AERIAL SURVEY PILOT - 2026-2027 SEASON OPPORTUNITY
Cessna 182 & Piper Aztec Positions Available Now
Where Aviation Excellence Meets Professional Precision
THE OPPORTUNITY
ProStar Flight Services seeks exceptional pilots who thrive in the air AND at their desk. This isn't just another time-building position—it's a career-defining opportunity for aviators who understand that true professionalism means excellence in every aspect of the job.
Season: November 1, 2026 through Mid-June 2027
Flight Hours Acquired: ~300 hours seasonal average
Territory: Continental US (primarily west of Mississippi)
Lifestyle: GENERALLY 21 days on-duty / 14 days off rotation - BUT a MODIFIED SCHEDULE is possible
Compensation: $60/day + $20/flight hour + performance bonuses
ARE YOU OUR NEXT A-PLAYER?
You're the pilot who:
Takes as much pride in your flight reports as your landings
Sees documentation as a mark of professionalism, not a chore
Thrives in challenging flight environments while maintaining meticulous standards
Values being part of something bigger than just building hours
Can commit to the full season without jumping ship when you hit your hour goals
What sets this role apart:
100% travel with all expenses covered (hotels, transportation, per diem)
Diverse flying across varied terrain and complex airspace
Single-pilot operations managing both aircraft and camera systems
Professional growth in both aviation and business operations
Team culture built on integrity, loyalty, and excellence
THE MISSION
Execute precision aerial survey operations while maintaining the highest standards of safety, documentation, and client service. You'll master advanced image capture technology, navigate complex logistics, and produce detailed operational reports—all while flying 0-10 hours daily during capture season.
Critical Success Factor: This position requires equal excellence in aviation operations AND administrative precision. If you excel at flying but struggle with detailed daily paperwork, this is not the right fit.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Choose Your Aircraft - Apply for One or Both:
OPTION A: CESSNA 182 POSITION
Minimum Qualifications
Certificates: Commercial ASEL + Instrument Rating (current) + High Performance Endorsement + Complete Endorsement
Flight Experience: 325+ hours total time
Type Experience: 5+ hours PIC in Cessna 182 + minimum 10 landings in C182
Medical: Current 1st or 2nd Class Airman's Medical Certificate
Age: 21+ years
License: Valid U.S. Driver's License with clean record
Skills: Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency (Excel, Word, Outlook)
Mindset: Commitment to full seasonal employment through mid-June
Preferred Qualifications
450+ hours total time
25+ landings as PIC in Cessna 182
75+ hours PIC cross-country time
Commercial AMEL
Mountain flying and high density altitude operations (above 7,500 ft)
Class B and complex airspace experience
Proven track record of meticulous documentation and reporting
Compensation - C182:
$60 daily rate while on active duty
$20 per flight hour
Additional 20% bonus for hours flown over 40/month (when performance criteria met)
$64 per diem for meals and incidentals
Hotels, rental cars (up to $60/day), and transfer flights (up to $400) fully covered
OPTION B: PIPER AZTEC POSITION
Minimum Qualifications
Certificates: Commercial AMEL + Instrument Rating (current) + High Performance AND Complex Endorsements
Flight Experience: 400+ hours total time
Multi-Engine Time: 30 hours (INCLUDING a minimum of 15 hours PIC ME)
Complex Aircraft: Experience with retractable gear and constant-speed propellers
Medical: Current 1st or 2nd Class Airman's Medical Certificate
Age: 21+ years
License: Valid U.S. Driver's License with clean record
Skills: Advanced Microsoft Office proficiency (Excel, Word, Outlook)
Mindset: Commitment to full seasonal employment through mid-June
Preferred Qualifications
600+ hours total time
50+ hours multi-engine time
100+ hours in complex aircraft
75+ hours PIC cross-country time
Mountain flying and high density altitude operations (above 7,500 ft)
Class B and complex airspace experience
Proven track record of meticulous documentation and reporting
Compensation - Piper Aztec:
$60 daily rate while on active duty
$20 per flight hour (first 30 hours/month)
Additional 20% bonus for hours flown over 30/month (when performance criteria met)
$64 per diem for meals and incidentals
Hotels, rental cars (up to $60/day), and transfer flights (up to $400) fully covered
WHY PROSTAR?
Our Core Values:
Integrity - Doing the right thing when no one is looking
Industrious - Diligent hard work as our cornerstone
Loyal - Faithful to commitments and obligations
Principled - Ethically and morally rooted decisions
Steadfast - Unwavering dedication and discipline
We're building an aviation community where emerging aviators grow their skills while delivering exceptional service. Join a team that values both your flying abilities and your professional excellence.
Our Mission: ProStar affords unique and challenging flying opportunities requiring aviators to be industrious and steadfast to accomplish the mission. We are loyal to each other and our clients, fostering an exceptional work environment. A principled approach to business operations creates a work product that exceeds expectations.
WHAT TO EXPECT
On-shift: 7 days per week, 12 hours per day during your 21-day rotations
When weather permits and the aircraft is ready, you fly - 1 hour or 10 hours, weekday or weekend
Evenings are for completing detailed pilot logs and managing expense documentation
You will live in hotels and work independently as the primary problem-solver for your aircraft
You are responsible for both flying the aircraft AND operating the camera capture system
When maintenance issues arise, you coordinate solutions with management support while taking the lead
This is not "low-level" survey work - our camera systems operate at higher altitudes
DO NOT APPLY IF YOU:
View paperwork as an annoying afterthought or someone else's job
Plan to leave before end of season after reaching your hour goals
Prioritize efficiency over safety or cut corners
Struggle with organization or meeting daily deadlines
Need supervision or direction for routine tasks
Cannot commit to 21-day rotations with 7-day/week availability
READY TO ELEVATE YOUR CAREER?
Season Start: November 1, 2026
Pilot Indoc & Training: October 20-31, 2026 in Greeley, Colorado
Apply directly at: prostarflight.com/jobs
(Applications through third-party sites will not be reviewed)
Application must include:
Comprehensive resume highlighting BOTH aviation and administrative experience
Compelling cover letter demonstrating your dual excellence (AT THE END OF YOUR COVER LETTER, WRITE TWO SENTENCES TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION: “IF YOU COULD FLY ANY AIRPLANE FROM HISTORY, WHAT AIRPLANE WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO FLY?”)
Complete all questionnaire sections with attention to detail
Clearly indicate: C182, Piper Aztec, or BOTH positions
Pro tip: Your application is your first demonstration of the attention to detail we require. Make it count.
ProStar Flight Services - Where professional pilots build exceptional careers through challenging flying and uncompromising standards.