Wisconsin Aviation in Watertown, WI info?

[ndpilot701]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any info about Wisconsin Aviation regarding rates of pay for CFII's and possible advancement to charter. Any info about living costs there would be appreciated too.

(not committed to moving there....just doing some research)

Thanks,
Scott
KJMS

 

[HowlinMadMurdoc]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any info about Wisconsin Aviation regarding rates of pay for CFII's and possible advancement to charter. Any info about living costs there would be appreciated too.

(not committed to moving there....just doing some research)

Thanks,
Scott
KJMS

Just a WAG but send a PM to FN FAL. He may have some insight for you.

HMM

 

[ndpilot701]

Thanks HMM....I'll do that.

 

[Deck]

"ndpilot701", with your flight time, I think you could set your sights a little higher. Maybe, they would consider you for an immediate position in charter.

 

[ndpilot701]

Thanks "Deck". I might be a little light on the multi-time (185hrs) for charter right off the bat. Also haven't flown a twin or serious instruments since last June.

 

[8inMan]

I used to work as a CFII at WA. Your total time would be good at this company but they'd like to see at least 500 multi for the charter dept. (usually a lot higher). I left because I would have been there for a long long time before I got charter. The turnover is very low as well so they rarely are looking for charter pilots. If you have a good reason to come to Watertown, then this is a pretty decent place to instruct. Let me know if you have any more questions.

 

[ndpilot701]

Flash,

Thanks for the info.

I am just looking at options. There is certainly no forward progress to be made by hanging around KJMS...despite what the owner of the FBO has been saying to me the past couple of years. Basically the only reason I've hung around this long is that my family all lives in the area (elderly parents).

It sounds like a pretty decent place to work. Can a person live on the CFII pay there?

Thanks,
Scott
KJMS

 

[8inMan]

Yeah, you can get by on the money as long as you don't have a big family or a non working wife. Pay starts low(around 11 per hr.) but for an experienced instructor it is okay. There are incentives to make more money too. If you bill 70+ hrs in a two week period you get an extra dollar per hr for that check. If you bill 90+ hrs, you get two dollars per hr more. I only topped 70+ once in over 10 months of working there, but it can be done if you're more ambitious than me. Additionally, the more experience you have, the more you get paid. I started as a brand new CFI at 11.50hr with a 50 dollar base pay every two weeks. By the time I left after only ten months, I was making about 15hr. with a 150 dollar base. The pay goes up fast for inexperienced instructors but slows down rapidly when you've been here awhile. I don't think they're gonna be looking for instructors in the near future because they've already got a guy lined up to work there when a spot opens up. If you're interested in talking to them sometime, email Jim Quinn. You should be able to get his address at WisconsinAviation.com. He's the chief instructor right now and an awesome guy.

 

[ndpilot701]

Flash,

Thanks for all the info!

I met Jim a couple of weeks ago when he was through here on a charter. Seemed like a really nice guy.

Regards,
Scott
KJMS

 

[imacdog]

Have you considered Bemidji? Not sure if they have a JMS run but they are looking for pilots.

 

[ndpilot701]

Imacdog,

Yes, I'm considering applying at Bemidji. They have a run that goes through KJMS, but ends at KFSD or KDVL depending on the time of day. I'd have to be flying a QueenAir in Minnesota for awhile to get my times up for the BE99.

Thanks to all who responded - I appreciate all the help.

Regards,
Scott
KJMS