750 TT then what

[Shenzi Rubani]

I have 750 TT, including more than 400 X-C after a year flying for a small company in Africa. Now in the Chicago area, where would you go? Any small Part 121 or else, hiring? or people I should go see?
Thanx 4 ur help

 

[banned username 2]

CFI... No offense, but in todays market 750TT is nothing...

 

[cvsfly]

Another 750?

I have 750 TT, including more than 400 X-C after a year flying for a small company in Africa. Now in the Chicago area, where would you go? Any small Part 121 or else, hiring? or people I should go see?
Thanx 4 ur help

No chance for Part 121. Although you African experience maybe an interesting topic for discussion, realistically it won't get you very far in the 48 states. Best hope is for VFR 135 - sightseeing outfits in the desert SW or small seasonal outfitts that fly VFR - Alaska, Maine, etc.

 

[FL000]

Shenzi,

My CFI way back told me, "Don't reject yourself. Let the company reject you." In other words, give it a shot. You'll never know unless you try.

If you can get an interview, perhaps the interviewer has flown in Africa and you hit it off with good conversation and you get hired. Maybe you have some other common bond. Stranger things have happened, and many people have been hired with less time than you.

It will be an uphill battle, but just keep plugging away at it.

Can't think of any more cliches right now.

 

[Shenzi Rubani]

FL000, Thanx so much, I really appreciate your support, I'll keep plugging away at it.

Falcon Capt, I do realise it is difficult, despite my 400+ hours flying on a C206/C208B for a charter operation, with nice IMC. I do not expect to be hired very soon and jump into a nice left seat, but was just looking for a way to build time, working for a VFR 135 type of operation.

CVSFLY, thanks a lot, I'll be looking for that type of ops in the Chicagoland.

 

[banned username 2]

but was just looking for a way to build time, working for a VFR 135 type of operation.

I'll be looking for that type of ops in the Chicagoland.

I don't know of any VFR only 135 ops in Chicago... and Africa time won't give you any edge in the midwest. You have flown a 208 (Caravan) I know Planemasters flies Caravan's, but they do so single pilot and you'll need at LEAST 1200 TT to be PIC in IFR 135. If you want VFR 135 you are going to have to look to Florida or Arizona.

 

[bobbysamd]

African flying experience

Originally posted by Shenzi Rubani
I have 750 TT, including more than 400 X-C after a year flying for a small company in Africa. Now in the Chicago area, where would you go? Any small Part 121 or else, hiring? or people I should go see?

Originally posted by Falcon Capt
No offense, but in todays market 750TT is nothing...

I agree, it really is nothing these days, but it shouldn't stop you from trying. It never hurts to apply.

Sometimes, unusual or different types of flying experience, such as yours, are great attention-getters. Who knows? Someone might see it and bring you in for an interview just to meet you. Assuming that you are being invited in good faith, you might have a chance. I wouldn't hang my hat on that, though, simply because there is too much competition for too few jobs.

Don't forget to convert your licenses to U.S. certificates if you haven't done so already.

Good luck with your plans

 

[great cornholio]

Try and get a job flying traffic watch, pipeline patrol, jump plane for skydivers, glider/banner towing, etc

 

[Shenzi Rubani]

Thanks Great Cornholio, I found a traffic watch and also a skydiver ops. will check with them, there seems to be a possibility.

 

[Flechas]

why did you stop flying in africa? any chance sof me getting that job?

 

[KingAirer]

Keep trying but dont expect to hear anything. That way if you do hear something great, and if you dont you can continue with your life without worrying and agonizing each week as to why you havent heard anything yet. Your best bet is to trying CFIing..these traffic watch jobs are few and far between and there are hundreds of pilots trying to use this avenue to bypass the CFI route. Bobbysamd gave some great advice and if i were you thats the road I would take. You arent to far from being hireable in the 135 and 121 so meet some folks and get some multi. Meeting good folks can be worth more than 3000hours+ !

 

[Shenzi Rubani]

Flechas, I am leaving that job because I am getting married, and it would be difficult for my wife to come and live there. On the other hand, my boss was way more difficult than I thought, and too abusive for me. Things went very wrong when my engine quit on me on a landing and instead of working it out and finding the failure, I was again shouted at. Told him to go get another driver. I have found a good small job at the moment to keep flying until I am back in the US.
I would tell you to try that job, but he is a very difficult man, and will ask you to convert all your FAA licences first into Tanzania licenses before he gives u the job. This would cost you about $600, plus the $2000 plane ticket, then a bit to live for a while, and not even the guarantee to get the job with an approx. $1200/month to begin with. I think it is too demanding and not worth it. Although if you have the patience to do it, and a bit of cash, then why not try it, there are jobs all the times in those places, it is a question of being there at the right time, at the right place. Like for everything anyway.
Tell me if you really want to try this way, I'd give you more advices and ideas by email.

 

[Toy Soldier]

Shenzi Rubani

Keep pluggin away at the flying time. Also, don't let the remark about "750/hrs being nothing". It really isn't, but my point is that you can get a decent job with those hours if you knock on the right door.

I got my job flying a Twin Commander when I had less time than you have! Also, I know a fellow that got a job flying right seat in a Citation - all because he knocked on a door and the owner liked him. This fellow only had 350 hours!

Drive on. Keep knocking on doors and networking. Good luck.

 

[great cornholio]

Like it was said traffic watch and jobs like that are hard to find now. But my buddie just got hired on Long Island flying jump planes and he only has 300 hrs. He walked in and asked if they were hiring. They were like well our jump pilot just quit today so if you can fly tomorrow you are hired. Since he didnt have any kind of job at all he told them he could fly tomorrow so they hired him on the spot. He was pretty lucky, but you never know it could happen to you too. Getting a CFI job would be easier maybe, but if you dont have your CFI then its costly. Also just heard someone I know went from North Carolina to Pittsbrugh stopping at all the airports along they way and could not find one single CFI job. Anyways just go knock on doors who knows what will happen.

 

[Flechas]

thanks shenzi

thanks for the info, but that guy really sounds like my boss, and one is enough. i guess i'll keep instructing for now. goos luck looking for a job, let me know if you get one and tell them about me.

later