Getting a 747 type

[The5th]

I am at a regional with plenty of turbine PIC 121 etc.. Would it be worth the investment to go get a 747-200 type and then try to get a job overseas? I know many asian airlines are looking for 747 pilots. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Draginass]

A type rating without at least 500 in type is worthless. Save your money.

 

[Varig]

Get it because they are hiring without time on type. I have been there knocking on their doors and know people who got hired with just the type rating. If you are going to do it, now is the time to get one.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

A very good friend of mine got a 747 type, and got hired at Polar (in the U.S., not overseas) a bit less than 2 years ago. He had no 747 time. It does happen, but maybe he was the rare case?

 

[sleepy]

Maybe you should spend the $$$ on a 737 type instead. Then go fly a Caravan for a few years and get on with SWA.

 

[leardrivr]

Anyone who spends there own money to get typed so an employer might hire them is nothing but a prostitute. I mean come on man! Why do think so many pilots get taking advantage of. Every time one of these wonder boys thinks he has found the fast track to career sucsess. He just makes it harder for the rest of us to get a fair wage. Come on board dude! Lets make the companys and the unions pay us to train in there equiptment. No pilot should ever have to buy he's job! No hard fellings dude!

Down with PFT!

Viva la resistance!

 

[The5th]

Thanks for your replies. Can anyone recommend a good place to get a 747 type?

 

[leardrivr]

Yes. Try your current employer! Do what I did get the job flying a classic 742 and wait you turn: or wait better yet. EARN the right to upgrade to Captain. Ill see you in panc!

Happy Contrails

 

[leardrivr]

Oh I forgot I need to update my aircraft experience:

B747 classic First Officer. Didn't need the type to get hired either!

 

[KC-10 Driver]

My friend went to Aeroservice in MIA. He was less than fully pleased with the school, but he did get his type.

 

[typhoonpilot]

I tend to agree with leardrivr on this one. Regardless of what Varig says it wouldn't be easy to get a job without time on type. 500 hours is the usual minimum but it could be 750 or even 1000+. What other experience did the guy without time on type who reportedly got hired have ? Maybe he had been an MD-11 or 767 Captain previously. He at least had some narrowbody command time if he was hired into the left seat. The other thing is that 747 Classic pay is much lower overseas than you would expect. Orient Thai is paying about $4000 to $5000 per month for Captains. Not a great return on investment and that on a dieing aircraft where the pay will only continue to erode. If you like flying for dirt bag operators in the $hitholes of the world then go for it, otherwise look at getting on with a U.S. cargo carrier and getting the training for free.


Typhoonpilot

 

[Varig]

I heard it from the chief pilot himself and as far as the experience goes, how about leaving a flight school and climbing into a 747???? The guy who started this thread I believe has some jet time as an FO so it should be even easier for him. My friends didn't get hired as captains so for those of you thinking he got hired as a captain with no experience, that's not what happened. And just for the record, it is common for low time pilots to start out as FOs in jets like a 737 outside of the USA.

 

[potrack]

The5th,

Ever look at Cathay Pacific? Big equip with little experience to get in right seat.
Possibly be US based.

 

[GCD]

leardrivr,

I'm curious, where do you work that did not type you in the 747? Do you fly only domestic US? If not you may be in violation in many countries.

 

[FoxHunter]

leardrivr,

I'm curious, where do you work that did not type you in the 747? Do you fly only domestic US? If not you may be in violation in many countries.

There is no, and has never been any requirement to hold a type rating to fly international. I flew as a DC8, and 747 as a F/O all over the world at the time I had no type on my FAA ATP. FedEx today does not type F/Os in either the 727, A300, or the DC10 and they all do some international flying. Yes, most other countries require a type, but the FAA does not, and that makes you good flying any place in the world. Your understanding is a common misunderstanding of the requirements.

 

[GCD]

FoxHunter,



That is true of "treaty" countries, not all countries.

 

[xdays]

There is no, and has never been any requirement to hold a type rating to fly international. I flew as a DC8, and 747 as a F/O all over the world at the time I had no type on my FAA ATP. FedEx today does not type F/Os in either the 727, A300, or the DC10 and they all do some international flying. Yes, most other countries require a type, but the FAA does not, and that makes you good flying any place in the world. Your understanding is a common misunderstanding of the requirements.

I believe that your understanding in incorrect. The aircraft you cited above all have F/E's. At least one of Fed-Ex's F/O's in a crew of three or more pilots, not 2 pilots and an FE, would have to be type rated to engage in Int'l. operations requiring three or more pilots. Below is the reference. Hope this clears it up.

"Sec. 121.437

Pilot qualification: Certificates required.

(a) No pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft (or as second in command of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless he holds an airline transport pilot certificate and an appropriate type rating for that aircraft."

 

[TexaSWA]

I believe that your understanding in incorrect. The aircraft you cited above all have F/E's. At least one of Fed-Ex's F/O's in a crew of three or more pilots, not 2 pilots and an FE, would have to be type rated to engage in Int'l. operations requiring three or more pilots. Below is the reference. Hope this clears it up.

"Sec. 121.437

Pilot qualification: Certificates required.

(a) No pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft (or as second in command of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless he holds an airline transport pilot certificate and an appropriate type rating for that aircraft."

I flew the 727 all over Europe for two years out of BRU with no type. I hope they dont come get me.

 

[FoxHunter]

I believe that your understanding in incorrect. The aircraft you cited above all have F/E's. At least one of Fed-Ex's F/O's in a crew of three or more pilots, not 2 pilots and an FE, would have to be type rated to engage in Int'l. operations requiring three or more pilots. Below is the reference. Hope this clears it up.

"Sec. 121.437

Pilot qualification: Certificates required.

(a) No pilot may act as pilot in command of an aircraft (or as second in command of an aircraft in a flag or supplemental operation that requires three or more pilots) unless he holds an airline transport pilot certificate and an appropriate type rating for that aircraft."

Yes, but the only time three pilots are required is when you exceed 8 block hours in 24. Very unusual with the A300/310 and in that case FedEx used another Captain. That no longer is the case since the A310 now overflys Iran on the DXB-CDG leg, which was the only leg the extra Captain was used. In the MD11 all F/Os are type rated because exceeding 8 or even 12 in 24 is the norm.

 

[FoxHunter]

FoxHunter,



That is true of "treaty" countries, not all countries.

I flew for Seaboard World, Capitol International, Evergreen, Flying Tigers, as a F/O without any type rating. In the case of Seaboard World and Capitol I held only a C&I ASMEL, no ATP. I have no idea who "non treaty countries" might be today, but I can assure you that having a type has never been a requirement.