Av8er1550

Good Evening All,

I just figured I would give it a shot to get my info. out there. Any help is appreciated.

I have 350tt/37 multi. Not much, I know, but I'm looking for anything really to build time. I also almost have my CFI. Aerial Surveying looks interesting as well!

Thanks

EvilMonkey

If you're in a warm climate, flying skydivers isn't a bad gig (if you can find the right place.)

wiz5422

Become a cfi, cfii, and a mei. Best way to build good time. Try to get hired by a flight school that way you have a full load of students to build that time. Also you will learn more about flying teaching it then when you were a student.

DALSkyking

There are many aerial survey companies out there however most if not all that i know of have already finished inerviews and are starting the season. If you are willing to move, go ahead and check out some dropzones down south. Most of them will req 500tt but you mzy be able to talk them down if you can prove yourself worthy. I got on with 350 tt at a dz and loved it. Stressful at times when jumpers would pressure you to fly through clouds and go higher and higer when the boss didnt want anything over 10.5.. Interesting group of people, and some really fun days/nights.. Everyone always told me to go ahead and get my cfi/i and mei but i never saw myself as an instructor. Do what you feel is right. I wanted to do something that was out of the ordinary and I did. I dont regret it.

Many dz's will be looking for pilots around april if they are north, but your best bet would be to get with someone south and be able to fly ther year round. A great option is to find someone in a warm climate with multiple aircraftt, pref a single engine and multi that you could work up into.

Good luck with your job searches.. I was in the same boat as you beginning of the summer and now things are starting to fall much more into place.

Again, do what makes you happy, not what others say you SHOULD do.

DALSkyking

And you said anything building time, so if you are interested in banner towing, i know FAA (florida aerial advertising) is hiring for the winter/spring. Its not doing too much for quality time, but you will be getting to that next step hour wise after completing the season, where many more jobs open up after 500tt

Av8er1550

That does sound pretty fun. Like I said, I'm almost done with my CFI and I just don't think instructing is for me. The Chief Pilot for a 121 airline (cargo) I work for said he would choose a stick and rudder pilot over a CFI any day. He also told me just build flight time as fast as you can and if I have to instruct, well then I have to instruct. But, I would prefer to find something like aerial surveying or something along those lines to build time. It's not that I don't respect instructing or am not good at it, but I just don't think it's really for me. I just think going outside of the 'usual' path to building hours would be fun. Thanks for the help everyone.

@DALSkyking .. I might look into doing something like that as well. Sounds like a good idea. You're right though, a lot of people say "you should do this and that" but in the end, do what makes you happy. I know being a low-time pilot doesn't open up any amazing opportunities but there are non-instructing paths to take. I've heard that being an instructor at a 141 school helps you become a check airman at an airline, but I don't even wish to do that. I want to fly for a living, work my way up the ladder, and enjoy the ride just like everyone else. I don't want to sound selfish but that's what I got into aviation for is to enjoy the flying and the airplanes, not to sit in a room and teach half the time.

DALSkyking

Exactly.. I was at a 141 school where I recieved my ratings and saw many people take the path of flight instructing because "it was the only method of obtaining hours".. I just laughed and said keep thinking that. I never saw myself as a teacher. I wanted to fly.. I came to a point in life about a year ago maybe less and said to myself im just going to get my cfi and cfii maybe mei eventualy and instruct and get it over with. I got far enough into it where I was only a few days away from taking my cfi writtens. I went to my first briefing and groundschool course with my professor and cfi and on that first day I knew this whole cfi thing wasnt for me... I was pretty upset i had spent all this time not going after getting it, but i knew my choice was correct and that i would eventually succeed. I went home for the summer a few days after i made that decision and landed a skydiving position flying a t206 Very unexpectedly. Best decision I have ever made. I recently hit 500tt and now am getting a lot more freedom in what i can do. I have even declined a few jobs which is kind of fun. Looking back when i was around 300 I would have never dine that.

My point is that although having a cfi rating and teaching others how to fly is great experience, I believe experience comes more from what YOU personally enjoy and thrive on. To me, instructing someone wasn't what I wanted to do for part of my aviation career. It can be done. Many people build time without instructing and have great time doing so. I would never give up the time I made this summer. It was a great experience and I loved it. Dont feel like you have to conform to the majority.

I just had an interview with an individual and he said he would rather see a pilot with a great attitude and motivation towards working than have all those fancy ratings and hours anyways.. He also said it doesnt say much to any company to have a cfi rating and not use it.

Keep searching high and low for jobs, they are out there! Most importantly, do what you feel is right, not what other say you should do.

CaptUnderhill

If you don't mind me asking, where is a good spot to look for these jobs? Below 500 hr jobs that is. Every place I look for aerial photography and other flight gigs usually require the 500 hrs. Thanks!

DALSkyking

Most req 500. I was lucky enough to get into a t206 with 350 because the guy trusted me.. My friend was in the same boat, actaully less time and was hired because he was one of the first to respomd to his ad. The best way of doing it is to keep active with every single ad posted. Dropzone has ads posted every omce and a while and sky diver driver does as well for skydiving ops. If you just google what aircraft you would like to get into ex 172, 182, etc jobs you may find a lot. You could also subscribe to forums that you have to pay for. Climbto350 or bizjetjobs etc are fairly cheap... I dont use those however.

Chomeur

I also flew skydivers, a fun way of building time in an ancient Cessna 182. Try Deland, Florida for year-round skydiving as it is a huge skydive center. Myself, I flew out of Skydive Maine up in New England. You won't build a lot of time fast, but it was more challenging aircraft to fly, loaded to max gross takeoff, etc. Good luck with your search! Network as much as possible!