Originally Posted by
own nav
Ok, I'll bite. I know it's unpopular to support the FO program, go bash Gulfstream, Vision, or some other program where they're actually paying for a job they otherwise would be unqualified for.
Amerflight's program is pretty much an unpaid internship. Your payment is the experience, and if you leave the program unprepared for your next job (believe it or not, most FOs don't end up at Ameriflight), it's your own fault.
Freightdog, I've got to disagree. My FOs get a lot more out of flying with me than they would splitting time in a C172. If you hate FOs, it's your choice not to fly with them. It's my opinion that you should give them their money's worth and work them hard.
BTW, I have an FO who wants to know where he can find a piplelne job with 300 hours. Any ideas?
Own nav,
I'm not arguing with you that there are some "pay to play" FOs that are really good out there. I have had some good ones and some bad ones. The bad experiences I have had with them stem from their attitude of "you do know I'm paying for this right?" I've had FOs refuse to help load cargo, not have appropriate charts and ask to borrow mine, etc. If the Company would create our own in house FO program then we could stop having to take the EJI pilots and have a better "filter" in training. Some of the most fun I had was splitting time in a C172, BE36, Seneca, etc.
On the pipeline jobs, I've seen some ads on
Pilot Jobs, Aviation Jobs, Aviation Employment, Career Fairs, Job Fairs for pipeline patrol in West Texas. I couldn't tell you the name of the company, but a quick google search would probably turn up some results.
Are you based in SLC?