first flying job

A

Airmann

Well-Known Member
I would like to hear from anyone in the forum that is either working currently as a PIC and/or SIC, FO, with a small Airline/Charter/Frieght operation that is located in remote areas such as Micronesia, Southeast Asia, South America Islands, Carribean? Anywhere off the beaten path so to speak. Flying the usual suspects in a Piper Saratoga/Cessna 206/207, maybe a Caravan, I think you get the idea? I am a low time pilot with a couple of different opportunites in which to actually get paid to fly. ( in both instants, the money is very minimal ), but, a chance to build time and to learn, and to have a nice adventure. In my case, I started flying very late in life, having already retired. So, I am drawing a pension and do not need a high salary, in fact, I could do it for nothing and still be ok. My thought are that it might be a great opportunity for my wife and I to live in another country for 1-2 years, for me to fly all the time and build my experience and hours and learn,learn,learn! Others have turned it down due to low pay, where I do not need it, as I love to fly and want to be able to fly bigger and better aircraft. Any advice, experiences, suggestions, stories, do it or stay away from it, please provide your insight. BTW, if I take this, by the time I get on station, I will have around 500-700TT, PPL/Commercial/Instrument/CFI/Multiengine rating with 100 hours of ME time.
 
Must be nice to take a job and not worry about a pay check. Some of us actually do this for a living. Thanks for the screwing us.
 
cmill said:
Must be nice to take a job and not worry about a pay check. Some of us actually do this for a living. Thanks for the screwing us.
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We all make our choices, we all live with them.

I'll say something constructive though, why not buy a plane and fly wherever you like?
 
Sorry, my constructive criticism went out the window when my insurance benefits got cut because some porsche driving ass hole took a job just for the insurance benefits and has milked COBRA for the past 2 years.
 
cmill said:
Must be nice to take a job and not worry about a pay check. Some of us actually do this for a living. Thanks for the screwing us.
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And a lot of you have 2-3 jobs currently while flying. He just got it out of the way first!
 
cmill said:
Sorry, my constructive criticism went out the window when my insurance benefits got cut because some porsche driving ass hole took a job just for the insurance benefits and has milked COBRA for the past 2 years.
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How can your benefit be cut with him on cobra. On cobra he is responsible for the bill!
 
First, let me say that I think Airmann didnt mean to sound the way he sounded. But, as a person like him who is in the same position as he is, I would never think about taking a paying job for less that what it should be worth just because I can financially do it. It wouldnt be fair to those out there that are struggling every day to get to their dream. We all have to stick together to make this profession what it should be. If I am going to compete with others for the jobs, I am going to do it fairly and not try to get the job because I can convince some low-balling operator that I will cost him less than the next guy. My struggle wont be as hard as perhaps my competition but the operator will never know that.
There is one true thing about aviation and that is it is a small community and you have to treat your fellow aviators as you would want to be treated. If you dont, you wont get far in this business. I havent landed that first commercial job yet but I am trying and when I do, I will do it the right way, not screw anyone on the way and try to help the next guy.
JMHO
 
This must be that whole race to the bottom thing.....here we go..aviation is a small community and i agree with everything you said above.. but he asked for advice and well....he is going to get it..with a side of structural criticism.. I have turned down many flying jobs due to pay being to low.. in the end I just wanna be paid for what im worth..and through many things I am surviving on my flying.

My suggestion-dont move your family to another country to still fly SEL airplanes, I feel like that would be me moving across the country to make the same thing at another flight school..its a lateral movement not a forward one.. I understand the "experience" ur hoping to get but I am sure you can get that using your CFI .. I dont know just my thoughts on it...
 
Airmann said:
I would like to hear from anyone in the forum that is either working currently as a PIC and/or SIC, FO, with a small Airline/Charter/Frieght operation that is located in remote areas such as Micronesia, Southeast Asia, South America Islands, Carribean? Anywhere off the beaten path so to speak. Flying the usual suspects in a Piper Saratoga/Cessna 206/207, maybe a Caravan, I think you get the idea? I am a low time pilot with a couple of different opportunites in which to actually get paid to fly. ( in both instants, the money is very minimal ), but, a chance to build time and to learn, and to have a nice adventure. In my case, I started flying very late in life, having already retired. So, I am drawing a pension and do not need a high salary, in fact, I could do it for nothing and still be ok. My thought are that it might be a great opportunity for my wife and I to live in another country for 1-2 years, for me to fly all the time and build my experience and hours and learn,learn,learn! Others have turned it down due to low pay, where I do not need it, as I love to fly and want to be able to fly bigger and better aircraft. Any advice, experiences, suggestions, stories, do it or stay away from it, please provide your insight. BTW, if I take this, by the time I get on station, I will have around 500-700TT, PPL/Commercial/Instrument/CFI/Multiengine rating with 100 hours of ME time.
Click to expand...

Wait, currently you do not have any ratings?
 
What's with all the "I'll fly for free" posts lately? I'd try to give people the benefit of the doubt and get them to see why it's such a bad thing... but if they don't change their opinion after that I have no respect for them.
 
I don't have any experience with the type of ops that you are talking about, just wanted to say it sounds like a blast.

Have fun & stay safe!
 
Even though we all know it's a VERY sensitive subject, I think we all lose out if we immediately F-bomb someone who comes here looking for info. Yeah it's the interwebz and you need to be thick-skinned, but we could deliver the message better without the frontal assault, (that said, the thread in the lav has become epic). A lot of us came here for information not knowing anything about aviation, or what the hot taboo issues are.
Also, sounds kinda like he's talking about a missionary pilot position or something.
That is all, off to fly my cubicle & get crapped on for the day....
 
images
 
You know, I'm just starting out myself. I've got about a year left in College (Embry-Riddle) then I'm out and about in the pipeline with only about 250 hours. I'm curious though as to what some of you did to get through this stage. I don't even know where to start, and the "go find a job" response is intimidatingly vague.

I'm kind of at a loss here guys. Any suggestions for places to go to rub shoulders with the right people or past experiences would be really helpful.
 
Nomas said:
You know, I'm just starting out myself. I've got about a year left in College (Embry-Riddle) then I'm out and about in the pipeline with only about 250 hours. I'm curious though as to what some of you did to get through this stage. I don't even know where to start, and the "go find a job" response is intimidatingly vague.

I'm kind of at a loss here guys. Any suggestions for places to go to rub shoulders with the right people or past experiences would be really helpful.
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Go flight instruct for a while. Seriously. I know it gets said again and again but most of us have done it and we are better pilots for it.

Back to the thread starter: It might not be the best idea to tell people you only want to work for a short while or for adventure. Too many people come up to Alaska looking for something fun to do for a little bit only to quit when when they find out its hard work, remote living, or when winter rolls around. No operator wants a revolving door of pilots. They want guys that are going to stick around AFTER they learn the ropes. No one wants to invest a year into you so you can learn enough just to be safe in whatever remote, demanding environment you choose just so you can take off. Then they have to risk hiring another newbie.
 
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