Jobs for 500 hour TT pilots?
 

Hi All!

Would any of you more experienced pilots who've been around the block by chance have some recommendations for any 135 operations that are actively looking for first officers? I'm currently a CFI in the PNW and absolutely love my job! Unfortunately students up here at least in my area are not as abundant as places like Seattle, LA, etc... Being a CFI is really a part time gig right now that I would love to do full time but there just isn't the student base for it where I am.

I'd love to hear from you guys about job opportunities I could start applying to now that I'm at the 500 hr mark for TT. I know a lot of people say it gets easier to find a job once you get here but I honestly can't find many operations that are hiring FO's at this TT point. Boutique, Ameriflight, Jump planes, Pipe Line are almost always looking for captains or someone with at least 1000 TT. So maybe I'm just missing something in my own personal research that I haven't thought to look at yet so would totally appreciate if someone could help open up some new opportunities to check out!

I'm truly open to anything! I've been a CFI and Survey pilot up here in the PNW. But would love to do anything that gets me in the air!

You could move and work as a CFI in Arizona

I would absolutely do that but I've got a family up here. Don't mind commuting via jump seat or being 2 weeks 2 off or a similar schedule but unfortunately can't up root the entire family.

I remember hearing the same thing — folks saying you’d get more opportunities once you hit 500. To be honest, that’s sort of a pipe dream. Those jobs do exist, primarily in the survey and skydiving world, but you’d better be ready to move because they are few and far between.

Seems like a Ameriflight hires fairly often for the PNW. Granted, you’ll need some more hours to hit part 135 mins, but that (or Empire or another small 135 cargo operator) may be your best realistic shot.

You can get a job in 5 minutes with 135 VFR minimums, but it won't be commutable and you need to move.
If you can't move, just CFI it. Those low time jobs aren't commutable.

If I were open to just moving by myself what are some available options?

There are pipeline and aerial mapping jobs offering a set days on/off with travel from an airport served by airlines.

If you have any leads I would absolutely be interested in jobs like that! Main tail wheel instructor right now so hopefully that would help with nabbing a pipeline job or survey job! Definitely 100% interested if you know about anything or have contact info for someone!

Sorry to say, I do not. There are aviation placement sites, such as Climb to 350.com, that have annual fees. Perhaps you have a friend that’s a member of any website.

It sucks to hear, but moving is the name of the game as a new pilot in this industry. You might make it work staying put, but it’s going to take twice as long and you’ll see way less of your family once you start commuting to a new job. Even a three hour drive starts taking its toll.

Can you really not move your family? How long did it take you to get 500 hours? Commuting and living separate from family gets very expensive. I recommend just sticking with what you got until you can get to a regional.

Is the military an option for you? Would you consider it?