Meatbombers & ex Jumper Dumpers. Help..

[bournebourne]

Hey, just wondering what I should do from here. I've got 300TT, super keen to become a jump pilot. I realize I need to hang out at DZs etc and make myself known, work as ground crew to get to know the operation and prove my worth, however theres 2 options that I can see:

Pay $3500 for 10hours in a C182 and a further $1700 for my JP Authorisation
Or
Pay $3600 for a 750xl endorsement/rating and $1000 for an extra 5hours in the XL which includes JP Authorisation?

Am 100% on being in an XL eventually, grew up around Crescos in NZ, loaded them in Ag ops for 3 years but don't want to go Ag anymore. Have always been keen on DZs etc. Starting my AFF in 2 weeks so I can have an excuse to hang around a DZ.

Will my Aus JP Authorisation convert to NZ easily?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Boeingdream]

Option 2 is better IF you can get insurance with only 300hrs to operate that aircraft with Skydiving companies. Best to find that out.

[MartinCh]

if going down the 182/206 time on type route, don't do whole 10hrs AND THEN the JPA course. Do 7 and the last 3 would be part of the JPA course with one of the big Aussie companies. Makes more sense. So long your previous and the JPA course flight hours add up to 10hrs total.

OTOH, if you loaded up the aircraft, haven't you hitched some loggable mx/ferry rides? If you knew you want to drop divers, why not have done part of your trianing in Cardinal or larger? That's what Skydive the Beach guy told me when enquiring. Cardinal or larger SEL/SEPL Cessna would do. I'd fancy it too, but got my helicopter stuff/career to work on right now, but already done some complex 182RG hours in USA so that I don't have all aeroplane commercial etc ratings/licenses done in Skyhawk/similar/smaller and only then having to cough up for extra bigger Cessna time.

I asked the SDB guy about 'similar in weight/complexity/performance' for the JPA but about which Piper would qualify, ie Cherokee 6, Lance or Comanche, even Mooney, with bigger engine, but haven't heard 'back'. Only the initial sales pitch to fill the course and have pool of standby hour hungry pilots to pick from. I'm told C172XP or with 210hp engine would not qualify, btw, so it's supposed to be complexity/weight similarity, not just power.

My dream skydiving job would be in Porter, but less and less around, especially outside Europe. Most DZs in US changed to Caravans or Super Caravans for mx and insurance and load reasons.

I know it may be bit late for season in NT/FNQ or North of WA, but temp/season job there would get you some 182 time without paying rental/dual instruction at hefty price tag. Something to consider if you have the time but not the funds or willingness to burn more cash.

[evilducky]

XL endorsement is pointless with 300 hours. Insurance companies won't touch you till the 750-1000 hour mark. Skydiving flying is demanding enough starting out on piston singles, let alone on a complex turbine. Try and find a DZ that has one or more aircraft that you can actually fly with your hours (182, 206 and Airvan being the most common ones).

And AFF isn't necessarily a requirement for meat bombing, if you go talk to a DZ operator with the right attitude they'll let you hang around and help out. I'd never jumped when I started as a jump pilot.

[seneca208]

Aren't most of the guys running around in the Skydive Australia 208s first job newbies? If the option for work is available on the PAC, then definitely go down that route. In my opinion, I probably wouldn't get the XL rating, then hunt for work. There aren't that many of them around and as Evil Ducky mentioned, theres probably guys coming off 182s and 206s with more hours wanting those jobs.

Complex Turbine? Having a lever to add fuel and another to change the prop pitch seems a lot easier to me than worrying about all the things that go along with big turbo piston engines.

[mcgrath50]

Aren't most of the guys running around in the Skydive Australia 208s first job newbies?

Usually need 400-750 hours to get on the 208, less than charter companies usually but certainly not fresh CPL.

Pay $3500 for 10hours in a C182 and a further $1700 for my JP Authorisation
Or
Pay $3600 for a 750xl endorsement/rating and $1000 for an extra 5hours in the XL which includes JP Authorisation?

Why the would you pay $4,600-$5,200 for a job, meat bombing no less?! When I did meatbombing my company paid for my JPA. I had the required time on type but they hired the 182 at cost to those that needed to build time. $350 an hour for a 182 is a lot even a flashy G1000 flying school one. A JPA won't take more than 2 hours in the air and 2 hours on the ground if you study before hand. How does it cost $1,700.

Please tell me when you finish all this you will be paid?

[sarge75]

Fact, skydive Australia have put many fresh CPL holders who had an instrument rating into a Caravan. In fact the bulk of the pilots they have hired in the last 6 years have been such.

A good resume to the right person goes a long way.

$1700 for a JPA. You are kidding me right. If suckers will pay for it then....

Cresco endorsement? Go that route if you have a job lined up.

Paying for 10 hours on a 182 and then doing a JPA? Hope you are kidding.

Go to the APF website and read the regs, not what you read here as most of the information is wrong

[Corkey McFuz]

1700 for a drop rating is taking the piss. Most places (in nz) will show you how its done their way, when you start. Drop rating part of that.

[bournebourne]

Well I live in Perth, the only JPA course is in York I believe at the cost of $1700. The only 182 I can find is at the royal aero club, Im a member and the 182 costs $345 an hour for a member private hire.

I would pay that if it was going to get me a kick-start for sure, why not? Always knew that it wasn't an easy/cheap road to get that first job, surely having these will put me just that little bit more ahead of the others (fresh CPLs)?

You're all probably going to jump down my throat for asking this but is the states an option, seem to be heaps of meatbombing jobs over there (I am aware of visas and green cards) Im talking strictly to get a job/build hours at a DZ.

[sarge75]

Had typed a big response and comptroller probs.

Have you been to the APF website?

[mcgrath50]

You're all probably going to jump down my throat for asking this but is the states an option, seem to be heaps of meatbombing jobs over there (I am aware of visas and green cards) Im talking strictly to get a job/build hours at a DZ.

I considered it when I was meatbombing but it was too much of a diversion from my goals so I didn't look into it. It can be possibly for a short amount of time once you get contacts from working in the industry in Australia. I don't know how you'd go without those but skydiving over there is something else entirely!

Well I live in Perth, the only JPA course is in York I believe at the cost of $1700. The only 182 I can find is at the royal aero club, Im a member and the 182 costs $345 an hour for a member private hire.

The JPA course tends to be specifically written for the drop zone you attend. Therefore most places, especially of the old school, I know of prefer you to do your JPA with them so you know the airspace and drop zone arrangements.

I don't know how much you know about the industry but basically, Skydive the beach (skydive.com.au) is relatively knew to the scene and run as a very competitive business. They now have the scale to be able to move into an area and price the older 'mum and dad' businesses out of the market. They aren't bad operators but they have definitely annoyed the old school who used to be much more collaborative and wouldn't have dreamed of setting up in someone elses patch.

That would probably be why they offer a JPA course that costs so much, they are in skydiving for the profits.

Pay it if you wish, but unless a lot has changed in the year or two since I started you are really don't have to spend that money on the JPA.

I didn't realise you were hiring the 182 through a flying club. Can you get your hands on a 206? It counts for a 182, and will be more helpful if/when you want to go to charter.

[MartinCh]

Easier to get hands on 182 than 206 as renter/student. Especially in Perth area AFAIK.
My gliding pilot friend had friend buzzing around in 210 and offering 'ride along' paying for the fuel, but since he got bored of WA he moved to East and later sold the 210. Would have been handy for some 'heavier piston Cessna' time for the JPA requirements.

The 182RG I flew cost me 150 bucks dual all in, but that was USA, ehrm.
If I ever get to it, I'll fly 180/185/182 on floats in Florida or Minnesota..
(three birds with one stone, depending on my ratings/experience by that time)

What I was saying has been echoed in others' posts. Just make sure you don't rent the 182 too much and then do extra 2-3 hours of 182 flying on the course.

[meatbomb01]

If you're based in WA, Robyn in Pinjarra also offers JPA's to the general public.

[bournebourne]

Sweet, thanks guys, will probably do the C182 route and fill it up with people to cost share for 7hrs, do the JPA, then hope like hell that a job comes up when Im hanging around too much. Will do the XL rating when need be. Will contact Robyn this week, thanks for that mate. Couldn't log ferry hours while loading crescos as I was still doing my PPL at the time.