Steps to become a Bush Pilot?

Question

I'd like to become a Bush pilot. I'm nearly complete with my degree and I have zero piloting background except for the 2 rides I saved $$$ for with the "God, I wish I was rich so I could enjoy being a pilot" mentality. I even joined the AF because I love aviation and so far it has been only beneficial towards a "legitimate" education in a Bachelor of Arts degree and learning how to follow completely asinine technical orders designed to repair/maintain an aircraft.

Any suggestions on how to become a Bush pilot after hopefully obtaining my private pilot license?

Answer 1

There are very few actual jobs titled "bush pilot." A bush pilot is simply a pilot who has experience flying in "the bush."

Before you burn up your entire GI Bill on a Bachelor's degree you will probably never need, do a bit of checking on flight training. You will have to pay for your own private pilot certificate, but once you have that, the GI Bill or the VA can help pay for additional flight training for your instrument and commercial tickets.

Get a commercial pilots rating, and a certification for tail-wheel aircraft, then head up to Alaska and start your life as a genuine "bush pilot"

Answer 2

Get your commercial and instrument ratings. Maybe tack on a multiengine rating and head for Alaska. Bush outfits don't recruit at college job fairs. You just gotta go where they are.

You'll probably find your first bush job at some raggedy-assed outfit with a justifiably high turnover rate. Your foot will be in the door as you build time and get known. After that it's just a matter of always keeping an ear and eye out for the next opportunity.

Answer 3

Start taking lessons now. Even if its only once a month or two months. You're building time. If you truly want to be a bush pilot you'll need to get your A&P in addition to your licenses. Private, then instrument, then commercial single engine and multi engine. Next get your CFI (certified flight instructor) and start teaching to build time. Once you hit 500 hrs total time you'll be eligible to fly for a charter company. Find a small aviation college that will train you to get your A&P. It usually takes two years. While doing this you can finish your flight training. WARNING: It will be expensive. At least $50,000 to get what ratings you will need (Pvt. Inst. Commercial Single and Multi, CFI, CFII, MEI and possibly your ATP.) Typically charter companies in places like Juneau (not real bush flying unless you're a float pilot) or Anchorage (can get a real bush job) will hire low time guys to fly single engine Cessnas (like the 207). Get your foot in the door and the market will open up for you. Expect long days during the summer with 10-15 legs a day and to fly 120 hrs. a month. Obviously in the winter it will be shorter. When you get entry level experience like this you'll hear about jobs that aren't advertised flying classic birds (DC-6) or jobs with places that fly the Beech 1900 into rock strips. After some experience like that you can find jobs in Idaho flying fishermen into sand bars for the day or jobs with hunting lodges in Alaska. Its hard work but very rewarding. Just remember, no one starts out with their dream job. Its all about building experience and TIME. Be very wary about any bush jobs in Africa. Most of the descent ones are taken by guys from South Africa. The ones left over are usually BS. They'll tell you great things and when you show up you'll find out they want you to pay for training in their aircraft and pay to have your licenses converted to what ever country's officiating agency is issuing. The only way I'd ever go to Africa and fly is if I got a job with a humanitarian agency like Airserv.

Answer 4

very good question because I would love to do the same thing. Wish I knew, I'll be watching for answers on this one. Star added