USFS Beaver Pilot jobs
Announcement out yesterday for two USFS Beaver pilots at Ely. Two-week window to get applications in. Max age 37 unless on a Veteran's Preference waiver. Minimum float time in announcement says 200 hours, but 500 is the actual requirement. Year round positions flying floats, wheels and skis. The age restriction has to do with government retirement at age 57.

I have all the qualifications. Except I am 57 so they won't even look at me.

FS has 3 planes in Ely with only 1 pilot. If they can't find any qualified pilots rescues and emergency's could be delayed.

Pilot Job Link

Damn. I'm too old as well.

Wow, what A great opportunity for a young person. I can’t believe this would be a problem getting good workers.

Savage Voyageur: "Wow, what A great opportunity for a young person. I can’t believe this would be a problem getting good workers. "

There is a huge pilot shortage presently.

ellahallely: "USFS Beaver Pilot jobs
Announcement out yesterday for 2 USFS Beaver pilots at Ely. Two-week window to get applications in. Max age 37 unless on a Veteran's Preference waiver. Minimum float time in announcement says 200 hours, but 500 is the actual requirement. Year round positions flying floats, wheels, and skis. The age restriction has to do with government retirement at age 57.

I have all the qualifications. Except I am 57 so they won't even look at me.

FS has 3 planes in Ely with only 1 pilot. If they can't find any qualified pilots rescues and emergency's could be delayed. pilot job link "

You fly float planes?? Now I'm your fan!

what's with the age restriction? during the cavity and ham fires the FS pilots were well over 37 and did fabulous work!

Yes Missmolly, I own Cessna 185 on floats & skis, I have float time in a Beaver as well.

Mocha the age thing has to do with federal retirement. 20 years work you get your retirement and they want you to retire by age 57. If you are 47 and have 10 years with the government already they will take you.

Airmorse is correct big time pilot shortage and float time is hard to come by.

Mocha: "what's with the age restriction? during the cavity and ham fires the FS pilots were well over 37 and did fabulous work!"

SInce these pilots fight wildfires (Water Drops from the Beavers) they fall into a firefighter classification. Firefighters have mandatory retirement at 57.
You need 20 years of service to fully retire, so you cannot be older than 37 when starting in that firefighter series.

Prior service as a Federal firefighter, law enforcement officer or the military will let you get that job after your are 37 because those years would count as years of service.
Its confusing.

Many contractor pilots are over 57, I worked with a Vietnam vet the last couple years, he was in his early 70's, but that was an Alaska state contractor, who flew a Bell 212 Helicopter.

Darn. I’m over 37, but have plenty of federal service time, but I’m 58. Also, don’t know how to fly a plane. Only one of those things can be fixed.

I'll have to stick to being a pile it and keep cutting firewood.

ellahallely: "Yes Missmolly, I own Cessna 185 on floats & skis, I have float time in a Beaver as well.


Mocha the age thing has to do with federal retirement. 20 years work you get your retirement and they want you to retire by age 57. If you are 47 and have 10 years with the government already they will take you.


Airmorse is correct big time pilot shortage and float time is hard to come by."

You own a float plane??? I'm even more impressed!

Missmolly , I am just a guy with an airplane. Many of my peers and family are (were) pilots. My grandfather was a barnstormer in the late 1920s flying a Curtis Robin. My Aunt flew float planes out of Ely in the 1950s. Aviation has really opened up to women which has impressed me !!! Look at the Gal that flew that Southwest 737 with the blow engine to a safe landing. She saved all those souls onboard. I have Gal friends that are better pilots then myself. I would love to see the Forest Service hire a couple of women pilots!! My screen name doesn't reflect on my gender. It was my dogs name, after the lake Ella Hall. When I was just a kid I would trip to Ella Hall Lake, sometimes bringing friends. If I helped the guys at 4 Mile Portage they would give me and my canoe a ride the Ella Hall Lake. Later to find out my parents knew I won't get lost on Ella Hall and they had the truck portage guys "looking out for me".

If ever in Minnesota look me up. I might find time to take you for a float plane ride.

JIM P.


P.S. Those of you not familiar with Ella Hall Lake goggle it. I find the story of Ella Hall interesting.

If there was a pilot training program, I'd be all over this with Vet's Preference... Guess I'll keep slaving away in the Twin Cities...

Like many pilots for the DNR they were Vietnam vets and they are moving on in retirement.

When I read the title I thought a couple of pilots went missing up there.

I had the privilege of seeing one of the Beavers up close a couple of years ago. In my opinion, this would be a great job.





The pilot is holding the snorkel they use for filling the water tank. When the pilot spots a fire, he lands on a nearby lake, attaches the snorkel and fills the tank. He can observe the tank with the mirror that is attached to the wing strut. When water pours out of the hole in the top of the tank, it's full............1953 technology and still works great.

I flew in and out of Wabakimi in a Beaver a few years ago. Great experience. Pilot was upper 20s and ate a sandwich while flying. Meanwhile, I was trying to keep my sandwich down in my stomach.

ellahallely: "Missmolly , I am just a guy with an airplane. Many of my peers and family are (were) pilots. My grandfather was a barnstormer in the late 1920s flying a Curtis Robin. My Aunt flew float planes out of Ely in the 1950s. Aviation has really opened up to women which has impressed me !!! Look at the Gal that flew that Southwest 737 with the blow engine to a safe landing. She saved all those souls onboard. I have Gal friends that are better pilots then myself. I would love to see the Forest Service hire a couple of women pilots!! My screen name doesn't reflect on my gender. It was my dogs name, after the lake Ella Hall. When I was just a kid I would trip to Ella Hall Lake, sometimes bringing friends. If I helped the guys at 4 Mile Portage they would give me and my canoe a ride the Ella Hall Lake. Later to find out my parents knew I won't get lost on Ella Hall and they had the truck portage guys "looking out for me".


If ever in Minnesota look me up. I might find time to take you for a float plane ride.


JIM P.



P.S. Those of you not familiar with Ella Hall Lake goggle it. I find the story of Ella Hall interesting. "

What a kind offer.

"Missmolly , I am just a guy with an airplane."

Correction: "Missmolly, I am a man with a magical freedom machine!"

ellahallely: "Missmolly , I am just a guy with an airplane. Many of my peers and family are (were) pilots. My grandfather was a barnstormer in the late 1920s flying a Curtis Robin. My Aunt flew float planes out of Ely in the 1950s. Aviation has really opened up to women which has impressed me !!! Look at the Gal that flew that Southwest 737 with the blow engine to a safe landing. She saved all those souls onboard. I have Gal friends that are better pilots then myself. I would love to see the Forest Service hire a couple of women pilots!! My screen name doesn't reflect on my gender. It was my dogs name, after the lake Ella Hall. When I was just a kid I would trip to Ella Hall Lake, sometimes bringing friends. If I helped the guys at 4 Mile Portage they would give me and my canoe a ride the Ella Hall Lake. Later to find out my parents knew I won't get lost on Ella Hall and they had the truck portage guys "looking out for me".


If ever in Minnesota look me up. I might find time to take you for a float plane ride.


JIM P.




P.S. Those of you not familiar with Ella Hall Lake goggle it. I find the story of Ella Hall interesting. "

Ella Hall Lake, thanks ellahallely

Linden Thanks for posting the link about Ella Hall Lake.

Interesting reading, thanks for starting the thread!

We always got a kick out of watching the big yellow one take off from Gunflint Lake and actually have some of their takeoffs and landings on video. We always thought "One of these days......" Never have had the chance, but "Kudos" to the folks who do this for a living!

Boy I'm a only a Private Pilot with aspirations of doing something like this for a living. If only I could get my commercial, seaplane and the hours needed quickly.

Regarding pilot shortage...

There are certain sectors in the aviation field that are short of pilots...mainly due to low beginning salaries, cost of training, and the inability to gain prerequisit hours quickly through the normal route of flight instructing.

However, in the higher paying positions, like the major airlines, there is no shortage of qualified pilot applicants no matter what the news may tell you, ...yet. And my personal opinion is that we are just a decade, maybe 15 years, away from replacing one of the pilots up front with a guy on the ground in front of a computer acting as a backup for several flights if needed. Thus reducing the need for pilots in that sector by half.

I'd be half tempted to apply for that Ely job if I was a bit younger and had no obligations. That would be an incredible experience.

Its hip to fly beaver video link Ely.

The forest service is still looking for 2 pilots. Same hour requirements and age limits as last time, but they did change some of the questionnaire items which will hopefully help us get some more qualified applicants.

The max age thing is a killer.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/508545700

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/508547100

Yes the age requirement is a killer. I would have done this in a nanosecond if I was younger.