AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 61

One-third of U.S. oil production
flows from nearly 3,500 platforms
in the Gulf of Mexico with
thousands of miles of pipeline
delivering oil and natural gas to
the shore. Since the first Gulf
well was drilled off Louisiana
in 1938 in less than 15 feet of
water, close-in reserves have
been depleted and exploration
has marched off the Continental
shelf, onto the Continental
slope, and beyond. Today, Gulf
oil is deep oil; the bulk of U.S.
production draws from wells in
more than one thousand feet of
water. -National Geographic
really appreciate the Bell product, " he
says. " The 206 was really the first to fly in
the Gulf. It's proven, the product support
is there, and it's a durable product. " The
aircraft are not IFR-certified even though
his pilots are. " The birds are IFR capable
but not certified. I wanted it that way so in
case they get caught in weather for safety,
but we fly day and night VFR only. "
Panepinto calls this type of flying
" risky " and says all pilots in his employ
have water egress training (see " 'Need to
Escape,' " November 2022 AOPA Pilot).
" Flying helicopters here is challenging;
I like challenges. " He owns a Cessna 185
on floats when he wants it " easy and relaxing, "
he says.
" A pilot who wants to work for me
has an instrument rating, 500 helicopter
hours, and then 250 hours in make
and model; that gets them to 750 hours.
Those with offshore experience are the
most valuable to me. Right now, there is
a demand for pilots and mechanics; I try
to make sure this is a good environment,
and the benefits are good. "
His pilots fly " 14 and 14, " which is two
weeks of flying and two weeks off. This
is standard across the Gulf. Most of his
pilots have more than 3,000 hours and
lots of experience flying in the Gulf.
" The Gulf is the second worst area
to fly in the U.S., " he says. If you're wondering,
Seattle is first. Louisiana gets the
fog from cooling water and warm fronts.
" The sea fog can get so thick you can't see
the rim of the helipad. You have to wait
until the wind blows it away. You have to
teach a new guy that he can land on a perfectly
clear day, go inside, and eat lunch at
AOPA PILOT / February 2023
61

AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023

Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Intro
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Cover1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 6
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 10
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 12
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 22
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 26
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 28
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 30
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 32
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 34
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 36
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 38
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - R1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - R2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - R3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - R4
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 50
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 87
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 91
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 95
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 102
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 106
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 107
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - 112
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - February 2023 - Cover4
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