Minnow Pilots

[up_and_locked]

Hi everyone,

I am working as a dockhand in Red this summer, and now that things have settled down into a daily routine I have started to think about what I want to do next summer. I understand that there may not be many places that are going to want to have an 19 year old pilot fly their precious guests around the bush, and while that will not deter me to try those places at all, I have started to contemplate other possibilities. My current dream is to become a minnow pilot on a cub or champ or something like that. I think that would suit me best, and would be a real blast! I would like to check out some of the minnow businesses in the Red Lake/Dryden/Kenora area (and anywhere in between) but I'm having trouble figuring out who and where these places are. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much

[DanWEC]

One in Ear Falls (That I'd highly advise to stay away from). Just go to the bait/sport shops and ask where they get there minnows from.
There is also one in the Fort Francis area. Unsure of the name.

[up_and_locked]

Thanks. Yeah I've heard about that place in Ear Falls, I'll keep my guard up

[Bede]

I understand that there may not be many places that are going to want to have an 19 year old pilot fly their precious guests around the bush, and while that will not deter me to try those places at all, I have started to contemplate other possibilities.

Why? You may be 19 but hold a CPL and have so far proven yourself mature enough to get through a CPL program. I flew charter passengers around when I was 19.

You may have to try a bit harder than the next guy to prove yourself but if you work hard and don't prove yourself to be a fool I would think an employer would give you a chance just like any other low timer.

[up_and_locked]

I agree, but I talked to a few places this year when I was job hunting who looked at me kind of funny when I told them that I was 18 and wanted to fly their C180. I'm just thinking that the typical passenger might not feel as safe in a small plane with a recent high school graduate at the controls. Also, I really want to do this minnow flying thing now that I've looked into it , the super cub is one of my all time favorite planes!

[Stian]

I flew for the (bad company) at Ear fall last year. I don’t want to talk about my bose there, not the place.

It was a hard work, but the experience of fly was a very good memory and very good for my logbook, the PA-18 also was very nice.

Whenever, you must be good and independent, because no body for give you hand if you have any problem on one of the small lakes. I’m pretty sure anyway they looking for someone with general life experience for this type of work. To be good with the ‘’systeme D’’ it is mandatory for me!

Systeme D come from a French expression, D means Debrouille. I don’t know the English expression for that but Debrouille in the French English dictionary mean ‘’unravel’’

Sorry for my poor English! And all the best in your prospection!

[arctic navigator]

I agree, but I talked to a few places this year when I was job hunting who looked at me kind of funny when I told them that I was 18 and wanted to fly their C180. I'm just thinking that the typical passenger might not feel as safe in a small plane with a recent high school graduate at the controls. Also, I really want to do this minnow flying thing now that I've looked into it , the super cub is one of my all time favorite planes!

There's your first problem… Don't TELL them that you're 18!!!!! Show up, work hard and you'll be fine… I was on a PA32R and an amphib 185 at 19… Just about every trip I got the "son, you sure youre old enough to be a pilot" query, and my response was yep, been flying for the last 4 years which was true...

[up_and_locked]

Stian,

Merci beaucoup! Meme après avoir passé 2 mois dans la region, c'est clair que le ''system D'' est necessaire!


artic navigator,

I agree completely! That's pretty much my life motto! Seems to be working so far!

[DHCdriver]

Don't feel too bad, my first float job in a 185 an older couple asked me how old I was and said they had food in there fridge older then me. I hate old people Chin up my friend and keep digging, something will show up.DHC

[chicken hawk]

Better get used to it, I have American tourists ask me if I an old enough to fly on at least a weekly basis. I'm almost 34!!! Now I just look at it as a compliment.

[boozy]

I would try to work in ear falls if I were you, I don't know of anyone else that hires for minnow pilots; lots of the other outfits the owner flies the plane or they road trap. There are two outfits down there in Ear Falls that hire actually. I worked for Whitewing years ago and it was a "hard" summer, but they're all hard summers aren't they? Was still super fun, and the food was awesome. Best job I ever had was minnow flying just not exactly the most economical... and well... those 3:30 am mornings were a little rough.

Go down there and talk to Dave and Bobbie, say hi. Dave doesn't say much and he probably wont say much to you but he never hires anyone without meeting them, he can be a little grumpy, but take it with a grain of salt. Then keep in touch with them over the winter and by March/April you might get a call. You'd also want to talk to Marty Buckler... he's salt of the Earth and has a J3 that I here he hires on nowadays (KDD if I remember correct). If you can make things work out right you might even be able to get a check-ride in the fall.

Good luck, keep the oily side down.

Boozy (PM if you have any questions)