Should I buy my own Type rating to get a job?

[TurbineMan]

I've been flying a King Air part 91 for two years now. I have over 1,000 hours in the King Air and over 2300 hours total. I got into aviation late in my life and I am married with children and can't afford to take a regional job. Everytime I talk to a company that's looking for Citation or Lear F.O's I get the same response, you don't have enough time or we need someone who is alraedy typed. Is it worth it to buy my own type rating and spend that kind of money to be more marketable? I see ad's for Citation 500 series type rating $6,000. I don't have that kind of money laying around but is it something to consider or am I crazy? Insurance companies are killing us. I remember, before 9/11, when my time was great for an F.O. corporate position.

 

[2000flyer]

I've been flying a King Air part 91 for two years now. I have over 1,000 hours in the King Air and over 2300 hours total. I got into aviation late in my life and I am married with children and can't afford to take a regional job. Everytime I talk to a company that's looking for Citation or Lear F.O's I get the same response, you don't have enough time or we need someone who is alraedy typed. Is it worth it to buy my own type rating and spend that kind of money to be more marketable? I see ad's for Citation 500 series type rating $6,000. I don't have that kind of money laying around but is it something to consider or am I crazy? Insurance companies are killing us. I remember, before 9/11, when my time was great for an F.O. corporate position.

Easy answer....NO!!!!!!

A type does you no good without time in type (and that means more than the type rating.) You drop $6K on a Citation type (we'll get into that in a minute) and a Lear job comes along, now what? Are you going to limit yourself to applying to only jobs to which you have a type?

A $6000 type, while it technically gives you the certificate, is a true waste of money IMHO.

I've known of several companies that will hire without a type rating. Also, any company worth their salt will pay for your rating anyhow. Again, IMO. I honestly feel you'll not only limit your search area, but you'll do so lighter in the wallet!

2000Flyer

 

[V2plus25]

Yes!

I mean, why not? I've got sooo much extra $$$ laying around, why not blow it on type ratings?

Hehe, I said blow...

 

[TurbineMan]

I already knew the answer I guess but I'm getting frustrated. I have been sending resumes and calling people for six months or more and it seems everybody wants time in type. Corporate aviation is all about knowing people and I just don't know anybody. I'll just keep trying and hope my persistence pays off.

 

[semperfido]

I've been flying a King Air part 91 for two years now. I have over 1,000 hours in the King Air and over 2300 hours total. I got into aviation late in my life and I am married with children and can't afford to take a regional job. Everytime I talk to a company that's looking for Citation or Lear F.O's I get the same response, you don't have enough time or we need someone who is alraedy typed. Is it worth it to buy my own type rating and spend that kind of money to be more marketable? I see ad's for Citation 500 series type rating $6,000. I don't have that kind of money laying around but is it something to consider or am I crazy? Insurance companies are killing us. I remember, before 9/11, when my time was great for an F.O. corporate position.

If you are getting PIC time in King Air then that is a good thing. I know guys that have gone straight from a King Air to a G4. You may want to concentrate your efforts on making connections in the industry.

 

[Geronimo4497]

6K would sure buy lots of cold beer, pizza, hooters hotwings and Pay-Per-View prize fights to watch on that new 52" big screen LCD HDTV (I bet you might even find a few fellas from the corporate world that fly neat jets to come over and watch said TV and eat/drink said consumables).


Just a thought.


Its not what you know, it is who you know, as you well know.

 

[TurbineMan]

Thanks for all your thoughts. Getting late - gotta go.

 

[dhc8fo]

I am with semperfido....why leave the King Air job? The grass is not always greener so make sure yours isn't as bad as you think before you bail! I would personally trade with you at this point....five year FO. Keep racking up the PIC turbine and your options will be come HUGE.

 

[federico]

Maybe cut a payroll deduct deal or 50 50 just to make sure your employer wont change his mind

 

[GVFlyer]

If you are getting PIC time in King Air then that is a good thing. I know guys that have gone straight from a King Air to a G4. You may want to concentrate your efforts on making connections in the industry.

The Marine has offerred you good advice. I've seen the same King Air to Gulfstream phenomena. One of the guys now at Gulfstream went from ab initio training to a King Air, to a Falcon job at Sony, to Gulfstream Flight Ops, became the Chief Pilot for Demonstration, then became a Gulfstream sales executive, all before his 35th birthday.

An Army C-12 pilot I met at recurrent went from the King Air to a G-IV job at Figgi International and is now a senior GV captain at Morgan Stanley.

Yet another pilot I know went from FSI ab initio training to right seat in a G-IV for TWO Air, to a GV at Wotan, and is now a GV captain in south Florida.

GV

 

[Valkyrie]

GV Flyer: don't forget to mention that C.K. had a father who was a corporate pilot with great experience and connections.

Other stories heard, outside USA:
A 25 years old boy who was hired on a G-V with 280TT...
One VVIP 767 F/O was hired with less than 1000TT...

 

[HMR]

Do Not Buy Your Type...

You're building multi-turbine PIC which is always a good thing. You have 2300TT and 1000 in the King Air. That means you got into the KA with 1300TT. Sounds like you already have a good insurance company if they let you fly as captain @ 1300hrs. I'm 100% positive you'd be insurable in a jet with your current times.

Are you based in the middle of nowhere? There must be some networking opportunities near you. What about the airports you fly into? Flying PT91, 500hrs/yr means you must go to the same places A LOT. Are you meeting other pilots on your layovers?

Keep your chin up and good luck!!!

 

[Capt1124]

It's not *that* expensive, in the greater scheme of things, to send a pilot to initial training (with or without type it's about the same.) What they don't want is somebody bailing on them after a couple months.

PIC in a King Air is good experience. Wyvern demands lots of multi, and lots of multi PIC, and multi turbine PIC, so I wouldn't be in a big hurry to get into a jet. Especially not a Citation, or a 20/30 series Lear. A mid size or bigger would be worth holding out for, for money and decent employment opportunites.

I would keep trying, and emphasize the maturity/stability factor, that you're married, your wife has a job there, you don't want to go to a regional, etc.

 

[HMR]

Capt1124- Good advice.

 

[kilroy]

If it the C.K. I think you are talking about his gig is FLL with his father I believe.

GV Flyer: don't forget to mention that C.K. had a father who was a corporate pilot with great experience and connections.

Other stories heard, outside USA:
A 25 years old boy who was hired on a G-V with 280TT...
One VVIP 767 F/O was hired with less than 1000TT...

 

[LegacyDriver]

I would stay with the King Air and keep building time. You can definitely move up without buying a type.

 

[falconpilot]

If you want to buy a type..... Buy a 737 type and try for Southwest Airlines.... That would be the only type rating I would even consider buying....