Just curious

[urflyingme?!]

I'm about to graduate flight school in a few weeks. I'm 20 and I have an interview, with fair odds at getting a FO slot at a regional. Those of you who have read my posts over the last year now probably are familiar with my school and al that jazz.

I was just curious as to those of you who started out doing other things before going the airline route. I can delay my interview as long as I wish, and was wondering if it might be good to go out and expierience some new things before I lock into a job. Another point I considered was the value of some turbine time and 121 time, which might allow me to transfer into some other sector of flight careers.

Anywho, I was just wondering what kind of "outside the box" jobs some of you guys have had, and if you woud do it again. I'm thinking maybe a job where you show up in oil stained carhart coverals and 4 days of growth on your beard, or wear your shorts and hawaiian shirt and take off on floats to some far away island.(ya i know thats a dream job found only in jimmy buffet songs but you get the picture)
How many of you flew overseas? Or flew bush? Fire spotted? Aerobatics instructing? anything ?
I'm thinking it would be great to get a start at my age in the 121 world, that way if it turned out i didnt like it, I could simply take my hours and expierience and have some leverage in finding another job, rather than spend a few years bumming it around the country and getting to 121 and finding out I don't like it.

I'm not trying to sound like I know a lot, or anything really, about the aviation job market, and careers/QOL out there. But I'd like to see what you guys think.... Get a button up 121 job with poor pay and get that all too valueable jet time? Or go try and find something really exciting.

Thanks in advance for the help guys

 

[G100driver]

I'm about to graduate flight school in a few weeks. I'm 20 and I have an interview, with fair odds at getting a FO slot at a regional. Those of you who have read my posts over the last year now probably are familiar with my school and al that jazz.

I was just curious as to those of you who started out doing other things before going the airline route. I can delay my interview as long as I wish, and was wondering if it might be good to go out and expierience some new things before I lock into a job. Another point I considered was the value of some turbine time and 121 time, which might allow me to transfer into some other sector of flight careers.

Anywho, I was just wondering what kind of "outside the box" jobs some of you guys have had, and if you woud do it again. I'm thinking maybe a job where you show up in oil stained carhart coverals and 4 days of growth on your beard, or wear your shorts and hawaiian shirt and take off on floats to some far away island.(ya i know thats a dream job found only in jimmy buffet songs but you get the picture)
How many of you flew overseas? Or flew bush? Fire spotted? Aerobatics instructing? anything ?
I'm thinking it would be great to get a start at my age in the 121 world, that way if it turned out i didnt like it, I could simply take my hours and expierience and have some leverage in finding another job, rather than spend a few years bumming it around the country and getting to 121 and finding out I don't like it.

I'm not trying to sound like I know a lot, or anything really, about the aviation job market, and careers/QOL out there. But I'd like to see what you guys think.... Get a button up 121 job with poor pay and get that all too valueable jet time? Or go try and find something really exciting.

Thanks in advance for the help guys

I graduated from college in 1993 and you could not even get a CFI job. I took a job in management working for the world largest paint manufacturer. It was a great job, for a guy who did know how to fly .....

I went back to instruction in 1996 and never looked back. If it was not for my expirences with selling paint I do not think that I would have the sucess that I have today. I learned that really working for a living SUCKS.

Ah, to be 21 years old without any responsiblities other than keeping the dirty side down. I would go out and have some fun while flying around the country!

 

[KeroseneSnorter]

You have opportunities that were not around a few years ago. When I came through, a 121 regional job was normally your 3rd or 4th flying job. If you didn't have 2500TT and around 1000 multi, no one would hire you for right seat in a dash 8 or Saab. Are you missing anything by getting the chance to fly an RJ with such low time? Maybe.

I guess looking back at my career, I feel that I learned a huge amount about flying by doing other things first. 1000 hours of 135 freight probably taught me more about instrument flying and emergencies than I have gotten in the thousands of hours of 121 time since then. Of course it scared the crap out of me a few times too, and it is probably pure luck that I survived one of those nights. Problem started out fairly benign with an engine failure but cascading system failures due to uncontained collateral damage from the engine blowing its guts out just about had me punching a grumpy in my pants by the time I got on the ground!

121 is just one facet of aviation, I have enjoyed every flying job I have ever had for one reason or another. I guess it depends on you. I would say try several different types of flying if you have the chance. I know several guys that gave up a 121 career at a major to go back to a type of flying that they preferred better, and I know others that would not change a thing. Personally I loved it at the airlines, but after being furloughed I have got to fly some things that I would never been able to (or ever thought of) had I not been laid off.

Having said all that........I still miss 121 and will take out your kneecap for that SWA, Fedex, AirTran, or UPS position!!!

 

[English]

I hate to bring up the subject, for fear of pilotyip showing up, but do you have a 4 year degree at age 20? If so congrats, good work! If not, I'd recommend getting that now before get tied down with a family, mortgage and responsibilities that might keep you from getting it later.

 

[slowto250]

Take some career guidance from Dolphin's RB Ricky Williams. Head for the islands, chase some native skirt, smoke some hemp, mon. Don't worry, be happy !!

If you don't, after 20 years in this aviation "rubber room", you'll regret it.

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

Here's something you probably have not considered... with your fresh certificates and diploma or whatever you get from that program, you don't have all that many options.

You don't have your CFI, and being a native New Mexican, I've seen an awful lot of MAPD guys come around looking for work. I've also seen a huge number of them get turned away because frankly, you have the same 250 hours than anyone else does. It sounds harsh, and it is, but it's reality. There have been more than a few MAPD guys who have tried to instruct around here, and haven't exactly turned out great. Perhaps you could avoid that stigma elsewhere in the country.

Fly Bush? Naw, he's got his own plane. I instructed for a few years before I went to Alaska. With 500 hours, it's possible to get a job up there, but not likely. But on the plus side, you generally get to wear Carhartts.

Fire patrol? In NM (and everywhere else that I know), that's only done by 135 companies, and they are all going to have around the same minimums--roughly five times the hours you have. You will find that to be the case just about everywhere you go (OAS has something to say about that as well).

Since I first got paid to fly, I've been a CFI, worked in youth ministry, been an electrical engineer in a huge factory, CFI'd again, worked in youth ministry again, worked as an A&P on corporate airplanes, flown in Alaska, and now that I am laid off, I am about to go drive a lift shuttle bus in Colorado. Somewhere in all of that I've travelled the vast majority of the world and climbed far more mountains than should be allowed. This ride is far from over!

But if you got your CFI, you could get into the exciting stuff. Trust me, instruction is exciting enough.

Let us know what you decide. And I'd tell you to drop a line if you were headed to Burque, but I'm off to CO for some snowboarding (oh, and bus driving)!

Dan

 

[urflyingme?!]

Thanks for the help guys. I have my AA but not BA/S I'm working on that with Utah Valley State online. And NO not in aviation, but with aviation specialty.

I do also agree that with my limited time my career options are quite small, besides cfi, banners or fish spoting and stuff like that I don't imagine getting anything really good.... we'll see.

Any other stuf?

 

[mcjohn]

A dumb question.

How can we get those kind of jobs in the South East?

 

[DX Rick]

Ah yes, will 300 hours I thought I had enough connections in the charter/coperate areas to get a job by skipping CFI'ing.
What's this book infront of me? Oh by golly it's Gliems Fundamentals of Instructing book.
Yep, I'm going to become a CFI because over the last 8 months, I have found that it's the only way to build time, until all the regionals lower their mins to 600tt again.

 

[PC12Cowboy]

instruct...you'll learn alot about people..you'll meet some wealthy ones..and maybe they buy a big plane and hire you to fly it

 

[pilotyip]

Do a search under “Alternate Career Path” for a different view on your career. Don't listen to English, you can make it to a 121 job without a college degree and all the debt that comes with a degree you do not plan on using. According to the latest Air Inc statistical data, 30% of the pilots being hired into 121 airline jobs do not have 4 yr college degrees. Of the 177 airlines presently interviewing only five, make the 4-yr degree a showstopper. Pilots with 4-yr degrees dominate this board. They feel to be successful, you must follow the same path they did. It is not true Here is an interesting thought if 95% of the pilots being hired have college degree and only 70% of the pilots being have college degrees, could it be that flight time is more important than a 4-yr degree.

 

[English]

Not quite pilotyip. I believe a degree is important for being sucessful in LIFE, not just in one's career.

I'm sorry you continue to downplay the benefits of being educated. Why do you want so many pilots to be in the dark?

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Pay close attention to what PC12Cowboy says.......the people with the $$$$ usually lead to some pretty good flying experiences. Plus, you do learn a ton about different types of people.

Mr. I.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

121 @ 20, w/250 hours and an online degree? You don’t want to live the campus life for a while? Party like an animal; smoke some things you shouldn’t smoke? Travel outside of the good ole’ U.S.A (and partake in activities that would cause Pat Roberts to have a cardiac arrest?) And most importantly, leave with a great experience that could only be summed up as the “best four (five) years of my life?”

It’s not necessarily college; it’s just not “working” for a living and having no responsibilities before making commitments to the cockpit or the desk.


I capped my five years of debauchery by traveling to S.America for a while. Let me tell you, man, no night is more beautiful and memorable than that spent in a dinky hotel in coastal Uruguay, with a view of the north Atlantic, nursing a fat joint and not having a worry in the world.

(Your mileage may vary, see a professional before beginning your regiment)

 

[cforst513]

I hate to bring up the subject, for fear of pilotyip showing up

English, you've woken the BEAST!!! Just kidding, Yip. I always like going back and forth with you about the neccessary-ness (hahaha, 3 1/2 years in college and I'm still making up words) or lack of neccessary-ness of a college degree. But to each his own, right? Good thing about this country is our right of free speech, right? Everyone entitled to their own opinion, even though Yip's is wrong J/k. Safe flying, everyone!

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

"...dinky hotel in coastal Uruguay, with a view of the north Atlantic, nursing a fat joint..."

That must have been a "fat joint" if you had a view of the north Atlantic!

And for the record, taking a job with a regional or something doesn't mean you can't go enjoy the fun things in life. All you need is time off and jumpseat priveledges (or money, but since we're talking about regionals here...).

Hotel? What kind of nancy-boy life were you living? Happiness is laughing hysterically because the rains had started to puddle under your tent, so you and your brother had to run outside with your ice axes to dig a trench (or moat) around the tent. I've never had so much mud on my ice axe than I did that day in Chalten...

Dan

 

[Fly BI]

It has been 2 years and two months since I earned my Comm Multi Inst. I taught for a year, then got a job at a small cargo outfit. I've been here 8 months and am starting ground school with XJT on 2/21. Along the way I've had ups and downs, but ultimately have learned a great deal. Furthermore, having worked as a freight dog will give me a better perspective on things once I complete I.O.E. at XJT. My point, you could have a blast if you teach at the right FBO. Furthermore, you're only 20 so it's not like you have Father Time kicking you forward. Slow down, enjoy the journey.

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

"...dinky hotel in coastal Uruguay, with a view of the north Atlantic, nursing a fat joint..."
Dan

sorry, that was meant to be south
stay in skool

 

[Vladimir Lenin]

Hotel? What kind of nancy-boy life were you living? Happiness is laughing hysterically because the rains had started to puddle under your tent, so you and your brother had to run outside with your ice axes to dig a trench (or moat) around the tent. I've never had so much mud on my ice axe than I did that day in Chalten...

Dan

We were all priviliged kids, first time down south. Compared to places we’d stayed at in Argentina, that place was a dump, albeit a historic one. The plaque outside said it was one of the first hotels built in Punte del Este. Plus the help didn’t bother when we started yelping like hyenas from the good weeds. They didn’t even speak English.

 

[pilotyip]

College is not the answer to all.

I have nothing against a degree, go to college for whatever reason you want, beer, girls, education, but to go to college when you only want to fly airplanes in not the best use of time and money. As I have posted before you can fly full time and do your degree on the side on-line, but you can not be a full time on-campus student and build Turbo Jet PIC. Airline jobs go to those with Part 121 Turbo Jet PIC time in the 1,000's of hours, the degree is not needed, and I am talking about great jobs at AirTran, Spirit and Jet blue. Airlines that do not let the degree thing get in the way of picking up a highly qualified pilot. I have seen it happen too many times.

 

[urflyingme?!]

I do think that I am missing much of the college lifestye. But I was made an excellent offer by he school, an by my parents. I could have gone to 4 yr and qadrupled my debt, but the economics and the 7 years until i could dream of even applying for a regional didn't look so hot. I figure I'll just jump in feet first and make a party of it.

and on a side note, I did most of that party stuff in high school. Ive been to mexico more than a few times, and I played in a rock band that sold out clubs in hollywood on the sunset strip. All of this before I even sarted college...

 

[pilotyip]

Do yourself a favor

In spite of what you have been told stay from the smoking rope, only idoits would think of using that stuff. It has no place in this profession.

 

[slowto250]

In spite of what you have been told stay from the smoking rope, only idoits would think of using that stuff. It has no place in this profession.[/QUOTE

Good advice. Studies have shown that continuous use of this substance will result in an inability to type the word "away" . Strange, I know. However, I have proof to back up this assertion.

 

[urflyingme?!]

C'mon guys, play nice.

Can't we spread some wisdom here?
yip raises a good point, plus absinthe is only one jumpseat away in france(the only good reason to go)