Low time pilot applying everywhere for survey/pipeline work — what else is out there?
Posted by jacobmufska628@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 47 comments
Hey everyone, I’m a low time pilot with 292 hours trying to break into pipeline/survey/aerial work. I’ve been applying pretty aggressively but not getting much traction so far.
Companies I’ve applied to:
Williams Aerial Mapping, JAV Imagery, ProStar, Optic Air, SOL Aerial Survey, Sky Lens, Air America, KCSI, Fugro, EagleView
At this point I’m trying to stay out of flight instructing if possible, but realistically I’m open to pretty much any pilot job just to build time and get in the door somewhere.
Are there any other companies or types of flying jobs I should be looking at that people usually overlook at this time level? Or any regions that tend to hire low time survey/pipeline pilots more often? Thanks
xtrapickles71@reddit
Just here to say don’t feel bad about the guys giving you grief over CFI/instructing. I’ve had my cert for almost 3 years and have struggled to find a position the entire time. The market is so saturated and competitive-handshakes and dropping off resumes in person don’t cut it anymore, flight schools have stacks of resumes on hand at any given time and that’s aside from their internal CFI-graduates looking for a spot-especially in states like Florida and California. I’ve done independent stuff but still had to work non-aviation gigs to survive. It’s not you, it’s the timing.
blacknessofthevoid@reddit
I read those posts here weekly and the same thought keeps popping into my head. How is this not a pyramid scheme?
You want to be a pilot? Well you have to “recruit” a bunch of people underneath you to get the “hours”. Once you get your hours and “make it”, they get recruit bunch of other people to get their “hours”.
There is really no other purpose to the system any more. General Aviation as an industry in itself is dying amongst increasing costs and liabilities.
sigmapilot@reddit
It is a pyramid scheme
One reason it hasn't collapsed yet is the huge number of international students who come to the USA for flight training and then go back to their country
Difficult to find exact statistics, but for example, 40% of all commercial licenses in India each year are conversion from abroad, and the "majority" are from training in the USA. etc. similar for many asian countries
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/40-pc-of-commercial-pilot-licenses-in-india-issued-to-cadets-trained-in-foreign-countries-govt-121121300944_1.html
Purple_Ad_8897@reddit
So… you’re saying we should apply to airlines in India?
ThrowRAhelgapataki@reddit
You really have to put yourself in the position of hiring.
To your example, you have 292 hours and a fresh commercial certificate. You have something 20,000+ pilots got in 2024 alone.
There were 12,000+ CFIs awarded in 2024. Those are also a lot of pilots with your same hours, but they have another certificate that helps immensely with their insurance requirements. It also shows initiative. So even if you’re not using it, it would be wise to get a CFI. Start looking down the road too. A lot of 91, 135 jobs now have CFI/CFII preferred. Anyone can do the bare minimum but pilots who continue building experience through new ratings are the desired candidates. It shows you can be trained (they’re investing in that) and that you invested in your career.
Great job on getting this far but unfortunately, you are not very unique.
sigmapilot@reddit
lol
There are some airlines that recruit internationally, I think it's mostly for experienced pilots with time on type though...
Some people will occasionally post rumors on here of various groups that hire low time pilots internationally and then provide 0 follow up information and respond to 0 questions about it
Heavy_Notice3544@reddit
EagleView our minimums are 450, but in the 1.5 years I’ve been here I see a new guys have 600 on the low end and average 700-800hrs when they get hired. Mostly CFIs and half of those are MEI. We do have a few plain Jane CMEL guys, but not as common. We keep about 20 pilots and the application pool is ALWAYS well over 800 applicants.
Stay away from JAV/Prostar/Optic and Northwoods. Their pay/QOL/schedule as total ass and maintenance is questionable if I’m being optimistic. Safety isn’t a priority for them just capture.
SOL is a great outfit. I’ve know 5 pilots there personally. Good luck with that one. I know the assistant chief and 4 previous pilots with references and didn’t get a call back 🤷♂️
2002_4Runnersr5@reddit
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usmcmech@reddit
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RaiseTheDed@reddit
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Yachtorato@reddit
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Wasatcher@reddit
Lmao Jesus Christ
Frequent-Cicada-2938@reddit
Jesus take the controlsssss. Take it from my handdd
Murky_Digger@reddit
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minfremi@reddit
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Murky_Digger@reddit
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minfremi@reddit
🍮
draggingmytail@reddit
Duuuude
chupchupandaway@reddit
Wowsers once in a lifetime setup for a joke right there. Very well executed!
RaiseTheDed@reddit
Goodbye
AV_NAV_COMM_PROFIT@reddit
That T hit hard
SlicerShanks@reddit
It often does
burnheartmusic@reddit
Buddy, you’re gonna be looking for a long time..
redditburner_5000@reddit
Why do you want to avoid the one job that's most likely to deliver what you need?
No_Currency5230@reddit
If u buy 200hrs u might have a better chance at 500hrs
4surenotathroeawhey@reddit
Have you tried Keystone?
Buzz407@reddit
Unless you know someone, you're competing against guys with way more hours, probably experience doing that very thing, and who are willing to defile themselves in all manner of terrible ways. These guys aren't running charities and insurance rates are no joke.
Not saying it can't happen but it isn't likely enough to hang your hat on.
SadSupport4999@reddit
A lot of those companies have minimums of 3 or 4 hundred something hours. Why should they hire you below minimums?
x4457@reddit
Flight instruction.
Anon332563@reddit
At this point there should just be a "Just become a CFI" flair
0621Hertz@reddit
The more the CFI pyramid grows, one day that will be 100%
AGroAllDay@reddit
Here we go everyone! It’s time. Say it with me!
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Scary_Ad_2485@reddit
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iusedtobeinteresting@reddit
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minfremi@reddit
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Wasatcher@reddit
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LaloMcNombres@reddit
Being a CFI was some of the most fun I’ve ever had flying.
JumboTrijet@reddit
Being a CFI is also better time all around than pipeline/power line/survey
flylowslow@reddit
Banner towing
StrongWork_@reddit
My CFI got a part time/seasonal gig doing mosquito spraying. But he still has to CFI to feed himself (which apparently isn't going so well this year).
RaiseTheDed@reddit
To explain why everyone is saying to instruct:
Immediately pre and post COVID there was lots of hiring happening. CFIs were in hot demand, as they kept going to regionals. I think my relatively small school would hire at least a new instructor every month. Big schools would be hiring way more. Getting a non-CFI low time pilot job was hard then. Companies would reach hundreds, if not thousands, of applicants. For one open position. Many would spend 6 months or longer looking for a low time job, and eventually get their CFI anyway.
With that information, now read u/x4457's post on the state of the industry.
Now look at today. There are CFIs who are sending out applications to hundreds of schools with no answer. From contextual clues, you have zero connections to these companies. Even during the hiring boom, most of the pilots getting hired at these companies had connections within the company. I wouldn't be surprised if these companies get thousands of applications a week now.
Now tell me if you think not getting your CFI is a good idea. Even with the folks saying they are sending out hundreds of applications to schools, they have a better chance of getting a job than you and do.
Strigon21@reddit
You almost definitely have to be a CFI unless you've got connections with one of those companies. Your other options are the military and paying for the time yourself. Now this does not mean you absolutely must instruct the whole way to 1500+ hours. Just talk to as many people around aviation as you can and take what you can get.
BozoThePilot@reddit
Why are you so against flight instructing?
You're competing with other flight instructors for those jobs until you get some kind of stand-out experience.
I've flown pistons on the other side of the world and that opportunity, among others, would never have come if I wasn't a flight instructor.
coolishrose21@reddit
Why haven’t you applied to American patrols?
jacobmufska628@reddit (OP)
Didn't get the job
EliteEthos@reddit
Have you heard of CFI?
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hey everyone, I’m a low time pilot with 292 hours trying to break into pipeline/survey/aerial work. I’ve been applying pretty aggressively but not getting much traction so far.
Companies I’ve applied to:
Williams Aerial Mapping, JAV Imagery, ProStar, Optic Air, SOL Aerial Survey, Sky Lens, Air America, KCSI, Fugro, EagleView
At this point I’m trying to stay out of flight instructing if possible, but realistically I’m open to pretty much any pilot job just to build time and get in the door somewhere.
Are there any other companies or types of flying jobs I should be looking at that people usually overlook at this time level? Or any regions that tend to hire low time survey/pipeline pilots more often? Thanks
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