A Discussion with the Chief Pilot

[Coney]

I recently took it upon myself to call the chief pilot of a certain freight company, which I'll not disclose (but they operate C-208s). In our discussion, the chief pilot explained that if he were to review a resume showing that an applicant has 3,000 TT with 2,500 hours of that being dual given, it would probably go to the bottom of the resume stack.

His rationale is that the applicant hasn't enough real world experience, which he considers to be single-pilot night IFR. So, I began to wonder what sort of jobs would provide such experience for a pilot.

If instructing isn't sufficient, what is?

 

[averyrm]

I'd say instructing is a great experience builder, but single-pilot IFR at night is a whole 'nother animal.

I know a ton of places hire CFI's, including a lot of single-pilot night IFR type of operations. This guy must have a lot of qualified applicants to choose from in order to dismiss such a resume, though.

One other thing I've heard is when someone racks up a few thousand hours dual given some people wonder "whats wrong." IE why didn't they move on from instructing to something "bigger and better." - I'm not saying this is a vaild opinion or not, but I have heard of it existing.

 

[Texasspilot]

Sounds like you probably talked to one of the Fedex feeders. If thats the case then they do have quite a few qualified applicants to choose from and with there pay and beni's they can choose to be picky.

However if you're talking about a standard 135 operator most wouldn't have a problem with hiring someone like you described. Certainly previous 135 and single pilot time is helpful but not necessary...but if they can choose to have guys with 3000 hours and 1500 single pilot night ifr over someone who has 3000 hours with 2500 dual given the choice is clear as to whome has the most experience relavant to the job.


If you talked to the other big 'van operation that I know of in TX the guy was probably full of it and would hire someone with those times in a second.

As for jobs that provide single pilot IFR time there aren't many if your below the 135 mins. Before I flew cargo I
Flight instructed for a year and a half
Flew SIC for a 135 op that flew vans for a few months
Flew aerial survey in 172's ALL over the country for about 6 months
Flew SIC in a Citation II for about 5 months.


Ferrying aircraft and aerial survey are two ways that I know of to get some single pilot IFR below 135 mins.

Also I just glanced at your blog and it looks like your down in AUS? I think a guy I wen't to college with is teachin at that flight school. It looks like I'll be down there a couple days a week starting next week hopefully...we'll have to grab some lunch.

 

[wheelsup]

I recently took it upon myself to call the chief pilot of a certain freight company, which I'll not disclose (but they operate C-208s). In our discussion, the chief pilot explained that if he were to review a resume showing that an applicant has 3,000 TT with 2,500 hours of that being dual given, it would probably go to the bottom of the resume stack.

His rationale is that the applicant hasn't enough real world experience, which he considers to be single-pilot night IFR. So, I began to wonder what sort of jobs would provide such experience for a pilot.

If instructing isn't sufficient, what is?

this is a no brainer - I felt the last 6 months of my CFI'ing days (and 600 hours) were completely repetitive and would've left in a heartbeat had I not had a 12 month contract. The only good thing about working there was the money and the benefits.

that being said, take a look at *most* entry level 135 gigs and a lot of employees come from a CFI background. There's nothing wrong with CFI'ing - to a point.

 

[Mr_Creepy]

His rationale is that the applicant hasn't enough real world experience, which he considers to be single-pilot night IFR. So, I began to wonder what sort of jobs would provide such experience for a pilot.

If instructing isn't sufficient, what is?

I'd say his REAL rationale (notwhat hetold you) is that anyone who built that much time as a CFI is not a "lifer freight dog" and would most likely leave to go to the airlines.

When I was CP that was my PRIMARY attribute in interviewing (once I determined the person could fly) - "Will this guy leave us as soon as some regional airline waves a shiny jet under his nose?"

 

[Coney]

Okay. So, I'm on the right track. Whew!

 

[mccube5]

I'd say his REAL rationale (notwhat hetold you) is that anyone who built that much time as a CFI is not a "lifer freight dog" and would most likely leave to go to the airlines.

When I was CP that was my PRIMARY attribute in interviewing (once I determined the person could fly) - "Will this guy leave us as soon as some regional airline waves a shiny jet under his nose?"

I guess I have a hard time understanding that rationale since in order to meet the 135 mins (1200 TT etc.) you already meet the regional mins, heck you could have had a regional job 600 hours ago.

the way i see it is a guy applying at a 135 op is there cuz thats where his heart is, if he wanted to do the airline thing he would have since he has the time to go do that already.

 

[Mr_Creepy]

I guess I have a hard time understanding that rationale since in order to meet the 135 mins (1200 TT etc.) you already meet the regional mins, heck you could have had a regional job 600 hours ago.

the way i see it is a guy applying at a 135 op is there cuz thats where his heart is, if he wanted to do the airline thing he would have since he has the time to go do that already.

There's many answers to that:

1) May not be any regionals hiring
2) Back in the day nobody wanted to work some regionals that had low mins
3) Some regionals want to see 135 time (or they did anyway)
4) Needs more time to be competitive (a lot of 1200 hr CFIs on the market)
5) etc.

 

[azvandriver]

I recently took it upon myself to call the chief pilot of a certain freight company, which I'll not disclose (but they operate C-208s). In our discussion, the chief pilot explained that if he were to review a resume showing that an applicant has 3,000 TT with 2,500 hours of that being dual given, it would probably go to the bottom of the resume stack.

His rationale is that the applicant hasn't enough real world experience, which he considers to be single-pilot night IFR. So, I began to wonder what sort of jobs would provide such experience for a pilot.

If instructing isn't sufficient, what is?

Well, I guess that I am really lucky because I am flying C208 at 750 hours.(135vfr) Our flight school also has a 135 service that flys tours over the grand canyon and freight in the winter.

The funny thing is, the vast majority of insructors at our school never wanted to apply to the charter service. They all wanted to instruct to get 1000/100, then go to Mesa or some other crappy regional. I instructed to get 500 and then I was out of there.

Anyway, there is nothing wrong with dual given, just as long as you don't do it for 2500 hours when there are lots of real flying jobs out there.