HouseMouse

Hey all, hope you're having a good Memorial Day weekend. I've got a few questions about where you think I would be competitive enough to apply. I have roughly 550 total time and will be eligible for R-ATP at 750 because of my military background. I know my total time is lower than what's preferred, but it's with 460 turbine and 370 multi. Most of the requirements I see are something like "1000 total and 50 multi". I'm in a unique scenario because of my low total time but otherwise valuable hours and experience.

What would you recommend I do next? I'd prefer to avoid the CFI for my last 200 hours, and ideally I'd get on with someone willing to look past my total time so I don't have to restart hours building in a little 152. I've already gotten one TBNT response even though I am typed with 300 hours in the airframe because I didn't meet the 1000 total time off the bat. How should I approach applying? Is there anything else I can do to get looked at outside of just emailing resumes?

Thanks for the help!

deftone

Not sure who is all hiring right now, but Quest just put an ad up for their PC12s. Also I seen Dynamic is hiring for their King Airs.

galaxy flyer

With your military time, I’m guessing ANG/Reserve Pilot. Just keep bumming, quicker than going thru the CFI course, finding a CFI job in today’s environment and bumming pays more. My corporate jet department went from few resumes barely qualified to tons arriving weekly. In the civil world, it’s all about total time, then quality time. It’s gonna get real tough.


gf

deftone

This must be the same everywhere these days, I was chasing a survey gig a few weeks ago and when I was following up with the owner he told me he didnt even open emails with Resume in the subject line any more.

ZippyNH

Honestly next to zero hiring going on..you might get lucky with a corporate job if they believe you might stay... different type of flying, often a bit less formal, less structured..but expect a training contract as a newbie.
Ameriflight has kept hiring, but the pent-up need is about gone, and they are down to turnovers, aka open positions, so that should be minimal too for several months/years...due to the influx of people who might be short timers, a lengthy training contract has been implement that is a few years long with a $$$$ pro-rated if you leave early.
​​​​​​A R-ATP will not likely be of much use IMHO for 2-5 years at best, by then you will hopefully meet the requirements for the regular ATP.
Welcome to aviation...it's always been boom-bust.
It's a cycle....get caught at the wrong company or bottom half of a seniority list, you will be unemployed for the duration of the event and half the recovery.
Really... largely about luck, and with so many companies based on 100% seniority, it just sucks IMHO.

deftone

Fly Sky Ads just posted on the Orange Site looking for banner tow pilots, minimum 100 tailwheel. I guess even the banner tow world can afford to raise mins these days!

kaputt

Instructor is going to be the only thing open for low timers for the foreseeable future. Even that will be slow because the instructors already in place have no where to go to.

Edit: I’ll also add, if you had the financial means to keep going with your training right now, I would keep at it. The short term is bleak, but I think an instructor that’s willing to hustle a bit and is fortunate to live in a large metro area will be back to building hours again in the next few months.

I’m in SoCal and the airport I’m at has seen an immediate drop off in the career minded students. But a lot of the recreational students getting PPLs and instrument ratings are back after taking about 1-2 months off.

TiredSoul

HM,

I think you need sit down and accept you’ve got a long way ahead of you where what you want and what you need to do are two different things.
You’ve left the military, that was an opportunity that most of us would have given our left arm for.
Sounds harsh but welcome to the civilian world and you can join the cue.

rickair7777

Yeah, bum or try to pick up orders, even if it's to the desert. That's the best way to accumulate flight time (and income) for the next coupe years.

Otherwise start hustling and get the CFI ratings if you don't have them. In case you weren't paying attention, lots of experienced pilots will be hitting the streets on or shortly after 01 Oct so hurry up if you want a chance at a civilian gig.

cft62

I was wondering if anyone could provide some insight into applying for cfi/cfii jobs in around the east coast. I have family that live in the northern states (NJ NY IN MI) so i'd save a bit on rent but having trained in Miami in the summer months it wasn't amazing with the rain. Looking to get into a 141 cfi/cfii job and was wondering if going north would significantly affect my hours? Thanks