two questions

[Gulfstream 200]

G LOVER,

I agree. I have also had great jobs flying King Airs, barons and Westwinds! flew for some very nice and very generous folks. Used the airplanes for vacations myself - even stayed at the bosses house in Aspen with my wife - inculding staff at the house. Also got fat envelopes of cash as bonuses - a few times a year. heck, bought new cars in cash with some of those bonuses.

But ya know, each one of those smaller planes was sold eventually, those jobs just dont last. Those sweet cash bonuses usually me through to the next gig..

Flying for a single plane owner or "Mega rich" family has its perks, I agree, but I have done it, and it just does not last...the longest one lasted 2.5 years. The generosity ends quickly when the money goes (and it does) You are thanked and given a few bucks (just like staff...)

ME? well I was just sick of always looking for that next rich person to fly around..and to me the only ounce of security (for what ts worth) seems to lie with big company, big department, big airplane operations - where the planes are simply business tools. Yes it takes the fun out of it a bit, but its a job.....and unfortunalty I need a job...otherwise I might be doing the archer thing, flying around the islands listneing to buffett in the nice weather...

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Wipe your F'n nose, kid.

Re-read my posts, I certainly encourage anyones dream. But its just that, a dream. Im just providing a little bit of reality. and ya know what? Reality is what I do (and many more here), and what I do is a lot of fun.

Yes, you obviously know nothing about this business. We all knew that a long time ago.

Like many others have said before - grow some balls - you will need them in this business.

Keep those dreams alive, just dont look for hugs here.

"why dont you just encourage us kids, thats all we are".......

folks, this is what happens when you hang out with your mommy all the time.

 

[bobbysamd]

Pay and schools

Is it possible to have an good paying flying job eventually in a piston twin or the smaller twin turboprops like the King Airs without every setting foot on a jet?

A lot would depend on the situation. Maybe you could work your way into a corporation that flies the type of King Air you want to fly. The job you want may very well be a niche job and it may take some doing to work your way in.

I knew a fellow years ago who flew a BE-90 King Air for an oil company. This was a fellow who had been in town for years. He had 7K+ total time, with a bunch of jet time. I thought he had a good job. He probably got his job through knowing someone.

Piston jobs may not pay as well as you'd like. Many recip jobs involving flying equipment that is old and tired, and tend to attract people who are basically on their way up. Some of these jobs, such as Buffalo Airways, involve flying DC-3s and other classic equipment. Getting these jobs also takes some doing. I have read that Buffalo Airways pilots work for the company in non-flying jobs not behind a desk long before they fly.

Second question, any advice of flight schools in florida where I can get good quality training, lots of multi time and a chance to be hired as a CFI from the same school without paying excessively . . . . The others are the big names like FlightSafety and Pan Am. Also I've been looking at Phoenix East Aviation, as I heard they hire some of their foreign students as CFIs...

I speak from personal experience about FlightSafety . I worked there eleven years ago. You certainly will pay for it, but I think you would like it. It has had quite a few Italian students, some of whom I worked with. Depending on your immigration status, you might be able to get a job there instructing. I understand there is a way for a foreign student on a student visa to work as a flight instructor.

I, too, have heard that Phoenix East in DAB hires foreign student grads as instructors. I've also heard that one should stay away from the place.

Finally, Comair has a combined FAA-JAA program. Comair might serve a number of your needs.

One more point to add, after rereading some comments above. Please realize that aviation is not an easy business. All the quality training and experience in the world will not open doors, especially if you choose to pursue the direction you are considering. You still must exert great effort to pry a door open enough to stick your foot in it, for most every job you want. I am not familiar with pilot job-hunting in Europe, but it might be tougher still. Nevertheless, if you want the career and are willing to put forth unbelievable effort, you might have a chance. Just don't expect any guarantees.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your decisions. Nice to see you back.

 

[banned username 2]

I have to strongly disagree with you... What "factual" data have you looked at to be making this strong of a comment.?? Most chief pilots I know of FLY as well as doing everything else...



"non-flying position"?- come on Falc.....-


3 5 0

I said USUALLY... Re-read the post...

 

[T-Gates]

I'd much rather fly with him then you Do you guys just like killing people dreams or somthing? Why don't you just encouge us kids? Remember that's all we are so don't except us to know every thing about a business we won't be in for another 5 years.

It's called reality. If you don't come to realize some hard facts, you're gonna have a very short, unhappy career.

As long as you just want to be called a "kid" you will never get respect. You're better off sucking it up, and becoming 10x more mature than you are right now.

I know ALL of this from 1st hand experience. Trust Me. By my own course of action I ended up flying 121 in a RJ at 19, I cannot act 19, nor do I want to be thought of as 19. The more you start usung your age as an excuse for people to be nice to you, the less respect you will gain in the future.

You seem to have alot of real solid aviation connections VERY early in your life. Consider yourself 100x luckier than most. Don't f-it up by being known as the immature little kid.

 

[MarineGrunt]

...I ended up flying 121 in a RJ at 19...

You're definately one lucky SOB! How in the heck did you manage that? I think I'm doing something wrong here...

 

[Archer]

well avbug, I certainly admire your passion for flying.

I just cant relate to sleeping in hangars, flying through firestorms, fixing planes all night.. etc...but hey, to each his own.

I simply think for 99.9% of us, Quality of Life means everything.

And QOL comes down to job security, time off, and MONEY. If you have a family and a home (QOL) you simply need MONEY to keep it running. Money allows you to live in a nice area where you children can attend good schools and start a successful life. To say money does not matter and you just want the "dream" is great when you are 18 yrs old - enjoy it then - because when reality kicks in things change.

G200, I tend to agree with what you said. See, there is a difference between your dreams as a young man and your duties as a father and husaband. The Captain job in a Gulfstream favors the duties more than the pilot of the CE-402.

Archer, your dream is real sweet....sounds like a good Jimmy Buffett song.

mom and dad buying you your piston twin so you can experience this tale?.......

Its a fairy tale man, hate to pop your bubble. Maybe consider something outside avaition, make a lot of money, then enjoy the dreams..

What TF are you talking about G200? Fairy tale. I see not much has changed in the past year since I last posted here. People still look at life defeated.

What is it about starting up a single pilot in command 135 business? What's so not doable about this? I'm talking via email to a guy who has achived this and is very happy. Not everybody lacks dreams and the will to pursue them G200.

I know the line between reality and dream. Starting a 121 operation with SAAB 340s or a 135 operation with Citations is a dream. Starting a 135 operation with a Seneca or Baron...that's much closer to reality for those who believe they can do it.

Bobbysamd,

thanx for the post. I'll look into Comair too.

Archer

 

[avbug]

And QOL comes down to job security, time off, and MONEY.

Again, in your opinion, and I strongly disagree.

See, there is a difference between your dreams as a young man and your duties as a father and husaband.

I guess I failed to realize that after four kids...perhaps I'm just a really neglectful, poor father...or deluded. Or perhaps really slow. Thanks for pointing that out, though.

To say money does not matter and you just want the "dream" is great when you are 18 yrs old - enjoy it then - because when reality kicks in things change.

I've been doing this for a while now. Probably a bit longer than you. I really need to know...how much longer until reality kicks in? I can hardly wait.

 

[Jump This]

To each their own....

There are so many types of choices, just try the ones that come up and don't close your mind to any of them at this early point in your career.

Money? Well, I am more broke than when I started but that has more to do with getting screwed by my ex than flying itself.

I do agree with avbug, I like looking UP at the ridgetops... and sometimes that pays okay too.

Try it all keeed.

That's the only way you'll know.

 

[LrBob]

The best flying job all depends on the person and what he sees as the perfect flying job-For years all I wanted was to fly a Lear Jet a couple days a week be able to work on it alittle and make good money. Well last May I got my dream job-I was hired to fly a Lear 25B prt 91 with a great owner-paying 70 a yr. i fly 3 days aweek and I have all of DEC off paid and I will fly 3 days in Jan.
Then in Feb back to 3 days aweek. So many guys think I dont fly enough so they wouldnt like my job, but my 3 kids and wife love it as do I. So what is the perfect job, who cares as long as you are happy in life.

 

[Archer]

That is a nice dream job.

If there is any jet I would love to fly the most...it would be a Lear.

70 a year sounds great...and flying 3 times a week sounds great.

Plus you can fly on your own too...

I hate to hear about professional pilots who fly jets at 550 mph at FL450 and then say they don't get excited about flying anymore...and can't be bothered to fly a Cessna 152 anymore...

a friend of mine's brother is an F/O on CRJs...he says he flies only if he has to...that's sad to hear.

Well I've been looking through Part 135 FARs...and BOY is it's hard to write a LOC (Letter of Compliance - where you say how you are going to comply with every 135 FAR)...and that's only the beginning...makes you want to just fly for a part 135 operator instead of even contemplating starting one yourself...

 

[banned username 2]

makes you want to just fly for a part 135 operator instead of even contemplating starting one yourself...

Go do that for a couple years and get back to us, your views will change...

 

[avbug]

Go do that for a couple years and get back to us, your views will change...

Do you mean go start 135 operations for two years and then get back to the crowd, or go fly under a 135 certificate?

Why do you have such a prejudice against anything but large iron? Why against 135? Is there any difference between flying 135 and 121, aside from a few regulation differences? No. And often the money is better under 135. Why the prejudice?

I'm in the process of pushing a certificate through for an operator. The letter of compliance isn't nearly the problem it seems. I do agree, however. It's a whole lot easier to work for an opeator, than to be one.

 

[banned username 2]

No prejudice, I am just telling him to go fly for a 135 on demand operator for a couple of years and get back to us... Middle of the night calls, broken airplanes, non-existant schedules, poor pay, etc...

Has nothing to do with "heavy iron" has something to do with QoL.

 

[Gulfstreamlover]

So flying for EJM is a bad job

 

[banned username 2]

So flying for EJM is a bad job

All I'm saying is the constant on call of Charter gets old... You guys who haven't flown for a living may not be able to comprehend that fact, but once the novelty wears off you will...

 

[low-n-slow]

I can't think of any airplane you'd be getting 90K for unless you where chief pilot for a 135 company with a lot of King Airs and Barons and so on. Maybe capt. on a corporate Saab 2000 would pay like that, but the only way to make that money on turbines would be reginionals or as chief pilot for a company with a couple airplanes.

I have to disagree with this statement. I know for a fact there are guys flying single engine turbines that are home every night and make this kind of money (and more) annually.

 

[avbug]

Amen to that.

Further, weather 91, 121, 125, 135, 137, etc...who would suggest that all firms have poor maintenance, treat their people badly, have poor schedules, etc? I wouldn't.

You guys who haven't flown for a living may not be able to comprehend that fact, but once the novelty wears off you will...

What about those of us who have flown for a living, and still do? Can we comprehend the fact?

I've responded to my fair share of middle of the night calls. Some were arduous. Some were quite pleasant. But then I can say the same about many other types of flying...including corporate. I've been called out at o'dark-thirty to carry a member of the board of directors somewhere. Stuck some place for a week. I've been enlisted in company duties when not flying, from maintenance to measuring train tracks by hand.

A good share of the GIV crowd I know spends much of their time gone, often overseas...I've heard more than a few comment how much better it was back when they had a schedule, flying freight. Few would give up the money...but then we can't have everything, can we?

The rest of the world is NOT a stepping stone to get where you are. Many feel quite fortunate, and satisfied to be where they are...myself included.

 

[Gulfstreamlover]

I have to disagree with this statement. I know for a fact there are guys flying single engine turbines that are home every night and make this kind of money (and more) annually.

Realy? What kind of airplane? I have seen drug spraying jobs in Columbia in the AT801 for a lot of money, but Columbia isn't the best place to live.

 

[avbug]

but Columbia isn't the best place to live.

Two weeks on, two weeks off, and depending on one's definition of good pay, it's pretty good. There's no shortage of competition for the job to which you refer.

As far as living in-country, it's more of a short visit.