ea500driver

I've noticed a recent demand for "Typed Rated Pilots" in a lot of the Charter, Cargo, and second tier 135 companies. I'm wandering if these companies are enticing some Pilots to leave their current positions, only to let them go after the seasonal upsurge in travel. Notice the ads on climbto350 for MD80, A300, B767, and B737.

I'd like to explore the community's thoughts on this issue before making a decision.

HercDriver130

Hell its rampant in all but airline hiring for the most part.

Badgeman

Everyone wants their 747 captain to come charging up to them, "Oh I will! I will! I'll pilot your Lear 35!"

The bottom line is all these guys are hiring are inclement weather pilots who are are looking to get outta there as soon as the hiring tide changes and the river starts flowing down-stream again. I bumped into an owner of an Islander the other day who was looking for a pilot with 1000 hours in type to work with on a "permanent" basis. HA! Yeah right! I'm sure some 30 year old who already has 1000 hours on type is gonna want to find himself in an Islander for the rest of his career. Many of these private owners, 135'ers are dreaming the dream of a bad economy, only to wake and find a nightmare in about 18-24 more months. Hire guys with realistic experience who are WILLING to stick around even after the economy turns, not 747 captains.

rickair7777

Yeah, they are doing it because in the current market they can. It saves on training and probably reduces insurance costs.

Cruz5350

It will start at the airlines when the swoop up all these charter and 135 guys and it will trickle down to them. It will be a storm anywhere and everywhere in aviation mark my words.

captfurlough

There are thousands of very well qualified furloughed airline pilots on the streets....from ATA, Midwest, Airborne Express, UPS, Continental, Alaska, etc. These guys have 15,000 plus hours and more than one type rating. Their careers have been interupted or truncated by events well beyond their control, and now they find themselves looking to get back into the game in any way that they can. In addition, there are some very senior guys at legacy carriers who do not want to sit through a seniority integration battle, and who can "retire" and walk into a direct entry captain position somewhere in the world. The supply of these candidates resulted in unprecedented minimum hire requirements over the last 12 months or so, and only now, as the economy takes its first tentative steps at recovery, are these requirements begining to soften. Instead of requiring a type rating with 1000 hours PIC in type, we're beginning to see the type rating with 500 hours PIC in type. The next thing you'll see is an increase in allowable ages, from the current 55 to 57 to perhaps 58 or 59. This is going to be a very slow and painful process, and it will remain fragile and susceptable to economic concerns. There won't be any dramatic changes over the next year or so, but we should start to see movement in the next two or three years.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, it's still possible for very low time pilots with just a commercial / instrument / multi ticket and 1000 hours total time to get hired at the regionals. But for those in the middle, movement is limited.

Badgeman

You forgot to mention that you need at LEAST....200 multi. At the flight schools now, there is an epidemic of furloughed and semi-retired regional or corporate pilots with a few jet hours and an ATPL returning to take aaaaaaaaaall the multi time away from new MEI's because management at such flight schools thinks those folks are "more qualified" to teach multi students. (misnomer) Getting your hands on Multi-time as a new MEI is like trying to find tits on a boar.

snippercr

I wouldn't call it a misnomer... I am in the same situation with all the retired airline guys or furloughed pilots getting all the multi students. But to say that a freshly minted MEI is more qualified than them? It is a chicken/egg problem. How do you GET qualified if you are never given the ability?

Some schools the instructor is given a few students and it is their responsibility to take them from 0 to 250 comm ME. However, more often the case, students are issued to instructor for certain levels. Students are moved around from instructor to instructor based on what level they are at. I think this is good for the students and instructors because each gets to learn different styles. I learn a lot the first week I get students from another instructor - little things they learned differently/etc.

However, in the above situation, you almost always see the multi engine students going to the old, retired guys. Is that wrong? Well it fits the "pay your dues" mentality where something is valuable, you have to stick around till you get it. That is why I never feared the 1500 rule thing. I knew I would have WAY over 1500 hours before I even touched a twin at my school. So even though I would have an ATP and maybe 2000 hours, only 40 hours ME still wouldnt get me a job.

/aside

But again, I wouldn't say that the older guys being more qualified than the newly minted MEIs is a misnomer. I would say it is a misnomer, however, to say that the newer MEIs are less qualified than the older guys. If you get what I am saying. Stay the course, and hopefully those furloughed guys will get called back and we can all move up.

Badgeman

Nah. I quit my CFI job a few days ago for just that reason. Went back momentarily to a flexible job I had before CFI'ing. I'm not sitting on my thumbs waiting THAT long for some spoiled "queen" to completely retire. I'm building multi time now by sitting right seat in a CE-402 charter operation....How much am I getting paid you might ask? NOTHING! I'm doing it for free. But I'll be DAMNED if I let some furloughee c@c&-block me.

todd1200

If you're willing to fly for free, don't expect to find any sympathy from pilots here (or anywhere else).