Any South Texas pipeline (ex or current) guys?

[mooneyguy]

First off, if this is in the wrong spot sorry, I didnt see any place i thought it would fit. However Im curious. I should have my Commercial ticket by mid summer, and was curious about the "life" of being a pipeline pilot i.e. schedules, pay, bases, equipment etc.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Being 39 im not sure if I will have the time to get a cfi ticket to time build. I have my own plane im flying as much as possible. but will still need to build 600 or so hrs real quick (not getting any younger!)
Also, if you are an ex pipeliner and now flying regional, how did the pipeline time look to the airlines?
Thanks
Tim

[mooneyguy]

would appreciate any info from any pipeliner (not just texas)
Thanks
Tim

[Stone Cold]

I didn't do pipeline, but did aerial survey and we had a pipeline guy. He flew low-level heat of the day type of flying. Apparently he liked it enough, since he had been there for a while. I don't know where his route was, or how it paid, but it was a 172 and flying in desolate areas at 500' and below, from what I was told. I was also told he was, shall we say, a different character...

I know this probably didn't help, but it's all I got!!

[murphfly]

I've never pipelined but I have two friends that did it. One loves it and is still doing it, the other eventually got tired of it and quit to get a CFI job. They work for Barr Air Patrol out of Mesquite, TX (DFW metroplex). Hope it helps...

[dcramer16]

I see that this question was asked back in march but thought I would still reply as I am a pipeliner.

First off, pipeline isn't a temp job to build time to get to the airlines fast. It is a great time builder, I log around 150 hours a month on average. Our company has planes out 7 days a week even on holidays, the oil is always pumping, and I fly 6 days a week. So it is a great time builder. HOWEVER, it takes anywhere from 1-2 months just to learn your route. With that much time invested in training you the company expects you to stay for a while (our company requires a 1 year training contract). So, yes and no, it's a great time builder, but maybe not the fastest way to the airlines. I started in May, and am just now starting to feel comfortable flying my route. I started with 460TT and already now have close to 950.

The reason I said it takes a month or two to learn your route is this. Most people, including me thought "oh you just fly over a pipeline, can't be that hard" Oh was I wrong! You have to learn each indivudual field. On my route right now, in the course of the week I fly over 38 different fields. Each one is unique. The don't have definative boundaries. You really have to get out the maps to see where "your" field ends and "another" begins. Some fields you look at some pumps while ignoring others because you'll get several different companies building in the same field and you're only flying for one of them. When you find a leak, you have to get out your maps because often times the pumps don't have a painted number on them.

The schedule is great. I work 6 days a week because I choose to. I work Tue-Sun. On Tue I leave airport at 8am and am home by 2pm. On Wed I leave at 8am and am back home (in my apartment) by 3. Thur 8-5, Fri 8-2, Sat 8-3, Sun 8-2. So basically I am home early afternoon on almost every day. It depends on how many leaks you find also. I average 2 a day, and currently hold the highest average for the company.

Pay is good enough for me. I usually bring home 2k/mo. A lot of my friends are working for the regionals making less than me logging 30 hours a month. BUT, they are also flying cool jets too while I am still in a 172! Thats the only drawback.

Pipeline is a blast. 99% of my flying is below 300agl and when I find a leak and "lead a oil pumper" to it, it usually involves 60 degree bank turns not much more than 50 feet off the ground, dive bombing the pump as low as 20FT AGL, Chandells no more than 200 AGL, and a lot of power line and antanna dodging!

The job isn't for everyone. We have had people come out to do rides with us to see if they were interested, and some like it, but a lot either come close to puking or peeing their pants only an hour into the flight, and a lot of times this is really before we have done anything wild that makes up a large portion of our day. The best way to describe it is a CONSTANT rollercoaster ride really really low to the ground.

Like I said the drawback is you aren't flying cool jets, but it has so many positives that it's a great job. Your home every afternoon, the pay is very liveable, it's not flying from "point a to point b", and if you pick the right company the people are GREAT! BUT IT IS NOT A TEMP JOB. It can be the most challenging flying you may ever do, and takes a long time to learn. Hope this gives you a bit more information. Good Luck.

[Berkut]

Wow, I had no idea leaks were that common. No wonder they keep you guys flying so much. Where are you located, Dcramer? How does one get into this kind of flying? Do you usually fly alone?

This kind of job has always appealed to me. Small airplanes are more fun.

[dcramer16]

Originally Posted by Berkut

Wow, I had no idea leaks were that common. No wonder they keep you guys flying so much. Where are you located, Dcramer? How does one get into this kind of flying? Do you usually fly alone?

This kind of job has always appealed to me. Small airplanes are more fun.

I am located in Midland, TX. There are several companies in the area. PM me for our company info.

When it comes to the leaks, figure what, oil is somewhere around $60 a barrell or something like that (I don't keep up with it), and a leak can easily pump out that much in minutes, also, the cleanup costs I have been told can be anywhere from 20K - 100K or more, so all it takes is us finding one leak and it pays for the rest of the year to have us fly the field. That is what I have been told.

All the time we fly is solo cross country (cross country because we land at other airports for fuel) in a C172. Some companies have 182's. Like I said earlier it's really like a roller coaster really really close to the ground! It's a blast, and I'm home every afternoon. I think another benefit about the job is I don't have to go to the airlines and become one of the "bitter, sarcastic, conceited, narcissistic, egotistical, tormented jerks" that JC is full of. It's aviation, very enjoyable, and it doesn't bring you to that level. (Feel free to leave your sarcastic bitter remarks, cause I love my job!)

You need about 500PIC to start for our company. Because it is not really a "time building temp job" some companies want you to have 1200TT or more, of course they usually pay more than we do. Our company is full right now, but it can always change. If you're interested PM me.

[Berkut]

Ah, thanks for the info. I only have about 250 hours or so, so it looks like most of these places probably wouldn't be interested in me yet. It does sound like a fun job though. Maybe after I get current again and get closer to their times...

[belliott]

Originally Posted by dcramer16

I am located in Midland, TX. There are several companies in the area. PM me for our company info.

When it comes to the leaks, figure what, oil is somewhere around $60 a barrell or something like that (I don't keep up with it), and a leak can easily pump out that much in minutes, also, the cleanup costs I have been told can be anywhere from 20K - 100K or more, so all it takes is us finding one leak and it pays for the rest of the year to have us fly the field. That is what I have been told.

All the time we fly is solo cross country (cross country because we land at other airports for fuel) in a C172. Some companies have 182's. Like I said earlier it's really like a roller coaster really really close to the ground! It's a blast, and I'm home every afternoon. I think another benefit about the job is I don't have to go to the airlines and become one of the "bitter, sarcastic, conceited, narcissistic, egotistical, tormented jerks" that JC is full of. It's aviation, very enjoyable, and it doesn't bring you to that level. (Feel free to leave your sarcastic bitter remarks, cause I love my job!)

You need about 500PIC to start for our company. Because it is not really a "time building temp job" some companies want you to have 1200TT or more, of course they usually pay more than we do. Our company is full right now, but it can always change. If you're interested PM me.

You are in Midland!!!!! I am based out of Pecos.... not flying pipeline but wx mod.... swing on down and I'll buy you a beer ( non acoholic of course)!

[dcramer16]

Originally Posted by belliott

You are in Midland!!!!! I am based out of Pecos.... not flying pipeline but wx mod.... swing on down and I'll buy you a beer ( non acoholic of course)!

Really! I have a possible part-time opp for West TX wx mod based out of San Angelo, are you with the same company? Are you guys looking for part time? I fly a field about 30 miles east of Pecos, so I might be able to take you up on the offer, send me a pm.

[belliott]

PM sent.... no part time right now.... but we are working on both domestic and international contracts for our (read the US) winter season.

[MFT1Air]

PM sent. . .