SkyHigh

Right on !

Skyhigh

Spin

Sky,
What kind of bike is that? I can't tell from here. Looks nice.

SkyHigh

The motorcycle is a KTM 450 EXC. I really wanted one but have since decided that I need something of lessor performance. These days my ridding buddies consist of 7 to 15 year olds. They move slow. I ended up selling my big bore bike for a Honda CRF230. I should change the picture.

Skyhigh

Spin

No, don't change the picture, change the bike.

JamesNoBrakes

Unfortunately, for a majority of pilots out there, it is the ONLY way. They don't have the cash reserves to build up lots of hours outright, they don't have a "buddy" to hire them to fly someplace else, and the low-time jobs are few and far between otherwise, less so if you have a "wet" cert with no for-hire flying. What I'm getting at is that it takes extraordinary circumstances to get that experience "some other way". It's possible, but not probable. I wish you luck in that search for sure, and hopefully something comes your way.

Bbourne2009

Hey man,

I'm a low time guy as well. I'm right in the middle of Florida. Got about 500tt, 100multi and trying to find any job other than instructing seems to be hard unless you know the right people. Your pretty much limited to jump pilot, banner tow, ag., pipeline, ferry, and instructing. Idk much about whether or not you could find fish spotting in FL. Either way a lot of these jobs I have listed still require even hire times than I've got. I'm still in my 3rd year of college so it's not like I've been applying to anything. but I do instruct for the summers and I must say it definitely has given me a lot more knowledge than I ever got going through training myself. As for other flying I've done, I do happen to know some people so I get some left seat king air time here and there and even that I don't feel is as helpful as the instructing I've done. (turbine time is nice but I don't really learn anything)

If you ask me, I say instructing is the best route to take (sorry if you don't want to hear that ). If you think about it, all these "disgruntled airline pilots" did it. Key words being airline pilots. otherwise my best advise if you reaaally don't want to do that is start networking your way into something you want to do. I just think that may be harder if you don't already have the connections.

Good luck though with your decision.

Brandon

rvrabel2002

Be careful of the operators down here, many of them will sell you short in the name of the almighty dollar.

jsfBoat

I agree with you guys. I busted my rear flight instructing and whatever other flying I could get to get the 950 I had when I was hired, not to mention all the others who have done so as well. I really resent these guys that got hired on with the ink barely dry on their CPL license, now with the ATP deadline fast approaching, they're complaining to management that they should be given preference to fly so they will NOT have to get fired if unable to meet the ATP mins. Meanwhile, people who have the time to upgrade are being bypassed and people like me who aren't in a bad position aren't flying because some people don't want to get fired and will then have to "lower" themselves by doing some non 121 flying job, like listening to a bunch of girls complaining about dirt under their finger nails. My dad and grand dad told me that this industry is all about paying dues ("just suck it up and deal with it"), and when I don't see pilots paying their price to get into this, it makes me a little red. No one has business being hired with less than 900TT and 50 multi at a 121 or 135 job. One gal in my initial had 11 hours of Multi (230TT), she was the first to be washed out, mostly because she had a bad attitude, but also there was no place for a pilot like her with her lack of experience. The instructor was discussing derived alternate minimums, this gal didn't know that an ILS was just a localizer approach with vertical guidance. Took 20 minutes out of discussing what needed to be presented, should've had that part down prior to coming to training.

All I hear is "Thank god I got this job, otherwise I'd have to be flight instructing." There's no sympathy from my end to their plight. God forbid you have to go instruct, tow banners, fly jumpers or do aerial mapping instead of jumping into a shinny regional jet or an oily turboprop with only 250. Roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty and pay your dues.

If you want to time build, I know a guy that has a C-172 and a Duchess. He's looking for people that want to pay the gas, $25/hr for the 172 in Daytona Beach. Can't beat that.

jsfBoat

Some places will look at you funny if you show up at an interview with King Air time in your logbook and are not flying them full time or haven't been through a training program.

USMCFLYR

jsfBoat -

I can agree with you, but you do realize that your rant against people getting hired with a wet ink Commercial and only 250 hrs time is no different than others ranting about people without an ATP being airline pilots right?
Only difference is - now you are IN the business instead of looking at it from the outside wanting to get in.
I noticed that in your post you mentiond that no one has any business getting a job in P135/121 with less than 900 TT.
I also see that line you draw in the sand is exactly what you had when you got hired.
Are you sure that you aren't being a bit bias here?

USMCFLYR