sellener

Hi there, does anyone know if any 135 charter operators run a flight school that's intertwined with their charter operation? Im a recent private pilot that intends to spend money on all off my ratings. It would be nice if their was an operator that flight intructs prospective pilots through their CFI's but gears their instruction to their own operation, and then offer instructor positions and perhaps some type of SIC time building mutually beneficial agreement on a piston twin. I am from the mid-michigan area, and have a full-time job with plenty of time off with the intent to instruct/charter fly part-time. Any thoughts?

thanks

usmc-sgt

I know where I did some training in Carlsbad CA (San Diego) the school Grey Eagle aviation academy did 135 with a 182 and I believe a baron and a Caravan. Their lead instructor (I think had 1200 hours or so) was pretty much transitioned primarily to the 135 side which was very slow but steady enough to gainfully employ 1 to 2 pilots both of whom worked for the flight school. When I left they were looking for a turbine twin, not sure the outcome.

rickair7777

Also in San Diego...

Scanavia

I know a couple of people who did their ratings, CFIed, got into the corporate side, and never left. I might go back if I ever get sick of airlines.

Ewfflyer

Pontiac Flight Service, over at PTK would be one. They have 3 separate, but conjoined divisions. Flight 101 is their training, Waterford Aviation is their Mx, and PFS is their charter. I did some right-seat work for them while I was a full-time instructor at another airport. Nice folks, doubt they'd remember me now, but they see a lot of faces through the years I'm sure.

Basically though you work as a CFI there 6-days on, 1 off, and on your day off you get the option of flying as SIC on one of the charter flights if there is one. He has an approved Aux-SIC program with the FSDO so that you can log the time in the Be20 and C421's towards your multi and TT. Either way, it was a good experience and I did a lot of hand flying in the 421's when I was there....those old auto-pilots weren't the best. The King-Air's I only had a few flights in, and the guys that flew them didn't "share" time very well, even though I had prior experience in them. They're probably all gone now anyways as it seems to keep a fairly young crowd there. One of the guys I used to work with as a CFI is there now, and he's a great guy and loves doing the flying on a part-time basis, since he kept his full-time work in construction.

Welcome to Flight 101 and Welcome To Pontiac Flight Service