Yea, nothing like getting blasted in the face with pressurized Jet-A to start your morning

 

Thanks, HMP. I read you post and was scatching my head. So, I went back to my post and realized it was a little lacking.

 

Like it was said before get a job working in customer service at an FBO. You are able to interact with many people who are responsible for local flight departments. That is how I got my 135 and corp jobs.

 

Getting back to the original topic... Other ways to network:

Hang out in FBOs and talk to flight crews that come in.
Start a business card collection from the folks that you meet/greet.
Go to FAA safety seminars, professional conferences (such as NBAA, Women in Aviation, AOPA, etc).
Meet people in person that you talk to via forums like this.
Ask other people you know in the industry to introduce you to other pilots.

Most importantly (in my mind), have a good attitude, stay humble vs arrogant, and be open to opportunities that might arise for learning and career. If you have these qualities, it's a lot more likely that somebody will be willing to spend their time "mentoring" you along the way.

 

Mach, that has/had harrassment suit written all over it.

MU-2s just plain suck.

Line service is great for networking. I have a large stack of business cards on my desk and a number of "give me a call when you reach (enter total time here)". I did it for five years, with the exception of being outside in bitter cold, or worse rain in the upper 30s, it was a great job.

 

Best networking job ever...
FO Simulator Contract Pilot for Capts. w/o FOs. Flight Safety ILG employs these people and other branches may and other companies may as well...no idea. Turn over for a 400-800 hour pilot was about 3-6 months back in 2000 when they offered me a job, which I did not take. This is BY FAR the best networking job on the planet in my humble opinion. The other is working for a small to mid size charter company with as low time as you can get in with.

Just my .02

Good Morning everyone!

 

+1 on working line service. I started out working line for an FBO that also had a charter department. I built my ratings while working that job and built a good working relationship with the pilots and the chief pilot. When an opportunity came up for a low-time piston twin co-pilot (to satisfy a couple of their contracts that required two pilots), I got the nod. Over the next several years I built my time, worked my way up through piston twin captain, turbo-prop co-pilot, turbo-prop captain, jet co-pilot, jet captain. After 8 years flying 135 charter with them, I left for the corporate job I've been at now for 9 years.

Word of advice, though, if you go this route: Do the job you were hired to do without making any noise about it just being a "stepping stone" to a flying job. We ran a lot of guys like that right back out the door becausing they just weren't cutting it. You've got to prove you have a good work ethic from the very beginning before you'll be considered for anything else down the road.

 

[QUOTE=aero550;69341Word of advice, though, if you go this route: Do the job you were hired to do without making any noise about it just being a "stepping stone" to a flying job. We ran a lot of guys like that right back out the door becausing they just weren't cutting it. You've got to prove you have a good work ethic from the very beginning before you'll be considered for anything else down the road.[/QUOTE]


Very true. Dont whine and kkep smiling no matter what. Most employers know you won't stay there forever, but do NOT treat them like they are just your tool.

 

Wow, I want to thank everyone that leaft me some feedback. I will take this advise to heart and try it out.
I did have a question about FBO's, I live near Grand Junction CO, FBO is run by West Star Aviation. How does one go about obtaining a job there (walk in and ask for an app.)? Also how is the pay at these places (FBO's)
Thanks to EVERYONE again...

 

Yes, just go in and and ask to fill out an app. If they happen to be hiring for a position, they may interview you right on the spot if the right person is available. I'm out of touch with what lineservice pays these days, but it should be something above min. wage, particularly a place like West Star - that's a fairly large operation.