USA PILOT JOBS

Pilot job market / Aerial survey and patrol

The aerial survey and patrol pilot job market

Survey pilots fly precise, repeated lines for mapping, photography and remote sensing, while patrol pilots inspect pipelines and power lines from low altitude. Both depend on careful navigation and steady hand-flying over long days.

Many of these jobs accept commercial pilots with a few hundred hours, which makes them one of the common ways to build time outside of instructing. Survey assignments often involve travel for weeks at a time.

9Open listings
4Added in the last 30 days
550Median minimum hours
2Marked low-time friendly

What employers ask for

Minimum flight hours

Total flight time required. 6 of 9 listings state one.

  • Under 2500
  • 250–4991
  • 500–9993
  • 1,000–1,4992
  • 1,500 or more0
  • Not stated3

Certificates required

Share of listings that name each one.

  • Commercial78%
  • Instrument56%
  • First-class medical33%
  • Multi-engine33%
  • Private11%

By career stage

Listings grouped by the minimum hours they state, with the certificates asked for most often at each stage.

  • Entry level1 listing

    Under 500 hours

    Commercial, First-class medical, Instrument

  • Building time5 listings

    500–1,499 hours

    Commercial, Instrument, Multi-engine

Pay in current listings

2 of 9 current listings state pay, but too few in the same form (annual, hourly and so on) to summarize fairly.

Aircraft in current listings

  • Cessna 172 2
  • Piper Aztec 2
  • Cessna 182 1

Where the jobs are

Current aerial survey and patrol listings by state. Each state page covers its openings in every category, its aviation employers and its flying clubs.

The most recent listings

  • Aerial survey

    Aerial Survey Pilot

    State
    Michigan
    Minimum hours
    1,250+ hours
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Commercial
    • Instrument
    • Multi-engine

    Employer, town and apply link for members

  • Aerial survey

    Aerial Survey Pilot

    State
    Michigan
    Minimum hours
    1,250+ hours
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Commercial
    • Instrument
    • Multi-engine

    Employer, town and apply link for members

  • Aerial surveyLow-timePart-time

    PILOT ENTRY LEVEL: Pipeline Patrol

    State
    Michigan
    Minimum hours
    500+ hours
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Private

    Employer, town and apply link for members

  • Aerial surveySeasonal

    Aerial Survey Pilots

    State
    Maine
    Minimum hours
    300+ hours
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Commercial
    • Instrument
    • First-class medical

    Employer, town and apply link for members

  • Aerial surveyLow-time

    Pilot - Cessna 172

    State
    Iowa
    Minimum hours
    Hours not stated
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Commercial
    • Instrument

    Employer, town and apply link for members

  • Aerial survey

    Aerial Survey Pilot

    State
    Iowa
    Minimum hours
    500+ hours
    Pay
    Pay not listed
    • Commercial
    • Instrument
    • Multi-engine

    Employer, town and apply link for members

See all 9 aerial survey and patrol listingsPlans from $9.99 a month.

Before you apply

  • Aerial photography, survey and pipeline or powerline patrol count as aerial work, which is flown under Part 91 rather than an air carrier certificate. Being paid to fly it requires a commercial pilot certificate.
  • Expect questions about cross-country experience and long legs in the same seat as well as total hours.

Other kinds of flying

Flight instructionCargoCharterBanner towSkydivingAgriculturalToursAirline

Frequently asked questions

How many aerial survey pilot jobs are open right now?+

9 listings are active on USA Pilot Jobs, 4 of them added in the last 30 days. The count is refreshed daily as listings are added and expire.

How many flight hours do current aerial survey pilot listings ask for?+

Among the 6 listings that state a minimum total time, the median is 550 hours. 1 ask for fewer than 500 hours and 0 for 1,500 or more.

Which states have the most aerial survey pilot openings?+

Current listings are spread across 4 states. The most are in Iowa, Michigan and Alabama.

Why doesn't this page show the employer or an apply link?+

Job listings are for members. On the board, every listing shows the employer, the location, the full requirements and a link to apply on the employer's own site. Membership costs $9.99 a month or $99 a year.

Every aerial survey pilot listing, in full

Members see the employer, location and full requirements for each opening, with the ones their hours and ratings already meet marked.

Browse pilot jobs

No contracts · You apply on the employer's own site