| Getting your pilot's license is just the start of a life in | | | | pose for thousands of pictures. |
| the world of aviation that can literally take you | | | | Travel, Travel, Travel |
| anywhere. While there is a lot you can do with just a | | | | By the very nature of why companies keep blimps |
| Private pilot's certificate, it is always the starting point | | | | and why events want their presence, a blimp's travel |
| to flying helicopters, freight, charter or eventually | | | | schedule from one event to another is virtually |
| becoming a pilot for a regional airline or even a major | | | | nonstop. So be sure you really enjoy seeing the world |
| airline like Delta, United, or UPS. | | | | and that this kind of travel is what you are looking for. |
| But one specialized aviation job, that you may or may | | | | It's a great job if want to have an adventure and do |
| not have thought of, is flying the blimps that you see | | | | something unique. |
| over stadiums during ball games or over big events like | | | | Where Do You Start? |
| parades. But who is flying the blimps and how did they | | | | If you wish to make becoming a blimp pilot a real |
| get that job? Somebody has to fly those blimps and | | | | objective, take your existing pilot's license and get your |
| your pilot's license is a good starting point into what | | | | "lighter-than-air" rating as well. It won't be that much |
| could become a very fascinating job that is unlike | | | | more added work and it positions you perfectly to fly |
| anything else in aviation. | | | | a blimp later. Then you have to hit the streets, find the |
| Steady As She Goes | | | | right company that is staffing for that job, start talking |
| Flying a blimp is not a fast-paced job in terms of the | | | | to their pilots and their chief pilot, and get your foot in |
| flying. Most of the time a blimp travels very slowly | | | | the door. As you wait for the chance to work with the |
| because, obviously, a blimp is large and cumbersome | | | | few organizations that do operate blimps, you can go |
| and it really cannot maneuver that quickly. It is designed | | | | ahead and get your advanced pilot certificates and |
| to hover and move slowly over a ball game or racing | | | | ratings and log some quality flight time as a certificated |
| event, so that a camera can cover the action from a | | | | flight instructor (CFI), charter pilot, bush pilot, etc., so you |
| "bird's-eye" perspective. The top speed you may | | | | have a solid flying resume when you are ready to |
| reach in the air might be thirty-five miles per hour but | | | | specialize in flying blimps. |
| don't think it is easy. You will still have to deal with the | | | | Your Hired! Now What? |
| weather and the winds and that can be just as | | | | The "big break" you will be looking for is to get in on |
| challenging as flying a big, fast airplane. | | | | the ground floor with a company that owns and |
| Another big difference when flying a blimp is that you | | | | operates a blimp. You may have to serve your time |
| will hover the craft fairly close to the ground compared | | | | as part of the ground crew of the blimp but that by |
| to a faster moving airplane that flies thousands of feet | | | | itself can be a fascinating job. This is when you will |
| above the earth. This takes a delicate touch and | | | | learn the technical aspects of maintaining a blimp and |
| concentration. Sometimes you will fly as low as 1,000 | | | | the safety issues that go into keeping a big vehicle like |
| to 1,500 feet above the ground which means at that | | | | that aloft. |
| height you have to be very careful of towers, | | | | Eventually, your prior flight experience and dedication |
| powerlines, etc. | | | | to the blimp team will put you in line for a co-pilot |
| Showmanship and Promotion | | | | position when it becomes available. And if the |
| Since blimps are used almost entirely for promotional | | | | company decides to add a blimp or needs a whole |
| or recreational purposes, your role as the pilot of a | | | | new crew including a pilot, having been an experienced |
| blimp almost puts you into show business. You are a | | | | ground crew member with flight time, you will be in an |
| good-will ambassador for your company, the event, | | | | ideal position to fill that vacancy. |
| and aviation. You are practically a celebrity. You will | | | | Unfortunately the pay of a blimp pilot is not going to |
| have a lot of interaction with people who come to see | | | | make you rich, so you are really going to have to want |
| the blimp so you will enjoy far more socialization than | | | | the job but you will see the world and you will have |
| you might as a airline pilot. Personally, as a pilot for a | | | | one of the most unique aviation jobs available today. |
| regional airline, I really enjoy greeting my passengers | | | | And if you get to fly over the Super Bowl and have a |
| when they board and then again when they leave, but | | | | birds-eye view of the biggest game of the year, well |
| as a blimp pilot, you will probably face the public on | | | | that's just another one of the great perks of being a |
| many different occasions, at numerous events, and | | | | blimp pilot. |
| have to answer an endless stream of questions and | | | | |