Skydive Pilot Gigs

[rodmiller]

Hey people,

Would like any advice for a CPL holder who is chasing part time/casual work flying for a skydive company while he pays his flight training off and completes atpls.

Any advice on who to speak with/or places to concentrate on.

I work for an airline and have access to staff travel all around the country with a flexible roster......

[Scorpion83]

You need to make yourself known to these operators through contacts or by being a customer.

Might be worth getting your parachutuing qualifications to do tandems and get into the industry that way.

I hear rumours you can get those qualifications in South Africa cheaper than any where else.

[W00kiee]

Don't waste your money on an AFF course or tandems, just let them know your around ready and willing to work, then join the que.

[hershey_86]

its all about who you know, thats how I got into it.

you can have my gig!

[MakeItHappenCaptain]

Get Paid For It!

[likes2fly]

I believe this skydive A/C is now sitting at camden, anyone know who's operating it?? Used to run out of Hoxton Park, and drop over penrith.

I'm also looking for some S/E work skydive or otherwise. Not much around syd tho.

[j3pipercub]

Are you guys looking to stay in the Sydney Basin?

[Tiger 77]

Is it true that some skydive operators will not only charge you for an endorsement (if required), but then during training (icus) charge you the cost of a "slot" on the aircraft each flight because you are taking up room which a jumper would normally pay for?

I'm just curious because a mate mentioned this recently and Im pretty keen to get into jump flying on a turbine or twin.

Also, I'm in Melbourne for now but probably return to Perth in the near future depending on where Mrs Tiger's job takes her. Any tips on the good/better skydive operators in both these places? Who to avoid?

Thanks

Tiger.

[likes2fly]

Syd for me J3, till i can afford the MEIR and move things along.

[Aviator500]

I was looking in the Sydney Basin area for a Sky Dive pilot gig on weekends. Anyone know if they take pilots on part-time or just full-time?

[VH-BCY]

Tiger, I think it's pretty arrogant of you hoping to get a gig flying jumpers in a twin or turbine unless you have **** loads of hours. Jump flying is very demanding, and IMHO is one of the most difficult types of flying to do well. You have to deal with more variables than any other type of flying I know. I would like to see a proper rating issued to pilots who fly skydivers, something along the lines of an Ag rating. There has been too many accidents with jump planes that could have been avoided. There was talk about this some time ago but it seems to be off CASA's radar at the moment.
Yes some operators will charge you depending on the aircraft they use. It is a requirement to have 10 hours on type before you can conduct any parachute ops.
VH-FIF is owned by Simply Skydive and now lives at Camden. It will take off from there and drop at Penrith Lakes (bugger the long drive now :{). Pitty there isn't a strip or evan a paddock closer to the Regatta centre that we could use. Does anyone own some land closer to Penrith where say a Helio Courier could take off from? :ok:

[j3pipercub]

For all the new guys looking for skydive work.

In Sydney try Phil Onus, or Woolongong, although you couldn't pay me enough to work at Woolongong. I do know that there is one DZ a while back in WA that flew a van, but pretty sure a couple of drivers had that job stiched up.

Yes some DZ's and operators will make you pay for the endorsement and or ICUS. It's your choice what you would like to do on that one.

My only piece of advice is to be as friendly to the guys in the back as possible. They have more than likely seen their fair share of muppetts up the front, so prove to them that you are not a complete moron and things should run smoothly. However in saying that, set your boundaries and keep to them, at all times.

If you approach the trucking with a professional attitude it can be some of the most rewarding and memorable flying you will do, however as some have mentioned previously it is a high workload job.

And Tiger, if you are willing to pay for the endo and ICUS some operators will let you play with their train sets with around 300-400 hours. At that experience level however expect to be sweeping hangars, mowing airstrips, helping out with 100 hourly's and not get paid much at all for your trouble.

j3

[Clear to drop]

Rod,

The following link will give you the details of skydiving operators in NSW/ACT registered with the APF.

APF Drop Zones (ACT and NSW) (http://www.apf.asn.au/apf-dz-nswact.html)