Diary of a Bush pilot

Welcome to the inner workings of my mind.
A not quite netflix worthy documentary of how to mentally survive the isolation of working in the far north of Canada for months at a time in the summer.
Flying a helicopter is only the half of it. Keeping yourself entertained turns out to be the other half.

[@DC300xcw]

Mr bright side solo was on point!

[@lifeOfBarneyMusic]

Buddy this video was amazing. I don't know of any other heli pilot making content like this, with as excellent narration as well.

[@Sillysnakechris]

Just started my CPLH in Aus, was a little daunted after I started at the size of the mountain ahead of me, but your videos are single-handedly motivating me to never stop pushing! Keep it up!

[@MikeBabsBC]

Aw, this takes me back when I used to do bush work for Alpine Helicopters back in the day as an apprentice engineer. Good times, thanks for posting this.

[@briangreig4225]

This is a great series! I got my licence in a 206BIII back in the early '80s when there were next-to-no jobs available and so I'm really enjoying the look into what Might Have Been. I DO remember that long-lining was a..., real challenge! Thanks for sharing!

[@bushpiloting]

Thanks mate. Yeah it seems the market is a lot easier now for pilots than it was back in the day. And long longing is the most fun you can have with your pants on!

[@mline250]

Bush flying = drum refuelling. Always

[@simoucci6307]

Love to have an insight of a heli pilot job, thanks man

[@peteraneilly8301]

Not often you see someone flying that type of work without a brain bucket!!

[@nickporter3959]

Absolutely love this channel man hope you keep making videos!!

[@joelbaverstock2121]

This is super cool to see, please do more! Can you maybe do a video on youtube or your insta on your career path so far? I've just got my CPL in Aus, and would love to know how you went from CPL to where you are now, especially with your firefighting stuff lined up.

[@gluebox1]

Love your videos. Keep'm coming, please!

[@kubaflanker2186]

Another cool video! Thank you for it!

[@Rurik8118]

Great vid!! I have many thousands of hours in the north flying fixed wing but helo’s will always hold a deep fascination within me. Question …how many times can one read ‘Chickenhawk’ ? 😊 Thank for sharing

[@briangreig4225]

I've bought half a dozen copies of that book because I keep giving them away! Combat flying must be a thing unto itself; however, I'm sure that the love for the machine and its idiosyncrasies must be common to all rotary wing pilots!

[@justsmallstuff4994]

Keep it up brother

[@FlyingAce94]

Awesome videos! Keep it up!

[@charliekimong]

Amzing footage, really interesting too! I’m a PPL “H” holder in the southeast UK, currently studying towards my Commercial License. It’s great to see some of the diverse jobs out there for us heli pilots. My dream one day is to work in all different sectors of heli work doing exactly what you do! Could you please give me some advise for interesting jobs I could get into once having my commercial license! Would also love to know your past and all the different jobs you have encountered. Many thanks, Charlie :)

[@bushpiloting]

Get your cplh, Get a Canadian work visa, and then convert your license. Canada is the place to go for fast easy progression in the industry

[@Never_get_off_the_boat]

Dude you don’t get enough credit for your flying into these spots! 407 is a workhorse… flying one in the Gulf of Mexico now

[@bushpiloting]

Thanks man! They’re a dope machine that’s for sure!

[@MickB235]

When you rolled that drum of JET-A fuel up to your refueling point, did you have to let it sit for a period of time after it was tilted upright before you could use it ? The reason I ask is that back in the early 80's when my dad was a police officer stationed at Mittagong, NSW, they had drums of JET-A1 kept at the station so that if ever the POLAIR Jetranger's were transiting to or from a job away from Sydney, with previous organisation , a station officer who had a ute or small flatbed truck ,would drive to the oval with said fuel drum on truck to meet the helicopter and have their tanks topped off. On this particular occasion the helicopter couldn't refuel because the drum was only set upright that morning and the Polair crew said that the drums had to be upright for at leas 48 hours before they could use the fuel

[@Rurik8118]

These drums look freshly cracked and he seems to be running a decent filter on his pump head…interested in what he has to say.

[@briangreig4225]

I was taught to tilt the drum slightly via a wooden wedge or some such and to orient the barrel so as the bung was on the high side. The rationale was that any condensed water would collect at the lowest point. Even with modern day filters, that's probably not a bad idea.

[@troywilson3679]

Where is your work located ?

[@bushpiloting]

all over Canada mate, this video was made in northern Quebec.

[@mwk2030]

👍🏻

[@SkidsUpAviation]

What boots do you wear when you fly?

[@bushpiloting]

i just run a dusty pair of hiking boots. something comfortable to walk through the scrub back to camp if i had to.

[@vientayuno934]

Hey mate, how did you get to go flying in Canada on an Aus CPL? I'd love to get out there after my first 1000

[@bushpiloting]

Hey man, I converted my license with Chinook helicopters back in 2018. You can do it in either the b47 or r44. It takes about 2-3 weeks and will set you back around 10kAUD with all the general expenses of life included. Just think of it as an investment

[@briangreig4225]

If they still offer the BH47, go for it! There's nothing like the view from the plexiglass bubble and that bark from the Lycoming 435 through straight pipes :-) I'm sure the R44 is a fine machine but the 47 is a true classic!. Either way, you can't lose!

[@larryballard595]

"promo sm"

[@justsmallstuff4994]

Probably been told before but get a helmet mate you only get one life.

[@bushpiloting]

Ive got two of them cousin

[@mikhailbolosevitch2127]

Hi i'ts been a long time i follow you on IG and i watxh your vids , a searching for a guys who already make the job i wanna do in my futur to talk about how achieve this. Tks a lot in advance if you answer me

[@bushpiloting]

Thanks for following along on the journey man :)