Walkeraviator

I was just wondering how long some of you guys have gone between aviation jobs... What did you do during that time? Unemployment, or did you get another job outside aviation?

It just seems to me that as the golden bullet approaches I wont have any options for a job that keeps me in the cockpit. My fear is that I spend a year not flying. And it seems that once that happens no aviation employer will ever want me because I will have a big goose egg in the column about hours flown in the last 12 months. Recency of experience and plain old being current seem to be a requirement everywhere, but in this economy how does one stay current when they cannot afford to rent and there are no students around to instruct on the side???

I know this sounds bad, but I am losing faith in the ability to carry on in this industry, and I have a LOT inveested in it...

gearcrankr

Walker

I have been unemployed for 13 months now, and 3 interviews later no luck. Currency was an issue in every interview and is very hard to overcome. I even did a King Air recurrent course thinking that might help. It didnt. As for employment, I landscape in the summer months with a friend from high school and collect unemployment in the winter. It has not been an enjoyable experience. I keep busy with looking at businesses for sale and think I my have found one that will fit. Check out bizbuysell.com more opportunity there than 350. Good luck.

FlyerJosh

Furloughed in May 2005. Hired as Capt on the Citation in August 2005.
Let go from that job in August 2010. Hired as copilot on the Challenger 604 in Nov 2010.
Both times I collected unemployment. Last time I also collected a mortgage insurance benefit that covered unemployment.

I was pretty fortunate. Keep networking and get your resume professionally reviewed if you have any question about the quality of the document.

FlyJSH

What are your times?
Where are you located?
Where are you looking?
How are you looking?
Are you willing to relocate?
Are you willing to take any job?

Walkeraviator

1400 total about 950 Multi. All other 135 PIC mins met or exceeded. 750 as SIC on King Air 200 flying Part 135 air medical stuff.

Located in Louisville, KY

Using Climbto350 and any suggestion i can get from fellow pilots to find jobs.

Willing to relocate just about anywhere. Would prefer to stay in KY or move to TX. The few places I try to avoid are Illinois, California, Mass, and Jersey... but would even live there if i had a job that could pay the bills.

Life a little complicated as i have a wife and kid. So choices are slightly limited as i am looking for QOL over pay. Willing to work any job except regional airline. It is my absolute last resort when this job officially goes the way of the dodo...

But I am literally applying for every single job i have the mins for aside from airlines. (and at 1400 hours a lot of airlines are above my time.)

FlyJSH

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/hi...y-newbies.html
has a bunch more sites

I had the best luck with jsfirm.com and going to every airport within a couple hours drive and passed out resumes at every FBO and operator there.

Maybe I was lucky, but I have never been out of work more than a month, but I have no family and have been willing to move.