otter

First and for most, I never did it and for the most part I don't agree with it. However, there are some real good things about it. Most airlines want anywhere from 100 to 300 hours in a twin. How to get that time? You can rent or spilt time in a twin doing touch-and-go's, or fly a Beach 99 or 1900 getting real weather and real systems for about the same price. You can learn some CRM and start to learn how to talk and deal with ATC. Fly STARS SID's and APP's. I've heard all the sayings aginst it, "your taking a job away from another pilot" or " you need to pay your do's" For me, I never went above 13,000 feet and I hardly have any IMC time. Those things wich I listed above would have been great to learn while building time. There just seems to be alot of good things about a PFT jig. Even without all that IFR stuff, I still got a 121 job.

I hope you can see my point...............

SkyHigh

Canyon Driver,

I never PFT but I wish I had. Any way to shorten your pain is a good idea. Buy type ratings, pay for your job, do whatever you can to improve your odds. Remember that out there right now is a young punk with a severly padded log book who's father is walking in his resume on monday. You need to take every advantage that you can.

SkyHigh

LAfrequentflyer

Skyhigh,

I like your posts...I'm going to be one of those career changers who will, after retiring from active duty, go into aviation...I honestly believe you cut close to the bone on your posts and tell it as it is out there...Please continue to post i for one look forward to reading your reply. Feel free to contact me i'd love to pick your brain on the industry and use you as a sound board for my ideas of getting into the aviation world...

V/r,
Cajuns Fan...

Kill Bill

you're quite the case; everybody who has succeeded in flying had a rich daddy. no wonder you're still unemployed; it's everybody else's fault.

SkyHigh

Gee Bill I couldn't afford to buy a job flying the canyon like you. I thought you would be on my side with this one. You have your Scabs and I have my daddys boys. Its all good.


Sky Troll,

otter

It seems like most of the pilot's that have a hard time with P.F.T. are older pilot's. For me, I took a job flying the canyon to build some ok twin time. I don't fly the cayon for: great pay, great pay, or great pay. I think I made a good choice with working for someone, and not paying someone to work? However, when it's time to leave and move on I dont know if flying the canyon is any better than a P.F.T.?

Kill Bill

the reason many of us "older" pilots have a problem with PFT is that it has helped subvert the entire piloting profession. what kind of message are you giving management? it's bad enough to work for totally crap wages to build time but at least you're getting paid to fly. now you guys come along and HAPPILY PAY some crappy company like gulfstream or whomever to sit in the right seat! no wonder the profession is sliding downhill faster than an avalanche. name me one other job where YOU PAY MANAGEMENT to be responsible for people's lives.

sad.

Brav989

If someone does not go to a PFT..how many hours on average do they log per year in paying jobs?(non airline)

SkyHigh

Otter,

I thought that most of those canyon tour companies make you pay for your job or at least they make you sign a training contract. In a way it is still PFT, some pay with cash others take a low paying job and pay with lost years of their lives. Either way you pay. I would rather pay cash and skip the lost years. I mean this career is really just a hobby disguised as work anyway. The lucky ones can earn some money to help cover the cost of their own employment. Right Bill? Those silly managers could make so much more if they were to raise the price of a CAL job. I mean they are just giving them away. Someday they will catch on.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Not many. You can waste years as a CFI. Buy the job and years later you will pat yourself on the back. I hear that CAL is thinking of selling some.

SkyHigh