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

[CX880]

Since you have a wife and it sounds like you are desperate to jump start a career, why don't you just go for the PACE program at Mesa PD? It's only like 10-15K depending on how good you are. You have your CFI time and are paying your dues, it's not like you're a 250 hour guy looking for the fast way in.

 

[mcjohn]

I will only pay for more advanced ratings (CFII and MEI and I'd rather not pay much for those.) Nor will I pay for an ATP or any type ratings. Doesn't make sense to pay for all that FO training. Flying as a true professional/stick is what I care about. I'm craving tailwheel right now and I may pursue that for a little while just to get my fix and a little $$ (banners). If I get stuck flying single pilot cargo runs I see it as a blessing. I WILL be in demand one day. (I hopeimp: )

 

[belchfire]

I will only pay for more advanced ratings (CFII and MEI and I'd rather not pay much for those.) Nor will I pay for an ATP or any type ratings. Doesn't make sense to pay for all that FO training. Flying as a true professional/stick is what I care about. I'm craving tailwheel right now and I may pursue that for a little while just to get my fix and a little $$ (banners). If I get stuck flying single pilot cargo runs I see it as a blessing. I WILL be in demand one day. (I hopeimp: )

Start saving to take your ATP written. I don't know anyone that will pay for
that.

If you have enough cross country time to meet
135 mins take a look at towing banners
this summer out at MYR...lot of time Quick,
but no x/c.

I don't know the mins, but you might try one
of the flight tour operators out of the Kitty Hawk
NC area or a jump school...

We all want to be
"in demand"
one day.

Good luck. More likely you will be on demand...
just the way of the economy right now.

 

[mcjohn]

Good luck. More likely you will be on demand...
just the way of the economy right now.

On demand.

Regarding the Conway, S.C. banner operation, the season has already begun and you have to time it right. Too late now. Also, it costs about $3500-4000 to train (50 hour TW program.) I'm looking at a place in Florida for banner training that doesn't make you pay. I may go that route. It would also have X-C flying.

I'm not familiar with the Kitty Hawk tour operator. I'll look into it. Thanks.

 

[belchfire]

Aw heck, I don't ever remeber anyone doing PFT
to tow banners. That's Bullus Sheitus Maximus!

 

[mcjohn]

Yep. You have to pay to play on that one pretty much everywhere. If not you definetly will have a training contract. I've researched it thoroughly. Every now and then someone may slip into the training for free but think about it. Do you think anyone is capable of just picking it up on their own in a minimal amount of time. It isn't easy and it does take a lot of practice. That's why the main Myrtle operation makes you complete a 50 hour program. They are good (down home) folks that run the business. Many who have gone through the program only say good things about them. And I've talked to them on the phone a good while and they are very honest about why they make you pay to train. Pilots fly for one season and build 800+ hours and they're gone. The only way to ensure that the newbies don't go hurt or kill themselves is to go through a rigorous training program and supposedly a good bit wash out. Quite dangerous. I perused the NTSB banner towing accidents and there are plenty. However, it is something I want to learn. I'd rather flight instruct full time because I already do that well. But still, it's on my list of things to accomplish and tail wheel flying is something I want to master. So, if my boy Micheal will hurry up and hook me up with a place to stay in S. FL. etc.. I'm going.

Man, it's late and I think I have diarrhea of the keyboard. Good night.

 

[27 driver]

I enjoy flight instructing even though it's rough a times. I just need to be busier. Problem is I need to move to another town to work at a busier school and that means selling my house etc... I'll probably shoot a resume to MAPD since they offer benefits and great upgrade to the BE-58 but I'm also looking into banners again. I heard of a place that does 2 weeks on of traveling around the S.E. towing banners and then 2 weeks off. That would be ideal and my wife could stay back home at the house. Sounds like it would be a situation to log X-C.

OUPilot, I understand about payin the dues and I am. I've been CFiing for over a year now but I havn't even reached 200 hours dual given.

Refuge Pilot, PM coming your way. Thanks.

Bringupthebird, loyalty and longevity is exactly what I have to offer. I aim to build a solid resume and that involves staying with a company for a while and hopefully getting involved in training for that company. As far as whoring myself out, I'm doing that right now by wearing my 3 stripe epaulette uniform and running an office and selling pilot supplies for free. They can't make me do it of course but who ever is here is the one who gets the rare student that walks in the door.
Padding the log book?! 3+ years of flying and I only have 500 hrs. No padding here!

Thanks Nolife, I'm going to be looking into all that and RefugePilot suggested the same.

Anyone have more advice? I'll take all I can get!

Dude, all the commuters are hiring. Continental Express, Mesa, Pinnacle, etc. I think they hire with very minimal time. They don't pay anything but they offer benefits. Keep updating your resume and things will fall into place. This is a tough field to break in to. Expect many years of crappy jobs to build your hours. I have 3 words for you NETWORK - NETWORK - NETWORK!!!!!!!! Get out there and meet everyone you can. In this business it is not what you know but who you know.

 

[mcjohn]

Dude, all the commuters are hiring. Continental Express, Mesa, Pinnacle, etc. I think they hire with very minimal time. They don't pay anything but they offer benefits. Keep updating your resume and things will fall into place. This is a tough field to break in to. Expect many years of crappy jobs to build your hours. I have 3 words for you NETWORK - NETWORK - NETWORK!!!!!!!! Get out there and meet everyone you can. In this business it is not what you know but who you know.

Yeah, I know. Everything with all those commuters is so crazy right now. Therefore, I've been in no rush to begin the applications with them. I kind of want to wait and see how it all settles out in a few years. Then pick the best or most ideal company "if" I decide to go that route while I'm sitting on a few thousand hours.

Also, I only have 12 hours of multi. and because of that I may get hired by a very unstable company that makes me miserable. I guess that seems a little paranoid and all, but I want to work for someone I intend to stay with for a while and upgrade well with.

Also, I know there are skills that I'm lacking as of now. Freight Doggin it or on-demand charter would polish my skills right up to where I want them.

My biggest challenge. Getting the 135 IFR mins and/or apply (beat the doors down) to the 135 operators that may take a FO at super low time like I have.
I'm working on it.

Thanks for the input 27 driver.

 

[timeoff]

You need to move. I think your current situation will wear you down and force you right out of the biz.

Towing banners sounds cool and all (no students and quick time), but I know a guy right now that is towing banners in FL that is working on his CFI so he can get the 135 mins. That is where you will run into a problem towing banners. Day, VFR and flying out of the same field 99% of the time.

There are busier schools out there. I would recommend come on down to FL and put in another 9 months instructing and you will be ready for the next step. CFI jobs are a dime a dozen down here.

 

[belchfire]

Maybe there is somewhere nearby that
you can get a traffic watch gig with...

I did a little banner towing years ago...
yeah, it can be interesting...

 

[1013dot25hPa]

You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, refuse to PFT or enroll in some FO program as someone suggested. Keep that up and you'll be an asset to commercial aviation IMHO. I like you already!

All I can say is be willing to move. Don't sell your house. That's probably the best investment you have going for you right now. Also, your move to get that job is most likely for an entry level job, not a permanent one. No sense in selling your home for a temporary move. Move into an appartment instead once you have been hired by a large flight school like MESA and rent your home through a realtor.

Goodluck!

Alex

 

[mcjohn]

Yeah, I've thought about that. Looks like I could make 30g pretty easily if I sell the house. Ever since I've starting trying to flight instruct full time my debt has been racking up and it would be an easy way to kill that debt. Especially knowing that the next few years are going to be poverty wages no matter where I work in aviation.

 

[RichardRambone]

Don't forget to call around to aircraft brokers and see if they need ferry pilot. Insurance mins are pretty high usually but I was able to get on with 300 hours so it is doable.

Good Luck.

 

[osu_av8r]

Keep instructing, you can build a lot of time if you want it. I had to cancel flights sometimes to avoid going over 8 hours. Milk every 1/10 hour you can, the Hobbs meter is the only instrument that matters in that trainer. Here are some useful tips I picked up for getting the most out of each lesson.

-Actually enforce the suggested "walking-pace" taxi speed
-In flight, say "my airplane" often and for no reason and show them something useless
-Tell them to go around for no reason, even if it is a flawless approach
-If starting out with a fresh private student, teach them to use a slower than normal cruise power setting. they won't know the difference
-Make up a bogus practice area that takes 30 minutes to get to
-After they park and are about to shut down, tell them it would be better to park on the other side of the ramp
-If you suspect the Hobbs meter is going to roll over one more 1/10th (you can tell when it starts twitching) and your student is about to shut down, just begin a sentence and keep talking as if it's relevant to the lesson. Most students won't shut down the engine while you are in the middle of a sentence. You can stop talking once the Hobbs rolls over.
-Oh, and if your school makes you a check airman you can fail lots of people and then they will have to come back to you again for a re-take.

 

[Steve]

Keep instructing, you can build a lot of time if you want it. I had to cancel flights sometimes to avoid going over 8 hours. Milk every 1/10 hour you can, the Hobbs meter is the only instrument that matters in that trainer. Here are some useful tips I picked up for getting the most out of each lesson.

-Actually enforce the suggested "walking-pace" taxi speed
-In flight, say "my airplane" often and for no reason and show them something useless
-Tell them to go around for no reason, even if it is a flawless approach
-If starting out with a fresh private student, teach them to use a slower than normal cruise power setting. they won't know the difference
-Make up a bogus practice area that takes 30 minutes to get to
-After they park and are about to shut down, tell them it would be better to park on the other side of the ramp
-If you suspect the Hobbs meter is going to roll over one more 1/10th (you can tell when it starts twitching) and your student is about to shut down, just begin a sentence and keep talking as if it's relevant to the lesson. Most students won't shut down the engine while you are in the middle of a sentence. You can stop talking once the Hobbs rolls over.
-Oh, and if your school makes you a check airman you can fail lots of people and then they will have to come back to you again for a re-take.

Good advice