Who's door can I beat down.....

[mcjohn]

There's an outfit called a i r t a h o m a in Columbus. They'll abuse the holy living daylights out of you. They'll also hire you. Why, because as the owner will tell you, "you are just there to fill a seat and meet an FAR". I hope you aren't this desperate.

I'm not desperate! You're a desperate MF. Ahh...flightinfo.

 

[time builder]

If you're interested in flying the Canyon, it helps to already be living in Vegas. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to relocate to Vegas first, get yourself established and then apply for jobs. Preference is typically given to locals.

Vision has a PFT program for low time pilots flying a Dornier, (not trying to be flame bait, just informing), Scenic might be a little slow hiring for a while where they're losing their 1900's, King will probably hire a couple 500+ hour C206 captains soon (helps if you don't smoke, and are under 200lbs).

GCA is another option for those who don't mind being based out of Boulder or Canyon International. They just got bought out by Papillion Helicopters, so we'll see what happens to their operation.

 

[mcjohn]

So far the only operator in the western U.S. that I've considered is Ameriflight in Burbank. Only because I have some family in L.A.

I went to an ACC interview and fell apart on the sim so I know I need to get started on some serious proficiency. I have absolutely no funds so I can't buy any instrument or night flying. I'm in western North Carolina near Charlotte and wondering how I can get some SIC flying that'll help me with becoming proficient and more confident again. Flying the banners definetly hurt my IFR readiness. I'd love to meet the IFR mins ASAP but I still need about 70 night and 200 more total time. Oh and I only have 12 multi. Bumping around in my brain today is Ram Air, Mountain Air Cargo, and Airnet.
Any ideas?

 

[Steve]

So far the only operator in the western U.S. that I've considered is Ameriflight in Burbank. Only because I have some family in L.A.

I went to an ACC interview and fell apart on the sim so I know I need to get started on some serious proficiency. I have absolutely no funds so I can't buy any instrument or night flying. I'm in western North Carolina near Charlotte and wondering how I can get some SIC flying that'll help me with becoming proficient and more confident again. Flying the banners definetly hurt my IFR readiness. I'd love to meet the IFR mins ASAP but I still need about 70 night and 200 more total time. Oh and I only have 12 multi. Bumping around in my brain today is Ram Air, Mountain Air Cargo, and Airnet.
Any ideas?

CFI. Thats what I did and I was able to meet the 135 mins when I had 1200 hours and then some

 

[ratherbeflyen]

If you can get hired at Ameriflight as a cfi take that. A guy I work with now got hired there and was flying the 99 as soon as he got 500 hours. He had to decide if he wanted the metro upgrade or take the airline job when he had 1200. You got to know your instruments though. A different friend of mine blew that job interview on the sim.

 

[time builder]

MS Flight simulator 2004: $30. Get a good joystick and rudder pedals to go with it. Do approaches with all the procedure turns, holds, DME arcs etc, and hold yourself to ATP standards. Do all your checklists and challenge yourself (simulate emergencies etc). And, as my CFII would say, talk to someone while you're doing it, even if its your goldfish, you should be so on top of your game that you can carry on a conversation while you're doing it. It won't show anything on your resume, but it'll help keep your scan sharp for your next interview.

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

ratherbeflyen; love your avatar.

 

[Princedietrich]

So far the only operator in the western U.S. that I've considered is Ameriflight in Burbank. Only because I have some family in L.A.

I went to an ACC interview and fell apart on the sim so I know I need to get started on some serious proficiency. I have absolutely no funds so I can't buy any instrument or night flying. I'm in western North Carolina near Charlotte and wondering how I can get some SIC flying that'll help me with becoming proficient and more confident again. Flying the banners definetly hurt my IFR readiness. I'd love to meet the IFR mins ASAP but I still need about 70 night and 200 more total time. Oh and I only have 12 multi. Bumping around in my brain today is Ram Air, Mountain Air Cargo, and Airnet.
Any ideas?

With your total time, you're right at the level (if not, pretty darn close) to the mins for the SIC program at Airnet. Last I'd heard, which was about 3 weeks ago, they were taking SIC trainees around 850-900. There's no minimum ME time requirement, you just have to have the multi rating. The pay is about 8 bucks an hour for SIC and depending on the route you get you'd be living on ramen bricks or actually pulling in good cash. Full bennies too, which will make the wife happy. Once you hit the magic 135 numbers you upgrade to PIC in the BE58 and get a route of your own (plus training in the PA31 or C208 if necessary) and the pay bumps up to 11 and change per hour. A year later and you're in the lear.

The drawback is that the training program can be a tad brutal if your instrument skills aren't very sharp. The freight dawg lifestyle can also be a little harsh, but I guarantee your piloting abilities will be more top notch than you could imagine just so long as you don't mind working the graveyard shift. You may also have to do a drastic relocation depending on route availability at time of hire, but the company will work with you and reimburse moving expenses.

My advice is to throw in an application, no harm in at least getting your name in there right? If you want to go the Starchecker route I'd suggest getting those IFR skills up, at the very least get the BAIF scan refined. Make friends with someone that's got a Frasca 142, or maybe even borrow someone's copy of MS FlightSim. It's not real flying, I know, but if you can get the instrument scan nailed the flying part is cake.

Hope that helps.

 

[RefugePilot]

Banner tow to AMF

The training at ameriflight is very demanding. I know of no one that was not challenged by it. I am talking former miltary pilots, people with lots of multi, and someone with plenty of Cheiftan time. Everyone struggled with the flying portion of training.

The people that had the hardest time were the ones who were most recently traffic watch pilots, some did not make it through training. I imagine your lack of IFR recency will make it impossible to pass any interview or training. MS flight sim or X-plane will go a long way towards getting you up to speed. With your multi time so low, and being so out of currency, you have a long road to get on with Ameriflight.

Sounds like Airnets SIC could be a good option for you. Or get 1150 hours and look at flight express. Both of those will start you out in a single, so your multi time is not important.

Good luck

 

[RefugePilot]

If you really let someone convince you of that you were gonna be disappointed no matter what!

PIPE

That was my point. Dont project your career as there based on what someone with 1000 hours or a few years more than you is doing. You don't know what the industry is going to do.

I knew the industry was a roller coaster when I signed up. But in 2000 it was going hot and we know what has happened since. We can only speculate what will happen 2 year from now.

As someone here quotes "fly because you love it, any other reason will leave you dissapointed.