Your videos are fantastic. I hope you put together more of your time you spent on the boat and in the air. Most of us will never get to do this incredible adventure and like you, I don't think I could stop.
That is the issue, as we go alone and experience things, we'll sometimes the norm is not norm. Welcome back, and jump through the new hopes as a larger and more imposing regulator thrives upon us.
I guess you will find a similar feel of freedom in Alaska. I was there, and lost something from me there. Since then I feel the need to go back. AK ist one of a kind on its own
Great video .. I remember when I came back after 18 month total .. It was hard for me to socialize again with most of the people and even had hard time and stressed myself when in a mall .. I didn't want to go to a mall for months .. still don't love it actually.
I've been on the purseiner from 2013 to 2015 as a Fisheries observer. I love being out there in the open water. We call it fishing ground. I met a lot of pilots from those ship I was on. It was amazing looking at the horizon early morning 🌄 and when the sun set. It's true that when you have been there in the ocean for the longest time and when you return to Port. You have a feeling of missing the ocean
Thanks for the update! Really enjoyed your vids it looked like a pretty grand adventure out there! Also glad you made it back with no (hopefully) flight incididents. I was curious so I looked up the company sounds like they were engaging in some super questionable and irresponsible behavior.
Ah, aviation nomad. Met quite a few in my 10 years in aviation in the Caribbean. Still in aviation, your former company has been in the news for no positive reasons and I’m glad you made it out ok. I assume some other company picked up the spotting contracts, but I have not read which. I am a new subscriber, so I will be looking for your new footage from your past flying. Please keep the blog up as I need to read those thoughts. Good luck
hello there..do you suggest tuna piloting for a rookie whos just finished his commercial licence with 150 hours in schweizer? and if not what should be the next step for someone whos very new to the aviation? youre suggestions on this?
I'm assuming you were with Hansen? What tuna companies are still around that rock MD500s? Thinking of doing this when my Army contract expires, if possible.
Have you thought about crop dusting? I'm the child of a crop duster and I just connected with your videos about two weeks ago... funny timing. What you just said about unregulated flight made me think of my childhood right away (picture growing up on airstrips in rural colombia) and why my dad chose to do what he did after turning away from arline flying. Bush pilot seems like where you're going so I won't even mention it.
At this point I've realized that no matter what plans I have for my career, it will ultimately take its own path. I'm just along for the ride and I'm bringing all of you along with me!
Hey man, I'm super happy for you and I'm glad you had an amazing adventure. I would like to talk to you about some stuff and I have a few questions for you. Did you change your number? -G Kelso (your old student)
Or was it Hansen? ...... I will enjoy reviewing gyour videos. You've got all the options in the world, wish there was a pilot shortage 25 years ago! How about heli ag or logging? My current flying gig allows me to fish every week.
Hi, I’m a very low hour CPLH from UK. I’m having a lot of difficulty getting to fly here , just saw your video and thought if you could help me out with advice of getting a tuna pilot work. Please, I’d really appreciate if you could help me with getting some flying with your connections. Best wishes. A.
I spent a season up in Alaska and am currently fighting fires in the 407. I hope to start making more content for the channel again in the near future.
Hey! is there a way to establish communication with you via email or any other way you prefer? I found your career path beyond inspiring and would love to get some insights from you personally. I am just starting my pilot career in Central America.
I spent 2 years & 5 months as a tuna pilot for Hansen. Unfortunately in February 2020, due to a Covid-19 travel ban lock downs we were never allowed off of the “boats” anymore to go ashore & that really squelched a lot of the fun. I endured a 533 day (1 year & 5 month) lock down. The ship literally felt more like a prison. The ridiculous, never ending travel bans ruined it for me. But it got me almost 1,600 turbine hours. Great video. I need a create some sharing my experiences out there. Thanks for sharing. This has been my best video so far. ruclips.net/video/ucqNouzM-xM/видео.htmlsi=IrbUIto9jXLiHD6Z
Hey! I applied to Hansen a month ago, and they have not replied yet. I have been thinking of this job for a while, but I don't know anyone there. Is there a way for us to talk?
Getting off the tuna boats has been as much of a curse as it has been a gift. After 13 months , life on the boats eventually takes it’s toll on you. It happened to all of us. We found ourselves spending more hours of our life in uncomfortable seat looking at nothing but open sea only to return to a room the size of a prison cell, all in a helicopter put together with parts older then you. You sit around waiting for master to say “prepare for takeoff” in some language you don’t understand only to hope you actually catch the damn fish this time so you can fill up the boat and go to port. Hours waiting only to see the asshole master miss the the damn school and you have to spend god knows how many more days out at sea. You just wanna get out. You’re tired of the bed bugs, tired of eating the same old shit food everyday and dealing with the little stinking thieving crewmen, You wanna go home. You’re sick of the smell of fish and piss. You’ve been told when to fly, where to go and you just wanna be YOU again. And at first knowing that “this was my last trip” is amazing. You do 3 or 4 cartwheels as you walk off Dock and hold your Passport high and proud as you check out of RRE for the last time. But what you don’t know is that while you may be leaving the tuna boats, the Tuna boats will never leave you. Like a drug that controls you, your brain will constantly replay only the fondest of memories that you spent with some of the best people that you will ever know. And *poof*, just like that, you no longer dwell on the flight ops, shitty food or standing in REE not understanding why they the brownies and no ice cream or getting yelled at for doing exactly what the fish master said and the fish still got away. Instead, you think about your friends. You remember all of the things you did together. You remember that no matter where you go in life or who you may meet, the tuna boats will always remain a major part of the nucleus of your existence. You are Tuna Trash now and you will be a Tuna Trash 50 years from now. That’s why tuna pilots are different. That’s why getting out off the boats is like checking into rehab. You may never go back, but I promise you that you are going to relapse in your mind every single night. TTFL!!!!!
You are so right. In so many ways. Since leaving the boats I have had wonderful experiences with wonderful people and been able to do so many more amazing things in my career, but yet, even with all that in mind, there is still some part of me that misses the freedom and simplicity of being a tuna pilot. I left a piece of myself out there, and while I may never return to the fishing grounds, I think that place, that life, will always call to me.
Your videos are fantastic. I hope you put together more of your time you spent on the boat and in the air. Most of us will never get to do this incredible adventure and like you, I don't think I could stop.
Thanks for the Tuna life videos, it’s normal to feel a bit lost after a big adventure like that, good luck fella 👍
Thanks for bringing us along. I’ve enjoyed every video. I look forward to what you have to show us in the future.
Thanks for providing us with a glimpse into a very unique job and type of flying. Looking forward to what may come next. Best of luck.
Good luck on your new adventures!
That is the issue, as we go alone and experience things, we'll sometimes the norm is not norm.
Welcome back, and jump through the new hopes as a larger and more imposing regulator thrives upon us.
I guess you will find a similar feel of freedom in Alaska. I was there, and lost something from me there. Since then I feel the need to go back. AK ist one of a kind on its own
I can feel that love bro, it touched me, maybe find a new job which is interesting enough to make you love it.
Great video .. I remember when I came back after 18 month total .. It was hard for me to socialize again with most of the people and even had hard time and stressed myself when in a mall .. I didn't want to go to a mall for months .. still don't love it actually.
Thanks Bro 😊
I've been on the purseiner from 2013 to 2015 as a Fisheries observer. I love being out there in the open water. We call it fishing ground. I met a lot of pilots from those ship I was on. It was amazing looking at the horizon early morning 🌄 and when the sun set. It's true that when you have been there in the ocean for the longest time and when you return to Port. You have a feeling of missing the ocean
Thanks for the update! Really enjoyed your vids it looked like a pretty grand adventure out there! Also glad you made it back with no (hopefully) flight incididents. I was curious so I looked up the company sounds like they were engaging in some super questionable and irresponsible behavior.
Ah, aviation nomad. Met quite a few in my 10 years in aviation in the Caribbean. Still in aviation, your former company has been in the news for no positive reasons and I’m glad you made it out ok. I assume some other company picked up the spotting contracts, but I have not read which. I am a new subscriber, so I will be looking for your new footage from your past flying. Please keep the blog up as I need to read those thoughts. Good luck
hello there..do you suggest tuna piloting for a rookie whos just finished his commercial licence with 150 hours in schweizer? and if not what should be the next step for someone whos very new to the aviation? youre suggestions on this?
Hey James, I feel the same bro. I'm gonna go back next week, with the other company! 😂🙏
I'm assuming you were with Hansen? What tuna companies are still around that rock MD500s? Thinking of doing this when my Army contract expires, if possible.
Have you thought about crop dusting? I'm the child of a crop duster and I just connected with your videos about two weeks ago... funny timing. What you just said about unregulated flight made me think of my childhood right away (picture growing up on airstrips in rural colombia) and why my dad chose to do what he did after turning away from arline flying. Bush pilot seems like where you're going so I won't even mention it.
At this point I've realized that no matter what plans I have for my career, it will ultimately take its own path. I'm just along for the ride and I'm bringing all of you along with me!
Hey man, I'm super happy for you and I'm glad you had an amazing adventure. I would like to talk to you about some stuff and I have a few questions for you. Did you change your number?
-G Kelso (your old student)
Dude, you better track the blades on that thing. I did that back in the 90
Or was it Hansen? ...... I will enjoy reviewing gyour videos. You've got all the options in the world, wish there was a pilot shortage 25 years ago! How about heli ag or logging? My current flying gig allows me to fish every week.
I'm still in training, but I have a question. How did you update your medical out there? I assume you just fly somewhere to get it done?
Hi,
I’m a very low hour CPLH from UK. I’m having a lot of difficulty getting to fly here , just saw your video and thought if you could help me out with advice of getting a tuna pilot work.
Please, I’d really appreciate if you could help me with getting some flying with your connections.
Best wishes.
A.
How many hours did you end up doing on the boat for the 16months
I second that question.
Just over 900 hours. I'd have to look at it but I think it was something like 930.
Any updates or new chapters/adventures?
I spent a season up in Alaska and am currently fighting fires in the 407. I hope to start making more content for the channel again in the near future.
How does one get a job like that?
Ah yes, I remember The Great Firing of 22, sad times. I survived it tho, I was lucky.
I'd guess that the helicopter company had a negotiation impasse with their customers, and withdrew from offering service.
Hey! is there a way to establish communication with you via email or any other way you prefer? I found your career path beyond inspiring and would love to get some insights from you personally. I am just starting my pilot career in Central America.
I spent 2 years & 5 months as a tuna pilot for Hansen. Unfortunately in February 2020, due to a Covid-19 travel ban lock downs we were never allowed off of the “boats” anymore to go ashore & that really squelched a lot of the fun.
I endured a 533 day (1 year & 5 month) lock down. The ship literally felt more like a prison.
The ridiculous, never ending travel bans ruined it for me. But it got me almost 1,600 turbine hours.
Great video. I need a create some sharing my experiences out there. Thanks for sharing.
This has been my best video so far.
ruclips.net/video/ucqNouzM-xM/видео.htmlsi=IrbUIto9jXLiHD6Z
Hey! I applied to Hansen a month ago, and they have not replied yet. I have been thinking of this job for a while, but I don't know anyone there. Is there a way for us to talk?
Goggle Hansen
Where ya at now
Get on a longline, it will focus you and divert your MI d from issues
Getting off the tuna boats has been as much of a curse as it has been a gift. After 13 months , life on the boats eventually takes it’s toll on you. It happened to all of us. We found ourselves spending more hours of our life in uncomfortable seat looking at nothing but open sea only to return to a room the size of a prison cell, all in a helicopter put together with parts older then you. You sit around waiting for master to say “prepare for takeoff” in some language you don’t understand only to hope you actually catch the damn fish this time so you can fill up the boat and go to port. Hours waiting only to see the asshole master miss the the damn school and you have to spend god knows how many more days out at sea. You just wanna get out.
You’re tired of the bed bugs, tired of eating the same old shit food everyday and dealing with the little stinking thieving crewmen, You wanna go home. You’re sick of the smell of fish and piss. You’ve been told when to fly, where to go and you just wanna be YOU again.
And at first knowing that “this was my last trip” is amazing. You do 3 or 4 cartwheels as you walk off Dock and hold your Passport high and proud as you check out of RRE for the last time. But what you don’t know is that while you may be leaving the tuna boats, the Tuna boats will never leave you. Like a drug that controls you, your brain will constantly replay only the fondest of memories that you spent with some of the best people that you will ever know. And *poof*, just like that, you no longer dwell on the flight ops, shitty food or standing in REE not understanding why they the brownies and no ice cream or getting yelled at for doing exactly what the fish master said and the fish still got away. Instead, you think about your friends. You remember all of the things you did together. You remember that no matter where you go in life or who you may meet, the tuna boats will always remain a major part of the nucleus of your existence. You are Tuna Trash now and you will be a Tuna Trash 50 years from now.
That’s why tuna pilots are different. That’s why getting out off the boats is like checking into rehab. You may never go back, but I promise you that you are going to relapse in your mind every single night. TTFL!!!!!
You are so right. In so many ways. Since leaving the boats I have had wonderful experiences with wonderful people and been able to do so many more amazing things in my career, but yet, even with all that in mind, there is still some part of me that misses the freedom and simplicity of being a tuna pilot.
I left a piece of myself out there, and while I may never return to the fishing grounds, I think that place, that life, will always call to me.