Traffic Watch in Toledo avail:

[rcbullock]

Last time it said to call, I got hired part time in the OKC market. A good fun gig here. Just passing it on. That whole golden rule thing and all.

Quote:

We are currently seeking additional pilots specifically for our Toledo, Ohio operation. Please fax your resume to Direct Flight, 913-390-0163, attn: Beth Hardison. Phone calls okay only if you currently reside in the Toledo, Ohio market. Check below for rating/time requirements, job description, and general information
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http://www.directflight.us/PilotOpportunities.html

Don't ask me for details at that locale please, dunno.

 

[Checks]

They dont pay anything from what I heard. Typical operation that takes advantage of pilots.

 

[SATCFI]

Why not at least take the time to look at the site before you fire off incorrect comments. They pay $10/hr.

 

[Checks]

like i said, they dont pay crap. Read the following but take note of the simple fact his is a CONTRACT position. Guess who pays social security taxes? healthcare? any benefits? NONE. What are the more lucrative positions they refer to? A regional job? I doubt they are flying twins. Pathetic. Whats evenmore pathetic is some of you losers think this is a great "opportunity". It is because of these type of clowns that is it so difficult to make a living as a pilot. When I say make a living, I dont consider 20K a year as making a living.
Like I said, they dont pay crap. To add insult to injury, I am sure they are way underbidding helicopter operators for these traffic watch contracts. Helicopter pilot positions where the pilots make enough money to raise a family. Yet, some loser pilot will practically work for free allowing some scum-bag operator to undercut the decent, moral operators out there. Oh well, what goes around comes around.

The majority of positions involve flying only, however in some markets the job may include traffic spotting, and in still others occasional on-air broadcasting. No broadcast experience is required, however. The flights cover morning and afternoon rush hours, generally from 6:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M., and from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Actual flight times will vary with each market. Responsibilities include all normal Part 91 requirements, as well as those listed in the Direct Flight Pilot Handbook and Flight Syllabus.

This pilot position is contract, part-time only, and pays $10 per hour. It is specifically designed for those who are trying to build time, keep current, or those who just want to fly for the fun of it. This job will work best for pilots who can recognize that the true compensation is not just the hourly pay, but also the amount of money saved by not having to rent a plane to build time. It is not designed to be someones sole source of income.

We are one of the few companies who embrace those who join the team just to build time, with the intent of moving on once they have accumulated enough experience to become eliglble for more lucrative opportunities.

 

[labbats]

I happen to work for Direct Flight. If I followed your wooden (and ridiculous) morals, I'd never build flight time to GET to a good paying job. It's called paying dues.

The pay is equivalent to a CFI job with 4 hours flying time a day. It's a welcome break from full-time instructing. Not to mention no downtime with free ground school or waiting for a preflight. Five hours of my time equals four hours flight time. Impossible to beat that unless you own your own plane or have 1200+ hours and can go 135 or other. Although, if you owned your own plane, you'd be LOSING hundreds of $ a day.

Get lost.

 

[rcbullock]

YMMV

As always, YMMV, but I can list a few benefits here. May or may not apply in all markets.

1. The plane is usually hangared. So, no stone cold engine on those days and no stone cold pilot until you open the hangar doors. It's also closest to the door: no shuffling planes. Nice preflights when it's in the twenties outside.

2. I don't pump my own gas. I tell the fueler how much per side.

3. I don't put the plane away. They push it in the hangar for me with a tug. If its on the ramp, its maybe 25 yards away from the pilots lounge.

4. I park about 25 feet from the hangar.

So I show, preflight, pull the plane out maybe, and go. Reverse on arrival.

And the other benefits have been mentioned. Fixed schedule, $10 an hour (sure, no taxes paid for you but this is EASY money at least, no students and all the CFI 'baggage', etc.) No flight plan, no pax, no luggage...

The company also called ME to ask if I was getting enought flight time! I fly once a week in addition to my full time job. And the check is so far accurate and on time.

It's IMHO a pretty good gig. Arguing over market economics on this is kind of silly. I'd like to start off in a Citation as well, but those are hard to come by with less than 1000 houes for the SIC work I'd bet.

The helicopters for traffic watch are IMHO overkill. The news helos are based at the field also and they have their advantages. They are not needed for this. The news company I flky for uses helos also, but it depends on the market (town) and what they want.

 

[Geigo]

Labbats & RC,

Let me preface this by saying I haven't paid much attention for a while and the only "direct" experience I have with Direct Flight is knowing someone that did work for them. I heard a little bit about the typical management making promises he didn't keep and some of the maintance shortcuts that were taken. I've had plenty of experience with temporary fixes, but when they plan on that temporary fix being left until the next overhaul?!? To me this isn't cheap, it's stupid!

You are right about the time investment vs paid hours being greater than instructing. But what about the time available to work another job? By the time you are able to get to another job it wouldn't leave much time before you had to leave again to get back to the airport for the next flight. Makes for long days driving back and forth to the airport. Also by not instructing "you" (at least I) would get rusty on regs and IFR. Additionally like Avbug said build experience, not hours. Unless you had other ways to fly everything is 152/172 time. Places like Airnet like CFI time and complex time too. It becomes an issue of having plenty of SE time, but without a way to get complex and especially multi you might find yourself stuck.

Are you two able to fly all the flights? It sounded like most of the places had the instructors from the local flight school competing to get the flights. But to show what Checks is talking about lets assume you do. We'll also assume you don't have any wx days.

4hrs/day@$10/hr = 80 hrs/month $800.00
Less 15.3% self employment tax - 121.60
Less Fed W/H from tax tables - 90.84
Less State W/H varies by state - 8.00
Net Monthly Pay $579.56

Of course there are other variables, but close enough to get an idea.

The good thing is it is steady, dependable income (albeit not much). From my prospective the problem is unless you can instruct somewhere else all you get is tons of 152 time and can't afford to even keep current in Multi/IFR. For what it's worth use it as a suppliment until you get established as an instructor and then go that way.

Just my opinion and you know what they say about that!

Good luck and preflight well!

Geigo

 

[labbats]

I'll be the first to admit my lukewarm feeling towards the slap-dash maintenence. But I won't get into that.

I flight instruct in between. I am part time for Direct Flight and mainly teach instruments and am currently working on my MEI. Even if I was full time on the traffic watch, there's more than enough time to teach in between. You don't have to go home. That said, I fully understand how IFR currency and multi-engine proficiency would go out the window. It's just that it's something easily countered with instruction between shifts.

I just can't stress enough how nice 4 hours of flight time a day is.

 

[rcbullock]

Stuff

The MX isn't anal, but if the plane wasn't safe I wouldn't fly it. They are reasonable on cancelling for a variety of reasons. MX, paperwork, WX, etc.

My plane has what looks to be a very new transponder and digital nav/comm. At least better than stuff I've seen at a flight school. So, not everything is bottom dollar.

It's a good time building gig and the company and the pilots acknowledge that's all it is.

 

[Geigo]

Looks like your on the right track so continue with the instructing and good luck.

Geigo

 

[Sc00ter]

I did 8 months with DF. Can't say I was sad to leave. Did rack up a hell of a lot of hours and am now flying 14,500lb turbo-props.

Use your own good judgement on the MX. If you are the kind of pilot that can't handle the schedule/pay/boredom/annoying reporters/staying current, then don't fly for them. It beats the hell out of flight instructing and personally did more for my flying then saying "more right rudder" all day.

And Greigo, staying sharp on part 61 will do nothing for advancing your career unless you want to be a career flight instructor.

Fly safe,

scoot

PS. There's something to said about weekends off as well.