Pipeline patrol
Aerial inspectors check for damage, leaks, and broken pipe
Unless you live in Texas, Oklahoma, or Louisiana, you’ve probably never thought of how many miles of natural gas pipelines there are in the country.
Qualifications: Commercial pilot certificate, often with instrument rating; certified by NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research)
Favorite part of the job: Great way to build time, employ crew resource management working with aerial photographers and videographers
Least favorite part of the job: Low-level flying, challenging weather conditions
Pay: Starting at $45,000
Pipeline patrol pilots know how many—more than 305,000 miles (58,600 in Texas alone!).
Pipeline patrol jobs involve surveying a pipeline system by flight, monitoring both the pipeline and the surrounding area for damage, defect, or disturbance. The positions are specialized and generally may comprise a pilot and flight crew, or the pilot is on their own. As a pipeline patrol pilot, your responsibilities include piloting an aircraft over a specific route with visibility of a pipeline to inspect the area for any possible damage, leaks, or safety hazards. After identifying any abnormalities, like erosion or dead vegetation near a pipeline, you relay the information to ground-level workers. Your crew could contain photographers or videographers who document the environment.
Pipeline patrol pilots usually work for an operator who contracts with an oil pipeline or electric power company to furnish aerial patrol service. Flight training requirements vary depending on the aircraft (both fixed-wing and helicopters). Pipeline patrol pilots fly wherever electrical power transmission lines or oil and gas pipelines exist. Power transmission lines often run through mountainous regions where water sources and dams produce electrical power.
Aerial patrol of pipelines is an effective means of rapidly covering large areas of pipeline assets. The focus on any patrol is tailored to address a company’s specific needs because of environmental circumstances or regulatory changes. Specifically pipeline patrol pilots are looking for leaks, land erosion, exposed and/or broken pipe. It is a day out/day in job that begins early in the morning and finishes when the inspection report is delivered to the site manager.
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