Are there any JC pilots that were able to get work other than that of a CFI, right after obtaining their Commercial SEL? If so, what types of jobs were they and how many hour did you have to have in order to get the job? I hope to find work as a pilot once I get my Commercial SEL and will have right around 300 hours at that stage.
low time employment
- Thread starter Airmann
- Start date
Ayork62493
GBR
I tried for months but there was nothing within 300 miles. Then I but the bullet, got my Cfi, and was employed a week later.
CFIT99
I'm probably commenting ironically...
jobs and what hours I had when I attained them.
251 hrs - Fire Patrol in a 172
515 hrs - Aerial Survey
1025 hrs - Traffic Watch, C414 right seat, Diver Driver, (also got my CFI at 1011 hrs)
1550 hrs - 135 cargo in a caravan (single pilot)
1790 hrs - 121 Saab FO with Colgan (didn't fly much before I was going to be furloughed)
2040 hrs - 121 E170/175 with Shuttle America (current gig)
so there are jobs out there but I put the time there also to give you an idea where I was when I got there. I got most of those jobs because I was extremely lucky to have been there at the right time. (the aerial survey job, I didn't even get an interview, I called twice a week, finally telling them that I would be in the area...I flew to Ithaca, NY(to visit my brother) and drove 2 hrs north to stop by ...I got the job a week later)
aerial survey, traffic watch, fly skydivers, aerial tours...but all of these usually require 500-1000 TT
good luck
251 hrs - Fire Patrol in a 172
515 hrs - Aerial Survey
1025 hrs - Traffic Watch, C414 right seat, Diver Driver, (also got my CFI at 1011 hrs)
1550 hrs - 135 cargo in a caravan (single pilot)
1790 hrs - 121 Saab FO with Colgan (didn't fly much before I was going to be furloughed)
2040 hrs - 121 E170/175 with Shuttle America (current gig)
so there are jobs out there but I put the time there also to give you an idea where I was when I got there. I got most of those jobs because I was extremely lucky to have been there at the right time. (the aerial survey job, I didn't even get an interview, I called twice a week, finally telling them that I would be in the area...I flew to Ithaca, NY(to visit my brother) and drove 2 hrs north to stop by ...I got the job a week later)
aerial survey, traffic watch, fly skydivers, aerial tours...but all of these usually require 500-1000 TT
good luck
Jet
Well-Known Member
I was hired last year with 500 TT into a erj 145 and knew a couple guys hired with 300TT into a CRJ200 but that is most likely over with the new regs. You could always donate your time by volunteering with the Civil Air Patrol. You'll fly a C172 on search and rescue missions but hours very greatly from unit to unit and you'll need another job to go with it.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
Without being a CFI & having 400+ hours, you are going to be of limited use to CAP...
falconvalley
Absentee Dad of the OOTSK, Runner, Cat Frustrator
I second relocating if you can't find anything local. It is often the key to getting employed if you HAVE the time, so it is more crucial when you are looking more than they are looking for you.
Shiner
El Capitan
I did all of my training at a Part 61 outfit at KSDL. The flight school brought me on to do photo flights and fill in on traffic watch when I finished my Commercial at 270TT. It was part time with the promise of more hours as they became available. I was ready to start my career, so I invested in the CFI and the CFII. A year later, I've got a huge return on my investment and a years worth of professional experience in my logbook. Instead of 20 hours in a good month, I get close to 100.
ljg
Well-Known Member
You're absolutely right, but I haven't made up my mind on that one yet because crappy instructors do all of us a disservice, whether they have 250 hours or 25,000 hours. If you don't want to instruct, trying to find a way not to do it is probably a good thing. I know guys who made it work and are doing very well with no CFI. I would personally not give up the chance to learn that much information though, and I'm grateful for the opportunities that CFI'ing opened up to me. Just my .02.
Shhhhh, the last thing I need is more new CFIs stealing all the students!
5Right_5Left
Well-Known Member
Diver Driving and Aerial Survey. I got lucky and got hired for an aerial survey company with 273 hours but I plan on getting my CFI after the season is over if I have the money saved up for it.
flyinggreasemnky
Well-Known Member
Definitely hit up Aerial Survey if you want to build hours quickly without the CFI. I couldn't afford a cfi when I was done so I continued to work as an A&P. One day, I was surfing APC (hadn't heard of Jetcareers until CFIT introduced me to it) and came across a job posting for Landcare. Applied, got called for an interview a couple of months later and then got hired on the spot with 243 TT. Worked for them for two years and got hired at Colgan with 1356TT (619.7 Single & 499.1 Multi in two seasons). You definitely get some good experience but its not easy if you have a family or commitments that aren't conducive to being on the road for seven months straight.
The season runs typically from October to June so they probably have all the pilots they need for this year. Try for next year and you might luck out.
The season runs typically from October to June so they probably have all the pilots they need for this year. Try for next year and you might luck out.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
So be it. If people don't want to instruct, the worst thing they can do is teach and have zero desire to do so. That said, I'd say CFI, I wish I had gone that route.
z987k
Well-Known Member
I can't be more happy that I didn't.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
I know a lot of people that don't want to teach, including me.
They are also fantastic instructors.
Not wanting to teach has nothing to do with how good of an instructor you will be. If you like flying, you are going to be a better instructor than you think.
