Originally Posted by
havick
There’s a bunch of Aussies on E3’s flying on fires in helicopters and some on 802 Air Tractors in the Aussie off season. Fire operators only really take experienced pilots that meet all the contract minimums on E3 that can slot straight in and get carded by USFS/DOI as a Captain as that’s what they would be short on (if they are short at all).
The fixed wing fire carding process in the US is quite onerous (don’t have them in front of me right now), but you need X number of drops, X hours in mountainous terrain, X number hours PIC on type etc etc.
So even someone with a bunch of hours and a bunch of multi float time probably won’t even hear back unless they can contractually slot straight in as a Captain. They can organically grown FO’s locally so no real need to hire an FO on a 415 on an E3.
Thanks for that. I have the qualifications: (FAA ATP, Multi-Engine Seaplane time, Ag Rating, Low Level Experience, Mountain Time) - I know what qualifications they need, I was just wondering if the E3 can be used for aviation jobs outside the Regionals - sounds like it can be.
Most of these companies rightly need a few seasons on the 415 from FOs before upgrading them, so nobody is going to be slotted streight into a Captain Seat no matter their qualifications, unless already a 415 Captain - and there just aren’t many of them floating around. Even for FOs, it’s increasingly increasingly difficult for companies to find suitable candidates - not many people around with multi-engine seaplane time (it’s a very different beast on the water compared to a single engine seaplane) mountain time, Ag rating and so on. Even the 415 operators in Canada are advertising for FOs, which is amazing as it used to be a closed shop. But of course as you say they’ll always give preference to local pilots, and want to hire people they can upgrade in minimum time (same as the Regionals I suppose). Anyhow, that’s all a bit beside the point...Just wanted to know if the E3 would cover the job, sounds like a possibility. Thanks again.