Weather Modification, Inc.

[jrh]

Anyone know about this company?

http://www.weathermod.com/

I got talking to a former Weather Mod pilot last weekend and he was trying to get me to fly for them. Said he'd talk to the top guy, give me a recommendation and everything...thought he could get me in, even with low multi time. Said they pay pretty well and it's fun flying.

But the same guy also seemed like a bit of a character. I was less than impressed with his knowledge (or lack thereof) of systems, operating procedures, or regulations. Honestly, he just came off as kind of shady. It's a long story, but it almost sounded like he flew for Weather Mod because he couldn't hack it as a flight instructor or an airline pilot.

If he represents the entire company, I'm not interested, but if all the good things he says are true, then maybe I'll head there for a season. So what's the word?

[SoCalAprch]

Is this what Chem Trails is?

[Screaming_Emu]

I had an instructor who did weather mod. I'm not sure if it was for this company but he really enjoyed it. Really an interesting kind of flying.

[BajtheJino]

Originally Posted by jrh

But the same guy also seemed like a bit of a character. I was less than impressed with his knowledge (or lack thereof) of systems, operating procedures, or regulations.

Maybe he didn't like being interrogated?
Operating Procedures for seeding clouds-fly into cloud, release stuff. Exit cloud. Repeat.

I know a lot of 'tards that flight instruct, fly airliners, light twins and everything in between that don't remember a lot of what they've learned. I dumped all the useless CFI reg's and junk a long time ago. Does that make my company "shady". Don't rush to judge because they don't meet your standards.

[BuickCFI]

weather mod would be a lot of fun! i never looked into it much though because the company up here wants you do have quite a few meteorology classes. edit: after clicking the link THAT is the company up here :lol:

[XcalibeR]

Originally Posted by jrh

Anyone know about this company?

http://www.weathermod.com/

I got talking to a former Weather Mod pilot last weekend and he was trying to get me to fly for them. Said he'd talk to the top guy, give me a recommendation and everything...thought he could get me in, even with low multi time. Said they pay pretty well and it's fun flying.

But the same guy also seemed like a bit of a character. I was less than impressed with his knowledge (or lack thereof) of systems, operating procedures, or regulations. Honestly, he just came off as kind of shady. It's a long story, but it almost sounded like he flew for Weather Mod because he couldn't hack it as a flight instructor or an airline pilot.

If he represents the entire company, I'm not interested, but if all the good things he says are true, then maybe I'll head there for a season. So what's the word?

Out of curiosity, who did you talk to (pm me if you want)? I've got a friend who works for them as PIC. He's a very smart guy, and a great pilot. He loves doing weather mod, so he's right at home there. I think he's out in California doing some seeding down there for the time being. They also do an internship thing up here at UND where students can fly as SIC over the summer. I have two friends who are planning on doing that, too. They tell me that for the most part, the company seeds in western ND, with other branches doing SD and NE. I've also been down and gotten a tour of the facility from said friend-who-is-in-Cali, the planes are all in good shape, good maintenance (Fargo Jet Center, Weather Mod Inc., and MeritCare LifeFlight I think are all owned by the same entity, and therefore use the same facility), and they do their own construction and maintenance on the actual seeding...flare holder...tube...gun...apparatus...thing.

I don't really know enough about them to say whether their "great" or not, but I do know that the people I know like working there. I can probably get you more information if you want it, just pm me.

[jrh]

Originally Posted by BajtheJino

Maybe he didn't like being interrogated?
Operating Procedures for seeding clouds-fly into cloud, release stuff. Exit cloud. Repeat.

I know a lot of 'tards that flight instruct, fly airliners, light twins and everything in between that don't remember a lot of what they've learned. I dumped all the useless CFI reg's and junk a long time ago. Does that make my company "shady". Don't rush to judge because they don't meet your standards.

Thanks for assuming I "interrogated" him.

We actually had a friendly conversation off and on for a couple hours at my drop zone between loads of skydivers I was flying.

The reason I say I wasn't impressed by him has nothing to do with his knowledge of cloud seeding. In fact, we didn't even talk specifics of cloud seeding very much.

What I didn't like were some comments he made about basic flying knowledge. He didn't seem to have a solid understanding of how manifold pressure works in a constant speed prop system. This came about because of our discussion of the DZ's operating procedures for our C-182.

He talked about logging time in what I consider to be very shady ways...things like two flight instructors flying together and logging dual given/received just so they could both get multi time, even though no instruction was taking place. Or worse yet, him giving instruction on a cross country trip, falling asleep, and telling the trainee to wake him up when they were 30 miles from their destination. I don't consider that to be a wise operating procedure.

He held flight instructor certificates and we talked about instructing for a while, and frankly he didn't sound like he knew what he was doing when it came to teaching. Again, I'm talking about basic concepts like staying coordinated.

He said he'd been investigated by the FAA for something, and it's a very long story, but I can tell you beyond a doubt that the facts of the story didn't make any sense to me. He claimed the FAA's only problem with him was that he hadn't declared an emergency after several instrument failures in IMC, when to me it sounded like he exercised poor judgement at multiple levels.

He also told me he'd gone through ground school at an *airline* flying 1900s out of Wichita, KS, but quit when they sprung a $15,000 training contract on him at the end of ground school. I'm not aware of any regional airlines with training bases in Wichita. When I asked him what the name of the airline was, he couldn't remember. Does that not sound slightly shady, to forget the name of an airline whose ground school you supposedly went through only a few years ago?

Oh, and I forgot to mention this guy ultimately left flying because even though he had "thousands" of hours of Cessna 340 time, he found he could make more money throwing garbage. That's right...he left flying to become one of those guys who dumps garbage cans in to the back of a garbage truck. Does that not seem a bit odd?



Now, back to the original question. Anyone know how good or bad Weather Mod is? Good quality time? Good experience?

[Itchy]

Originally Posted by jrh

Oh, and I forgot to mention this guy ultimately left flying because even though he had "thousands" of hours of Cessna 340 time, he found he could make more money throwing garbage. That's right...he left flying to become one of those guys who dumps garbage cans in to the back of a garbage truck. Does that not seem a bit odd?

That part does not sound so odd at all. 50K year is possible. Home every day or night is definite. I know of cases in the past where the guys throwing bags on a commuter made more than either pilot on it.

It really sounds like you found this guy lacking. That in and of itself, does not mean that he was.

[jrh]

Originally Posted by Itchy

That part does not sound so odd at all. 50K year is possible. Home every day or night is definite. I know of cases in the past where the guys throwing bags on a commuter made more than either pilot on it.

It really sounds like you found this guy lacking. That in and of itself, does not mean that he was.

Fair enough. I guess we all have reasons for doing what we do.

For what it's worth though, the guy never once complained about being on the road a lot as a pilot. He didn't seem to mind the lifestyle. He mainly talked about the money available with different jobs, which lead me to believe he cared more about money than QOL.

I thought a pilot with his experience could get a job making more than $50k, therefore I thought there must be something else fishy going on with his career, but maybe I'm way too judgemental.