Landcare Aviation
08-01-2008, 07:39 PM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 267
Is it possible to get hired for half a season? I live a couple hours away from Rome, NY and plan on dropping off a resume when I head home in a week. Unfortunately I go to school halfway across the countryand commiting to a whole season would mean pretty much no school for a year. But I'd give up spring semester of school for the opportunity to fly half a season.
Also, what's the interview like? Any sim or flight portion?
How do the aircraft get their required inspections while you're out of base? Does Landcare have agreements with other maintenance providers, or do you have to ferry the plane back to Rome?
Also, what's the interview like? Any sim or flight portion?
How do the aircraft get their required inspections while you're out of base? Does Landcare have agreements with other maintenance providers, or do you have to ferry the plane back to Rome?
MX while you're away from base is done at whatever mx facility is on the airport your at, or a near by airport if there isn't one on the field (unlikely). If you're really close to Rome then they may have you fly it back, but you'll have a credit card for the mx.
My experience, I was hired in after the season started. I took a train to get to my plane from Rome to NYC. Then I didn't go back to Rome till my last day. I was as far east as north carolina and as far west as texas. I'd plan on never being near home, living out of hotels with some cool guys, making great friends, and becoming a better pilot.
08-02-2008, 03:23 PM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,288
Hey guys,
Saw the name Landcare and had to pop in to see what the talk was about.
To the original poster, I flew for Desert Wind Air Service, which is basically the same thing as Landcare, except we don't have any multi-engine planes. Both are contracted by the same company, and work pretty similarly.
Desert Wind did the pay a bit differently however, we were paid $2200 / month after taxes. Rental car, hotel (double occupancy), and everything associated with the plane were paid for by the company. You just had to worry about food / entertainment / bills... It was really nice.
As they mentioned, the flying is some of the best out there. We mapped the White House, Bush's ranch in Texas, Edwards Airforce base in CA, etc etc. When I was there we were going anywhere in the contiguous 48 states, migrating with the seasons.
Also, no autopilot, and you really do get sooo comfortable with the radios and flying, etc. Thats not to say that there werent some scarry times... flying a 172 around with all your baggage and all the camera equipment on a hot summer day is brutal. Our season seemed to go about Sept to June... and 10 months away at a time is a long time.
For the Landcare guys.. my favorite was always requesting to move somewhere and ATC is like..
"nope".
"Okay, I'd like to orbit here until you can get me in there"
"How long will you be there"
"About 3 hours slowly working my way south"
"931 proceed as requested"
Last thing, as they said you can sure build up a lot of time quickly. I remember getting two oil changes in one week! But the opposite is also true. We were mapping down near the Harlingen TX area, and it was low clouds every fricking day. It took us almost 2 months to finish that area. (You get to know the FBO and Hotel girls really well). To answer the maintenance question for us, the annuals were done in Mesa AZ (where we are based), however while on the road we did a 50 hr oil change, and every other 50 hour oil change was sort an abbreviated 100hr inspection.
Anyway, just wanted to say hello. If ya have any questions feel free to ask!
-Travis
Saw the name Landcare and had to pop in to see what the talk was about.
To the original poster, I flew for Desert Wind Air Service, which is basically the same thing as Landcare, except we don't have any multi-engine planes. Both are contracted by the same company, and work pretty similarly.
Desert Wind did the pay a bit differently however, we were paid $2200 / month after taxes. Rental car, hotel (double occupancy), and everything associated with the plane were paid for by the company. You just had to worry about food / entertainment / bills... It was really nice.
As they mentioned, the flying is some of the best out there. We mapped the White House, Bush's ranch in Texas, Edwards Airforce base in CA, etc etc. When I was there we were going anywhere in the contiguous 48 states, migrating with the seasons.
Also, no autopilot, and you really do get sooo comfortable with the radios and flying, etc. Thats not to say that there werent some scarry times... flying a 172 around with all your baggage and all the camera equipment on a hot summer day is brutal. Our season seemed to go about Sept to June... and 10 months away at a time is a long time.
For the Landcare guys.. my favorite was always requesting to move somewhere and ATC is like..
"nope".
"Okay, I'd like to orbit here until you can get me in there"
"How long will you be there"
"About 3 hours slowly working my way south"
"931 proceed as requested"
Last thing, as they said you can sure build up a lot of time quickly. I remember getting two oil changes in one week! But the opposite is also true. We were mapping down near the Harlingen TX area, and it was low clouds every fricking day. It took us almost 2 months to finish that area. (You get to know the FBO and Hotel girls really well). To answer the maintenance question for us, the annuals were done in Mesa AZ (where we are based), however while on the road we did a 50 hr oil change, and every other 50 hour oil change was sort an abbreviated 100hr inspection.
Anyway, just wanted to say hello. If ya have any questions feel free to ask!
-Travis
08-18-2008, 05:07 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 267
5 planes had Garmin 430's and a second digital flip radio with a nicer xponder, not all had ADF or DME. They all had some type of GPS but some where company provided handhelds. it gets the job. You'll miss playing with a controllable pitch prop and having landing gear after a while but guess that goes for most beginning jobs.
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