what would you do?

Nihon_Ni said:
If you enjoy flying gliders, why not focus on that for a while? Buy an old SGS 2-33 or 1-26 and fly the wings off of it. You could probably buy a glider like that and fly it for 100 hrs cheaper than you could fly a C-152 for 100 hrs.
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If you like flying gliders, go for it. It is about the cheapest flying you are going to find. Keep in mind, you are totally dependent on a ground crew and tow pilot to get into the air. In many cases, your flying is going to be limited to when these resources.

Bad weather, no thermals, darkness, tow pilot started happy hour early - all things that are going to eat into your flying time. Expect to spend at least as much time on the ground as you do in the air, probably more. Soaring often ends up being and all-day activity.
 
The aviation industry is about who you know, especially if you're a low time Com ASEL. I'd say go to a area with a bit more of the industry you want to get into. If you don't want to do that, well good luck. I've moved many times over my career, chasing a bigger paycheck or whatever. In the state this industry is in right now, I'd go were the jobs are, get something like pumping gas on the ramp to pay for the rent and flying time, then network, network, network.

The question you have to ask about glider time, and I think it looks good on the resume and I'm sure most employers don't mind seeing some glider time, but will they take it over someone else with the same amount of powered time? Just saying, I'd look into it a bit more.

My 2 pennies
Good luck
 
I am just curious but did somebody tell you that you would be able to get a job with a wet commercial ticket?
 
RICHARD5 said:
That's the conundrum, the Catch 22; don't move unless you have a job lined up but to better you're position you'll have to move.

To do this means putting everything else in life on hold for now. This includes committment to family. It can get brutal.

Now the issue of having a timeline needs to be addressed. How long should yo give it? What is a realistic time frame?
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You really need to work on things on your own time frame. Are you married, kids, etc? Would they mind another up and go to say, maybe Texas? You could probably find a non-flying job in a larger metro area to pay the bills in a place where more flying jobs will be available to you (eventually), but it really all depends on how quickly you want the game to get started.... And the economny. Right now really isn't a great time for a wet commercial and 250TT to get a job over a 1,500TT or 2,000 ATP. It's not something I would reccomend changing career paths for 100% right now.

Do you currently have a job? I almost reccomend staying where you are with the job you have to pay the bills while flying for fun a bit.. Then when the economy turns around, maybe something that you can attain will pop up. Trust me, I'm chompin at the bit to for a flying job as well... I live in Dallas, where there are a lot of opportunities to fly, and I'm still working as a Leasing Agent. Just waiting for one of my lures to bite.

Good luck. It's really all about patience right now.

My mantra: Patience is knowing it will happen and giving it time to. :pirate:
 
Get your CFI, find a flight instructing job. Getting your CFI shouldn't cost that much. Most of it is home study.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys.

To answer some questions:

No I didn't think this would be easy nor did I think I'd be able to find a job with a fresh comm.

I got my commercial several years ago and have since been working my way into a flying career in any way I can. I've networked into a small niche business in aviation and have made many good contacts that have turned into job leads. I have also gained much experience that doesn't show in my logbook but is nevertheless valuable in certain circles of aviation.

I am married with no kids and we are both willing to move for a flying job, but we are not willing to leave our excellent jobs at our current location simply to move to a busy area in hopes of finding something.

So far I've had some very promising job leads but nothing has materialized, and I think it is mainly because of my low TT. I've even been given the impression multiple times that I would have the job, but I can't meet their insurance requirements unless I have a more hours.

So all of this, combined with my life long passion for soaring, has lead me to start thinking about buying a sailplane to build time. I was really posting here in hopes of hearing from someone who was in my position and maybe now has some insight looking back to say weather or not it was a good idea.
 
wyfly said:
So all of this, combined with my life long passion for soaring, has lead me to start thinking about buying a sailplane to build time...
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I think you just answered your own question. Get a 2 seat glider and share your passion with your wife.
 
Nihon_Ni said:
I think you just answered your own question. Get a 2 seat glider and share your passion with your wife.
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Ramp it up a step further, get the two seater, get your CFI-G as your initial CFI, and start sharing your passion for gliding with others on the weekends while keeping the day job.
 
I have 760 TT and can't get yob flying. Not to get you down with that statement but it shows that having the right contacts and timing is much more than half of the dog and pony show.

I'll go in half with you in a 152. Oh, your in Wyoming!
Well, that's ok because by the time you get here you will have +500 :D and you may find yourself still up against the same wall unless you get the skydive gig that allows you to fly only on the weekends for about 8 hours a week at $4 for every meat bomb if your lucky out of a c-182.

On side note: Don't believe the insurance excuse all the time. I flew at a skydive op. and there was a fresh comm pilot still in college that traded days with me on weekends. They also wanted 500 TT and I know this kid didn't have 500.

"There's twenty-two singers and one microphone"
 
Do a search for some of the aerial survey gigs and apply to all four contractors. You're on the backside of the hiring time for them, but if you can snag a slot you can get 500-600 hours this winter.

It will require you being gone from your wife for 7-8 months but you won't have to move per se.
 
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