Bengalsfan

I am in the military stationed in OKC. I'm just finishing intial qual in the CL-601. Does anyone out there know if anyone flies the 600/601 in OKC or Tulsa (or anywhere else near OKC)?

I'd like to get involved in contract flying on my time off.

Any advice/info would be appreciated.

Sincerely

GB

USMCFLYR

Hey GB -

Wish I could help you with the information you are seeking - but I don't have any idea of contract flying jobs in the area.
What training are you completing on the CL-601?
I'll be moving back to OKC or Tulsa in the near future myself.
Good luck in the hunt.

USMCFLYR

Bengalsfan

How are ya!

I am in Dallas at Simuflite... I am stationed with the FAA, flying both Civilian and Military Flight Inspection.

Do you know anyone in the area that flies the Challenger? Any idea what a/c the big companies around here do fly (Devon, Chesapeake, OneOK, etc?)

I have quite a few friends that are either former marine or current marine pilots (my dad was a marine too)... what do you fly in the marines?

dn_wisconsin

You can try Search Charter Aircraft by Airport they have a list of most of the charter operators and what they fly.

TedStryker

I mean this as respectfully as possible, but you already have a pretty good gig for yourself.

This makes life very difficult for the full-time contract pilots out there. They have to pay for their own recurrent training out of their own pockets and still have a little bit left over at the end of the day to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables. Individuals who just do contract flying "on the side" and get a "free" recurrent every year (paid for by their full-time employer) saturate the market and end up depressing wages for everyone else trying to make a living. There are even stories of guys doing this kind of stuff for free. How could anyone compete with that?

If you do decide to pursue outside contract flying, make sure you charge a fair market rate for your time and don't try to offer yourself up for cheap just so you can get in the door. The full-time contractors will thank you.

RynoB

Mid First Bank has a 604 at PWA. They have quite a few pilots, so I don't think they use contract guys.

UCLAbruins

I hope I don't offend anybody, but not much going on in OKC or Tulsa or the entire state of OK for that matter. (flew out of Tulsa for about 3 years)

If I were you I'd look at Texas, specially the Houston and Dallas/Forth Worth areas... I know its a 4 hour drive, but in this business you gotta go where the job is... I bet texas has as many flight departments as California and New York..

Bengalsfan

Thanks everyone.

Ted, I respect your position on this, but everyone makes a choice... if there are full time contract pilots out there who need a job, the military is short on pilots. I will keep the respect of our profession up, but I am not going to hold my future options back because others choose to struggle. As you, I am not saying this in angst.

Take care all and good luck

gb

RynoB

+1 I flew out of OKC for 6 years, and I'm currently flying out of Tulsa. Even when the economy is good, there isn't a lot of hiring in those two markets. I know of a few flight departments in OKC that have shut down in the past couple of years due to the economy. It makes it that much more important to network when in a very slow market such as OKC or Tulsa.

Pico16fly

Nice Reply GB