2500 hours for survey work
I've met lots high time survey pilots and many of them are dead
from flying into hills or from stupid accidents.
Survey flying requires skills, some people acquire those skills
before others and others never ever get the skills required.
It's not just natural ability, its a determination for very high standards.
Just imagine flying at ILS minimums all day. You can't do that off the oubat.
Some survey flying can be dangerous, often it takes maturity and an ability
to speak other languages, deal with other cultures, and endlessly fly
in countries or terrain you may only ever visit once.
2,500 hours is just a figure to get attention from those with experience.
If you think can be an asset to one of those companies, prove it,
and give them a call.
That's how I got my first job flying survey.
It didn't last very long,
A pilot I flew with was, so i warned the company
and got put on the next flight home.
That probably saved my life. Lots of those sorts of survey
pilots have a low life expectancy.
The same management are around today, and a lot wiser.
The accident rate in survey flying has dropped a lot but
it can still be as safe as the weakest link in the operation.
That takes experience, and as rough figure, 1,000 - 2,000 hours
might be enough. It's up to you.
Last edited by Ramjet555; 2nd Jan 2013 at 06:09.