What do you do for a day job?

Neal said:
So I guess you wouldn't be interested in riding along on one of my animal capture flights, or dropping water from a bucket on a fire, or landing on the lava dome at Mt. St. Helens or... ;) It's all I have ever done since I was 18, so I suppose I see the danger from a different viewpoint. It's always there, but most of the time it's manageable and it's my job to determine if the risk exceeds the benefit. At that point it's time to land, and I have done that many times. That's what I like most about helicopters, there's always a place to land if you have to.
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I really like helicopters. Just out of high school, a family friend owned a bell helicopter and had a contract with the US Forest Service to fly Hela tac for the fire season. I worked for him to drive the service truck and service the helicopter on fires. In the off time between fires him and I would fly into some nice fishing spots. One time, several of us went hunting in a rough area and killed three bucks. He came in and flew us and our bucks out.
Then when it was time for me to serve my country. A very skilled helicopter pilot and door gunner saved our bacon up one of the rivers in Vietnam. I do love helicopters!
 
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I currently work as a Compliance Inspector for Oil and Gas wells for the USDA Forest Service. Only a seasonal position at the moment, 1040hrs NTE one year.

Fingers crossed, my supervisor has put me in for one of the open permanent Natural Resource Specialist positions (which I applied for after I'd accepted this position but apparently didn't make the initial cut b/c of the hiring authority they used) in the department and it's currently in HR's hands.

With a little luck, I'll have a permanent full-time position starting 30 August this year. Might get lucky and get it at a GS7 instead of GS5 like this seasonal position is.
 
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I was a helicopter mechanic in the US Army. I am still in the Army National Guard as a reservist.
My full time job is an aircraft quality control inspector for the Dept of Defense as a civilian at an Army National Guard heavy maintenance facility.

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Wind Energy Large Component Corrective Services (gearboxes, main bearings, nacelle, generator replacement) of components ranging in weight from 18T to 100T for world's largest wind turbine manufacturer.

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Shot from man-basket. Getting ready for rotor removal.

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Mt. Adams in the background, getting ready for rotor removal

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Another man-basket shot.
 
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motomick76 said:
Wind Energy Large Component Corrective Services (gearboxes, main bearings, nacelle, generator replacement) of components ranging in weight from 18T to 100T for world's largest wind turbine manufacturer.

View attachment 180957

Shot from man-basket. Getting ready for rotor removal.

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Mt. Adams in the background, getting ready for rotor removal

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Another man-basket shot.
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I am terrified of heights - all I can say is FUCK THAT SHIT. You got balls, brother. :D
 
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motomick76 said:
Wind Energy Large Component Corrective Services (gearboxes, main bearings, nacelle, generator replacement) of components ranging in weight from 18T to 100T for world's largest wind turbine manufacturer.

View attachment 180957

Shot from man-basket. Getting ready for rotor removal.

View attachment 180958

Mt. Adams in the background, getting ready for rotor removal

View attachment 180959

Another man-basket shot.
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Impressive!

What is this man-basket thing? I assume it's like the basket on a power line truck, except much, much taller? Like a big crane or something?
 
motomick76 said:
This is the 'basket', hanging off the hook of the crane. Just before we 'boomed' into the side of blade in the previous pictures. Approx 300". Mt. Hood in the background.

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Holy cow! I'm sure there's wind restrictions, but does it feel unstable or shaky up there?
 
MountaineerTom said:
Holy cow! I'm sure there's wind restrictions, but does it feel unstable or shaky up there?
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It moves around, and the boom moves, but they are all made to flex. Keep in mind, with cranes this size, there is usually 350,000 to 375,000lbs of just counterweight, let alone the weight of the crane. There is 20-25 semi loads to bring crane in. Yes, for each lift we do, there are 'lift plans' drafted and approved by engineering, and which are required to follow by crane operators. These plans have the wind limits, boom limits, weight, etc. but usually anything over 15mph we cancel for the day. Good operators are also fussy about wind limits, and will not push it.

Us on the basket doing work does not even register weight on the hook, as the hook weighs 4,000-6,000 lbs.
 
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motomick76 said:
It moves around, and the boom moves, but they are all made to flex. Keep in mind, with cranes this size, there is usually 350,000 to 375,000lbs of just counterweight, let alone the weight of the crane. There is 20-25 semi loads to bring crane in. Yes, for each lift we do, there are 'lift plans' drafted and approved by engineering, and which are required to follow by crane operators. These plans have the wind limits, boom limits, weight, etc. but usually anything over 15mph we cancel for the day. Good operators are also fussy about wind limits, and will not push it.

Us on the basket doing work does not even register weight on the hook, as the hook weighs 4,000-6,000 lbs.
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Wow, that's pretty cool.
 
motomick76 said:
It moves around, and the boom moves, but they are all made to flex. Keep in mind, with cranes this size, there is usually 350,000 to 375,000lbs of just counterweight, let alone the weight of the crane. There is 20-25 semi loads to bring crane in. Yes, for each lift we do, there are 'lift plans' drafted and approved by engineering, and which are required to follow by crane operators. These plans have the wind limits, boom limits, weight, etc. but usually anything over 15mph we cancel for the day. Good operators are also fussy about wind limits, and will not push it.

Us on the basket doing work does not even register weight on the hook, as the hook weighs 4,000-6,000 lbs.
Click to expand...
Then there’s offshore

 
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