on the puter at days end. I will try your advice next mission. Cheers
Fly Safe all

No worries -- I've only been flying survey for 3 years but was lucky enough to be taught by someone who's been doing it for a long long time and really knew his stuff AND how to teach it.
Cheers!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:27 pm

Many moons ago I spent a winter in Northern Quebec flying magnitometer survey in an Anson Mk5.

We towed a bomb behind us and we flew at 400 feet on a radar altimiter...however we sure did not do much instrument flying because most of our survey flying was in the mountains.

It was super boring.

I think that was what started my alcoholism problem.

Cat

bandit1 · Post by **bandit1** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 7:40 pm

"I think that was what started my alcoholism problem."

It's only a problem when you're out of booze.

oldncold · Post by **oldncold** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:03 pm

40,000 k plus per diems
and its not just the pay but how and when it is paid
a company that pays has full time drivers but only pay on a per day basis will have a revolving door due to schedule and part payday checks

Navajo Captain

Navajo Captain

thanks

ho pay