The Road to 1500

08/18/2025

This is among the reasons why there’s only so much I can share with everyone. Never gatekeeping, but some stuff has to remain confidential, to avoid this to happen.

Always looking for ways to help as much/many as possible though!

Send a message to learn more

07/28/2025

Whoever hasn’t applied yet, better get to it.

07/28/2025

Best of luck guys!

06/10/2025

Make insurance "like" you, get training with Jumpers Away! 🪂

06/07/2025

Mark your calendars! 🗓️

Skylens, an aerial survey company hiring low-time pilots (as in, sub-1000TT), will be accepting resumes next month.

DOs and DONTs
• Don’t apply now thinking you’re going to get ahead of the rest, you’re not.
• Do set an alarm at 12:01 AM. Last year, they had well over 200 applicants before noon. They decided to process everyone anyway but if they decide not to this time, make sure you submit early within window.

They are the most transparent company when it comes to hiring. Everything you need to know about the job can easily be found online. Yes, everything.

You’ll be on the road for 7 months STRAIGHT, either flying a 172, a 182 or an Aztec. Expect at least 500 hours at the end of the season. One of the best time-building jobs. Full breakdown of the job linked in the comments.

I’ll post updates, but follow THEIR page for official stuff.

Talk soon!

03/26/2025

I’m not a fan of the big aviation job boards—and if you’re an OG reader, you already know that.

For low-time pilots, they’re hardly worth their price.

It’s mostly contract and corporate positions that are advertised, meaning ATP-like qualifications required.

However, a popular one has pleasantly surprised me this month.

It had 5 real low-time pilot jobs posted!

THAT, is worth the $20 they charge in my opinion.

I even landed my next job through it.

Which one am I talking about? climbto350.

So yes, I take back what I said, climbto350 is NOT a scam.

Granted, all 5 were C182 jump pilot jobs. It’s about the time of year dropzones are hiring pilots, so I don’t expect to see ANY other actual low-time jobs posted there anytime soon.

And I actually knew 3 of those were hiring, BEFORE they were even advertised on climbto350.

Doing your own research still beats solely relying on job boards.

But they are a nice addition to your tools in seasonal hiring like this…

Good luck to all those applying for said jump pilot jobs. I interviewed for all 5, so if you have questions, feel free to ask.
- Ivan

P.S: there’s probably 3 left, and they are definitely swamped with resumes already.

01/26/2025

Barr Air Patrol is looking for a single-engine Cessna pilot (C172, C182, C185, C206) in West Georgia. No minimum total time is listed—historically, they used to ask for 600TT at least—and local candidates preferred because you must live within one hour of the aircraft’s base. Salary depends on experience, starts at $45k.

It’s a pipeline patrol job, 500’ AGL VFR flying. Click the link if you’re interested.

Quick Community Note in the making, keep an eye on your email inbox.

Good luck.

Pipeline patrol Captain needed west Georgia, with airport TBD based on successful candidate. Patrol captain is responsible for operating a single-engine aircraft at 500’agl in complex airspace environments while performing a high-quality patrol. Additional duties include technology interaction wit...

11/15/2024

Low time pilot job alert! 🫵

As a local, I would apply myself, but i definitely didn’t get 200 hours of flight time these last 12 months, and my Spanish is conversational, at best.

So, Sky Tours Miami is hiring Air Tour Pilots. Last I heard, 700 hours total time is competitive for this role.

10/25/2024

Who wouldn’t want to eat lots of Chipotle Mexican Grill? 🌯

Sol Aerial Surveys is hiring, apply today!

We’re hiring Aerial Survey Pilots!!

We have a start date in late December and one in early January. Apply using the link below!

https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/solaerialsurveysllc/jobs/4550368007

Required Qualifications

- 450 Total Hours
- 80 Multi-Engine Hours
- FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Certificate (current and proficient - Day and Night)
- FAA Instrument Rating (current and proficient)
- High-Performance & Complex Endorsement
- Valid First or Second Class Medical
- Valid Drivers License and Passport
- Authorized to work in the United States
- Ability to travel to Canada
- No Accidents or Incidents

Benefits

- Home-Based
- 16 days on and 12 off with dedicated and paid travel days
- Pay Above Industry Standard
- Generous Hotel Allowance and Per Diem
- Company-Paid Travel Expenses and Rental Car
- Health Insurance Options (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
- 401k with Company Match
- Instrument Currency Program
- Industry leading in-house training program
- Cross-country flying and experience navigating diverse weather patterns and complex airspace
- Monthly Health and Wellness Credit
- Advancement opportunities and at home work projects available
- Dynamic Team Environment

What You’ll Do

- Safely conduct aerial survey missions under CFR Part 91
- Fly planes located anywhere in the lower 48 or Canada, including relocations cross country
- Operate Multi-Engine Aircraft single pilot as PIC
- Manage the aircrafts movements and airports cross country
- Maintain a clean aircraft (interior and exterior)
- Complete daily forms about aircraft condition
- Monitor dynamic weather systems and patterns continuously while staffing an aircraft anywhere in the country.
- Typically work with Flight Operations and in-house Maintenance Team on decision making
- Work with maintenance facilities throughout the country to maintain a safe and airworthy aircraft
- Work above 8,000’ AGL including Class A
- Flights as long as 8 hours over large metropolitan areas
- Navigate high traffic airspaces, restricted and prohibited airspaces and the SFRA
- Monitor aircraft maintenance requirements and work with in house maintenance team (coordinate and verify completion)
- Coordinate maintenance on the field and verify completion and safety standards
- Utilize company programs to maintain flight records and aircraft status
- Handle all travel accommodations within company policy
- Contribute to the team structure and offer input on aircraft decisions in team settings at regular check ins
- Eat lots of Chipotle (Probably, it’s really up to you)

07/21/2024

Aerial survey hiring season is here!

I’ve been researching and talking about it for over a year now. It’s been a prevalent theme in this newsletter ever since I started it.

After sharing what I found in 51 emails now (soon 52), it’s finally time to submit applications and hope for the best.

That’s today’s email’s theme: make sure we’re all set up. (link in the comments)

Everything about resume and overall career tips, that will help you and me land a job this summer.

Best of luck guys! 👍

07/06/2024

Ocean Aerial Ads in Maryland is looking for a banner cub pilot to fill in for them on the week ends.

If you have experience and are interested, I’ll leave the link to the job post in the comments.

AOPA wrote an article about Ocean Aerial last year, link also in the comments, and we interviewed one of their current pilots to learn the details about the job. That email will be sent tomorrow.

05/06/2024

For those of you who may have missed it, quick announcement! 📢

After 3 months of deep dives focused on the aerial survey industry, we will be dedicating the month of May to skydiving ops.
The following months will each be centered around a different low time pilot job market.

In yesterday’s email, Connor shared everything there is to know about being a jump pilot in the Big Island of Hawaii.

(link in the comments if you want to check it out)