Do a search, there was a thread about this about 2 months back I think.
As for the Prawn industry up north, there are no companies I know of that employ pilots (and own aircraft) to spot. It is all done on contract. Companies in the 2 seasons this year (April May at Karumba and August at Borroloola) were: Aerotropics (p68, 310 and Shrike) GAM (Shrikes), Cape York (182
and PA31), Gulfline (C310), Hinterland (Shrike) and a couple of others I am sure to have forgotten.
Normal everyday line pilots are sent out spotting. A good chance to give your logbook a good kick in the guts (depending on your company's F&D exemptions). It would be very boring spotting as the only aircraft in the area, but when there are 10 aircraft at 250' separation circling overhead the one prawnboil, it sure gets interesting!
The rest of the time is spent yabbering away on chat channel, telling jokes, reading out instructions on how to get your girlfriend and your girlfriend's mum into bed simultaneously out of the latest FHM etc etc.
As for pay, well it's whatever you get paid when you are flying normally, but your accommodation and food are usually paid for. Sadly alcohol is not. The trick here is to tell the barmaid how much of a top bloke your spotter is, then get him to ask her up for a free scenic flight (6 hours of random circling overwater
) then that night she will buy a carton (at cost) and put in behind the bar for you and your spotter to drink free at your leisure.
[ 11 October 2001: Message edited by: compressor stall ]