CFItillIdie

Being a jumper dumper was some of the most fun flying I have ever done! And I got a free jump out of it. Be sure to check out the plane...those jump planes get used and abused. Just because they give you a rig doesn't mean they regularly repack that thing!

lakehouse

Ya always check the reserve cards on everything, its ur ticket on the line, even ur rig, also make sure manifest is checking the fun jumpers....I got 37 jumps and love it, will be sad when I have to move on, hopefully I can get in a turbine and get to skip the regionals. I got to learn to skydive dirt cheap, and I really love dumpin jumpers.

SLOLIFEPILOT

The best I can tell you having done the same as you, is to get to know some corporate operators and get some right seat/dead head time. Build it up along with your flight time at work and flight instruction to a point that someone is willing to give you a chance. I was able to fly part time on a charter outfit in King Airs. I would take a flight on either my days off, prior to or after shift, or the best of all was double dipping by taking a vacation day at the office to go get paid to fly. I reached a point where I decided to leave the department after almost 10yrs to take a corporate gig. 5 years later I am still with the same company. It can be done.

lakehouse

Can you get me some ride along time? =)!

BushwickBill

IMHO You guys should use a little more discretion. You should really use discretion when you talk about "double dipping". I've noticed the growing ranks of former law enforcement pilots. Its pretty tough to compete with "state backed" competition. One PC12 guy walked into the FBO at SMX started recapping a DUI from the night before with a CSR. Then he started complaining about the weather and having to fly in it. The whole time I'm just thinking to myself "why are you doing this then?"

lakehouse

I bet you miss....

XXXX Traffic, USE CAUTION, you got skydiving, thats parachute jumping in 2 minutes out of one one thousand, thats eleven thousand and of course below in two minutes on the XXX side of the airport, if your in the vicinity of the XXX airport USE EXTREME CAUTION!!!

zyttocs

Like you I'm a professional law enforcement officer having just went over my 20 year mark. since I got my private ticket 13 years ago I've owned 4 planes that I leased out on contracts which in turn paid for my own flight time and ratings. Getting to know other pilots in the area led to several right seat opportunities in a King Air, Citation, and pic turbin time in a Meridian. Those led to day contact opportunities for a car dealership and oil company. I'm getting ready to retire from the PD in a month or so and be hired by a company I've been day rating with in a piston twin. Their buying their first fanjet and typing me along with me developing their new flight department.

Moral....nose to the grindstone and, a couple thousand hours, and you can make it happen.

Good Luck!!!

wizepilot

Need any help????

SLOLIFEPILOT

I am sorry that I came across that way. By no means did I make that comment to rub it in anyones face. I was simply stating that there are options available to make the best of a situation. The "double dipping" referred to the fact that while trying to build time and experience outside of the normal job, for a far reduced pay rate, taking some paid time off to help offset the lack of pay for a time builder helps. As far as "state backed competition" all my job with the state provided me with was flight time. I came to the state with all of my ratings completed and working a corporate job.
There are bad apples in every bunch. The guy gloating about the DUI arrest in the FBO is a good example. He is just using what ever he can to get some attention from a CSR that wouldn't otherwise give him the time of day. It is no different than walking into the pilots lounge and listening to a bunch of guys complaining about their "hard" jobs, all the while reclining in a large chair watching a flat screen tv all afternoon.
I'd like to say if you don't like it, grab a shovel and go dig a ditch for the day, then we can talk about a hard job.
That being said, we are all on the same team, and by the info on your post we are neighbors. Safe flying and maybe we may run into you out there.

mswmsw

Not sure if I am reading this the right way, but, if you are taking a "far reduced pay rate" to fly anything professionally, I think that you are doing yourself and the industry a disservice.