Ramp Agent to First Officer

[ChadCRJ]

Hey all I am curious to know if there are many rampers out there that eventually move on to pilot posistions. I know I don't have enough time with only 260TT and 70 multi but is this a common thing in the regional industry? I'm just asking because I seen Mesaba is looking for some ramp agents out of DTW.

Appreciate your thoughts on this and yes I plan to get my CFI I just didn't know if getting into a company would help getting hired on with lower time.

Thanks!

 

[rajflyboy]

Chad:

Getting a flying job is all about making good contacts within the airline business. Being a ramper you have a chance to meet pilots every day. When you get more experience they will be able to help you get hired on the "Pilot" side of the house.

Networking is "Key" to getting a flying job.


Its WHO you know to get there and WHAT you know to stay there.

 

[Cardinal]

It happens at Lakes, they have that small company atmosphere, one small hub, etc. There are also pilots who have been on the ramp for a long time hoping for a chance they haven't received, either due to time, difficult personality, etc. You've got a pretty good chance of getting hired from off the street anyway. Internal hires have to have a bubbly attitude and a stupendous work ethic to get themsleves noticed in a positive fashion. All it takes is one surly remark or bad call and the recommendation from that Captain So-and-so is out the window. Get your CFI, instruct awhile, and somebody'll call, fear not.

 

[Buschpilot]

Hi Chad,

One of my many jobs in aviation was as a ramper for a contractor. I don't think it necessarily helped me get a job in the traditional sense, but it sure did motivate me to figure out what I wanted in life/aviation, which I needed (like a strong swift leather boot in the arse).

That being said, a couple of the people I work with now started as freight agents and ramp agents with the company before they became professional pilots. They stayed with the company during their training, cfi days, and even as freight haulers. They were almost guaranteed an interview with the CP at that point (it's hard not to notice a guy/gal busting tail to be a pilot while working full time as well). All their stories are highly successful. Now, the bad: we have people in the same boat that are 'stuck' because we aren't hiring. No idea when we will be.

The other side of the coin is separating yourself for other airlines. There is nothing wrong with that. Almost everyone here came from that route. But there is something major to be said about having contacts and networking. There is no way I'd have this job now if I didn't have good contacts on the inside prior to even applying (hint: pilots like beer. Get to know some. Buy drinks. You'll have pals for life).

You asked if working for the same company might lower the requirements. In my little experience the answer is no. Minimums are usually set, and with so many experienced people out there right now, managers have a big pool to pick from.

Best of luck, hang in there, and all that stuff!

B

 

[J32driver]

Yep... know of a couple people that have made that move. It didn't save them from having to meet the flight time minimums, but it did help them get hired once they had the experience required.

 

[Vik]

In any business, it is who you know, not what you know. Take that for what its worth.

Hey all I am curious to know if there are many rampers out there that eventually move on to pilot posistions. I know I don't have enough time with only 260TT and 70 multi but is this a common thing in the regional industry? I'm just asking because I seen Mesaba is looking for some ramp agents out of DTW.

Appreciate your thoughts on this and yes I plan to get my CFI I just didn't know if getting into a company would help getting hired on with lower time.

Thanks!

 

[wheelsup]

True stories @ Airtran

Ramper that worked for 4 years got hired with 700 hours, not sure about multi, wasn't that high

Another ramp manager that had been with the company a little over a year got hired with ~1200 hours.

Both went into the 717.

The first story I heard from the second guy, who I did some remedial training with just before he shipped off.

~wheelsup

 

[FN FAL]

Hey all I am curious to know if there are many rampers out there that eventually move on to pilot posistions. I know I don't have enough time with only 260TT and 70 multi but is this a common thing in the regional industry? I'm just asking because I seen Mesaba is looking for some ramp agents out of DTW.

Appreciate your thoughts on this and yes I plan to get my CFI I just didn't know if getting into a company would help getting hired on with lower time.

Thanks!

I bet Toby could spell POSITIONS. I'm not an expert on spelling, but I know Toby real good.

I'd hurry up and get that CFI if I were you...Mesaba will look at your CFI time as "TOTAL TIME" but 135 will value your CFI time as 20 to 25 cents on the dollar.

If that statement confuses you, I just overheard the chief pilot of a freight company explain that CFI time is valued at "one for four".

Your milage may vary...

 

[wheelsup]

OR you could go work for ameriflight as an instructor...they must value CFI time ?

Not too shabby if you ask me, I would've done it if I was just starting out again!

FAR 91 PILOT TRAINERS
BURBANK, CA, OAKLAND, CA Must have CFI ASE-IA, 2nd Class FAA Medical. Will give Part 91 instruction to new hire Captains in the PA-32R-300 aircraft. Flexible hours, part time/full time positions available. BUR and OAK bases only. These positions provide an opportunity to build time as an Ameriflight pilot employee which can lead to a possible line pilot position.

~wheelsup

P.S. I like the "new hire Captains" part. Cute.

 

[MECH]

I just flew with a pilot that was a ramper with our company. He had been hired with the company's employee mins.

There are a couple other rampers that I know of that are trying to become pilots here.

 

[248to2.8]

Or here at our airline we go both ways. We have furloughed pilots working the ramp. Wal-Mart has to pay more.

 

[lanilila]

I used to be a ramper at JetBlue and now im in first officer training for Skywest. No the company will not lower their minimums for inhouse workers but you will know and meet a lot of people at the airline who can and are willing to give you a interview when you do get their minimums. Its a god job to help with your income while you CFI instruct and a very good networking tool too. Plus you get good travel benefits to go travel to job fairs, interviews, or just droping by company offices to meet and talk to some people at the airline your interested in. If nothing else it will keep you motivated in your flying. It did that for me. Good luck.

 

[User546]

I have a good friend that started out as a ramper for America West, and now (many years later) a Captain on the A320 for them.

I agree with the above poster, its a great oppurtunity to network and rub shoulders with these guys. At smaller airlines you'd probably have more of a chance since you'd have a fair chance of seeing a lot of the same people over and over again to help build a friendship with.

 

[ILStoMinimums]

I just flew with a pilot that was a ramper with our company. He had been hired with the company's employee mins.

There are a couple other rampers that I know of that are trying to become pilots here.

Are we talking about Coex? Just curious, what are the mins for current employees there?

I used to be a ramper and cargo agent and was hired on with 253 hours TT and 14 ME. I have learned so much from a lot of the captains I fly with. Just have a good mindset to do your job well with integrity and honesty! You will go a long ways if you follow those steps. Also, always have an attitude and willingness to never stop learning!

 

[pilotyip]

Keep all your options open. If something comes up that will enhance your resume before you get on with your present employer, you have to make the move. The networking at your present job will most likely not be completely wiped out by going somewhere else. We had a ramper work here, got into the DA-20 as a F/O, ended up as a DC-9 Captain and went to DAL.

 

[Flywrite]

I did it with a smaller regional back in 97. I had 1900/250 but didn't want to pay my $12k to FSI. Getting a job without doing that was pretty tough back then so I went to work as a ramper for a local regional in fall 96 even though they hadnt hired pilots in several years.

I got to know the CP and in spring 97 when they finally started hiring he came out on the ramp to find me. I think his words were "Be at my office at 9 on Tuesday. If you dont f*ck-up you have a job".

So this path worked for me and it gave me a lot more credibility a few years later when I was a Captain going to complain to the ramp head-honcho about poor sevice.

 

[MECH]

COEX internal mins are 500 and 100.

 

[Dodge]

Mesaba has hired many former ramp agents from many different stations as pilots. Hopefully you can get on as a pilot quickly because working the ramp for Mesaba is hard work, especially in DTW. Be prepared to work under supervisors that have one goal in life.....getting paid to hide in a broom closet at the terminal. Ramp Management (i use that term loosely) is bad beyond words.

 

[Guitar Guy]

As Cardinal said, it has happened quite a bit at Lakes. With a supervisor's recommendation, a ramper could get a pilot slot with lower time than someone from the outside. From the guys I knew that did that, they made a lot of invaluable contacts while throwing bags with the pilot group. Plus, with the chief pilot maintaining his office in DEN instead of CYS, a ramper would have a lot of opportunity to talk with the CP, thus helping his chances of getting a class date.

On the flip side, I knew of a few furloughed Laker pilots that worked as rampers for Lakes after 9/11. Lakes didn't get them back any quicker for recall (the seniority system, you know), but it kept them near the operation and near their friends.

 

[AnimalTale]

Hey Bro,

Anything is possible. Just go after it. I was cleaning toilets at an FBO..they would not even hire me as an instructor let alone a ramp agent. Now through pure drive and diligence I have been luckey to be furloughed from 2 airlines and employed by 6.

My advice, Dont quit also respect everyone, you never know if the yesterdays "toilet cleaner" is today's "Chief Hiring Pilot"

Good Luck