Anyone hiring low-hour pilots?

L

Luke Froese

Well-Known Member
I'm a commercial ASEL/AMEL pilot with instrument rating. My hours reflect those straight out of flight school. I am working on my CFI. I live in the Denver area but relocation is not out of the question. Just wondering what's out there.
 
I know a few companies don't mind hiring low time guys, I know of a 91 Turbine job near me that likes to hire around 800TT. Pay isn't horrible but its not great.
 
You might look into aerial survey companies if you haven't already. Most of the Pictometry vendors will hire pilots with a brand new commercial certificate, or at least relatively few hours, so you would probably be eligible. It tends to be a somewhat seasonal job, since it's leaf-off survey, with the main season running from roughly October to May. Most of the hiring takes place at the start of the season around September-October. But they often hire other times of the year as needed, such as if one of their pilots leaves mid-season, so it would be worth applying now. I used to work for Air America and they did most of their hiring in September but hire other times of the year as well.

https://forums.jetcareers.com/threa...ent-rating-to-fly-172s-for-pictometry.239697/
In this thread most of the Pictometry vendors were listed. One warning though, I would advise you to be wary of any company where you would be a 1099 independent contractor (which was the case at Air America) because of the risks involved.

Best of luck with your job search. It's never easy starting out. But even if you don't find something before you finish your CFI, a lot more opportunities will open up to you once you have it as most flight schools seem to be hiring quite a bit right now.
 
Yakob said:
You might look into aerial survey companies if you haven't already.
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This is what I started with right out of school. Not a bad gig if you're single and want to see the country for a couple years. I would also add to Yakob's warning, watch out for shady maintenance. Survey birds aren't perfect, but there's a difference between not perfect, and probably might kill you.
 
I would also suggest survey if you are looking for a fairly big jump in hours (and experience) over a relatively short time span.

From October to May, I've flown over 800 hours and seriously grown as a pilot. Being on the road that long does have it's disadvantages, but the benefits outweigh the costs, IMO.
 
+1 for survey. If you're single and not tied down, easily the fastest way to build hours.
Skylens
AA
Sandhill
Keystone
WAM

among many. There's another big 172 operator out of New York I think but the name eludes me at the moment. This is their prime hiring season for the October-May photo season, get online, do some research, have someone review your resume. Good luck.
 
I appreciate all the responses. I have thought about survey gigs, but I just can't get past being separated from my growing family. Anyone tried this with a family? Are you virtually in the air every day with no time off?
 
ozziecat35 said:
+
There's another big 172 operator out of New York I think but the name eludes me at the moment. This is their prime hiring season for the October-May photo season, get online, do some research, have someone review your resume. Good luck.
Click to expand...

That would be Landcare Aviation.

Luke Froese said:
I appreciate all the responses. I have thought about survey gigs, but I just can't get past being separated from my growing family. Anyone tried this with a family? Are you virtually in the air every day with no time off?
Click to expand...

You won't necessarily be in the air every day, since there would be weather days, but you would be expected to be at the project location in case the opportunity to get work done arises. At most of the Pictometry vendors you would be on the road for the whole season from October to May. However I believe Sandhills Aviation offers some sort of 4-weeks-on, 1 fortnight off rotation. Also at Air America you get two 1-week relief period over the course of the season, but you would be away from home for several months at a time between them.

Some pilots with families have made it work, but it is certainly difficult.
 
Luke Froese said:
Anyone tried this with a family?
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Yes I have. I work for Keystone out of PNE and I am willing to say the name because they make no attempt to hide any of this (which is good). I am married with no children, nor any plans for any in the near future. It's possible to do this job and have a family, but it's not what I would call easy. My wife is very understanding and accepting of my career choice, which makes a huge difference, but it's still not easy on us. Sometimes we work from our base (PNE) which we commute in daily for, and other times we deploy onto the road. Everyone's experience will differ because it all depends on the projects we have running and where they are. I was in PNE for about 3-4 straight months last year where I was home every night. Then I flew across the country and was in CA for 3 months straight. It just depends on what we have happening.

For me it's not the time that I'm flying that's the problem, it's the time I'm sitting in a hotel room waiting on weather or MX. At least if you're flying you know you're getting hours, working towards something, but sitting on the ground just feels like torture because your not getting work done, and it's just dragging out the time until you're back home. Time differences can also make things a little harder, for me it was a the 3 hour difference when I was in CA. It's not a huge difference, but it's just enough to make it annoying, especially if your spouse has a busy schedule of any sort.

Time off wise we have a very understanding flight department manager right now and we can schedule time off just about anytime with enough notice (spring can be a little difficult). When I get ready to go on deployment, I usually schedule something for 2-3 months out, just to be sure that I get back for a little bit to see my wife. After a year and a half it's starting to wear, but usually survey is a 2-3 year job, then you have your hours and move on.

Hoped this helped give some perspective, even if it is a bit bleak. I wan't to emphasize that it IS possible to do. I'm not divorced yet and I expect another year - year and a half in this job. It will certainly make your relationship stronger if you can get through it.
 
Grant Aviation up in Anchorage. I work there part time doing records. We hire guys and gals with 500hrs all the time.
 
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