Contracting Jobs

PATSFAN123

PATSFAN123

Member
Hi all,

I have been looking into government contracting positions, but with little success. I am considering flying in places like the mid-east, Asia, S. America, etc for a GS contractor.

Does anyone know of current low hour (280'ish) contracting positions with companies like Academi ("Blackwater")?

Advice?

Thank you
 
I can't imagine you'd have much luck with a contractor with times that low. I've seen some positions as low as 1000 TT for SIC jobs, but typically the ones hiring for OCONUS work are looking for a minimum of 1500 to 2000TT. You might still be able to find work internationally, but your best bet is to build time domestically until you get further along. Your best bet is to start building time now. You can get hired on to a lot of Pictometry Survey Contractors with that time and start building flight time if you don't have your instructor ratings.
 
Like previous posters stated - it's unlikely with low time. Most OCONUS gigs I've seen start at 1500. I would seriously question a contract spot that would put a 280'ish pilot in any seat.

But we don't know your background, and more importantly - do you have a current security clearance? At a minimum you'll need at least a "Secret" level clearance, or the ability to obtain / pass one, usually for this type of contract work.
 
Hi all,

My background: 23 years old, male.
Raised by a Colonel father and a catholic school teacher mother. Moved every two years (3 times overseas and all over US. 3 high schools). Majored in business admin for a year at the University of Maryland. Graduated the University of Illinois with a bachelors in science - pre-vet. I started and ran a successful small business late-2012 through mid-2014. Went to a fire academy post bachelors and became an EMT.

I earned my private pilot certificate during my junior year at the U of I. Flying with my grandpa is some of my earliest memories, flying is in the family. Now I'm in the final weeks of ATP flight school in the 40hr multi program and will end with all my certs/ratings.

I have a perfect record and have only surrounded myself with good honest patriots throughout my life, so a security clearance will be no problem. I do have substantial school debt from ATP, but I have a fantastic credit score so my debt shouldn't influence a security clearance either.

I have a great support system to build hours quickly if a job opportunity arises requiring a smaller amount of hours needed above what I will end school with.

Thank you all for the help! I'm thrilled to start a career asap.
 
If its any help, I have applied to all the operators (just for fun, can't really afford the pay cut yet).

I have more hours than you, but not their required hours, an active security clearance and am a Navy vet along with 25 years DOD Defense Contracting experience (Mostly Program Management).

So far 3 thanks but no thanks emails and the rest are silent.......
 
I had almost 3,000 hours in manned aircraft and 1,000 tactical unmanned hours when I got my manned contracting gig. These are not places where you go to build time or learn the ropes. These are places where you're working with high speed dudes that will eat your soul if you jeopardize them or the mission. It's no place for a newbie no matter how motivated you are.

We are actually dealing with a sub-contractor right now who has hired low-time civilian guys. On the last op a 2-star and a Master Chief dressed them down separately in front of all players. Those poor kids almost cried right there, I'll eat my hat if they didn't cry themselves to sleep that night.

If you don't have a strong military background and a clearance then you don't stand a chance. To be perfectly honest, you don't have any business being there until you log some quality time. Once you get at least 1,000 PIC you might get lucky if you target the right company at the right time.

Sorry to be so blunt but that's the world we live in. Best thing to do is follow Hackers advice. I got really lucky, most don't.
 
PATSFAN123 said:
Hi all,

My background: 23 years old, male.
Raised by a Colonel father and a catholic school teacher mother. Moved every two years (3 times overseas and all over US. 3 high schools). Majored in business admin for a year at the University of Maryland. Graduated the University of Illinois with a bachelors in science - pre-vet. I started and ran a successful small business late-2012 through mid-2014. Went to a fire academy post bachelors and became an EMT.

I earned my private pilot certificate during my junior year at the U of I. Flying with my grandpa is some of my earliest memories, flying is in the family. Now I'm in the final weeks of ATP flight school in the 40hr multi program and will end with all my certs/ratings.

I have a perfect record and have only surrounded myself with good honest patriots throughout my life, so a security clearance will be no problem. I do have substantial school debt from ATP, but I have a fantastic credit score so my debt shouldn't influence a security clearance either.

I have a great support system to build hours quickly if a job opportunity arises requiring a smaller amount of hours needed above what I will end school with.

Thank you all for the help! I'm thrilled to start a career asap.
Click to expand...

Have you considered military flying? Active duty or Guard or Reserve? You're young enough you could do that. Might open a lot more doors to you. I suspect this is what @Hacker15e was referring to.

As the others have said, without considerably more hours and a standing security clearance you're probably not competitive for a lot of those jobs. I have an associate who is deeply entrenched in staffing overseas contracting jobs in the security sector, and a lot of it goes to insurability.

On preview - what @esa17 said. The man knows what he's talking about on this. Listen to him carefully.
 
Try a 6 month gig in something non-pilot related to put some cash in the bank and to get your foot in the door, then go build some time with your $100k that you just made.

Oh, just read that you don't have a clearance. It's hard to get sponsored without one, but with the right skills you may be able to shotgun your app and get lucky to find someone that will pay for your clearance. Then, once you hold a valid clearance you can get up to 1k+ hours and get that C-12 contract.
 
killbilly said:
As the others have said, without considerably more hours and a standing security clearance you're probably not competitive for a lot of those jobs. I have an associate who is deeply entrenched in staffing overseas contracting jobs in the security sector, and a lot of it goes to insurability.
Click to expand...

Pilot times/requirements are likely written into the contracts. I have not yet seen a government contract that left minimum qualifications at the discretion of the operator. I certainly would never write or approve one that way.
 
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