Twin Otter Jump Pilot pay?

[Parkex]

Quick Question.

Will be working as a PIC Jump Pilot on the Twotter next season, i'm experienced and just doing this for some fun and extra cash on the side of my corporate flying job.

What would be a fair salary? I think 200$/day is fair considering I have a load of turbine, short field, gravel strip experience. Also days are 12+ hours and this is a fairly busy drop zone.

Don't want to look like an idiot when I negotiate my salary!

Thanks!

[hartley]

$500 is the min, prob 12 lifts with at least 10 jumpers 120 jumpers can afford approx 4 bucks for the pilot? No!!

[North Shore]

Don't want to look like an idiot? $200/day / 12 hours = 16 bucks an hour...

[Zombywoof]

You already look like an idiot, starting troll threads like this one.

[Parkex]

Thanks for the information everyone. This is not supposed to be a troll post.

Sure the people can afford 4$ for the pilot but that's not what I'm asking. I'm asking what the market is currently paying for a twin otter jump pilot.

The previous pilots before me were making 150$ a day but they had no time and moved on to other jobs.


If you guys would like to go in to detail or have any stories of jumper pilots getting paid it would be much appreciated. I would like to make as much money as possible, but I have little knowledge about the industry and there is not that much information out there.

[PineappleFrenzy]

Fifteen years ago, my drop zone paid me ten bucks (cash) a load to fly their 182. That ten dollars was split between 4 jumpers (we didn't cheat and take five, like other DZs did). So after a warm and busy summer day I might walk away with $200+ cash in my pocket. Not bad for a day's work at age 23 back then. Best flying I ever did; made some lifelong friends too.

Given you'd be flying a turbine twin (not cheap, big penalty for failure), and factoring in fifteen years' of inflation, I'd say the $500/day advice above is pretty reasonable for a busy DZ.

Some advice: Don't get into the skydiving business to make money. And recognize that your cargo expects more from their pilot than some dude (or dudette) who just wants to build time. If you want to enjoy your time there, and to feel good inside if and when you move on, then make the effort to gel with skydivers and their scene. Do a few jumps yourself. It will humble you. Besides, it's way easier to know what your customers want if you yourself are occasionally one of those customers. You'll learn to appreciate the art of jump flying (and it is truly an art) and gain much satisfaction from your effort.

Of course in my case flying was three careers ago, so perhaps someone with more recent experience could chime in.

[Parkex]

Thanks pineapple! That's exactly what I intend on doing. I'm looking to make some friends and have a good experience for the next couple of summers!

I fully intend on skydiving (i already have) and would love to get my full certification.

The guys i'll be working for are awesome and I really cannot wait to fly with em!

[JV]

A little late in the day but I am interested in this as well. Early retired after 36 years of flying for a number of reasons but circumstances have changed, so looking for something to do. (boredom)

And I will. I am now hooked up with a skydiving outfit and eventually will be doing both the twin otter and the caravan.

As everyone knows, there really is no money in it. There is no way that this outfit is going to pay 500 per day. Just want to point out that 500 a day for 26 weeks, 5 days a week (6 months) would come out to 65000, or the equivalent of 130000 a year.

Any jump pilots out there who can give a heads up on the current rates?

[chayse87]

$30 a load in the twin otter is standard