Minimums to fly cargo?

[BoDEAN]

Are there any minimum hours to fly cargo or land a cargo job?

Any good lookups on the net for cargo jobs/companies to send in resumes?

 

[pilotyip]

New Hire Mins

USA Jet has a new hire class starting as DA-20 F/O's in the on-demand cargo business. Average Time 4000TT, 2500 MEL, all have some tubine time, three have turbine PIC. Backgrounds 1 - 135 charter CE-550, 1- US Army C-12 driver, 1 DA-20 F/O from 135 on-demand, 2- Part 121 lay offs, DHC-8 and DC-9. Competitive mins in the cargo business are very high right now for entry level jet. Try the skydiving network, get an SIC job in the CA-212. You will have to move to find it.

 

[upndsky]

To fly as PIC, you're going to have to meet AT LEAST Part 135 IFR mins, which is 1200 hours. I don't know of anyone hiring VFR-only pilots, which requires 500 hours. As for an SIC job on a jet or turboprop, it's very competitive, as the poster above has mentioned.

If you're looking at cargo to build time, with 400 hours you're going to have a tough time. Never say never, but if you got spare cash, got to Vegas where your odd are better.

Get your CFI, fly traffic or jumpers, tow banners, whatever. When you get 1200+ hours, you'll find a lot more doors will open for you.

I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic. At least you're doing the right thing by asking.

 

[Cowboypilot]

Some places 1200 hours and a faint pulse is all they required.

Cowboy

 

[scubabri]

I was in your position about a year ago, with 500 tt and about 10 hours multi. I was lucky and found myself a job flying skydivers. Then I was unlucky and quit because the conditions where, well, dangerous. Then I was lucky and found myself a job doing king air delivery, then I was unlucky because again, not only was the situation dangerous, it was only about 10 hours a month, not a very good way to build time in a hurry.

My recommendation, sigh, sorry, get your CFI and go teach. It seems like that is really the only way to build time up in a hurry. Don't be like I did and avoid it, because in the long run, all it will do is slow you down.

I will also say, don't believe all the crap about instructing being the best time you will have and a great learning experience. It's great for about 100 hours or until the first time a student tries to kill you.

Ok, I'll give you that some of the cross countries are fun, sorta, but how many touch and goes can you do before you go nuts.

Anyway, all I have to say is that if you get your CFI, manage your time and your students to build the cross country and night time. Don't wind up short with 1200 hours and not enough x-c and/or night time, which seem to be the hardest to build when you are instructing. Most important.. be the best instructor you can be, provide the best instruction that you can give, and never.. ever.. ever let the student get the feeling that you are there to just build time. If you can't do that, all you are going to do is create bad pilots and give the whole industry a bad name.

At about 1000 hours, apply to all of the cargo places, Ameriflight, Airnet, ect, and call them up and let them know that you are close to your 135 mins. That's really the important part, and honestly, I don't know if it's working, because I haven't heard anything back from them yet, and I'm right at 1000 hours.

The biggest problem I've had is the frustration. Don't let it get you down, make some spare time, find something other than aviation to do in it. This will keep your brain from turning to jello and keep you from getting depressed when things are moving slow.

If you keep at it, things will turn around, and hopefully, there will be jobs had for all... if not.. make sure you have a backup plan.

Good luck, and PM me if you have questions, or need encouragement, because most of the people are not very encouraging here don't let that sway you either.

b

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks for the tips

 

[Propnose]

Anyway, all I have to say is that if you get your CFI, manage your time and your students to build the cross country and night time. Don't wind up short with 1200 hours and not enough x-c and/or night time, which seem to be the hardest to build when you are instructing.
b

Dont forget that xc for 135 is only airport to airport, there is no distance min.
usc

 

[uscpilot]

Dont forget that xc for 135 is only airport to airport, there is no distance min.
usc

Was actually by uscpilot
Propnose sign out next time you are at CAE. Having said that I need to be more careful next time and make sure that it is me signed in sorry for the confusion.
usc