Can I do anything with 250 TT?

[Hadhafang]

I might get myself in serious trouble, but this is a serious question and I would like a serious answer. Why are people jumping all over this guy for saying he dosen't care if he gets paid? I mean what if he flies because, horrors, he actually loves to fly. Sure it is hard to get a job at 250 hours, but why jump all over the guy for asking. I don't know if all of you that are jumping on him are headed for or are in the airlines. It seems like the airlines are a tough business: no job security, always uncertainty about the financial status of the industry, security and safety issues, seniority, etc... It makes sense that working under those conditions would be tough and you would get very upset with anybody that "rocks the boat." But please, don't ever forget that we are extremely priviledged to be able to fly. We get to do what most people can only dream about. I've got to say, that is one thing that really turned me away from pursuing an airline career. All I would hear around the airports and in forums were current or former airline pilots complaining about how bad they had it. It seemed like they had lost their love of flying and all of a sudden it had become a job instead of a passion. I took one look at that and said, "No way, I don't want that." Yes, I understand the need to make a living, and yes, this guy should not sell himself short, but just don't chew him out for making that statement. Sorry, I've rambled enough and I'll get off my soapbox. I just feel that pilots need to be more grateful for the opportunities that they do have, whether it is instructing or flying a 747.

 

[av8rbama]

I might get myself in serious trouble, but this is a serious question and I would like a serious answer. Why are people jumping all over this guy for saying he dosen't care if he gets paid? I mean what if he flies because, horrors, he actually loves to fly. Sure it is hard to get a job at 250 hours, but why jump all over the guy for asking. I don't know if all of you that are jumping on him are headed for or are in the airlines. It seems like the airlines are a tough business: no job security, always uncertainty about the financial status of the industry, security and safety issues, seniority, etc... It makes sense that working under those conditions would be tough and you would get very upset with anybody that "rocks the boat." But please, don't ever forget that we are extremely priviledged to be able to fly. We get to do what most people can only dream about. I've got to say, that is one thing that really turned me away from pursuing an airline career. All I would hear around the airports and in forums were current or former airline pilots complaining about how bad they had it. It seemed like they had lost their love of flying and all of a sudden it had become a job instead of a passion. I took one look at that and said, "No way, I don't want that." Yes, I understand the need to make a living, and yes, this guy should not sell himself short, but just don't chew him out for making that statement. Sorry, I've rambled enough and I'll get off my soapbox. I just feel that pilots need to be more grateful for the opportunities that they do have, whether it is instructing or flying a 747.

There are certain times that flying for free is acceptable... volunteering with the CAP or Angel Flight or other noble charity organizations, or as a "ride-along" with someone that is flying what is normally a single-pilot operation for some sole manipulator pic time... I've done it, everyone on here has probably done it, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. Nothing illegal, I know the risk and rsponsibility I'm taking on by doing it, and I've taken the responsibility to know the airplane I'm flying in as well as the 210 and 206 I fly on a daily basis. Most of the time, the acting PIC is a MEI who signs off on the flight in my log.

The problem arises when a flight that requires two pilots, whether by the regs, insurance, owner/operator, pic, whatever is flown with someone who will do it without pay. I've earned a ton of respect around my local airport by standing my ground. In a couple of other contract right-seat jobs I've flown, I've also gained a lot of respect by holding this position and have always received much more than my standard rate. I was told the first time I flew a contract job that if I ever flew something for free where someone would normally get paid, I was shooting myself in the foot for future work. I agree with this 100% because this is an industry that relies heavily on who you know. If I start flying jobs for free when I should get paid, word will spread like wildfire and while I might get a few more B200 or C421 hours as a result, I might as well forget about my reputation with other companies... as soon as they know I'll work for peanuts (or even worse, free), my chances at making a decent wage in the are are shot.

Operators need to know that just because some goober will fly for free, they won't always be able to find someone to fill their shoes and pay scale. When someone undercuts me by 1/2 my standard rate, everyone loses.

BTW, I'm not in this for the money or to become an airline pilot.

 

[agpilot34]

What the hell is a `banner tow´ endorsement?

There's no such friggin' thing as a "banner tow" endorsement, at least not as far as the FAA is concerned. There are several banner tow operators that claim to train you to get your "banner towing" endorsement. Maybe they type up a little certificate for you saying that you are "certified" to tow banners for them, but it doesnt mean a thing to the FAA. The only endorsement that is required is a tailwheel endorsement if they fly taildraggers.

 

[siucavflight]

I might get myself in serious trouble, but this is a serious question and I would like a serious answer. Why are people jumping all over this guy for saying he dosen't care if he gets paid? I mean what if he flies because, horrors, he actually loves to fly. Sure it is hard to get a job at 250 hours, but why jump all over the guy for asking. I don't know if all of you that are jumping on him are headed for or are in the airlines. It seems like the airlines are a tough business: no job security, always uncertainty about the financial status of the industry, security and safety issues, seniority, etc... It makes sense that working under those conditions would be tough and you would get very upset with anybody that "rocks the boat." But please, don't ever forget that we are extremely priviledged to be able to fly. We get to do what most people can only dream about. I've got to say, that is one thing that really turned me away from pursuing an airline career. All I would hear around the airports and in forums were current or former airline pilots complaining about how bad they had it. It seemed like they had lost their love of flying and all of a sudden it had become a job instead of a passion. I took one look at that and said, "No way, I don't want that." Yes, I understand the need to make a living, and yes, this guy should not sell himself short, but just don't chew him out for making that statement. Sorry, I've rambled enough and I'll get off my soapbox. I just feel that pilots need to be more grateful for the opportunities that they do have, whether it is instructing or flying a 747.

Because flying for free is wrong. If someone is making money off of you doing what you love you should be compensated for it. By not taking compesation, or saying that you would do it for free you are bringing down the industry as a whole.

 

[mcjohn]

Last week I was asked to be a radio biatch in a Citation and to help "a little" with moving boxes. This guy is running a part 134.5 operation and has had the law on him a couple of times. I recieved the call and told him I'd call him back so then I did a little research. Turns out that this guy has been banned from running a 91 or a 135 op. but he still is, just under his wife's name.
Morale of the story, you fly for free in something that requires a co-pilot and you most likely are working for a crook. You may even risk your own ticket by doing so. Apparently there are people doing this all over the place so be careful. A lot of very wealthy people are involved in aviation and a lot a very wealthy people are crooks.

 

[agpilot34]

Very good advice, McJohn. The FAA couldnt care less about the circumstances if you get involved with some of these shady operators. If you are around when the crap hits the fan, you're just as guilty in thier eyes, regardless of how or why you came to be there.

 

[indefinitehold]

This should be good...before the beatings commence, please give me time to grab a beer and some popcorn.

I'm guessing this will go 3 pages.

Dude! you called that one.

 

[indefinitehold]

My GOD man!
I have to assume that you dont have many friends in Aviation. At least not of the working, collecting a check varity.

Dude, never, and i mean never, offer to speak of this topic in a public place or on this site.

Do you know what you do to the rest of the pilots looking for jobs when you lower the standards this way? your killing your fellow aviators is what you are doing. your killing them because there are knuckle heads out there that will give a guy like you a job making min wage or in your preferred case for nothing.

where is the self pride?

If you came to me for an interview i would have to assume that you are trying to cover some inadequacy you have.

Now to forgive a little on my part, pay your dues!

traffic reporting, instruction, banner towing, jump pilot.

 

[Jbitzer]

When I worked for an FBO as a CFI/Traffic Watch etc, and we had someone ask one of us to do some outside flying we had to do it through our boss. The FBO charged whoever wanted us to fly with them and I got that put onto my pay check. If we ever went behind our boss, for free or not, we would get canned.

 

[dollacrackho]

this guy probably wont even have to send out a resume. mesa and ************************* pilot recruiters probably surf these boards looking for just this kind of special individual. stop trying to talk sense to him, its guys that him that will allow mesa to take everyone's flying and maybe one day when i get furloughed AGAIN because of jackas ses like this i'll finally come out of my coma and get a real job in a profession where people actually want a paycheck.