Flying in Alaska

[Magumba]

Gents,
A question for anyone with experience working part time in Alaska. Do you know if a pilot can collect unemployment in the off season until finding another job?
Also I've heard that you can make enough money in the summer to get through the winter. Does anyone really do this?
Any help would be usefull.
Thanks.

[helidrvr]

You can expect to earn $5-7k/month with no expenses and 5 months' work is about max. Where you spend the winter will determine if you can make it on that till next season. If you go to Venezuela, you'll live like a king. When I was there 3 years ago, I had to make an effort to spend more than $1k/month. Now I'm in Trinidad where you can live very comfortable on $2k/month.

About unemployment insurance I don't know anything.

Hope that this helps a little.

[Magumba]

Thanks for the reply.

I have often wanted to do the Alaska flying thing. Now may be the best time, don't want to wait till I'm too old and grey.

By the way you have a nice web site.

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Keep your turns up!

[Floater]

Howdy to all - a new pruner here, and what a great find this site is I must say!

I worked in Alaska for a season a few years ago and claimed umemployment after, as did some of my colleagues. While you are up there pop into the local office and sort it all out there before you leave.

As for wages, $5-7K per month seems a bit high to me, but maybe it's possible if you get on with a busy company and get out into the bush a lot and rake in the per diem, especially if you are a long liner and do Government fires etc..

I agree that 5 months is about all you can expect, if that, and commonly things start around early May.

Good luck