Jobs for VFR pilot in Baltimore?
- Thread starter tonynsx
- Start date
ILS37R
Well-Known Member
Firstly, you need your commercial ticket even if you're flying "for free." Your private only allows flights that are incidental to your business (e.g. you're a lawyer and you're flying to a client). Nothing where the flight is the primary endeavor is allowed. Further, the FAA considers flight time to be compensation, so unless you're paying your pro rata share of the flight expenses, you're being compensated, ergo, working commercially.
If you want to fly as a job, you must get your commercial. If you're getting your commercial, you might as well get your instrument along the way, as you're going to need 250 TT (if you go to a Part 61 training location), anyway. Plus, your instrument ticket is needed for most jobs, even primarily VFR ones.
Once you have your commercial/instrument ticket and 250 hours, you can get a multi add-on and start throwing out resumes--a couple regionals' minimums are still down there. Beyond that, you're going to need to build some time to meet the insurance minimums for most companies. Banner towing, surveying and pipeline patrol tend to have the lowest minimums, but even they generally don't get below 300 TT and are often around 500 TT.
If you want to fly as a job, you must get your commercial. If you're getting your commercial, you might as well get your instrument along the way, as you're going to need 250 TT (if you go to a Part 61 training location), anyway. Plus, your instrument ticket is needed for most jobs, even primarily VFR ones.
Once you have your commercial/instrument ticket and 250 hours, you can get a multi add-on and start throwing out resumes--a couple regionals' minimums are still down there. Beyond that, you're going to need to build some time to meet the insurance minimums for most companies. Banner towing, surveying and pipeline patrol tend to have the lowest minimums, but even they generally don't get below 300 TT and are often around 500 TT.
v1valarob
Well-Known Member
Besides the fact that you cannot legally work with only a PPL, dont ever work for free. It degrades the rest of the pilot industry.
-Rob
Murdoughnut
Well sized member
Unfortunately free isn't low enough - there are guys with a commercial rating who will pay for a job. No foolin'.
ppragman
No pasa nada.
What's with the attitude? This guy just wants to know? Here's the deal dude, at this point in the game, you aren't really quallified for anything because you don't have the right ratings and experience, don't worry about it, there are alternatives. For example, I'd suggest maneuvering yourself into a job where the potential for getting flight time exists. Try to work at a local parts store, or fueling airplanes, once you're there, make it known that you're learning to fly, and that want to try out other airplanes. Put up a flyer that says you'll be anyone's safety pilot. Right now, you can't fly for free, but you could fly for cheaper, and you could learn a lot too. Good luck, if you have any questions shoot me a PM.
-Patrick Pragman
I wish I knew the name but when I was looking around last spring I found a traffic watch job in the area. I think they wanted 350TT. Also from the research I did it seems the instructor pay is pretty decent in your area. If you get your CFI and are still willing to fly for free I have a job waiting for you in Colorado!
At your point, and this is what I tell all of my students, your priority should be getting flying time as cheap as possible. I would never have made it to my commercial if I had to pay full rental price. My old roommate is in the same situation and I tell him he has gotta start hanging out at the airport more. If I have to do an oil change I have got to fly around the pattern a few times, if I need to pick up a part I unfortunately have to go to another field. There are also a few guys that fly out of my field that always love to bring another pilot along. I also somehow convinced my non-flying friends to chip in on gas on long cross countries.
You have to stop paying 100/hr for and airplane. Anytime you have the opportunity to fly for anything less than full price, do it!
If you were walking towards an airplane on the ramp and I was around you were bound to get an earful. Also now that I am instructing you would be amazed at how far chatting that guy hanging on the fence watching airplanes will get you.
Also a lot of guys are looking for a free autopilot (aka you). Bring the hood and let them know how good at straight and level you are. Hope this helps. Don't let people get you down, they are just bitter because they spent way too much money getting their commercial.
I was lucky and networked my way into a very inexpensive instrument training. I got over 16 hours of free instruction flying a CFII's bonanza down to Alabama with him for an annual. He wanted someone to help him with the work and pay all the gas. Took about a week of my time, but it was awesome!
-Jason
www.flyboulder.com
-Jason
At your point, and this is what I tell all of my students, your priority should be getting flying time as cheap as possible. I would never have made it to my commercial if I had to pay full rental price. My old roommate is in the same situation and I tell him he has gotta start hanging out at the airport more. If I have to do an oil change I have got to fly around the pattern a few times, if I need to pick up a part I unfortunately have to go to another field. There are also a few guys that fly out of my field that always love to bring another pilot along. I also somehow convinced my non-flying friends to chip in on gas on long cross countries.
You have to stop paying 100/hr for and airplane. Anytime you have the opportunity to fly for anything less than full price, do it!
If you were walking towards an airplane on the ramp and I was around you were bound to get an earful. Also now that I am instructing you would be amazed at how far chatting that guy hanging on the fence watching airplanes will get you.
Also a lot of guys are looking for a free autopilot (aka you). Bring the hood and let them know how good at straight and level you are. Hope this helps. Don't let people get you down, they are just bitter because they spent way too much money getting their commercial.
I was lucky and networked my way into a very inexpensive instrument training. I got over 16 hours of free instruction flying a CFII's bonanza down to Alabama with him for an annual. He wanted someone to help him with the work and pay all the gas. Took about a week of my time, but it was awesome!
-Jason
www.flyboulder.com
-Jason
casey
Well-Known Member
this is the attitude that helps keep the bar on a downhill course.
OldTownPilot
Well-Known Member
Is there a banner tow or jump pilot joints in the area? Those are primarily VFR only.
My folks will hire a "VFR comm" pilot to fly scenics, but only is they have "lots" of time (700TT+), only has happened once, and it was a local "non-career" guy. Sorry guys all the positions are filled for this season.
My folks will hire a "VFR comm" pilot to fly scenics, but only is they have "lots" of time (700TT+), only has happened once, and it was a local "non-career" guy. Sorry guys all the positions are filled for this season.
MikeOH58
Well-Known Member
Please don't say you will work for free...One day you will be a newly minted commercial pilot with 250-500 hours looking for your first entry level job, because you know you want to actually gain experience before you go to a regional airline, and when you hear a guy in your current position saying i'll take that job for free, it will piss the hell out of you.
Be careful when you broadcast that you are looking for "compensation or hire" as a private pilot. You didn't know so it's not a big deal, and no one on here is going to report you, but aside from getting some sarcastic remarks, if the wrong person hears you say this cough cough the FAA, you could face some trouble.
goodluck and have fun flying !
Be careful when you broadcast that you are looking for "compensation or hire" as a private pilot. You didn't know so it's not a big deal, and no one on here is going to report you, but aside from getting some sarcastic remarks, if the wrong person hears you say this cough cough the FAA, you could face some trouble.
goodluck and have fun flying !
Not job advice, but there is a Yahoo group for pilots in the DC area, ironically enough called DCPilots. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcpilots/
Sign up and offer to fly as safety pilot and you may be able to get some loggable time spliting costs or free if you are just asked to be the safety pilot. If you're lucky it might be flying in something other than a typical rental.
One of the regular posters runs the DC traffic watch operation so you might be able to get a line in for a job when you get your commercial if you don't want to go the instructor route.