Old Guy, Low Time - F/E training?

[airspeedsalive]

What are your thoughts - I'm currently employed by a midwest based airline in SOC [former dispatcher]. I've bee flying traffic in a 182 for a few years to bulid time. So far lots of 182 time [about 2200 TT] but no signifigant ME time [about 100 hrs over the years].

Anyway to make an already long story a little shorter - good chance of my company going out of business, I'm 42 and, like everyone else, need to try to provide for my family.

I've been considering getting an F/E certificate to try to get on with a freight company since, the money is generally a little better than the regionals.

My question is; does a guy have any chance of going to Aero Services or the like, without and A&P, and getting a job out of training?

I'd prefer to get on at USA Jet, or similar and fly, but with my times it doesn't seem very likely.

Thanks for the input

 

[BR549]

Yeah, you could be an F/E on a Falcon 20 or DC-9!

 

[airspeedsalive]

Nice....for anyone else out there that can't figure this puzzle out - what I meant was, ideally, I'd prefer to actually fly an aircraft that work the panel.

 

[airspeedsalive]

Yeah, you could be an F/E on a Falcon 20 or DC-9!

Is that your GIA class picture?

Loser

 

[MD11Drvr]

Very few FE jobs left out there. I am not sure exactly the numbers but most hire for S/O's so you have to have enough TT to move on to the right seat. ATI and Capital and I think Southern Air maybe the only ones I know taht hire PFE's. You may try some of the smaller freight operators for more time. Without an A&P I would not get sucked into aero services. Try Air Cargo Carriers. Right into a Shorts 330 or 360 and build multi time. I have had friends that worked there and had good things to say.

Good Luck!

 

[NoPax]

I agree with the above (very few F/E jobs).

I'd be happy to help get you a freight job probably/possibly in GRR if you are interested, at least to get you started, and your times more competitive...check your PMs, and do a search for Central Air Southwest

 

[airspeedsalive]

Very few FE jobs left out there. I am not sure exactly the numbers but most hire for S/O's so you have to have enough TT to move on to the right seat. ATI and Capital and I think Southern Air maybe the only ones I know taht hire PFE's. You may try some of the smaller freight operators for more time. Without an A&P I would not get sucked into aero services. Try Air Cargo Carriers. Right into a Shorts 330 or 360 and build multi time. I have had friends that worked there and had good things to say.

Good Luck!

Good advice - They sound like a good company to get started at, but it sounds like you pretty much have to live in base. I'm certainly not opposed to that, but at this point I'd hate to move my family. In a perfect world I think I'd rather have a reasonable commute. Although that being said their charter lines sound like a possibility.
Thanks

 

[airspeedsalive]

I agree with the above (very few F/E jobs).

I'd be happy to help get you a freight job probably/possibly in GRR if you are interested, at least to get you started, and your times more competitive...check your PMs, and do a search for Central Air Southwest

Check your PM

 

[moving2vegas]

central air

I'm certainly not opposed to that, but at this point I'd hate to move my family.

Move your family...for 1500$/month? I wouldn't move my furniture for that kind of money. If your bound and determined to work for peanuts then rent a room, leave the old lady at home, and bail after a few months experience. If these people really valued their employees and wanted to keep them, they'd pay better. There are better 135 operations out there, despite the "bottom feeder" mentality on this board. Where exactly do you live or want to work? I'll see if I can help you out.

 

[LAZYB]

Tradewinds has PFEs in the 747, not sure if they have any SOs or not. Search the site.

 

[NoPax]

Move your family...for 1500$/month? I wouldn't move my furniture for that kind of money. If your bound and determined to work for peanuts then rent a room, leave the old lady at home, and bail after a few months experience. If these people really valued their employees and wanted to keep them, they'd pay better.

Depends what you want out of it. The airplanes are safe, management's good, and if you're weak on multi time its a great place to go to get 1000 or so ME, then land a better paying job. The money does suck, I agree and after 6 months, the management encourages you to move on, may even help a little. They've been in business a long time, and know a lot of people. I'd never suggest burning any bridges in aviation, so stick out the 6 months, you may have to ask for your job back if you go to a few regionals (NWA Airlink, Mesaba etc.)

I would also suggest Airnet, as you can move into a Lear after 18 months. A handful of my students have gone there, and they're based throughout the Midwest.

I had applied there along with Central, but Central called back first, with faster training etc. and was the better option for me at the time.

 

[nosewheel]

As previously posted its a dying trade. Ive just finished 23 years in the FE seat and can tell you its getting harder to find work. You may try, Kalitta, Ryan and there's a few 727 jobs in Florida. There are more out there so you will just have to hunt a little. Good Luck !