Tuna Spotting, tuna boat ops (incl Guam)
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: UK
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Tuna Helicoptor?
One of my ships has been buzzed by a helicoptor probably from a tuna boat. Vessel is 250 miles off Costa Rica so presume wouldn't have the range to get to / from land. Reg was reported as HP1491. Any info welcome.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern California
Age: 67
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Fish story ,,,, death of a retired tuna pilot .
We lost Perry J. Krinitt last month in a hiller crash / idaho ... he was 42ish . Just google it . He worked in guam in the 90s. Ended up a Kmax pilot for years .
Rest in peace brother . Any old tuna dogs out there email me .
I figured I would post this for the scattered tuna pilots across the globe . I did the pilot /mech job from the 80 - 2002 . It went from great aircraft and accommodations to junk and foreign boats . The best combo was a Mechanic who had become a pilot . As I always said if you can drive a stick shift car in a hilly downtown area - you can fly a chopper .
Long gone are the good field mechs , everyone wants to down machines for
scratches in the blade tip cap , No 8130 for a rebuilt part . " the o-rings look old ".
I hear they are only selling daily boat fishing permits to some Island groups now . So they try to fly in and look for fish and buy the permit as needed . This might boost the aircraft used off boats .
Stay safe ,,,, Thanks HK
Rest in peace brother . Any old tuna dogs out there email me .
I figured I would post this for the scattered tuna pilots across the globe . I did the pilot /mech job from the 80 - 2002 . It went from great aircraft and accommodations to junk and foreign boats . The best combo was a Mechanic who had become a pilot . As I always said if you can drive a stick shift car in a hilly downtown area - you can fly a chopper .
Long gone are the good field mechs , everyone wants to down machines for
scratches in the blade tip cap , No 8130 for a rebuilt part . " the o-rings look old ".
I hear they are only selling daily boat fishing permits to some Island groups now . So they try to fly in and look for fish and buy the permit as needed . This might boost the aircraft used off boats .
Stay safe ,,,, Thanks HK
Join Date: Feb 2005
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I plan to learn a few words of Korean
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I cant believe how much this industry hasnt changed in the 10 years since i was last out there.
"Hef" has his head up his back side about the "on condition in Australasia" comment, get real mate! Ive been around and the operators youre talking about are few and far between but i guess thats the main thing that hasnt changed in 10 years, idiots that would fly anything and then tell everyone what a great time it was.
But i guess theres a wide spectrum of helicopter operators and pilots to match.
As a chief pilot said to me recently, "im not hiring anymore long time ex tuna boat pilots, they cant do mountain or sling work and are generally below average pilots"
Up to you but dont make a career out of it and dont believe Hefs crap about mantenance standards in Australasia, pure bubble..
"Hef" has his head up his back side about the "on condition in Australasia" comment, get real mate! Ive been around and the operators youre talking about are few and far between but i guess thats the main thing that hasnt changed in 10 years, idiots that would fly anything and then tell everyone what a great time it was.
But i guess theres a wide spectrum of helicopter operators and pilots to match.
As a chief pilot said to me recently, "im not hiring anymore long time ex tuna boat pilots, they cant do mountain or sling work and are generally below average pilots"
Up to you but dont make a career out of it and dont believe Hefs crap about mantenance standards in Australasia, pure bubble..
Company: H.A.S. Pty Ltd
Fax Number: (+61) 295217879
Address: Helimarine
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
96941
International
Email: [email protected]
Web Address:
Company Info: Helicopter company with a Mitsubishi MU2 fixed wing support aircraft
Supported Manufacturers: Hughes / MD and varients
Job Title: Pilots and Mechanics Hughes 500.
Location: SOLOMON ISLANDS International International
Salary Range: TBA-TBA
Contact: HIR
Email: [email protected]
Job Desc:
Helimarine has several positions becoming available over the next few months for experienced Pilots and Hughes 369 engineers/mechanics for engagement at our support facility and also for engagement aboard boats. It is essential that the applicants have good solid experience in Hughes 369HS / OH-6A and varients. Please reply with information that is relevent to the position advertised. We have no openings for B747 pilots or mechanics, or rocket scientists. We only operate Hughes 369 helicopters and variants.
Requirements:
PILOTS.
Prefaerably have 1000 hrs as PIC preferably with fish spotting experience or other maritime ops with deck landings. Alternatively proven experince in powerline inspections, insulator washing, feral eradication or similar reasonably demanding ops would be considered. Applicants should have experience on type, alternatively single engine turbine time.
Lesser hours may be considered on a case by case basis.
MECHANICS
The facility has a repair station licence and carries out the full range of maintenance activities on Hughes 500 / OH-6A types.. Several positions will be becoming available.
It is ESSENTIAL that applicants for mechanics positions have extensive experience on all aspects of Hughes 500 maintenance. Functions carried out range from rebuilds in the airframe shop, to general trouble shooting and serviceing, to component overhaul, including gearbox & transmission overhauls. Single accommodation provided. 12 months contract. return airfares. Local medical paid. Low tax regime.
Positions are available from time time aboard the boats maintaining a single helicopter. The positions aboard the deep sea fishing vessls are for 6 month or 12 month terms. Positions become available as mechanics and pilots complete their term and go on leave. The salary arrangements for sea going positions are fixed monthly as opposed to hourly rates for hangar crew.
Travel: Must be prepared to locate to the Western Pacific
Relocation:
Job Ident #: HIR
Benefits: Suit single person, accommodation provided, 12 month contract, return fares,very low tax rate, located Micronesia/Solomon Islands area
Fax Number: (+61) 295217879
Address: Helimarine
Honiara
Solomon Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
96941
International
Email: [email protected]
Web Address:
Company Info: Helicopter company with a Mitsubishi MU2 fixed wing support aircraft
Supported Manufacturers: Hughes / MD and varients
Job Title: Pilots and Mechanics Hughes 500.
Location: SOLOMON ISLANDS International International
Salary Range: TBA-TBA
Contact: HIR
Email: [email protected]
Job Desc:
Helimarine has several positions becoming available over the next few months for experienced Pilots and Hughes 369 engineers/mechanics for engagement at our support facility and also for engagement aboard boats. It is essential that the applicants have good solid experience in Hughes 369HS / OH-6A and varients. Please reply with information that is relevent to the position advertised. We have no openings for B747 pilots or mechanics, or rocket scientists. We only operate Hughes 369 helicopters and variants.
Requirements:
PILOTS.
Prefaerably have 1000 hrs as PIC preferably with fish spotting experience or other maritime ops with deck landings. Alternatively proven experince in powerline inspections, insulator washing, feral eradication or similar reasonably demanding ops would be considered. Applicants should have experience on type, alternatively single engine turbine time.
Lesser hours may be considered on a case by case basis.
MECHANICS
The facility has a repair station licence and carries out the full range of maintenance activities on Hughes 500 / OH-6A types.. Several positions will be becoming available.
It is ESSENTIAL that applicants for mechanics positions have extensive experience on all aspects of Hughes 500 maintenance. Functions carried out range from rebuilds in the airframe shop, to general trouble shooting and serviceing, to component overhaul, including gearbox & transmission overhauls. Single accommodation provided. 12 months contract. return airfares. Local medical paid. Low tax regime.
Positions are available from time time aboard the boats maintaining a single helicopter. The positions aboard the deep sea fishing vessls are for 6 month or 12 month terms. Positions become available as mechanics and pilots complete their term and go on leave. The salary arrangements for sea going positions are fixed monthly as opposed to hourly rates for hangar crew.
Travel: Must be prepared to locate to the Western Pacific
Relocation:
Job Ident #: HIR
Benefits: Suit single person, accommodation provided, 12 month contract, return fares,very low tax rate, located Micronesia/Solomon Islands area
Aser
Join Date: Mar 2012
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The tunaboat killing fields continue
I really, really wish Hansen Helicopters and Tropic Helicopters and others would step up to the pro-active safety plate, and come clean with their accidents. How many, when, where, probably cause, recommendations to prevent, etc, etc. I don't mean this to bash any company, or anybody's employer. I mean it in the sense that nothing saddens me more to hear, usually on Facebook's "Tuna Pilots" group or "Tuna Spotter Pilot" something like "my good friend Eduardo Lavalle just got killed...", and after that, NOTHING. SILENCE. Are we MEANT TO FORGET THESE GUYS??? SO TUNA HELICOPTER COMPANIES CAN KEEP GETTING NEW BLOOD AND MAKING THE FAT PROFITS?? Come on, Hansen, Tropic, and everybody else: accept there IS a huge accident rate, very often pilot error, these accidents are preventable with education, study, and pro-active safety efforts! The rest of the aviation community does it. WHY NOT HANSEN HELICOPTERS AND TROPIC??????
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Brisbane Australia
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tropic's current email address
there are several ........ [email protected] , [email protected], these two own the company, if you are enquiring about a job, use this address ............ [email protected]
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: on the edge
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@Francis Meyrick
So which is it?
They only employ experienced mechanics and pilots, type specific to the Hughes 369 as per their ad, or are unsafe rogue operator(s).??
There is a disconnect here.
BH
So which is it?
They only employ experienced mechanics and pilots, type specific to the Hughes 369 as per their ad, or are unsafe rogue operator(s).??
There is a disconnect here.
BH
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Brisbane Australia
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requirements
Tropic'requirements as far as i understand are 1000 hr + and at least an endorsement on the 500, and of course the more turbine time the better. From what I'm reading here now ....... lesser hours may be considered on a case by case basis. The guy to talk to if you are interested is Abner Indino (he's their OPs manager there at the moment) . He will be able to answer all the questions you want, his email address again is [email protected] . If you've got any more questions I'd only be to happy to try and answer them for you.
Tropic are differently not a "rogue operator" ....... a lot of changes have taken place in their hangar over the last two years, mechanic's are screened more closely, all new mechanic's have a mandatory OJT of a month to three months in the hangar (depending on their experience), where they are assessed before being released to the boats, if they are no good they are sent home. In most cases a mechanic will be sent out with an experienced mechanic to be trained in the correct procedures on board, they are then signed off and released to their boat, new pilots are treated the same 95% of the time.
It's sad to say that Tropic's rival company doesn't do this, their crew, as soon as they step off the plane, in most cases go straight onto the boat, talk about deep end training. I was one of them just quietly !!!
I have been in this industry for over 10 years, around it for 20, 8 of them flying off the boats
and I just loved it. It's certainly an experience that you get no where else, that's for sure !!!!
This will be my last year, my contract finishes in June, moving on to bigger and better machines if everything goes to plan.
Tropic are differently not a "rogue operator" ....... a lot of changes have taken place in their hangar over the last two years, mechanic's are screened more closely, all new mechanic's have a mandatory OJT of a month to three months in the hangar (depending on their experience), where they are assessed before being released to the boats, if they are no good they are sent home. In most cases a mechanic will be sent out with an experienced mechanic to be trained in the correct procedures on board, they are then signed off and released to their boat, new pilots are treated the same 95% of the time.
It's sad to say that Tropic's rival company doesn't do this, their crew, as soon as they step off the plane, in most cases go straight onto the boat, talk about deep end training. I was one of them just quietly !!!
I have been in this industry for over 10 years, around it for 20, 8 of them flying off the boats
and I just loved it. It's certainly an experience that you get no where else, that's for sure !!!!
This will be my last year, my contract finishes in June, moving on to bigger and better machines if everything goes to plan.
Last edited by duffman58; 18th Apr 2012 at 00:28. Reason: can't put a sentence together to save myself
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tropic hanson
hi duffman!
i am in contact with an operator based in guam, but could not find out where tropic is located at. are they in guam as well? and what is live like beyond the flying? how is the boat furnished? things like that.....
ck
i am in contact with an operator based in guam, but could not find out where tropic is located at. are they in guam as well? and what is live like beyond the flying? how is the boat furnished? things like that.....
ck
Last edited by captain kurt; 14th Sep 2012 at 18:53.
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Yeah dude I know, read through this thread like 100 times. Id just like to know how it looks right now, anyone out there who could tell me some bout the openings(if there are any) in the business right now!...
Helistudent your video clip!
Is that the head of HR, where do we apply! That aside does anyone have any pics or video of tuna spotting for the boats, the boats also use light airplanes( yes watching too much national geo tv!)