What's everyones backup career ?

[JoeMerchant]

DC-3 Airplane Pilot needed overseas

Company: Aerotek
Location: Middle East
Category: Aviation Jobs
Rate: $130,000 to $140,000 per Year + 35% danger and 35% post
Differential Job Type: Direct Placement
Posting ID: 1581314
Posting Date: 4/17/2008

Job Description:
Military subcontractor currently has 4 openings available for 4 DC-3 Airplane Pilots overseas.

Position Overview:
Operates DC3 BT-67 airplane in support of approved missions in Afghanistan.

Below is a full job description for the DC-3 Pilot position.

Principle Responsibilities:
Perform Pilot duties in a DC3 BT-67 airplane. Missions support program consist of training, personnel and equipment transport, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and medical evacuation of personnel. Mission tasks may also require escort of ground forces and transport of a field expedient fuel or chemical transport system to remote operating sites. Applicant will be required to fly day and night, primarily under visual meteorological conditions and using Night Vision Goggles. Instrument proficiency is required. The successful candidate for this position must be prepared for assignment to a remote area, under austere living and working conditions. The employee may be assigned as Lead Pilot, Standardization Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Maintenance Pilot, Maintenance Evaluator, Pilot in Command, or Pilot. This employee may also be assigned additional duties related to flight operations as required. Upon successful completion of initial training, assignment will be Afghanistan. Potential for exposure to hostile fire in this region is high.

Education Required:
A high school diploma or equivalent is mandatory. An Associate Degree or higher is preferred.

Experience Required:
FAA Commercial and Instrument Certificate, with Multi Engine type rating of aircraft over 12,500 pounds; CFI/II Multi-engine Instrument certification with 2,500 Fixed Wing flight hours and 1,000 hours turbine time.

Special Knowledge/Skills Required:
Employee qualification in DC3 BT-67 is required prior to assignment. Individual will be qualified and must maintain currency and proficiency with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) as a condition of employment. An FAA CFI or CFII rating in type and category or a military Instructor Pilot (IP) or Standardization Pilot (SP) rating is desired. During training and throughout the employment period, the individual must demonstrate and maintain proficiency in understanding aircraft systems, components, and operating limitations as well as understanding and complying with regulations and policies. Individual must possess a thorough knowledge of FAA, ICAO policy and regulations pertinent to the operational requirement. The individual must be able to attain and retain a SECRET CLEARANCE as a condition of employment. Employees must provide documentation of completion for any manufacturer’s course of instruction, military flight training or instruction in other aircraft. DC-3 instructor experience is desired. Instructor Pilot applicants must have documentation showing proof of successful completion of a Certified Flight Instructor qualification or an equivalent military qualification.

Work Environment:
Pilots will be required to work and live in a potentially hostile environment, at remote locations, under austere conditions. Pilots may be required to respond to a wide variety of operational circumstances, under extreme weather conditions, within a hostile environment. The pilot will perform duties in garrison, under tactical field conditions and on board airplanes within a hostile environment. The individual may be exposed to extreme noise from aircraft, hostile fire and other acts of aggression associated with this region. Individuals may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles and work in close proximity to moving mechanical parts, aircraft and vehicles.

Physical Requirements:
· Employees must be able to serve in a remote area with limited medical care.

· Must be able to run, walk and stand on level and/or inclined surfaces for up to 12 hours minimum per day and operate airplanes for up to eight hours per day.

· Must be able to wear a flight helmet, body armor or other equipment for this position.

· Must be able to crouch, crawl, climb stairs, ramps, ladders, and work stands.

· Pilots routinely participate in flight operations under harsh environmental conditions within a hostile threat environment. These conditions could lead to an aircraft accident and the need for emergency extrication of injured personnel. The physical requirement of extricating injured or wounded personnel or evading capture in Afghanistan requires that all members of our aircraft crews be in a physical condition which permits them to carry or assist with movement of a 165 pound person, survive with limited provisions, and travel on foot for extended distances without assistance.

· All pilots must pass a physical fitness evaluation upon hire and annually thereafter.

Our compensation is $130,000-$140,000 salary with uplifts which include 35% danger and 35% post differential. Employees are eligible for a 15% completion bonus. The work schedule is 6/1. Paid break time of 15 days every 90 days; a break stipend of $3000 is paid for each break. Contract is for 1 year with option to renew. Standard company benefits including medical, dental, vision ,life insurance, supplemental life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, 401(k).

Living conditions in Afghanistan are consistent with current military base standards. Each employee has their own room with television, DVD player and internet connection and a private bathroom. Eating facilities consist of a mess hall. There may be recreational facilities depending on location.

All employees must pass a hazardous mission assessment test in addition to drug screening; all employees must attend pre-deployment training and weapons qualifications testing.

...and it isn't an ALPA job....How can that be?

 

[PBRstreetgang]

...and it isn't an ALPA job....How can that be?

Lesse,
Flyin' over there isn't for pussies, and by definition most airline pilots are pussies, in fact you may be at the front of the line.
PBR
Flyin' is easy when no one is shootin' at you.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Lesse,
Flyin' over there isn't for pussies, and by definition most airline pilots are pussies, in fact you may be at the front of the line.
PBR
Flyin' is easy when no one is shootin' at you.

.....so if supply is down....then demand goes up? If demand goes up, then pay goes up....Son of a gun....what a concept....

Anything to learn from this?

It isn't ALPA....it's "supply and demand" and "leverage".....ALPA doesn't understand either concept...and neither do you apparantly...

 

[CopilotDoug]

Lesse,
Flyin' over there isn't for pussies, and by definition most airline pilots are pussies...

And what qualifies them as pussies? Not putting themselves in a dangerous situation? I am failing to see your logic...

 

[FoxyWhiskey]

It's like "Fun With Dick & Jane" around here...!!!

Times are rough. You can only cut back on the home budget so much before you're selling all your crap on Ebay. You can live without a new car, even downgrade it to something less gas guzzling/more sensible and cut the cable TV and eating out. If you have any significant debt, kids/spouse to support, etc., a back up plan is freakin' essential.

I think the best back-up career is one where you can work for yourself if you can, start a business based off a skill or craft. Other options would be working for an airport (not airline), maybe management at an FBO, getting teaching credentials (although even they are getting cut left & right these days), and look at what some places are paying flight instructors these days (some I've seen as high as $5K a month).

After a friend and I got our ATPs done at a high priced, badly managed circus, the craziness inspired much creativity over drinks about starting our own flight school that simply does things right. Maybe we'd set up shop across the street from the POS school and become bazillionaires. Still thinking about cashing in on that one.

I don't see how anyone could really survive or have much of a life (relative to the one they have now) on $12-15 an hour. And that's a good mall job/temp job. God help you if you are the primary breadwinner.

Hopefully, we can ride it out. If not, atleast be prepared for the worst.

-FW

 

[learflyer]

I would prefer that we start acting like other professions that don't have to start all over again at the bottom...

You are absolutely correct. My wife is about 15 years removed from law school. She left law practice for about three years. When she decided to start practicing again, she was hired as an Of Counsel, and not an associate. Also, She was given a year when she would "upgrade" to Partner. Once you graduate Law School, and get experience, that experience is respected.

 

[Ty Webb]

You can open a retail store in most areas for $45K-$65 selling something simple, like, say, a mattress store. If you have someone else manage it, you can net about $45K. Open 3 of them after you have it down, and you're doing OK.

Of course, if you have no retail experience, you'd do well to work for someone else for a little while to learn how it's done . . . . it would be a cheap education. Retail sucks, but the goal is to have someone else run the stores, and you keep the managers honest.

 

[hoover]

Discuss....this is arguably the WORST era of commerical aviation job/career prospects and security in history.

Oh, I don't know...you could be flying DC-3's back in, say, 1945. Not nearly the safety equipment that there is today. No radar. No autopilot. Upgrade is 20 years away. You get paid squat, and you are likely to be furloughed this winter. And next winter. And the winter after that, etc.

That said, instead of having a back-up plan, why not question the wisdom of entering a career where one feels they need a back-up plan?

I have many friends outside of this industry, and never once have I heard them worrying about the future or feeling the need for a back-up plan.

If more people did this, then perhaps this profession would not need back up plans.

I'm just sayin'...

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Oh, I don't know...you could be flying DC-3's back in, say, 1945. Not nearly the safety equipment that there is today. No radar. No autopilot. Upgrade is 20 years away. You get paid squat, and you are likely to be furloughed this winter. And next winter. And the winter after that, etc.

That said, instead of having a back-up plan, why not question the wisdom of entering a career where one feels they need a back-up plan?

I have many friends outside of this industry, and never once have I heard them worrying about the future or feeling the need for a back-up plan.

If more people did this, then perhaps this profession would not need back up plans.

I'm just sayin'...

Good point.

Instead of sepending time and energy on a back up plan, why not use that energy to make this profession better?

What happens when your back up plan needs a back up plan?

Sure its a good idea to have situational awareness... but far too many of us want to simply show up, fly our trips and go home.... until THEY tell us we are furloughed... then we look around for another job.

Instead, work to defend and promote the one we got...

 

[knowlimits]

I am seriously thinking of becoming a pimp, or a male prostitute. I will do anything for $50.