Large corporate transitions

[Throttlebender]

Hey guys,

Wondering about the realistic transition to a large corporate jet. I'm currently sitting on about 2200 TT and 800 multi. Most all of the multi is single pilot navajo with 100 or so in a cheyenne. My question is this. I might...stressing MIGHT have an opportunity in a year or so to get in the right seat of a GIV or GV. During this year I'm likely to log another 300-400 hrs and will be flying a turbo commander as well. So, with that being said, how difficult will it be for me to transition and be a viable co-pilot in something like a gulfstream? Have lots to learn like everyone else but think that I'm a very capable pilot. I'm feeling that at this point I'm trainable in anything. Is this an accurate assumption or am I missing anything? I just want to make myself as appealing as possible if this comes my way. Any advice on how to be a step or two ahead?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

it will be a big step in equipment, but with 2000TT you should have no problem transitioning to a GIV/GV....you will have a lot to learn once out of school and out there flying, but that is understood with zero experience.

Dont sweat it, thats what a 3+ week initial is for!

Good Luck!

 

[G4 Driver]

Do it!!!

Go to school (get them to pay for it!!!), learn all you can, keep a positive attitude.

The rest will come.

Good luck.

G4

 

[Gearmunky]

Don't stress.

You'll be fine. I went through G-IV intitial at about 320 hrs. (Yes, three hundred and twenty hours) It's like drinking beer from a fire hose. You manage to swallow all you can, then your drunk on information and your trying to play catch up. I honestly thought I was going to forget where I lived. When you get into the sim it'll all make sense. The problem most people have with the G-IV is either the electrical system or the hydraulic system. I was electrics for me. The FMS can be a little bit of a pain if you don't have any experience, but you'll be flying with an experienced captain and he/she will show how to do the fancy stuff. I've got almost 150 hours in the G400 now and it's not even an issue anymore. Don't be fooled though, I still see things that surprise me every now and then. The Gulfstream is a great airplane and is pretty straight forward. Good luck with your job opportunity, I hope it works out for you. When you get there and you have any problems let me know, I'll be more than glad to help you.

G'der done!

Gearmunky

 

[User546]

Do you live here in the U.S. GearMunky?

 

[Gearmunky]

Yup, best country in the world.


By the way your Avatar is pretty bitchin'

 

[52Vincent]

Here we go again, let the flaming begin!!!!!

I see PFT flaming in this threads future.

 

[Gearmunky]

"PFT Flaming" what's that mean?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

yeah why "PFT" question..??

The guy is probably a sim instructor in GIV's...(no?)

No offense ,of course, to the above guy - but anyone can get a type rating in a sim...if they work hard enough.....

but PFT? whats that have to do with it?

 

[BoilerUP]

You'll be fine. I went through G-IV intitial at about 320 hrs. (Yes, three hundred and twenty hours)

gawdamm dude, how in HADES did you land a gig like that? And where can I sign up (provided it doesn't entail signing a check)?

 

[Gearmunky]

I work for a training company in a simulator. (Hence the name "Gearmunky") PFT hasn't a thing to do with anything. I work with guy who went through Global intitial with like 600 hrs. I went through the same initial as everyone else. The thing is when everyone else has the luxury of flying the a/c in cruise for hours on end, I have the joy of multiple v1 cuts, ground spoiler deployments, and other malfunctions. I've pushed every button in that thing. It's a good learning experience. I was just telling Throttlebender it's possible. He won't have a problem.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

My last initial had a FSI CFI who had 500 hrs. He was fresh out of Vero Beach (?) doing some program to become a sim instructor/corp pilot...

Since he was young and still in the learning mode, he knew more than any on us!!

Sure, the sim was challenging at first and jets, V1 cuts, etc.. were all new, but he picked it up QUICK.

So long as keeps CFI'ng outside FSI and builds some more hours - I bet someone picks him up to be a corp F/O on this aircraft withing a year or two...

and at 80-100K salaries for new F/O's --- this sure beats pulling your pud in an RJ for $350/week..

sounds like a great FSI program to me!

 

[cosmotheassman]

I worked for simuflite for 3 years just flying right seat. they gave me training in kingair hawker 700/800/xp/1000 and beechjet. Good resume builder! I could have gotten GV training, if I wanted it. With 2000 hours, I thought there was no way anyone would hire me even if I had the rating. I was right. I put resumes out everywhere that I had gulfstream training but no one would hire me due to low time. so, I took a job flying a hawker instead. Now with more flight time, I wish I had that gulfstream rating... Get all the ratings you can, you never know when you'll need them or when it will help you get another job...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

good point.

young FSI intructors frequently get screwed because they think they are flying while in that sim. You are not. 500hrs flight time and 2000hrs GV/Global sim time is....well...a 500 hr CFI with a sim type rating. (fairly useless to anyone except FSI)

The trick is to to continue cranking out hours at fbo's etc all while building contacts at corporations you work with. Some have fairly high mins. Ours is around 5000TT but might be lowered by a good amount for the right person, and being rated and a FSI instructor helps here....but not if you are a 500-1500 CFI. You need a bit more..so don't get complacent.

All this aside...

One thing for certain, flying the sim at FSI has very little to do with flying the aircraft out in the real world. Never has.

 

[G4 Driver]

Sim Types

I can't agree more. I have flown the airplane with guys that had the sim type. While their systems knowlegde and button pushing were great, their weather, ATC, international procedures....everyday flying knowledge left me to think I was flying with a 500 hour CFI. Ratings are great but there is nothing that can replace butt in the seat time.

 

[BoilerUP]

I work for a training company in a simulator. (Hence the name "Gearmunky")

Sorry if my earlier post implied PFT. I was just curious how you might land a gig like that. Does anybody know if FSI/Simcom/Simuflite does this with regular CFIs or do they need to come through their Academy-type program?

Sounds like you have an excellent opportunity!

 

[Throttlebender]

Thanks for all the encouragement guys. I appreciate it. Yeah, I know most departments have higher minimums and that's understandable. I hope to have almost 3000 TT and around 1200 multi when and if the opportunity presents itself. The only thing that makes me think I might have a chance is that the chief pilot is a casual friend and is going to point me in the right direction. The rest will be up to me. I laughed when he said I should give him a resume but he said that it's more about the "fit" with the company more than the hours a pilot has. So, we'll see. I'm confident about my "real world" abilities but was nervous about such a big jump in aircraft. Anyway, thanks again to all and have fun out there. Make a few dollars while you're at it.

 

[gear_guy]

Yeah, I know most departments have higher minimums and that's understandable. I hope to have almost 3000 TT and around 1200 multi when and if the opportunity presents itself.

Don't sell yourself short. I have been working corporate for 4 years now and look at my total time. 3 type ratings and only 2500TT. It happens more often than you think. There is a 91 outfit at my airport where they have an f/o who has 2000 hours and they typed him on the G4, DA-20, and LR-JET. He is only about 26 years old. Just keep sending those resumes. Your persistence will be noted.

 

[Bandit60]

He is right about the "fit" with the company. When my company interviews a new pilot, many of the current pilots sit in on the interview and chat with him/her and take them to lunch just to see if they will be compatible with the others.

It is so important that the pilots work together well. Its not like an airline where you might not see a guy you hate to fly with for a while. In corporate you might be flying with him or her every day.

 

[52Vincent]

You'll be fine. I went through G-IV intitial at about 320 hrs. (Yes, three hundred and twenty hours)

Gulfstream 200yeah why "PFT" question..??

The guy is probably a sim instructor in GIV's...(no?)

No offense ,of course, to the above guy - but anyone can get a type rating in a sim...if they work hard enough.....

but PFT? whats that have to do with it?
Excuse me but you have to admit by the first line of Gearmunky's sentence that it sounds like PFT, Especially with the times. Just what is it that you do Gearmunky?