Originally Posted by
BSOuthisplace
It's funny how everybody talks about how, "in my day we had to have 2million hours and we flew single pilot through rain, sleet, snow, thunderstorms, before I could even sit in the right seat and raise the gear of a 121 airplane blah blah blah"
Sorry, but where are all these freight jobs today? Most of the companies you flew freight for "back then" are either out of business, or downsizing today. If I could have flown freight, or some other 135/91 op believe me I would have. But at the time (a couple years ago) 121 regionals were the only flying jobs I could get other than a couple crappy CFI jobs (135s were much more selective when it came to hours than 121)
Today is not much different, in fact worse when it comes to hiring prospects with CFI and 135 jobs. So my question is how are pilots supposed to build hours after getting their CFIs (250-400 hours) to get to that magic 1500 that everybody wants when there are few CFI and 135 jobs. Until that question is resolved I don't think we will see the minimums change. There are plenty of experienced pilots on the street now but when the age 65 rule lag hits along with an economic recovery, I don't think there are enough out there willing to fill the void and we will go right back to us 500 hour wonders.
There still are freight jobs. Mountain Air, Ameriflight, AirNow, Flight Express, Star Check, and others still occasionally post job openings. Not many, but more than any of the regionals. You probably will end up living in Toad Lick, Arkansas and wont be able to commute. They pay better and have higher standards because they need Captains who can (or could) hand fly an NDB in non-radar environment , not "captains in training".
You keep asking where are these 135 jobs. How many aviation job boards have you joined? I have been a member of Climbto350, Avianation, WillFlyForFood, FindaPilot, and US PIlot at various times. How many FBOs have you gone to and passed out resumes?
And you said the only offers you had were "crappy" CFI jobs. Crappy how? not many hours? Low pay? Old ratty airplanes? Well, guess what.... that is what many of us had to deal with.
Sorry if I sound unsympathetic, but it can be done if one works hard enough.