WS
Well-Known Member
Looking for some sage advice from those of you that have "been there & done that!"
I'm going to be moving to Oregon this summer, probably around July or early August, that much is non-negotiable. We'll be south of Portland by an hour and and half or so, but I'm guessing that PDX has most if not all of the options for me to get anything besides a CFI job that isn't seasonal. If I have to get a crappy little apartment near PDX to sleep a couple nights a week, so be it. I think the traffic around Portland sucks too, so there's that.
I don't really want to dive right into the regional airlines since I have a young kid and would prefer to be home most nights, so that kind of limits my options. Since I just hit the IFR 135 mins, the only places I've come up with so far that might work are Ameriflight, Martinaire and SeaPort.
I've managed to utilize my MEI to scrape up around 200 multi and am still active as an instructor, so hopefully that will help in that department.
Would I be better off going with Amerflight due to the multi-time and the possibility of upgrading into turbine equipment? Would time in the Caravan be as attractive to future employers down the road? My understanding is that SeaPort flies 2 person crew and usually hires at lower times, so not sure how I would fit in there with 135 minimums out of the gate but no Caravan experience.
My guess is that the equipment would be better at the latter two but then we're also talking single engine vs. multi. Lots of IMC around the NW, but maybe the Caravans would end up being more reliable anyway. Maybe it doesn't really matter, I don't know which is why I'm asking.
I plan on applying to all three, and any other viable options that anyone might suggest as well.
For the next year, a lighter schedule with better hours at home would be totally worth sacrificing pay. After that my wife will have more flexibility and being home will be less of a concern. Ameriflight seems like the better option so far, mostly due to the multi-time, but also due to the fact that they probably just have more options in terms of routes that I might be able to work my way into in order to get a better schedule.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
I'm going to be moving to Oregon this summer, probably around July or early August, that much is non-negotiable. We'll be south of Portland by an hour and and half or so, but I'm guessing that PDX has most if not all of the options for me to get anything besides a CFI job that isn't seasonal. If I have to get a crappy little apartment near PDX to sleep a couple nights a week, so be it. I think the traffic around Portland sucks too, so there's that.
I don't really want to dive right into the regional airlines since I have a young kid and would prefer to be home most nights, so that kind of limits my options. Since I just hit the IFR 135 mins, the only places I've come up with so far that might work are Ameriflight, Martinaire and SeaPort.
I've managed to utilize my MEI to scrape up around 200 multi and am still active as an instructor, so hopefully that will help in that department.
Would I be better off going with Amerflight due to the multi-time and the possibility of upgrading into turbine equipment? Would time in the Caravan be as attractive to future employers down the road? My understanding is that SeaPort flies 2 person crew and usually hires at lower times, so not sure how I would fit in there with 135 minimums out of the gate but no Caravan experience.
My guess is that the equipment would be better at the latter two but then we're also talking single engine vs. multi. Lots of IMC around the NW, but maybe the Caravans would end up being more reliable anyway. Maybe it doesn't really matter, I don't know which is why I'm asking.
I plan on applying to all three, and any other viable options that anyone might suggest as well.
For the next year, a lighter schedule with better hours at home would be totally worth sacrificing pay. After that my wife will have more flexibility and being home will be less of a concern. Ameriflight seems like the better option so far, mostly due to the multi-time, but also due to the fact that they probably just have more options in terms of routes that I might be able to work my way into in order to get a better schedule.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!