motivate us! tell us your success!!

[Huck]

Ill give you a small hint, if you are reading this you arent out at the airports, FBOs wherever, meeting people face to face.

I started free-lancing in BHM in 1992, which was arguably a worse situation than today. There were supposedly over 100 ex-Eastern guys in my city alone, looking for work.

But every day I didn't have a trip, I put on my interview suit and knocked on doors. Every chief pilot got a visit and a resume at least once a month. The former CP's at Healthsouth and Southtrust used to take me to lunch because they couldn't offer me any flying. But slowly I became known in the area.

On weekends I flew skydivers. We always had guys coming up, wanting to take my job, so I made sure I was the first one on the DZ every morning and the last one there at night, and I did not miss a weekend for about 2 years.

(I tried to instruct part-time, but the local FBO's were infested with europeans who had come over to build time, and who would sleep in the hangars and work for free to get all the students. )

In 1993 I got a part-time gig in the right seat of a King-Aire - only two days a week or so, but at least I was their only guy. Then came a 402 gig. Then right seat in a Citation V. Then things got better.

Freighthumper's right - get out to the airport, every day. Take a crap flying job over any other non-aviation job. Marry a girl that has a good career. And one final thing - hang around successful people - dispair is contagious.

 

[bobbysamd]

Nahhhh.....................

Originally posted by Cardinal
I suppose a day like this is better appreciated from a terrestrial viewpoint than any greenhouse of a cockpit. We can rationalize, right?

I'd rather be flying.

One of the things I miss most about flying is being out. You don't go out that much when you work in an office. Especially on days like we're having this week.

 

[LR25]

Hey Bobby, your right.

Even with alot of the hassles with the job, its like the ole saying goes, "it beats working for a living".

Even when I was a full time line mechanic for some freight airlines I worked for, atleast I was outside. It could be raining sideways, and I was still glad to out there changing a fuel control on a JT3.

 

[EternalOptimist]

I have a real success story for you. My husband went to MAPD and got hired on by Mesa at just under 300 hours flight time. He flew in PA for about 2 years and then upgraded to Captain on the BE1900 at his earliest opportunity (at around 1600 flight hours) and we moved to NM because he could build PIC hours a lot faster with the schedules in NM. His ultimate dream had always been to fly for Alaska Airlines for multiple reasons but mainly because he always believed they were the best of the best (in addition to the fact that we are both from Seattle). He submitted a UPAS application (for Alaska Airlines' eyes only) in late 2000. Only 9 months after he upgraded to Captain on the 1900, he was awarded Captain on the DHC-8 in Phoenix. In early 2001 (May?), he was put in contact with another pilot at Alaska who offered him a "Silver Bullet" and took him in to meet Paul Majer (who was in a meeting so he never actually got to meet him in person) and many other flight ops personnel. Then, September 11th happened. We thought he'd never get called by Alaska. Fortunately, my husband was not furloughed and Alaska did not furlough any of their pilots. We decided to buy a house in January of 2002, expecting a long wait for a call from Alaska Airlines. We decided it would be a good idea for him to attend the Air, Inc. seminar in LAX in 2002 (April?) and he got to meet Barry Rainey, the LA Chief Pilot whom he spent about a half an hour chatting with (he later found out Barry Rainey sent in a letter of recommendation after that meeting). In late July, the call came. My husband, at approximately 3700 hours (about 1600 PIC and all but about 200 hours of his TT was turbine), interviewed with Alaska Airlines two weeks after the initial call and got the call that he had been hired in early September 2002. So, we sold our house and moved to Seattle and he is currently in training at Alaska Airlines - the only airline he really wanted to work for and the only airline he applied to. Now we just hope and pray that nothing happens to the stability of Alaska Airlines.

 

[bobbysamd]

MAPD

I have a real success story for you. My husband went to MAPD and got hired on by Mesa at just under 300 hours flight time. He flew in PA for about 2 years and then upgraded to Captain on the BE1900 at his earliest opportunity (at around 1600 flight hours) and we moved to NM because he could build PIC hours a lot faster with the schedules in NM . . . . . Only 9 months after he upgraded to Captain on the 1900, he was awarded Captain on the DHC-8 in Phoenix . . . . .

Once again, proof positive that the program works.

Now, if you can endure the Mesa corporate culture until you build some quals . . . . . .

Congratulations to your husband, from a former MAPD instructor.

 

[ERJpusher]

I interviewed with Great Lakes last summer with 900 hours. I got a job offer for an August class, but I turned it down.

Got a job a couple of months later with Chautauqua (1050 TT, 100 ME).

I just applied online for GLA--- no LORs or walk ins. I had a little help at CHQ.

Good Luck to all

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Helo guys!

Sure is interesting to read the replies! I am a new guy in training, so can you tell me a bit about MAPD - what is this?

That sure sounds enticing! 300TT and a few years down the road into a 737............

 

[EternalOptimist]

MAPD is the Mesa Airlines Pilot Development program in Farmington, NM. It's a two-year program (flying Barons and Bonanzas) and, at least when my husband went through the program, 90% or more of the pilots got an interview with preferential hiring at Mesa Airlines. A lot of negative things have been posted on this board about Mesa Airlines and I will not defend the Mesa Airlines environment (I'm sorry but first year F/O's should NOT qualify for food stamps!). That said, my husband really benefited from his experiences flying for Mesa. He started in the right seat of the BE1900 flying on the East Coast (where he got a lot of great instrument time and experience in high-density airports), upgraded to Captain at his first opportunity (approx 1600 hours) and then moved up to Captain on the DHC-8 which he flew for 2 years before getting the call from Alaska. The whole process felt like it took forever - especially when working for a company like Mesa Airlines - but looking back on it now, we both recognize that he was really on the fast track. Now, you are only 17 years old. I think you still have to be 21 before you can upgrade to Captain so even if you were hired by Mesa at age 19 - you'd have longer to wait to upgrade and get the PIC time that an airline like Alaska requires. But you are fortunate that you are getting an early start. My husband had his degree in business before he went to flight school. He also worked for a couple of years while he was saving money for flight school. One thing about the MAPD program - they will not accept a payment plan - it's pay as you go so you either save up the money or take out a loan. My husband began flight training at age 26 and got hired by Alaska at age 34 so it was about an 8 year process for him and he didn't have to flight instruct. It was a pretty good deal for him and I think he hit everything at just the right time. I don't know what hiring at Mesa is like now or what percentage of MAPD grads get an interview. Mesa Airlines is one of those nightmares you try to block from your memory when you are finally free from their grip.

I hope this helps. There are others on this board who probably have more recent information on the MAPD program. The program started to go downhill after John Greene left but I think they are still doing a pretty good job. John ran a tight ship.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Thanks for the nice report!

I am training at a flight school in Anchorage - and I might have the chance to start flying for a 121 carrier up here maybe with-in a year or so......just praying for things to work out.

 

[embdrvr]

hey alaska!

I'm sure things will work out fine. You're taking a time tested honorable route by working the ramp and working on your ratings while attending college. Keep at it and keep networking.