Ask My Sky Mom. Aviation wit and wisdom.

Hey Mom,

I just retired from my job and was wanting something to do involving flying. I am hoping to fly for the forest department watching for fires. What is involved in obtaining this limited commercial license? I’m not wanting to invest the cost of going through an instrument rating.

Thanks,

Smoky the Bear Takes to the Air

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Hi Smoky,

Sounds like a great goal and a lot of fun!  You’ll have two major considerations: What do the feds (the FAA) have to say, and how do the feds (the Forestry Service) feel about this?  Lets start with the people who will be issuing you your commercial pilot certificate.

The FARs are pretty clear on this one.  FAR 61.133 states that,

“A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category or powered-lift category rating and does not hold an instrument rating in the same category and class will be issued a commercial pilot certificate that contains the limitation, “The carriage of passengers for hire in airplanes or powered lifts on cross-country flights in excess of 50 nautical miles or at night is prohibited.” The limitation may be removed when the person satisfactorily accomplishes the requirements listed in §61.65 of this part for an instrument rating in the same category and class of aircraft listed on the person’s commercial pilot certificate.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJYUMuqCyQc]

OK.  You’ll be limited in your passenger carrying capabilities, but otherwise this shouldn’t be a problem.  So do the forestry folks expect you to always fly solo at night or when more than 50 miles from home?  And will their insurance allow for the hiring of a pilot without an instrument rating in any case?  Don’t worry, I did your homework for you this time.  Have a look at the US Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management jobs site for a quick overview of what they do and how they do it.  And here are their minimum qualifications for hiring, which unfortunately for you, DO include an instrument rating.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but an instrument rating is just the beginning of what these folks want.  They require at minimum a commercial certificate with instrument and single and multi-engine land ratings, and a second class medical certificate with total time of at least 1,200 hours including PIC 250 hours, multi-engine 500 hours, IFR & Night 100 hours, and at least 100 hours in the last 12 months.  A tidy little resume to amass, to be sure, but by the time you have this experience, you’ll be a well trained and hopefully very safe pilot indeed.  At least, the Forestry Department sure hopes so…

Don’t give up.  There are other possibilities in aviation if this isn’t the one you’re looking for right now.  True, it’s a tough job market at the moment for any pilot, but I’d argue that it’s a great time for training; when things finally do improve again, you’ll be at the front of the line with recent experience and ready to go!

Best of luck as you continue your search and your training,

Mom

~ by myskymom on September 10, 2009.