Airship pilots are exceedingly rare; while previous experience in the field is ideal, it neither expected nor anticipated. Our ideal candidate for this position is familiar with flying in the Calgary-Foothills region, leading sightseeing excursions, or flying in adverse or unusual weather conditions. A cautious and disciplined approach to risk is a must.
Hot air balloon experience is highly welcome, but not sufficient. All pilots must possess either an Airline Transport Pilot License Aeroplane (ATPLA) or Airline Transport Pilot License Helicopter (ATPLH) to be qualified for an airship that will be carrying passengers. If you have any experience with airships, or 5+ years of experience flying large fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters, we would be very interested to hear from you.
We are looking for an experienced AME who is open to new experiences and learning new techniques; while much of your existing experience will be transferable, there is a lot of learning to do! Must be able to work as a team with the Rigger, as you will each be responsible for half of the aircraft at any point in time.
Looking for senior and junior positions--ideally with airship experience, but 5+ years of other aerospace repair / maintenance experience is an acceptable alternative. Must possess an M1 or M2 license. A balloon AME license is a plus, but neither required nor sufficient for this position. Experience with unusual or experimental aircraft is likewise ideal, but not required.
Non-rigid airship envelopes have both profound similarities and dissimilarities to those of hot air balloons. This position would require routine repairs, emergency repairs, and organizing part-time or contract ground crew to ferry the aircraft in and out of the hangar, as well as ensure mooring occurs safely and without incident to passengers, crew, or aircraft.
Because internal repairs to a non-rigid airship envelope require the full deflation of the envelope and subsequent loss of a substantial portion of helium reserves, it is imperative that all routine maintenance be handled to specification, as the cost of helium lost due to deflation cannot be overstated. Compensation will be commensurate with this consideration.
While existing experience with airship rigging is preferred, it is neither expected nor anticipated. An AME license, including a balloon AME license, is a prerequisite for this position.
Do you have a story to tell that no one else does? Perhaps you are a rancher in the area; a geologist specializing in the Rocky Mountains; an aviation historian; an Indigenous elder. If you believe your story or expertise would fascinate our clients and align with our desire to bring forth the beauty of the Foothills, we would love to hear from you.
Hosts will be expected to narrate the flight to passengers and ensure their comfort during flight by providing a warm and welcoming environment to our guests. We will be hiring a large number of hosts with the expectation that their availability may be low or intermittent, so don't hesitate to reach out if you believe that you have something to offer to our guests. Once established, we hope to advertise our flights based on the host and their subject-field to enable guests to choose which topics they would most like to engage with while enjoying our other services.
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