Non-CFI Routes to Building Time/Low Time Jobs
02-19-2010, 07:38 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Position: forever fo
Posts: 2,413
Unless you have something that makes you useful, in my case 400 jump time, no one is going to come to you, go to them, show you want to be part of the team, want to stay, and convince them to invest in you, sometimes it means working something else at the business for a month or two
Originally Posted by crabinow16
Well that sucks. I think its gonna all deend on being in the right place at the right time
02-20-2010, 03:36 AM
#25
Expert Jumpseater
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: KC-135
Posts: 101
Aerial photography, "flight-seeing", small single engine corporate, dropping ashes from an urn, fish spotting for commercial fishing boats. Most of these leads came by being in and around the flight school at the right place/right time. However none of them required a CFI to do them. Networking is everything. Have a stack of cheap Vistaprint business cards and find a way to get the fact that you're in a pilot into every conversation. Always think, "this person could know someone who needs a pilot / wants to go flying" etc. Can't count the number of times people have paid for an hour of flying just to go take some pictures or see their house from the air, whatever.
Last edited by 2xAGM114; 02-20-2010 at 03:37 AM. Reason: bad grammar
02-20-2010, 04:40 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,575
I got hired to do traffic watch in the San Fran area with around 300 hours. That was a long time ago, but if you are near a city with lots of traffic, it may be an option. I did over 1200 hours in one year. 
02-22-2010, 07:19 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: DHC-8 FO
Posts: 283
There is a buddy at school with me who flew traffic in Boston but that is the only city i have been able to find who has a traffic program like that still. I have just been looking everywhere for opportunities to get some time.
02-24-2010, 02:47 PM
#28
New Hire
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 2
My big break in Pt 135 came by working for an FBO as a non-flying line service technician. Low pay, low stress..but every day I was exposed to pilots and crews who came and went. I made business cards with my name and credentials on them, and passed them out. There were guys that would say "We've got nothing but my buddy ...so on and so forth." Also, get to know the chief pilot at the FBO you are ramping at and he'll let you go on maintenance flights. My chief pilot was a CFII and was authorized to instruct in every plane in our FBO except for the Gulfstream GIV, so I was getting free time in the King Air and CE550.
Be careful what you ask for, though..ask anyone who's flown Charter! hahahaha!!
Be careful what you ask for, though..ask anyone who's flown Charter! hahahaha!!
02-25-2010, 06:43 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: DHC-8 FO
Posts: 283
The last two summers between school years i have worked ramp as well. The first year didn't really have anything together but last year i worked out in Nantucket and got a break with a guy who flew 135 charters in his Cherokee 6 and C-402. I got to fly the empty legs and got about 40 hours. I just got some business cards of my own and am thinking about going back to ACK for the summer, good money, and oportunities. Hopefully i can get a bigger break this year.
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