GreatScott

Hello there. Just trying to gather info. I'm working on my Commercial Multi and Single, should have them both done in a few months. I've been reading up on who actually hires people with 260-ish hours, like I will have after I finish these latest certificates, and Skylens seems like a good gig.

I've read that if you get on there you will work A LOT, which is great. Can anyone provide a little more detail as to what a typical day / week / month in the life is like there? Is it at all commutable or would I have to move to Louisiana? (Which I am willing to do).

Thanks in advance.

yrbroom

You basically fly all day, every day given weather and maintenance. Some survey companies give a couple week-long vacations periods, but I don't believe SkyLens is one of those companies. It's not a commutable job. You wouldn't necessarily live in Louisiana. You'd go there for training and then from there take your 172 wherever they assign you to work. Maybe you're in Seattle for a 2 weeks (they said you'd be there 2 months), and then you get assigned a new project outside of Chicago and now you're there for 2 months. The contracts you're working can change pretty quickly. Typical day, given good weather and a project to work on-- wake up, breakfast, weather check, fly 4+ hours, lunch break, weather check, fly 4+ hours, do some paperwork at the end of the day, hotel, dinner, sleep, repeat. The next day you could have low clouds in the area and you have the day off. The next day you could be ferrying from one location to the next.

It is definitely one of the best ways to build a lot of time very fast though. And SkyLens seems to be one of the better companies out there.

GreatScott

Thanks for the quick reply. If I can ask one more question. I know Skylens also flies twins. If I go in there starting in the 172, would there be an opportunity eventually to get promoted to the twins, given I’ll have my Comm Multi? It’ll be only the 25 hours of training I did, so would that make me eligible, or would I have to get more twin time on my own to qualify?

rnfnr

I believe the opportunity would be available to you at some point. I heard seniority with the company is more of what determines your eligibility with getting into the twin, while also being appropriately rated of course. Maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

Another one to check out is Sandhills Aviation based in Lincoln, NE; it's another Picto vendor. I don't think they have any twins yet, but they do offer a rotation schedule, something like 4 weeks on / 2 weeks off, and they will fly you to/from the project locations out of your home airport. Some of the other vendors might also offer this type of schedule.

Good luck!!

GreatScott

Thanks for that, sounds like another good company to consider. They’re page says 500 hours total time req so I’ll have to wait till later for them, but it sounds like a pretty decent gig.

yrbroom

Bryan at SkyLens said that their multi minimums for insurance purposes are 50 multi & 10 in an Aztec. There's a thread over at Jetcareers in the employment/jobs available section started by Bryan from SkyLens. He said he'll post a new thread when he's ready for resumes, with the first class being early October.

rnfnr

I was hired there with less than half that.

GreatScott

Good to know, thanks!

Av8er1550

SkyLens is a great company. I had such a blast with it. Your schedule does change a lot but Bryan runs a good company.

milldog60

Is there an imager/ photographer with you? Or does pilot fly and scan?


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