PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Tuna Spotting, tuna boat ops (incl Guam)
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Old 10th Mar 2006, 22:23
  #98 (permalink)  
Girv
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: New Zealand
Age: 48
Posts: 15
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There are two companies in Guam Tropic and Hansen Helicopters. These two companies contract out to Korean and Taiwan ships. You get alot of flying, it's a good way to get turbine hours. With the flying side of things, when looking for fish you go out for 2 hours with an observer about 50-60nm away from the ship. If you come across logs, old drums etc you hover over it as your observer connects a radio bouy to it. When you have found fish, the observer will give the gps position to the ship. Once the ship gets there you use the helicopter to work the open area of the net as the ship sets it. You kind of muster the fish keeping them in place. Tuna is caught while they are feeding and are at the surface so you can work with them. Working the net and landing on the ship is fun. Your out at sea most of the time for 3-4 weeks depending on the tuna. You get paid $3500 USD a month as a pilot, and $7000 USD as a pilot/mech.
Its a good adventure.
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