looking to expand skill set

[sanford&son]

greetings aviators and others:

before we start, i've read all of the posts of guys agonizing about how they are going to build time, and the rations about how there are really high time guys on the street or flight instructing, or whatever. that is not where i am going with this. i currently have a job, flying airplanes, and making pretty good money. i tend to work about 15 days/mo, so i have some free time on my hands. what i would like to do, is begin to expand my skill set to include more complex aircraft. my scheme for this was going to be that i would offer my services as a contract pilot, part-time, in hopes of getting qualification and occasional work as an sic. is this realistic? would anybody bother going to the trouble of doing an sic check-out with a part-time pilot? if any of you who may read this have done something similar, how did you go about it (networking, application, fbo bulletin boards)? since i have 0 hrs of turbine experience, this may be un-realistic for me, but i had to ask. i figure that my best odds would be with a little bit of personal networking with folks from a single ship part 91 op, but that is just a guess.

i am sure some of you will suggest trying to get a full time job with some place that operates a more advanced type of equipment, but i cannot quit my current job at this time.

any input greatly appreciated,
lamont

 

[350DRIVER]

S&S-
I have seen a "need" for qualified sic's atleast in our part of this country. Our flight department for example has full time pilots who must fly 16 days a month BUT after that they are paid a handsome "overtime" fee IF they are needed for more than the 16 days. To avoid this expensive problem >the part time sic and pic positions come into play....With that said it is much more economical from a business perspective to pay a "part time" sic (contract pilot) $165.00/day versus having to pay alot more for the full time pilot to go over the 16. I am unsure how other 135 departments operate but I am sure the best thing you can do is network, network, and network. Contract pilots seem to be somewhat of a needed item these days especially 135 qualified sic's. The major problem I have seen is how one can initially get their foot in the door. I have never bought into the concept of their ever being a "pilot shortage" since I am a firm believer that surplus has always exceeded demand in this industry so obtaining a position may take a little work on your end. I have attempted to get a few guys on at my company with little luck. I guess alot depends on being in the right place at a "right" time and continuing to pursue every possibility and lead that you can obtain.....

The sad thing about some 135 flight departments is the fact that they are starting to capitalize on the sic scam of renting the right seat out (ex Eagle Jet )- hopefully this is NOT a trend that will spread because it will cause major problems and create a completely not so new problem of P F T in the 135 envir. From a business perspective I see where they are coming from, just hope this doesn't spread too quickly.

Present day I think Eagle Jet is one of the few that are into this and they usually contract and make agreements with the larger 135 departments so with that said I think you have a pretty good chance of obtaining sic contract work.


I have a friend who just recently got hired on as a sic on a F90 in NC at around 1000tt and less than 100multi and their is talk about him moving into a Lear in the very soon future. Fortunately for him once again it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

3 5 0

good luck 2 you-