Vfr 135

[flyboy]

Just curious if anyone has done the VFR 135 thing (when lacking the 1200 hours for IFR). Is this beneficial at all? Obviously, not many companies would be willing to hire into this but I'm curious nonetheless.


Thanks

 

[Singlecoil]

Lots and lots have done it. If it has one engine, its most likely VFR only, hence it doesn't matter if you are or not. 207's in the bush and in the Grand Canyon are all VFR.

 

[T-REX]

Unfortunately, insurance requirements and pilot demand have wiped out all of the part 135 cargo flying in the lower 48 (im not sure about alaska) However, doing sightseeing flights is a great way to build time and usually in real good places to live. I saw one ad a few weeks ago in trade-a-plane in NC and have seen them in the past on climbto350.com. Good Luck

 

[upndsky]

T-Rex, I assume you meant to say all VFR cargo flying in the lower 48. I fly 135 cargo, all IFR, and we're doing quiet well.

For a time our company had a traffic watch contract and we hired <1200 hr pilots for those positions with the condition that they would move to the cargo side when they met the IFR mins. When that contract went away, instead of firing those guys we had them fly cargo on VFR days. The problem came when the weather was marginal which made scheduling a nightmare. Pilots would get stuck somewhere with cargo and had to wait it out. It was just not worth the hassle, especially in today's market, where there are plenty of folks who meet the IFR mins. BTW, all our flying is single pilot in light pistons so there are no SIC options here.

I don't know of any cargo company in NC or surrounding states that hires VFR-only pilots. Sorry.

 

[T-REX]

YUP thats exactly what i meant on all counts. I know of one VFR cargo company in the lower 48 states. The job in NC was for sightseeing stuff not 135 freight.
Hey UPNDSKY are you doing on-demand cargo that has been real slow for my company as of late.

 

[upndsky]

No, about 80 to 90% is bank and federal reserve work, the rest for UPS and Airborne. We'll do an occasional cargo charter, but most of those are for our normal customers who have a special situation that came up. It's a pretty good gig since all our flight are therefore scheduled so we don't really live off a pager.

BTW, the company is Ram Air Freight and the web site is www.ramairfreight.com.

 

[T-REX]

There's a VFR freight company in SAT too..San Antonio Piper. Also, up Northeast there is some flying jobs to the islands in Maine, Block Island, Hamptons. PM me if you want I can get you info on these companies.

I hope your not mistaking my posts for detering this kid from seeking a VFR freight job, there's just not many scheduled freight operators that can fly (or attempt to fly) daily routes VFR.

 

[wingnutt]

GTA in DAL will let you fly VFR for them as low as 500 hours. notice i said "let" as they pay their VFR guys $0.00.

on the plus side, once you hit 800-1000 hours, you could be in a twin from there on out...but once again $0.00 until you meet IFR mins.

SAT Piper on the other hand pays actual money as i understand it, but i have a feeling their VFR slots are harder to get than GTA's...go figure

EDIT, i hear TTA is looking for an Oklahoma pilot to fly a single engine route during the daytime up there...but i doubt a VFR guy would do the trick.

 

[T-REX]

I wouldnt think the airlines that paid $0 would be competitve at all...i never could understand Texans anyway.



I got alot more PMs than i expected on this.

Who's hiring in this list? i have no idea. Do they all do VFR 135? Not sure either. I just did a search for operators in aircharterguide.com for single engine operators in New England. A co-worker of mine did fly 135VFR C-206s at Telford dropping of pax and mail to the outer islands in Maine.

Block Island Airlines, (800) 411-3592
Maritime Airways, (888) 229-4449
New England Airlines, Westerly State Airport, Westerly, RI, (401) 596-2460
Shoreline Aviation, New Haven, CT (800) 468-8639
Telford Aviation (207) 768-5583
Resort Air, PO Box 577, (800) 683-9330, (401) 466-2000
Chester Charter Chester, CT
Eagle Aviation E Haddam, CT
Robinson Aviation E. Haven, CT

If your just looking for something besides instructing can i suggest doing some aerial photography. The USDA does crop compliance missions which include flying north-south routes every mile and a half over every rural part of the country. Not very exciting work, but you can actually fly ALL day on these jobs.

Good Luck and safe flying.

 

[sheep44]

How do you get a job with the USDA? I've looked around, and not found much on it.

 

[T-REX]

You are not drectly flying for the USDA, theyre just the ones that you submit the work to. I worked for a contrator who I dnt want to name bc i plan on doing some pt work for them over the summer.
The largest company i know of doing aerial imaging is Landcare Aviation in Utica, NY. They have about 20 172s and some 182s and twins. www.landvue.com Im not sure if they are hiring at the moment, but the peak flying season is from about June to September, so its worth a shot.

Before you here about it from someone else, this company flies coast to coast. You will probably attend training then be traveling for weeks or months. But its flight time and a few bucks when theres not many jobs out there. Good luck.

 

[professor]

Just my 2 pennies, but I too lack the 1200 for IFR 135, but I happen to instruct at an FBO that also does charter work. I dont get a whole lot of charter but it is nice to go X-country hang out and get paid everyonce in a while. So you could always look for Companys that do both and gain some 135 time.
Prof....

 

[T-REX]

I agree with professor, alot of my friends did that and i wish i did too. The best part is if you keep yourself out of trouble you can usually get a job in the charter department when your times are up.