Rookie water bomber question

[themansorykid]

Just looking for tips on getting into the water bomber side of flying, ill be done my licences soon and if possible, would like to head in that direction, thanks alot!

[PA-18]

build your float time and multi time first.

[toelessjoe]

Learn the Golden Rules:

You must learn to;

1. Eat until you are tired.

2. Sleep until you are hungry.

3. Since you will be hired for the right seat first, it is your responsibility to take the fat one. (You will find this common practice wherever you go.)

4. Buy a cool snowmobile; that way you can work on making your kids love you again when the summer's over.

Hope this helps.

[North Shore]

Tip #1: Use the search function - it will save everyone a fair amount of time.

As for the rest: Generally, it's not a low-time position. Flying heavily loaded aircraft low to the ground in poor vis and at slow speeds is no place to be learning your craft as a pilot. So, get as much well-rounded bush time as you can. Floats, Gravel, multi, etc.. This isn't really an SOP-tarmac-SID-to-24,000-to-ILS-to-tarmac type of job, so while that sort of experience is nice, it's not really applicable to what we do.

Also, while this summer is fairly busy, last year was brutally slow (~38 operational hours in 4 months) so there can be a lot of sitting around at the base with your crew mates. Learning how to amuse yourself and others without being abrasive goes a long way. Knowing how to cook for a group helps too!

Good Luck!

[The Old Fogducker]

Toeless....

To your list, add,

The ability to sincerely bitch and moan, and throw temper tantrums like a four year old if your employer tries to feed you if you are on Red Alerts across a regular mealtime, thus preventing you from claiming the meal on your expense account and making an extra four bucks beyond the 4 to 500 or so that you've already earned that day.

A classic case of idle hands are the devil's playground, and 2% of the staff causing 99% of the morale problems. To them of course, they are "the visionairies" who "just want to make things better" for everyone around the base.

OFD

[CLguy]

You will also need to grow a thick skin as well so you can just shake off all the negative crap that gets said about you because of petty jealousy.

That gets learned on the job though so in the mean time focus on getting float time and some multi IFR time.

[Driving Rain]

CL Guy said

shake off all the negative crap that gets said about you because of petty jealousy.

Of course the other side of the coin is learning to rub it in every friggin chance you get. With a little practice it can be accomplished with great panache.

Just a little advice though.... It would be best to wait until your in the union, your probation period is over you've gained a left seat. Don't worry you'll have years to practice.

[. ._]

Is there somewhere I can just buy a CL-415 PPC and get a job where I don't get paid, but I get to log the hours?

I LIVE to fly and will do ANYTHING to fly.

Thank you.































-istp

[Driving Rain]

Is there somewhere I can just buy a CL-415 PPC and get a job where I don't get paid, but I get to log the hours?

I LIVE to fly and will do ANYTHING to fly.

Thank you.

I think your best bet is just buy a 415 and I'll check you out in it.
































-istp