Parachute Dropping Or Glider Tugging????

[PML]

Hi all this is my first thread and I am currently a ppl with around 55 hours and have aspirations of becoming an airline pilot, I understand that to get there it will take alot of hard work and hour building. As this is very expensive I was wondering if anyone knew about routes into parachute dropping or glider tugging. I would find this great fun and a good way to build up my hours. If anyone knows anymore about this or whether I am completely mad for thinking this please could you post back, thanks

[sierracharlie]

Jump Pilot - try the British Parachute Association (http://www.bpa.org.uk/bpastaff.htm) first.

There is also CAP660 (http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=33&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=532) on the CAA website that contains information about Parachute Operations including Pilot information


Glider Tug Pilot - Try British Gliding Association (http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/tugpilots/news.htm)

[Genghis the Engineer]

Talk to your local gliding club - although very few will take you seriously unless you are an experienced glider pilot and/or an experienced tailwheel pilot.

G

[3FallinFlyer]

Gospel & verse from the British Parachute Association here:

http://www.bpa.org.uk/safetydocs/Operations%20Manual/sec%209.doc

Reality is most dropzones require 500hrs PIC to satisfy insurance and SET or MET ratings for the a/c types. Some DZ's still operate Cessna 206's or 182's but getting fewer. Also a couple of Airvans around, these are SEP - 8 seats (I think) like a bigger 206.

Also lots of useful info on the tech side of things on www.diverdriver.com (http://www.diverdriver.com) but is from U.S. based so legislation is different.

FYI - I'm a pilot and a jumper but not a jumpship pilot.

[Kit d'Rection KG]

Errr, you'll need to be seriously into (and probably experienced at) parachuting or gliding. There is no such thing as a free lunch!

My best advice?

Quit the flying dream. I would do anything to stop my child trying to have a flying career (I've been in the game for very slightly less than 20 years).

[looptheloop]

I looked into both as a way of getting some tailwheel time. Basically Parachute dropping requires at least 700 hours and MEP. Glider tugging you need a C badge glider pilots qualification and being in the right place at the right time, usually as a member of a club who does it to help rather than getting paid for it. Many glider clubs have a list of people wanting to step into the tow seat already and many with tailwheel experience. Banner towing seems easier in terms of the hours etc you need to be able to do it, its just harder to find someone needing a pilot, especially a low hours one who doesnt have a CPL. Good Luck.

[PML]

Thanks everyone for the help, I did think it was a bit of a longshot but one worth looking into, Happy flying

[floppyjock]

looptheloop

" looked into both as a way of getting some tailwheel time. Basically Parachute dropping requires at least 700 hours and MEP."


I dont know who told that but the minimum is 100 hours PIC ( 75 if you are a FAI C cert parachutist )

It was probably the club that you asked who told you the rules for their operation. Only one club that I know of operates a tailwheel MEP.

PML just ask around or look at the BPA web site for a list of clubs. Theres plenty still operating with C206s.

Floppy

[MIKECR]

PML,

Dont be too disheartened by some of the coments here. If you dont ask, you dont get! Get yourself along to your local gliding club and make some enquiries. At our club we have 8 tuggies, 4 of which happened to turn up out of the blue and ask whether they could fly the tug or not. Neither of them had any gliding experience and at least 2 of them were low hour PPL's. It was just a simple case of our club were low on tuggies at the time and these guys happened to be right place, right time. Between us all, we probably average 30 - 40 hours per year from it, although at some clubs you get a lot more. Best advice, put yourself about and see what you can find.

[looptheloop]

Floppyjock, sorry for the confusion- the tugging was to gain tailwheel time, the parachute dropping was for hour building (not specifically tail time) I thought 700 hours seemed high, i had seen places such as Jersey where the requirement was about 100TT. I shall keep looking and try to find a way between towing or dropping to get people into the air!