My Life As A Tuna Spotting Helicopter Pilot
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- Опубліковано 31 січ 2025
- It gets better after the first two minutes I promise. I just wanted to put together a little montage of what I did as a Helicopter Pilot aboard a tune fishing boat in the Pacific.
Extra artwork credit.
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Image by Vectonauta on Freepik
Many years ago, I worked on a Princess cruise ship as a musician where we played Jazz in the bar every night for just four hours and the rest of the day was ours. We were in a different port everyday, ate great food, and the ship was the size of a small city. With that said, my contract was only six weeks and, by week five, I just couldn't wait to get off. I can't even imagine what your experience was like.
Oh yeah after 6 weeks on that little boat, we were all very ready to get back to Port and enjoy some down time. The trip back was always the worst. We were usually pretty low on supplies and switching from working sunrise to sunset to suddenly sitting around with really nothing to do for 6+ days of sailing back to Port was rough
I was always drawn to the ship jazz gigs but never took that plunge. Sounds like a lot of time to stare at the ocean and/or sit in the shed and practice lol
do u work everyday or get 2 days off
@@deveey I worked 8 years on tuna boats as helicopter pilot with companies from Mexico, Panama, US, etc... Once you are at sea, you don't have days off... You work 7 days a week... The game is fill up the boat as soon as possible. This is a big business.
Man, I just happened upon this video and I'm glad I clicked on it. While I sat day dreaming of what it would be like to be a professional helicopter pilot (something I do often) your words at the end eloquently painted a full understanding of the experience. One that parallels many tribulations we endure, jobs we've had, schools we attended, people we no longer love. Somehow those unbearable times we sustained in those moments of fraught seem to dissipate. We're mostly left with enduringly cherished anecdotes that paradoxically appear to both simplify yet intensify as our clocks persistently tick on. Thanks for putting this together, and sharing it with us all. I, for one, appreciated investing 12 min of my day watching it. I'm sure as time moves on I will likely revisit it's underpinned meaning many times over.
Thank you for the kind words!
😂😂😂😂🎉bbbbbbb❤❤b❤❤❤❤h❤
As a fisherman, including tuna, but on a much smaller scale. This vessel looks very well thought out and looks like a well-oiled machine. I watch a lot of youtube videos, and this is one of my favorites I've watched. Great tunes, and very well edited. The message at the end was on point for anyone who spent time working on the ocean. Great job!
Thank you! Editing this video definitely made me miss it
Wow I didn't even know this job exists, gives me a whole new appreciation for everything that's involved in getting food to our tables. Thank you!
And its a really well put together video, too.
Thanks! It was a fun project to make. People are getting all offended by the commercial fishing aspect but there's a relatively small amount of these fishing vessels trying to supply the global demand for tuna
I don’t eat tuna anymore because they are getting fished out. Notwithstanding, I enjoy these flights. Big fun. Thanks for putting some video together. Bahamas? Spot me some spiney lobster.
Best tuna flying vid Iv seen, thanks for taking the time to film everything aswell as the flying and putting it all together with a cool sound track👍👍
Thanks! Glad you liked it
Amazing photography and well narrated. I had no idea that this is how it worked. Good job, Jeremy. We are proud of you.
Very interesting……I am a very old Navy Helicopter pilot who loved flying the H 3 off the boat…great crews, great memories and great adventures particularly at night, close to zero/zero at one hundred feet over the North Atlantic. It was an experience the grows one’s eyeballs to about twice the normal size.🙄
Great message at the end, those moments are the ones that leave a mark for good
Thanks! I struggled for a bit trying to find a way to end the video but I think that worked perfectly
Awesome editing! Thanks for making these and giving us a look into the tuna pilot life, best of luck with your next adventures 🤙
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
My grandfather was an A&P and CFI in fixed wing. He was one of the first helicopter mechanics in the military. I have always loved those little 300’s. I’m sure , as with everything, the “goodie” wore off after a bit but it definitely looked like a pretty cool job. Much love from North Carolina 🤙
Thanks! Yeah it got real boring at times but it was a fun adventure still
I enjoyed your video and thanks for showing your return to Yaizu. I worked on these boat 1973-1985, started at the bottom and became a chief engineer. I had also learned to fly and later flew professionally with over 12,000 hours mostly on jets. Our fishing trips were much longer than six weeks. Typically they were 3-4 months in the eastern tropical Pacific. of coarse it’s quite a bit different now.
Awesome to hear your story! Having the helicopter definitely sped up the trips out there.
@@sinfulldoubt, I should mention our company was the first to fish the western Pacific and we owned Big Eye Helicopter and Vern Hansen managed it. It was one of our helicopter guys who taught me to fly fixed wing and he is now a retired airline pilot. I also live in Japan now but I am a round eye.
This was a fantastic episode. Really well made. Thanks so much.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
Wow! Wow! Awesome Pilot! Awesome Photographer! Awesome Philosopher! Kudos! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I know every bit of the feelings that you explained at the end. Excellent video.
Thank you!
I worked offshore as a commercial diver for 20 years, for 10 years after I dreamed of being underwater almost every night, the sea gets in your mind for life. This is a great video brother, I watched it twice in a row, epic videography and music, I see where your next career might be
Thank you! It's definitely becoming a fun side hobby that's bringing in some money to pay off these student loans lol
I lived on Tinian for about a year in 2007.. made regular trips down to Guam. Crazy to see how much has changed from the satellite images in that area, also the devastation after the typhoon in 2018. I enjoy watching your videos stay safe I'm looking forward to what you have coming up next!
Thanks! Yeah it's still going strong but I'm not sure how they're doing after the typhoon they had recently
Really enjoyed that, thanks for taking time to put it together
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It was a fun project to put together
Awesome video and thank you for documenting your time and flying out on the sea. Congrats on making it back to land and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
Thank you!
You should consider writing a book, your prose and story telling is excellent!
Thanks! I've been told that a few times, might be worth looking into eventually
You gave me chills when I seen it was Guam. I lived there from 06’-09’. I can’t wait to go back one day to visit. The most beautiful little island.
Me too! I really enjoyed my time there, it's very pretty
Thanks for sharing this with us. This was an epic video. I don't know anything about flying or being on a tuna boat, but I know a lot about living in a bubble for a time and that bubble never letting go of you even after you let go of it. Reading the words you wrote at the end of the video, I get it. Trust me.
Glad you enjoyed it. I struggled for a while on how to end this video but I'm pretty happy with it now
😂 I am an independent trucker that has hauled fresh caught fish 🐟 & seafood for 30+ years.
I feel and live your pain. The fresh fish business has consumed my life. I hate it but I love it at the same time. People don’t understand how much work,struggle and sacrifice goes into their sushi 🍣 roll!
I am also a privet pilot and share your love of flying.😝 Thank you for the video.
Thanks, glad you liked it
Love the bare-foot flying!! 😂
I flew 207's up in Alaska for a year and half before moving on, I replay some of my flights often and will till I die. Good luck as you move on.
I bet, Alaska is on my bucket list for sure
A couple very cinematic transitions in there. Chef’s kiss
Thank you!
Forget about Tuna Cowboys these fellas are freaking Tuna Ninjas!
It's impressive watching the operation that's for sure
Fascinating, tremendous video. Don't know how it popped on my feed. But glad it did. Quite an experience.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
Awsome story. You got me hard at the end though. I got into tracotor driving out of high school. I worked for contracting companies and that is all i did every day. It was extremely long hours. It was hard on you body. You had no life outside of work. But now that in out of it i look back on with the fondest memories. Its interesting how a completely different job has given us the same experience. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks for the kind words! That feeling seems to follow a lot of us in different walks of life
What a great vid. Even though I make dreams of being a heli pilot sometimes, this job must be fun a few weeks top, after that I would probably think it's a nightmare!
Oh it's still a fun adventure
Good luck with your new adventures! I have enjoyed your videos, and I know we just see the best bits, but thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I'll be working on more to come
I flew for Hansen in 2014. Did my year on The American Eagle. Completely agree with your message at the end, some of my best friends are guys I met out there.
Sucks you were stuck on the boats during Covid. You missed out on the experience of turning the Robert Reimers in Majuro into Fear and Loathing. I wouldn't go back, but holy shit I'm glad I went. Will forever miss living on the ocean.
Great video edit, too!
Thank you! I think two of my buddies were on that boat because it came the Viva eagle or whatever
I wish I could have experienced Majuro and the islands though
i've wanted to be a pilot my whole life and the md500 is by far my favorite. though something comes to mind.. we've heard that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. I've also heard, to never do what you love for a living because it has the potential to ruin your passion. though i'm not sure you could ever ruin a day in the air.
Yeah it definitely has the potential to ruin your passion if you're not in the right job, but doing this for a career also let's you experience way more that you wouldn't get to as a hobbyist
This is rad, please keep posting videos for the ones who want to become you one day 🍻
Thanks! Will do
That was a great video, well made. Thanks for sharing it. The message at the end speaks loudly.
Thanks! Yeah I thought that was a perfect way to end the video
Thanks for sharing this video! Really enjoyed it! Best of luck to you in your new adventures. Best regards from Brasilia, Brazil.
Thank you!
Amazing experience my friend!! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! Glad you liked it
Such a beautiful fish. Sad to see such technologies used against them They don't have a chance... devouring the sea that big tuna boat monster
Oh you'd be surprised, they're still very good at evading us, even with all the tech
What an amazing video brother! I obtained my commercial licence at the age of 48 and have thought about this type of work for a couple of years now. Perhaps too old at 54. 🙈
Thanks! I'd say it's not too late though.
@@sinfulldoubt how would someone get started?
@@mrrobkennedy for tuna boat flying? Look into Pacific Spotters or Tropic Helicopters
@@sinfulldoubtIs pacific spotters still operating? I thought they put a stop to that.
@@TheMonkeytrumpetz as far as I'm aware, they're still operating
One of my first Helicopter Instructors' next gig, after he didn't get the raise he'd asked for, was flying off of a tuna boat. His last assignment was flying off a multimillion dollar super-yacht while traveling the world...
Damn, thats the boat Lego has been trying to recreate for like 40 years
🤣 that's pretty funny lol. Got our own little mini aircraft carrier
Sometimes you just wish you had a different life, like this one. Very cool!
I definitely miss it a lot. Making this video brought up a lot of memories
Love your job!! I'm still clocking time... I'd seriously love to do this and similar one day.. Thanks for sharing!
No problem, glad you liked it
I'm just finishing my ppl and i would love to fly the md500 off a tuna boat for half a year if i have the opportunity, thanks for inspiring to push through the struggle of this job
No problem, glad you enjoyed it! Keep pushing through those ratings
Bro that Boeing 777 flying over must be been super cool
Oh yeah that was pretty cool until I started thinking about the wake turbulence. He was much closer than it looked in the video
@@sinfulldoubt oh yeah didn’t think about that part
@@sinfulldoubt I’ve just started watching your videos and im really enjoying them. Keep it up
@@Kuzo32 thanks!
Great video, awesome edit, perfect music. + one new sub!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Incredible video. I had no idea this type of flying existed! What sort of flying are you doing now, I saw you said you are out of the tuna game?
Yeah I had no idea either until I started the cherry drying job and learned that a few of them had done it or were planning on going out there. I'm currently flying tours and charters in NYC
I guess I’ve been watching your videos for about a year now but you said something in this video that hit home you referred to yourself is tuna trash well I’m oilfield trash and because of working at $10 an hour when I first started scrubbing mud tanks, I now own a Multi billion dollar business in oil and gas you won’t even be able to find much about me and that’s the way I like it. Low profile I drive a truck that’s 24 years old. I drive a car that is 27 years old but my successes in my heart and I’m able to help others so you have lived a good life 64 now fixing to sell everything and walk away don’t ever give up my friend. You learn every single day of your life the day you don’t learn something. Is the day you die take care, my friend don’t ever forget your safety checks each and every flight❤👍😎
Thanks! And will do
Keep living this life as long as you can as hard as you can. You owe it to us less fortunate ones...or sons lol.
(CCR Nod there.)
Thank, I'll do my best!
my boys usin every means of transportation imaginable
Gotta cover my bases 🤣
@sinfulldoubt 😂🤣💦💦💦. I see u. Amazin career man. I travel the US by a few weeks at a time. Ive hit every major city and military base in tbe USA at least 10 times bein a project manager on multimillion dollar video conference room transformatios. But this is another level tho. Ur blessed man 🤙🏿🤙🏿🤙🏿
yall have little birds strapped to boats. I love this
Best way to do it lol
Alright!!! This is cool idc what you have to say , I'm from Colorado that makes it better good to see you explore the world badss!!!
Well hello from Fort Collins!
UA-cam is cool because you can see anyone live out your dream career lmao
For real lol. I'm always getting lost in the abyss on here
Very emotional.
Only people who have been on a ship can really understand.
Apart from the emotions. Can you elaborate on the fishing process in more detail? Apparently that is a very sophisticated operation.
Also, what are the economics? you mentioned in the other video like 2 million pounds of tuna, that's a lot of value here.
... and what are you doing now ? looks like you did the tuna flying "only" for 14 months?
Yeah what are you curious about with the fishing process? I've heard that the fish can vary quite a bit on price but typically $1-$2 per lb and can be upwards of $4 or so a lb for the sashimi grade fish. I'm currently working for a company doing power line work though so hopefully I'll have videos of that soon
@@sinfulldoubt funny, I sail in the SF Bay next to some power lines, for the last few weeks I see the helicopters all day delivering personnel and parts to the power lines, must be some of your colleagues.
I was just curious how profitable the tuna fishing business is? I forgot how many pounds your ship would hold? but it was definitely a few million dollars worth.
this was fantastic. thank you!
Thank you, glad you liked it
This was a wonderful video, thanks for sharing. I’m curious if/how drones will affect commercial aviation jobs like this in future, and what pilots think of this?
I know a few companies have tried drones out there but from what I heard, they were all lost at sea within months due to various reasons. I would like to see them explore the possibility of AI in aircraft to help pilots, but not remove them entirely
Great video. Unique career. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it
And i thought working armed contract security on cargo ships in somalia would be fun...
Awesome video dude!
That would be a pretty cool adventure as well though
@@sinfulldoubt definitely!
I envy you for your lifestyle - you seem to have done everything right ❤
I'm definitely doing my best to have an adventure while I can
You got a great job, don't forget about it. :)
I do my best to remind myself
Oh wait. youre the guy that has the best landing ever
IDK about that 🤣 I'm far from the best, but at least I haven't bent the metal yet
Working on that ship is like a prison serving sentence
a ton of great shots!
Thanks!
Very nice video. Good luck with your next adventures.
Thanks! So far so good
Blessed man. Cool job.
Thanks! It's been an awesome adventure so far
Awesome vid, wish you the best in your Career.
Thanks! You too!
Would you mind explaining how you came across this career? Very interested as I have heard helicopter gigs are few and far in between for civilians
Cool job just wonder how many fish will be left in the ocean in 20 years. I'm not against fishing hopefully someone's keeping track of that stuff.
There's organizations out there that handle that
www.iss-foundation.org/tuna-stocks-and-management/tuna-fishing/fishing-methods/purse-seine/
Awesome video mate!
Thanks!
way to go man. I'm a former Army pilot with +1500 Hrs on 205, 206 and 214. How can I become a Tuna Pilot?
Look into Pacific Spotters or Tropic Helicopters
The mighty C-model 💪
IDK that I'd call it mighty but it's a tank 🤣
i was a frac junkie, relapsed every single day for years. A prayer for the brothers we lost along the way
I can imagine you do the same
Terrific video. Great editing and would love to see more of the “Tuna trash” lifestyle from the footage you left out. Question. Now that Hansen is long out of business who has taken over servicing the fleet? Or does each boat hire their own individual operator? Just curiosity.
I could look around and see if I have enough footage to make a video like that lol. Problem is a lot of it is filmed vertically because it was put on my story or something. Pacific spotters still seems to be going strong through but a lot of boats have purchased their own helicopters
PS is Hansen right in PI?
Awesome video mate.
What do you think the hourly running cost might be for the helicopter. Obviously well worth the cost for the company.
I believe we charged them the equivalent of about $685 an hour but they had a flat rate monthly fee that gave them to to 700 hours in a calendar year
Wow. Goes to show how much money is in the tuna industry. Thanks 👍
Great story, thanks for sharing your vlog!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
my guy be flying helo with no shoes xD
Also...that message at the end there...hit me real deep. Thats how I feel about my work as a aviation contractor as well.
I do miss flying barefoot lol but it's nice being home more often now
Beautiful
Can't argue with that
Good to see how over fishing is going strong
Oh yeah it's going great, you should try it
coolest job ever
Can't argue too much there
Genpuku Maru 81 currently showing as fishing off the south coast of Japan according to its AIS.
Yeah they usually don't seem to update once they leave, not sure if that's because they switch it off or what. But there's two Genpuku Maru 81s that show on AIS for some reason
I wonder how long it will take for drones to take over pilot jobs like these. A ScanEagle takes up much less space and can fly for 20 hours with lower operating costs.
I've seen them try drones a few times out there and they always lost them in the sea within a few months
What is that green dye in the water? Is that dropped by you or one of the small boats to mark the fish?
It's dropped by the crew in hopes to turn the fish around so they don't swim under the ship
Excellent content, thanks for sharing 👍🏻
Thanks again!
great editing
What is the little probe type thing on the wind screen that looks like no wires are going to on the MD’s?
Thanks!
That's the outside air temp gauge
The Ending is gold
Thank you! It took me a while to figure out how to end it properly.
Algo just pushed this video on me nice thanks a lot good channel
Thanks!
that salt water cant be good on the heli,
how do you maintain it after coming back? looks like salt will be everywhere
We cleaned it constantly. Every night it got a compressor wash and sprayed off with fresh water. Then coated with anti corrosion spray like corrosion x
amazing technology there going into commercial fishing. love helicopters and turbine engines.
Yeah I was surprised at how much tech they had but they used it well
Guessing from the boat's and captain's name, you worked for Japanese company? I'm pretty interested in this job because I'm Japanese and love helicopters.
Yup! The ship was based in Nagasaki I believe but home Port was yaizu
Deep message at end!
Thank you! It took me a while to figure out how to end it properly.
great content! gotta post more please!
Is the Helicopter for spotting the Tuna, then Helicopter tells boat where to go? How does this all work? I never seen this before. It looks like 4:44 almost every boat has a helicopter on it.
Yup! We can help the boat be a little more efficient. They'll literally burn tons of fuel sailing all day at maybe 15 knots to look where we can climb up, see for 20-30 miles and fly around at 80-90 knots while sipping fuel compared to the boat.
great stuff,
Thanks!
That was epic
Thanks! It was an epic adventure
Wow. This was a low hour pilot job? Super interesting! Very cool! Looks like a cool experience, I hope you spoke some Japanese so you could communicate better. haha
Yup! Had 200 hours when I got this job. I barely spoke any Japanese though but I managed to get by
Great vid. Actually your vids inspired me to go and do it, I’m out there now.
🤣 glad I could help lol
Love tuna, love Helis! You are living a great life. Question, I noticed either the transmission or engine or both were removed when the heli was on the ship? Is that typical to try and prevent corrosion or something while underway?
Thanks! Pretty sure the engine was in. But after landing, my mechanic usually opens the engine cowlings to help cool it.
Got it. Must be seeing things. Hope you are enjoying the next chapter of your flying career. @@sinfulldoubt
@@CCitis thanks! The engine did come out once for an engine change though. I just didn't film it
An absolute EPIC
Thanks!
Brilliant video! Do all tuna boats use turbine helicopters? Is it for (lower) maintenance reasons?
There's a few boats out there using R44s but the 500 is pretty much the gold standard out there. The piston engines don't seem to like the salt water environment very well
Just absolutely pillaging the sea!
Yup it's what we do best, keeping up with demand for people who like to eat
They banned aircraft spotters for Tuna decades ago where I live. Tuna didn’t have a chance
Seem to be doing fine here