That first float gig.

[higherthenakite]

Well I'll start super early in finding some info on that first float flying gig.

I'm not really new to aviation been working in it for about 5 years now. I have worked in both the bush and the city and am longing to go back north. I have been in the city about as long as I had been in the north. Still most of my time is bush flying.

So this winter I am thinking of looking for a job back in the bush but want to do it right this time on some floats.

Do you know of a company that would hire a guy for floats with some bush and ifr time?

Thanks for the help.
HTAK

['CauseTheCaravanCan]

Geographically, not sure where you're at, but from my little bubble of familiarity:
aaahhmmm,
In Sioux Lookout, ON. Slate Falls Airways or Bamaji are good for starters. Apply now and then show up there in March.
It's sort of right place, right time.
Looking at 206 on floats, or 185/Found time probably.

Depending on how far you've gotten in 5 years, these could be an initial step backward, but both places have types to
upgrade on, if you show common sense. That's the living in civilization/having a social life approach.

The bush/isolation approach, I would suggest Sandy Lake Seaplanes, or Alair in St. Theresa Point. Actually Amik too. I think
they would appreciate bush time. They would have you working in their convenience stores as well as flying. Thing about
living on the res. is, you can bank a lot of money (from what I've heard).
Again 206 on floats, or 185 time to start.

Wherever you go, just remember, and hopefully, this will keep you humble. It doesn't matter how many wheel hours
you have, you still have to start at the bottom, when all you have is a float rating. It sucks, but it also makes sense.
Prove you're not a meathead with an incident free season on a starter type, and then watch how quickly the
Beaver/Otter/Van gigs start flowing.

Gooooood Luck!!

[higherthenakite]

Thanks for the reply 'CauseTheCaravanCan

That's the kind of work I'm looking for. Something on a small float plane piston time is fine for me I like flying them and not afraid to like some city pilots I know. I did have someone call me back in March or April and I didn't even have a float rating then but I had a bond and didn't want to break it.

As for living on the reserve not sure if i want to do that. I'm not blonde but it's just not for me.

Thanks again.
HTAK

[higherthenakite]

Well I thought I'd say my research and persistence paid off I got my first gig on floats. It will be in a somewhat familiar area I'm excited to do some work again as opposed to sleeping all day and working all night.

[Rowdy]

Nice work! Congrats on sealing up a gig on pontoons. Have fun, be humble and be sure to post a pic or two in the 'pics from a swamper thread'.

Everyone loves to see whats happening all over the country/globe!

[tractor747]

Well I thought I'd say my research and persistence paid off I got my first gig on floats. It will be in a somewhat familiar area I'm excited to do some work again as opposed to sleeping all day and working all night.

higherhanakite congrats on the job, just wondering how many float time did you have when you got the gig? Enjoy it because float flying is alot of fun.

[higherthenakite]

I have somewhere in the area of 7.0 hours on a 185 so just the bare minimums. I have close to 3000 hours flying in both the bush and city ILS to ILS flying So other then the lack of float flying I have a fair amount of experience making decisions like landing with that tail wind to save time on a small plane or going around cause the plane weighs 17 000 lbs on landing. Sat both left and right seat, have been and FO and also flown with FO's. Even had a captain look at me in an emergency and ask do we want to declare or not. So all in all I think I bring more then that ambitious rookie I was a few years ago.

I am really excited for the season. I am all amped up ready to go.

HTAK

[Cat Driver]

So other then the lack of float flying I have a fair amount of experience making decisions like landing with that tail wind to save time on a small plane.

The only time I will land with a tail wind in a sea plane is if there is no other choice available.....period.

Saving time is not a reason to land down wind in a sea plane in my opinion.

[higherthenakite]

Thanks Cat I learned that much swamping in an otter or van on floats the summer I worked the Dock in NWO. I still keep in touch with two of the pilots whose planes I would catch and load Good guys with lots of advice.
Thanks for looking out making sure I didn't do something stupid.

HTAK

[Chuck Ellsworth]