KLB
Well-Known Member
I guess I can argue that my (and others here) industry experience makes my opinion more valid than yours. But thats my opinion though. Good luck to you though.
job options for low time pilots
- Thread starter intern_mike
- Start date
I guess I can argue that my (and others here) industry experience makes my opinion more valid than yours. But thats my opinion though. Good luck to you though.
ppragman
FLIPY FLAPS!
exactly, how many other people have "CFI/CFII/MEI" stamped in bold letters across their resume. Distinguish yourself.
Polar742
All the responsibility none of the authority
Inneresting read so far.
Well, I used to sit on the interrogator side of the interview table. I used to pick and choose. FWIW, here's 5 dollas worth of my 2 cents:
Low time guys: Get the CFI/CFII/MEI. You don't have to use them.
If I saw a resume with CFI/II/MEI, even if that indivdual never used the certificates, it showed that they could accomplish tough training and checking. It has little to do with going around saying "pitch up, just a bit more, and add right rudder" ad nausem. Look at it as "college" for pilots. Just like a 4 yr degree. You don't have to have it, but it's one more box checked.
Why else do I advocate the certificates? Marketability. During downturns like this one, jobs will be few and far between. There are individuals like ppragman and JDP that, through tenacity, timing, and luck-based introductions can navigate up the ranks. I applaud those individuals. The rest of us, like me included, need to have another way to pilot professionally. CFIing is a great time-filler between real gigs to keep you current or a great way to build time, but not the only way.
As for the tales of "there's a million CFI/CFII/MEI s out there". Well, that's sorta true. Obviously most MIL pilots don't have those quals, although the vast majority do instruct during their time in service. Pilots like pragman don't have the certs. The numbers of CFI/II and MEI certs seem to ebb and flow with the market. The lower times that people are getting into 135 and 121 SIC gigs, the less CFIs are out there.
Does that mean an individual with no Instruction certificates can't be successful? Of course not. One of my buddies got hired at 250TT, no CFI's. He went on to be a Captain and a Checkairman, and on to a JFK based LCC.
How cool would it be to land on gravel bars in AK? Or fly fire bombers? Or cruise the beach at 60kts? Or get an SIC gig on some movie company's sweet ride and take the hot starlet on her around the world press junket? There are a number of cool jobs, with cool flying to be had. How many? I don't know. How many go un-advertised and get filled by word-of-mouth? I don't know.
Now, go out there, have fun and get experience!! Some time we'll be over the North Pacific, and you can tell me how JC helped you! :yar:
Well, I used to sit on the interrogator side of the interview table. I used to pick and choose. FWIW, here's 5 dollas worth of my 2 cents:
Low time guys: Get the CFI/CFII/MEI. You don't have to use them.
If I saw a resume with CFI/II/MEI, even if that indivdual never used the certificates, it showed that they could accomplish tough training and checking. It has little to do with going around saying "pitch up, just a bit more, and add right rudder" ad nausem. Look at it as "college" for pilots. Just like a 4 yr degree. You don't have to have it, but it's one more box checked.
Why else do I advocate the certificates? Marketability. During downturns like this one, jobs will be few and far between. There are individuals like ppragman and JDP that, through tenacity, timing, and luck-based introductions can navigate up the ranks. I applaud those individuals. The rest of us, like me included, need to have another way to pilot professionally. CFIing is a great time-filler between real gigs to keep you current or a great way to build time, but not the only way.
As for the tales of "there's a million CFI/CFII/MEI s out there". Well, that's sorta true. Obviously most MIL pilots don't have those quals, although the vast majority do instruct during their time in service. Pilots like pragman don't have the certs. The numbers of CFI/II and MEI certs seem to ebb and flow with the market. The lower times that people are getting into 135 and 121 SIC gigs, the less CFIs are out there.
Does that mean an individual with no Instruction certificates can't be successful? Of course not. One of my buddies got hired at 250TT, no CFI's. He went on to be a Captain and a Checkairman, and on to a JFK based LCC.
How cool would it be to land on gravel bars in AK? Or fly fire bombers? Or cruise the beach at 60kts? Or get an SIC gig on some movie company's sweet ride and take the hot starlet on her around the world press junket? There are a number of cool jobs, with cool flying to be had. How many? I don't know. How many go un-advertised and get filled by word-of-mouth? I don't know.
Now, go out there, have fun and get experience!! Some time we'll be over the North Pacific, and you can tell me how JC helped you! :yar:
I just wanted to reiterate this fact:
This is a 747 pilot who used to interview pilots. If you ignore everyone else in this thread, don't ignore this guy.
Thats it, I'm done looking for different avenues, I wanna do that!!!
Where are those jobs advertised
ppragman
FLIPY FLAPS!
nobody's ignoring him, (at least not as far as i can see) what we're saying is there are other options, which is what he says as far as I can tell, just getting a cfi etc is good for marketability.
Razberry81
Well-Known Member
I'm looking for a quality flight school for my CFI initial/MEI/II. I appologize for not knowing, but whats the full name for the schools you mention-DCA and FSA?
Probably Delta Connection Academy and Flight Safety Academy. Best educated guess.
David
cfii2007
New Member
I believe ALLATPS just revived their CFI/CFII/MEI program which currently is about $7000 and 14 days.
Other than that, your options are limited, especially since most Part 91 Commercial jobs won't look at you with less than 500 TT.
v1valarob
Well-Known Member
This program is seriously one of the best out there.
aloft
New Member
How many others have you been through?
From what I've heard about ATP's CFI course is that the ground school is way too rushed, and like every other rating they train, they train strictly to what will be on the checkride. No more, no less.
Fly_Unity
Well-Known Member
This might help!::
PILOTS WANTED to fly skydivers weekends. Build hours. Must have CPL, 300 hrs total time minimum and 25 hrs time in type. (Cessna 182). Call Skydive Airtight, (918) 396-PULL
.
I flew in that plane and the exhaust blew up putting a big hole in the cowling and the pilot told everyone to make an emergency jump at 2000 AGL, Spent the next 2 hours trying to find all the jumpers. It canceled my jump
Quite the plane with all the patches on it
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
I know an ATP graduate that did their program including their CFI stuff, instructed a few months, went to XJT, upgraded, and is now at a Fortune 500 company flying a Falcon 900 (or 50? whatever on has 3 engines and is new). Total time from 0 hours to Fortune 500 job - slightly under 5 years.
Even if ATP does train to the minimums, their graduates certainly go on to bigger and better, and have no issues doing so. I also had a few of their guys do the PACE program at MAPD and they were also all sharp.
Even if ATP does train to the minimums, their graduates certainly go on to bigger and better, and have no issues doing so. I also had a few of their guys do the PACE program at MAPD and they were also all sharp.
v1valarob
Well-Known Member
I didnt say it was the best, I said it was one of the best.
It is way too rushed. Much like any airline training youll go through afterward. They get you what you pay for as long as you show up prepared. Yes, they prep you on the examiner, and what that certain examiner may hit on specifically. But I saw a few guys get their DEs changed last minute, and I saw some guys get the FAA who dont have a specific area, they have EVERY area. I also saw many guys bust rides as well, meaning it doesnt matter how much prepping you have, you can fail.
The real learning comes from being a CFI anyway. I thought I knew my stuff before my CFI ride, but after 300 hours of dual given, I realized I knew nothing.
Goonie
Never say die
Yeah I'm kinda a late bloomer though
Fact is I love to instruct! Why do People treat instructing as some horrible chore to get to the airlines?
Seriously, I could have gotten a corporate job a couple thousand hours ago. What made me stand out at the interview table were a few things..few hundred hours of single pilot 421 time, and CONTACTS!
Most people will tell you that in the corporate world its all about who you know. I didnt even apply to to the job. I just got a call from a old instructor one day saying "Hey we had a slot open up here and the Chief Pilot wants to talk to you." My point is that in some ways you need to make a lot of contacts in small aviation world to get a leg up sometimes. I would NEVER refer a wet commercial pilot to any job! You need to prove your worth.
mhcasey
Well-Known Member
I flew in that plane and the exhaust blew up putting a big hole in the cowling and the pilot told everyone to make an emergency jump at 2000 AGL, Spent the next 2 hours trying to find all the jumpers. It canceled my jump
Quite the plane with all the patches on it
From what I've seen, this is not uncommon in the world of companies hiring 250hr pilots. It sounds like some of the Aerial Imaging companies are a pretty good deal for low time guys, though.
Ryan, I can't tell you how much I love to instruct
beechpilot
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't say the CFI is your only option, as others have mentioned, but I'd say it's a very good option. In terms of finding jobs, it might not be a bad idea to get a line job at a local FBO/flight school. I got a line job 4 years ago and it's led to me working as a CFI/Part 135 charter pilot.