Pilot Employment
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SkyLens employs commercial pilots for seasonal contract positions flying our Cessna 172, Cessna 182 and Piper Aztec aircraft. The regular aerial imaging season is Mid-October through mid-May. Regular season classes are held in October. If you would like to apply, please review the requirements and follow the instructions below, exactly. HIRING UPDATE: Due to the overwhelming demand for our pilot positions, pilot resumés are only accepting on ONE specific day of the year, usually near the end of July. Pilots interested in applying for the 2026-2027 season should follow the SkyLens facebook page for updates at https://facebook.com/SkyLensLLC/
SkyLens employs commercial pilots for seasonal contract positions flying our Cessna 172, Cessna 182 and Piper Aztec aircraft. The regular aerial imaging season is Mid-October through mid-May. Regular season classes are held in October. If you would like to apply, please review the requirements and follow the instructions below, exactly. HIRING UPDATE: Due to the overwhelming demand for our pilot positions, pilot resumés are only accepting on ONE specific day of the year, usually near the end of July. Pilots interested in applying for the 2026-2027 season should follow the SkyLens facebook page for updates at https://facebook.com/SkyLensLLC/
AERIAL IMAGING PILOT POSITION
Motivated pilots can build 80+ hours per month, including IFR XC and with some limitations, night flight. • Well-maintained aircraft • Aircraft have 430W/530W/ADS-B In-out • Company issued credit card • Daily minimum pay plus paid for all flight hours • Company-paid single-occupancy room • Company paid car rental • Health Insurance Reimbursement Program (QSEHRA) KEY JOB DETAILS • W2 Employee - Not 1099. • Regular season contract is 7 month commitment with no hard time off. Downtime for weather and aircraft maintenance provides plenty of time off however pilots must remain based with aircraft. • Extensive travel all over the contiguous 48 US states • Most pilots will start in the C172 regardless of airframe experience. All aircraft assignments including determinations and qualifications into the Piper Aztecs or C182s are made DURING the training and orientation in Hammond, LA with both simulator and aircraft checkouts. Pilots qualified into the Aztecs may be required to fly the single engine aircraft at times during the season, to satisfy company needs.
Compensation: Entry level hourly pay for the C172 pilot is $20. Pilots are paid for every calendar day while deployed in the field. Each pilot is paid a minimum daily equivalent to 3 hours PLUS the hourly wage for all revenue flight hours. Once a pilot reaches 40 combined hours in a week, he/she is paid 1.5x overtime.
Motivated pilots can build 80+ hours per month, including IFR XC and with some limitations, night flight. • Well-maintained aircraft • Aircraft have 430W/530W/ADS-B In-out • Company issued credit card • Daily minimum pay plus paid for all flight hours • Company-paid single-occupancy room • Company paid car rental • Health Insurance Reimbursement Program (QSEHRA) KEY JOB DETAILS • W2 Employee - Not 1099. • Regular season contract is 7 month commitment with no hard time off. Downtime for weather and aircraft maintenance provides plenty of time off however pilots must remain based with aircraft. • Extensive travel all over the contiguous 48 US states • Most pilots will start in the C172 regardless of airframe experience. All aircraft assignments including determinations and qualifications into the Piper Aztecs or C182s are made DURING the training and orientation in Hammond, LA with both simulator and aircraft checkouts. Pilots qualified into the Aztecs may be required to fly the single engine aircraft at times during the season, to satisfy company needs.
Compensation: Entry level hourly pay for the C172 pilot is $20. Pilots are paid for every calendar day while deployed in the field. Each pilot is paid a minimum daily equivalent to 3 hours PLUS the hourly wage for all revenue flight hours. Once a pilot reaches 40 combined hours in a week, he/she is paid 1.5x overtime.
2026 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
There are NO exceptions to the minimum requirements. Please do not waste our time and yours by applying with less than those minimums or inquiring about exceptions by email, private message or phone message.
Commercial Single Engine Land AND Commercial Multi Engine Land Certificate* 300 total logged flight hours* 40 logged multiengine flight hours* 5 hours in PA23-250 Aztec* (All qualifying time must be logged in aircraft, not simulator) *Pilots who possess an A&P Certificate and are willing to perform light maintenance in the field on our fleet aircraft will be considered, even with only a Commercial Single Engine Land Certificate and 250 total time) 21 years of age or older by October 15th Legally eligible to work in the USA FAA issued Pilot Certificate 2nd or 1st Class Medical Certificate Instrument rated, current and proficient Read, write and speak clear English Impeccable radio skills Experience in busy class B and C airspace Life situation that allows for 7+ months away from home & other obligations COVID19 and seasonal Flu vaccinations COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS SkyLens receives approximately 20-30 resumes for every available position. Below are the current competitive qualifications. 400 to 600 logged total flight hours 50 hrs multi w 20+ logged in PA23-250 at controls (all time must be in aircraft, not sim time) OTHER DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS • Mechanical inclination/ familiarity with tools. • Previous aerial imaging experience with the Eagleview camera system. • Mountain flying experience. • Former US Military service members. • Availability and willingness to work more than one season. •Permanent CURRENT residence in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Hammond Louisiana area. (Relocation is not necessary)
There are NO exceptions to the minimum requirements. Please do not waste our time and yours by applying with less than those minimums or inquiring about exceptions by email, private message or phone message.
Commercial Single Engine Land AND Commercial Multi Engine Land Certificate* 300 total logged flight hours* 40 logged multiengine flight hours* 5 hours in PA23-250 Aztec* (All qualifying time must be logged in aircraft, not simulator) *Pilots who possess an A&P Certificate and are willing to perform light maintenance in the field on our fleet aircraft will be considered, even with only a Commercial Single Engine Land Certificate and 250 total time) 21 years of age or older by October 15th Legally eligible to work in the USA FAA issued Pilot Certificate 2nd or 1st Class Medical Certificate Instrument rated, current and proficient Read, write and speak clear English Impeccable radio skills Experience in busy class B and C airspace Life situation that allows for 7+ months away from home & other obligations COVID19 and seasonal Flu vaccinations COMPETITIVE QUALIFICATIONS SkyLens receives approximately 20-30 resumes for every available position. Below are the current competitive qualifications. 400 to 600 logged total flight hours 50 hrs multi w 20+ logged in PA23-250 at controls (all time must be in aircraft, not sim time) OTHER DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS • Mechanical inclination/ familiarity with tools. • Previous aerial imaging experience with the Eagleview camera system. • Mountain flying experience. • Former US Military service members. • Availability and willingness to work more than one season. •Permanent CURRENT residence in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Hammond Louisiana area. (Relocation is not necessary)
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We do not accept phone calls regarding employment. Resumés received without the minimum listed requirements will not be processed and will receive no response. Email your resumé to: jobs@skylensaerial.comPut the word "resume" in the subject field (w/o the quotes) followed by a space then your last name. Attach your resume to your email in the form of an actual pdf, doc or other word processor file. (Not a downloadable link like Google docs). Resumés should be a simple layout, black on white, succinct as possible, while containing all the relevant information requested here. In the email body, write a short cover letter about how you would deal with the 7 month stretch away from home and any other details that would make you a good SkyLens pilot candidate. If you are being referred by a mutual acquaintance not listed in your resumé please indicate so. Please include your flight training history, complete employment/education history for the past 5 years, Total time, Multi time, Actual IFR time AND Hood IFR time, any previous aerial mapping experience and type of aircraft flown. DO NOT INCLUDE SIMULATOR TIME IN YOUR FLIGHT TIMES. A Letter of recommendation from a former employer or CFI or a personal character reference from a friend or someone you have worked with, is helpful but not required.
Be advised: Not following these instructions exactly may result in your resume not being routed properly and therefore never reviewed, and in any case, the inability to follow instructions is a disqualifying factor. Please note: We do not post pilot job openings on any 3rd party jobs boards or sites such as Indeed or social media pages. Our official job postings are ONLY listed on this web page or our own Facebook page. Any other postings are not authorized and not reliable.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
We do not accept phone calls regarding employment. Resumés received without the minimum listed requirements will not be processed and will receive no response. Email your resumé to: jobs@skylensaerial.comPut the word "resume" in the subject field (w/o the quotes) followed by a space then your last name. Attach your resume to your email in the form of an actual pdf, doc or other word processor file. (Not a downloadable link like Google docs). Resumés should be a simple layout, black on white, succinct as possible, while containing all the relevant information requested here. In the email body, write a short cover letter about how you would deal with the 7 month stretch away from home and any other details that would make you a good SkyLens pilot candidate. If you are being referred by a mutual acquaintance not listed in your resumé please indicate so. Please include your flight training history, complete employment/education history for the past 5 years, Total time, Multi time, Actual IFR time AND Hood IFR time, any previous aerial mapping experience and type of aircraft flown. DO NOT INCLUDE SIMULATOR TIME IN YOUR FLIGHT TIMES. A Letter of recommendation from a former employer or CFI or a personal character reference from a friend or someone you have worked with, is helpful but not required.
Be advised: Not following these instructions exactly may result in your resume not being routed properly and therefore never reviewed, and in any case, the inability to follow instructions is a disqualifying factor. Please note: We do not post pilot job openings on any 3rd party jobs boards or sites such as Indeed or social media pages. Our official job postings are ONLY listed on this web page or our own Facebook page. Any other postings are not authorized and not reliable.