Not all of the world is reachable by car, train or boat. To reach those remote locations a plane is needed, and a pilot with steady nerves and a knowledge of the land to fly it. Becoming a bush pilot takes time and effort, but is a great career for those with a natural salesmanship and a love for pristine wilderness.
Find a certified flight instructor in your area and sign up for lessons. Including books, instructor fees and plane rental, this will cost between $7,000 and $10,000.
Be at least 18-years-old and able to read, write, speak and understand the English language.
Find a certified commercial pilot instructor and register for lessons.
Complete 35 hours training in the aircraft and be versed in Federal Aviation regulations regarding commercial pilot privileges as well as procedures for reporting accidents to the National Transportation Safety Board.
Look for special seminars and courses that relate directly to bush piloting, like mountain flying or landing on dirt strips. Learning these techniques is vital to being able to function in the environments bush pilots routinely fly in. There are several flight schools that specialize in these techniques.
Decide where you want to work. Since bush pilots fly in and out of sparsely populated areas, look at places like Alaska or northern Canada.
You can either go into business for yourself or find a bush pilot who would take you on. In addition to not having to spend a lot initially (a good bush plane can cost between $150,000 and $200,000) you will learn the lay of the land, one of the most important things in bush piloting.
Gain experience. The more experience you have flying and exploring a tough landscape, the better your reputation will be, which is how you build a business.
Once you feel comfortable flying solo over wildernesses and have a feel for the type of clientele you could expect, look into a small business loan. With the start-up capital you can purchase a plane (Piper Super Cub and Cessna 185 are both great choices) and advertising.
