Experience with a college grad

[pilotyip]

I know this is probably out of date because it happened over 2 years ago at the Air Inc show at ATL in July of 2000. A pilot came by our booth, we were recruting both DC-9 F/O's and DA-20 F/O's.
This pilot was a graduate of one of well know 4 yr aviation universities. He had about 1200 total maybe 600 MEL, had some King Air time. Looked like a good canidiate for our DA-20 F/O program, with an insurance wavier. I told him about our DA-20 program and offered him an application and an interview the next day at the hotel, he told me at this point in his career he was only interested in the DC-9, because he had spent enought time in small airplanes like the DA-20 (DA-20 small?) and at this time in his career he needed to be in big airplanes logging part 121 jet time to get hired by a major. I told him that jet PIC would probably look better than just about anything he could do right now, he indicated to me I was kinda out of touch with the realities of the current job market and he would look elsewhere, I wished him luck and said good bye. We hired three people off the floor at ATL that year, two took the job and they both made Captain the next summer and are still flying with USA Jet, one guy who won the 747 type rating at the show, did not except the job. Do they teach this in the interview courses at the aviation colleges, that part 121 SIC is better than jet PIC? Anyone care to comment on their experiences building PIC time in the DA-20 and what is has done for their aviation career?

 

[T-REX]

I graduated a year and a half ago from one of those aviation colleges (ERAU) ---and that kid must be on crack. Granted, its a different market now, you would think riding right seat in a Falcon is a hell of a job for soeone barel at the 135 mins Want my resume? Want me to track down that kid and kick him in the ass?
Myself and just about any other person with those flight times would kill fr a job like that.

 

[SquirrelDog]

I would have to agree with T-Rex. I also graduated from a four year Aviation program several years ago and this was not the tactics that were taught for interviewing what so ever.

Now I am flying as Pic of the Falcon 20 and in respect to my peers from college flying right seat, stagnent at the regionals, I am in a better situation for the next level of employment for myself. Though this comes from somewhat of a bias opinion.

I personally can not believe that guy had the nerv to think he should be in posistion to have a part 121, medium jet job at only 1200 total time. He should be greatful USA Jet would even consider him for an interview for the SIC on the Falcon.

Obviously the 1200 hr. newly grad. was out of touch with the industry and the interviewing process.
just my .02.

By the way Pilotyip, I currently sit in Willow Run.

Squirreldog

 

[flyinyourShorts]

Some people never learn

This reminds me of my expirences comming up in the ranks. When I was comming up on 1200 hours, a company offered me a job flying a Caravan as soon as I got the time. I was more than happy to get the job, but all my freinds and flying buddies(which had about 600 hours or less) were saying "its single engine time, with 1200 hours you should go to the commuters and not that 135 cargo crap". Well, I took the Caravan job and built a s**t load of turbine PIC time and then got myself a PIC job flying Shorts 3-60's. All the guys that shunned me for going freight, and flying that "cargo crap" were then telling me they should have done what I had done.

The sad part is still all those people stayed with their happy commuter F/O jobs. About the time it was for them to upgrade to Captain 9/11 happened and most, if not all, of the guys I know are furloughed. Now most, if not all, of them are calling me asking if I could get them a job!

Funny what you figure about the industry when you get out in it. We had MANY F/O's at the Shorts operator I worked for that thought flying overnight freight in an Irish S**thouse was below where they should be in the industry. I told them they should be glad they are building transport catagory turbine time at 600 hours and not flight instructing!! God how those guys always made me mad.... Now since most of them got their dream commuter jobs, and are now furloughed, they call me often to see if I can get them a job. Funny how its OK for them now to lower themselves enough to fly a 50 year old Convair I fly now.... I think its odd how that works, huh?

Anywho, that was an EXCELLENT post pilotyip, I hope your staying warm up there! I was at YIP yesterday clearing customs, and BOY was it cold!

 

[SquirrelDog]

flyinyourshorts

Thats a great user name by the way.

I am now also getting the same reations and was given the same verbal lashing when I took a frieght job. Now all those guys at the regionals and some others, that are stuck or furloughed in which I haven't talk to in years are comming out of the wood work to ask for jobs: and some ask to be hired into the left seat.

I try to help out as many as I can, but what the heck is person suppose to do with all the ones that are good buddies, but knowing comming from the 121 world, they would have very tough time with the quality of life change.

Still possing the above question, feel for most of them with jobs still to stick it out and keep the great beny's while not moving foward that much for now.

I guess the next couple of years will tell all.

Good Luck to all of us.

SquirrelDog

 

[Finch]

It is the old ego flare-up again! What is wrong with cargo? I would love to fly cargo! A Falcon would be a dream right about now.

It reminds me of something that a very elderly Japanese man said to me in San Fran. I was walking the tourist trap areas, and I saw this small man caving ladies hair combs. Very beautiful and intricate work. I watched him for a while; he was so intent on carving this comb that I could tell that nothing distracted him. After a while, I went over and asked him how long he had been doing this, and if he did it for a living. He replied yes, it was all he had ever done! I was astounded-how could he do that day after day after day? He looked at me for a long time, and then said: "it makes no difference what you do in life, so long as you are proud of the work you do, and do it well". Well said!

Right on Pilotyip, USA Jet must be a cool place to work (not regarding weather). The billy-boy deserves a spanking for the way he talked to you.

Finch