advice please

[rk772]

A little less than 2 years ago I resigned from Eagle. I had just finished Jet training and was on reserve in ORD. After a couple months of reserve I found out that my wife and I were expecting triplets. about 27 weeks into the pregnancy, my wife started having complications. We live on south Louisiana and the commute was pretty tuff being on reserve. I was told that my wife would be on bed rest for the rest of the pregnancy and the babies would be born very early and would spend a few months in the hospital. They also told me that the babies would come home from the hospital at about 4.5 pounds and would take a few months to catch up to a regular baby. They ended up comming home on oxygen tanks and required around the clock care.
I talked to Eagle management and requested six months extended leave and was denied due to staffing shortages. Our family lived too far away to help and I was forced to resign to take care of my family.
With all that said, The kids are perfectly healthy and I am ready to start flying again. I can't get my mind off of it. The problem is, I haven't logged an hour in a year and a half. There were no flying jobs in my hometown so I took a job teaching math. My wife is an engineer and is looking for another job in Houston to make it easier for me to find a corporate or cargo job. I have about 3,000 hours TT and about 800 hours turbine PIC. How hard is it going to be to find a job with 0 hours in the past 12 months. My CFI expires next month and I was thinking I should pay the $200 to renew it just in case that is all I can find. I will do anything to get back in the seat of a jet one day. Does anyone have any hot leads for the Houston area. I also have a type in a Metro III

Thanks for the help.

 

[banned username 2]

1. Congrats on putting your family needs first! Its says a lot about your character...

2. Do NOT let your CFI expire....

3. Try to get ANY job flying, to get you current again, then work your way back up the ladder...

As you are probably well aware, the industry totally sucks right now...

Good Luck!

Falcon Capt.

 

[350DRIVER]

Family is always priority so I am with you with regards to what you did since you really had no other choice. At 3000TT and prior 121 experience I would think that some other 121 carrier would definitely pick you up since the circumstances were beyond your control. Try ACA, Colgan, or ASA, just to name a few. If I were you I would "attempt" to personally walk in your resume to someone within the training department/ and or hr so you are able to explain what had taken place. Chances are they will feel for you and get you in the back door for an interview. Just my $.02


Don't let your CFI expire since you never know what will happen at some point down the line-

3 5 0

 

[sanford&son]

good values

if i had i job to offer, it would be yours. good luck and congrats on the new family.
-fred G. sanford

 

[rk772]

Thanks for the replies.
I resigned from Eagle in a Pre-9/11 world. I thought that returning to aviation would be simple with all the hiring that was going on at the time.
I don't have jump seat privilages anymore so it would not be feasible for me to walk my resume into all these places.
Would it, however, be professional to describe my circumstances on a cover letter.

 

[bobbysamd]

Start applying . . . .

First of all, I would get current, re-up on your CFI, seriously consider getting your ATP, and see if you can round up a student or two so you can fly for pay. That way, you can answer the "flying for hire during the last six months" question on an app affirmatively.

Then, I would start spamming the regionals. I would not say why I left AE in the cover letter. What you did was most certainly not a negative by any stretch of the imagination and you handled the situation the right way. Just the same, I would not call attention to it because when reduced to writing it can be misconstrued. You should highlight your excellent quals in your cover letter and get someone to call you in for an interview on that basis. Then, at the interview, you can explain why you left Eagle. On the app, you have to explain, somewhat, why you left. You could state briefly that you resigned to attend to your wife's difficult pregnancy, stating further that you will explain it at the interview.

I think that you have great quals and should land something. Putting down your teaching time should strike a positive chord. I'd almost suggest that with your 800 hours of turbine PIC that you should apply to some of the places that require 1000 and see what happens.

Best of luck to you.

 

[banned username 2]

I agree with Bobbysamd.. Get your ATP, it is very competitive out there and that would give you an additional item to compete with...

Remember 25+ years ago, ATP's weren't that common, mostly only airline Captains... but in recent times ATP's are very common... honestly when I meet someone with over about 1700 hours and they don't have their ATP I wonder why....

 

[El Cid Av8or]

I am really not in a position to give you career advice as I am still in the experience-gaining stage of my aviation career. However, I will raise an over-flowing glass to what you did. I'll also say that what others have said here makes perfect sense. Get back in the saddle and keep your CFI current. The ATP rating is a good thing too, especially if you like the airline path.

 

[banned username 2]

as I am still in the experience-gaining stage of my aviation career.

Uh... Hopefully you never leave this "Stage" of your career... even when you have 25,000 hours you should still consider yourself in the "experience-gaining stage" of your career...

Never, ever stop learning about flying.... what you learn today could save your life tomorrow!

The ATP rating is a good thing too, especially if you like the airline path.

The ATP rating is practiacally a "requirement" for any professional flying job.... If you don't have it, get it...

 

[El Cid Av8or]

even when you have 25,000 hours you should still consider yourself in the "experience-gaining stage" of your career...

True, very true. I was referring to the pre-job experience of adding time and ratings. Like Flight Training magazine says... "A good pilot is always learning." Also, I can't wait for 2500 hours much less 25,000 It will come in due time though.

The ATP rating is practiacally a "requirement" for any professional flying job.... If you don't have it, get it...

Oh, yes, I do plan on getting it and a ton of other aviation-specific ratings as I can too. I just love to fly and adding ratings (in the form of experience gained in getting the ratings) is fun and keeps me out of trouble. It is probably a misunderstanding on my part as I haven't researched it thoroughly yet but, I though that it was more geared towards airline-style flying (i.e Part 121 with dispatchers, etc.). I guess it's kind of like a PhD...everybody has their Masters so the PhD is the next level. I don't mean to stereotype or generalize in saying that but that's about the only comparison I could think of at this moment. Also, I thought that some "entry-level" jobs (those traditionally known for time-building - instructing, freight, pipe-lines, etc) and charter ops frowned upon the ATP. If you have it, they think you're just in there for a while until you get on with the airlines. Now, before anyone jumps to the perception I don't want them to... I am not putting down the freight, instructing, pipe-line, etc jobs. I'll be doing them too and when I do, it will be with pride and respect for the job. I question the experience gained by those who just use these types of jobs as stepping stones without actually gaining anything but hours in the logbook.

I don't want this thread to get off-topic so I'll start another one regarding the ATP ideas.


Tailwinds...

El Cid Av8or

 

[rk772]

who is the best company to do a CFI renewal through. I have used Jepeson in the past.
What is the best place in the South-Central U.S. to go for ATP training. Do you suggest using these places that advertise the License for a certain $amount$

 

[MINIME]

rk 772

Congratulations on your family and it does say alot about your character.
Don't let your CFI expire first of all, I renewed mine just a few months ago here in Houston at Hooks airport American Flyers, just a little costly but a breeze.
Second, if you do get into the Houston area you might want to try a somewhat fractional- corporate company named "American Jet" out of Hobby Airport. Last I heard they were looking into hiring people into their King Airs. I don't know their specific requirements but might be worth a shot. If that fails, there are a few other small companies on the field that might give you a chance

Hope this helps

 

[Timebuilder]

rk772

The AOPA "Air Safety Foundation" also does renewals. Call for info. You made an admirable decision in favor of your family. I hope you can get back on track.

On the ATP: I decided to train myself for the written, using videos and the Gleim computer program for assistance. I'm taking detailed notes from the videos, and from the Gleim book, in the hopes of learning and retaining the knowelge.

I had considered the ALL ATPS seminar approach, but it is a 121 force-fed pass-the-test prep, and many who have done it say that retention the following week is almost zero.

I'm doing the 135 ATP, with the hope of being able to use this information when I fly.

 

[banned username 2]

It is probably a misunderstanding on my part as I haven't researched it thoroughly yet but, I though that it was more geared towards airline-style flying (i.e Part 121 with dispatchers, etc.). I guess it's kind of like a PhD...everybody has their Masters so the PhD is the next level. I don't mean to stereotype or generalize in saying that but that's about the only comparison I could think of at this moment. Also, I thought that some "entry-level" jobs (those traditionally known for time-building - instructing, freight, pipe-lines, etc) and charter ops frowned upon the ATP. If you have it, they think you're just in there for a while until you get on with the airlines.

I have never heard on anyone frown upon the ATP... most of the time if you have enough hours for an ATP you aren't applying to a CFI job... Regardless the ATP is a great rating to have...

As far as who requires it... practically every good job... basically all of the Fortune 500 companies who have flight departments require an ATP... Just because it is called an Airline Transport Rating doesn't mean it has anything to do with the airlines...

I often refer to the following analogy to try and put it in layman's terms:

Private Pilot Certificate = High School Diploma
Commercial Pilot Certificate = Bachelor Degree
Certified Flight Instructor = Masters Degree
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate = Doctorates Degree

 

[bobbysamd]

Gold Seal CFI

Originally posted by Falcon Capt
Private Pilot Certificate = High School Diploma
Commercial Pilot Certificate = Bachelor Degree
Certified Flight Instructor = Masters Degree
Airline Transport Pilot Certificate = Doctorates Degree

Gold Seal CFI = Graduate of the College of Hard Knox.

 

[dogg]

Falcon, you must have gotten you ATP before the days of test prep software and the "five and dime" examiner program if you are comparing it to a "doctoral degree" . Of course having an ATP is better then not but lets not get carried away. Anymore the ATP is nothing more than a glorified instrument rating. But the guy should definitely get one if he wants a job.

 

[Timebuilder]

I'm confused.

Has the advent of test prep software, or special programs changed the meaning of the accomplishment of the ATP certificate? Have the standards for the accomplishment changed, making the study for the certificate, or the accomplishment itself less meaningful?

Was it always, as has been suggested, a "glorified instrument rating"?

 

[bobbysamd]

ATP . . . it is still an accomplishment

I got mine in 1989. I went to a weekend school for the written and, yes, I went to Sheble's for the practical. I still had to meet the PTS, though. I haven't looked at an ATP (and type rating) PTS in a while, but I doubt that such things as -0/+5 for airspeed have changed all that much.

I've always told people that the ATP is essentially a souped-up instrument rating. I had any number of instrument students who flew to ATP standards. The standards aren't much tougher than the instrument rating. Just the same, it is still a milestone in a professional pilot's career. As a practical matter, especially in times like these where competition is fierce for very few jobs to be had (which is still true, folks, even during good times), you need to present the best quals possible so you can have the best chance. Getting the ATP is one of those quals.

 

[RightBettor]

CFI renewal

rk772:

With respect to the CFI renewal... go with Gleim's online CFI renewal system. It cost about $100 and you can do it on your own time. You complete the package, print out the certificate and walk it to the nearest FSDO with a completed 8710 from... and you're good for the next 24 months.

Click here ------> https://www.gleim.com/aviation/firc/

I keep mine current in order to maintain my "Graduate of the College of Hard Knox" designation in the upper left hand corner of the certificate! The Gleim course worked great for me.