What is the best type for contract work?

[coogebeachhotel]

Which jet is the best for contract work. Can you get a contract job with a type but no time in type?

 

[big pimpn']

Hawker HS-125

 

[FlyFlyFly]

Can you get a contract job with a type but no time in type?

In a word, no.

In alot of cases, professional contract pilots are very experienced in the aircraft they contract, and those contracting pilots generally hire someone that is recommended to them with a reputation for being competent in the aircraft and a pleasure to work with. With no time in type, I am not saying you won't get hired, but you would certainly have a tough time competing with someone that has thousands of hours in type. Also, noone that operates the aircraft in question will have ever heard of you, nor will you have a reference to offer that can vouch for your skills in the aircraft. The guys that would hire you are probably not the kind of people that you would want to fly with or for...

 

[falconpilot]

In most cases you wouldn't even meet the aircraft owners insurance requirements. They want you have some time in type.. It doesn't matter if it was sic time.. You can't just go get a GIV or whatever kind of type and expect someone to turn over their aiplane to you to fly.. HOWEVER..... You may could get a type rating, and get hired to do some right seat contract work and then move into the left seat. I think a ce-500 rating or the hs-125 rating would be good..
Keep in mind.. In this business, its not what you know... Its who you know..

 

[Iflewjetz]

Take it for what it is worth, here is what happened to me.

I was furloughed from US Airways in 2002. I researched the same thing.
Which type would prove most useful? NC was "only" paying $4000.00 toward retraining when other states were paying up to $9000.00. So I looked at what gave me the type, without the most out of pocket. I chose the CE-500 type. I looked at the Lear and Hawker. There were 3 factors in my decision. 1. There were alot of Citations in and around where I lived. 2. That rating covers a range of Citations. I forget all now but I think the 500, ultra, bravo & 5, cant remember, so don't "quote" me. 3. One of the most important, COST. I found a company in Carlsbad, CA that did the rating in the aircraft, in 5 days and cost about $5500 at the time. I think it was Flight Crew International. Make sure you have your game on, because it was a fast, water through the fire hose, course.

I know what some will say. How can you get a type in 5 days? Well, it worked for me. Now let me tell you "the rest of the story".

I have a buddy that flies for a company near me that flies Excels. When I got back, he told his boss I have a CE-500 type. His boss is now interested in using me for contract work. (I had been trying to get contract work with them for almost a year, but to no avail.) Mind you, the Exel has nothing to do with the 500, a little close, but not really. I have alot of jet time as well, so this might have helped. This then led me to my current job where I started out flying Excels, because of the experience. The current job typed me in the Excel.

So, all this worked out for me. As they say, "your mileage may vary", but I personally think the Citation type is worth it. Look to see what flies the most around the area.

Good luck.

 

[Spooky 2]

Which jet is the best for contract work. Can you get a contract job with a type but no time in type?

I don't disagree with anything said in the prior posts but I can point to several people that have done what you are proposing and three out of the four did the GEX rating which is very expensive but all of them have worked from just about day one as contract pilots geting the going rate, ie.e, not whoring out for sub standard daily rates. The other went the GV route and it took him longer for what ever reason to build up a following if you will, in that particular aircraft. All very expensive and risky routes to contract jobs. I suspect your an airline guy and that doesn't carry much water, especially if you have little or no Intl. experience as those airplanes mentioned are obviously dedicated to significant Intl. service.

 

[ultrarunner]

Which jet is the best for contract work. Can you get a contract job with a type but no time in type?

Your profile indicates you've flow jets. With your TT I would imagine a good portion is in those jets???

If so, go type in one of those jets you have the most experience in.

 

[Mountain Troll]

This is a business decision. It doesn't matter what you want to fly, it matters what you can get paid to fly. If there are no Lears around you don't get Lear training. Too many have pilots have purchased Gulfstream or other large aircraft ratings and found themselves all dressed up with nowhere to go. If you're not a worldwide experienced pilot don't try to become one overnight. Your shelf-life is eleven months and two weeks after training. Did I say this is a business decision? Make your decisions based upon your homework, such as how many ac are close and who is using contract guys. The contract guy in the next town over may have a completely different market/opportunity than you. All the training, experience and marketing/sales does not guarantee you will be successful or busy. Good luck, to sustain this business is more difficult than most people realize. I did it sucessfully for eight years so far, most pilots don't want to work this hard as well.

 

[400A]

Food for thought. Some insurance companies are only approving training done in a sim.

 

[Bjetset2]

Contract Work

DA 2000 Pay is good. Gulfstreams are better....

Wish I had the time to do some...

 

[psysicx]

Is it hard to get insurance without time in type?

 

[Bjetset2]

Insurance

Not really if you have plenty of jet experience and simulator training.

 

[gulfstreameric]

The grass is always greener at your neighbours,
Look around the field you like to live, network and find an operator that NEEDS contract employees. Then make a deal, in any a/c, but network EverY DAY.
That will get the wheels up and running more then just a type !