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New to the boards, looking for some advice.

Old 03-01-2006, 10:33 AM
  #1  
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Default New to the boards, looking for some advice.

Hi all,

I've been reading through the forums here a little bit trying to get my bearings straight on where I want to go in the industry.

First a little bit about myself.

I'm an 1100 hour pilot with about 60 multi hrs and about 900 hrs dual given. Frankly, I've about had it with instructing. If you like it, thats fine, but I'm sick of never getting to fly myself and always having to harp on students about the same things over and over again. I did the whole UND route through CFII and instructed there for 3 years or so. Also got the ATC major, but I'll save that whole discussion for another time. I then had an oputunity to give part 61 instruction at an FBO in SD, with the option of getting some Right seat SIC in a Citation 2 on a semi regular basis. I logged twenty hours in the first 2-3 weeks and have yet to set foot in it since. That was 6 months ago. So basically I'm thinking I've got enough hours that I might be able to start branching out into other areas of flying. I'm not sure exactly what I want to do as a steady career in the future, whether it be airlines, corporate, frieght, atc, or what, but right now I'm young, not tied down to anything and looking to give everything a shot and see what fits me best.

That being said, I did get a taste of the Corporate side of things with the Citation experience and didn't mind that at all, however I'm still low on hours and multi experience to be able to look at that path to much right now. So I'm starting to take a serious look at regionals.

I've been thinking that if/when I decided to that route I might like to go to Horizon. I know they have longer upgrade times than some, but that doesn't concern me a whole lot. They seem to pay well and have a good fleet of airplanes and I wouldn't mind being based out of anyone of their three locations. As an added bonus I know they're hiring right now, stable, and might have slightly reduced req's for UND alums.

So my questions right now.

How are they to work for? pretty fair to their pilots. good schedules, etc...

Where do most of their new pilots go when they get hired? jets, props, or is it just a craps shoot and you get what you get?

If I went, I'd like to get into a CRJ. Would having 20-30 hrs of SIC turbine experience influence my chances at all?

Are there any good walk throughs/guides on their whole hiring process out there? from resume to getting a class date. tips for things like resumes, filling out apps, sim checks, interviews, etc...

Anyway, any Advice on which way I could go with regional route would be appreciated.

Later
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Old 03-01-2006, 11:03 AM
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For starters, I think that 60 hours of multi-engine time is going to hurt you. From what I've seen, almost all these regional airlines are looking for that magical 100 hours of multi-engine time. I'm sure others will chime in on this thread for you for your questions. Get the rest of those 40 hours of multi-engine time would be a good start. From my understanding, the airline will place you in an aircraft type that they need you in. Simple solution to that is to apply to airlines that only fly CRJs if that's what you really want. This forum is a great place to dig for information. Go through the threads to see which topics might offer insight. This forum is invaluable for learning the career.
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Old 03-01-2006, 12:10 PM
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I agree with the previous post about that magic 100hrs of multi. I am a CFII with 750TT and I have 72hrs multi. Since I don't have my MEI, I usually split time with friends of mine flying a beech duchess for $150 an hour. I have been doing about an hour a week for $75 for the last 8 months and I will continue to do this until I hit my magical 100 by summertime.

I would recommend this if you have the ability.
As far as corportate VS. regional, my advice would be regional.
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Old 03-01-2006, 02:00 PM
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I know NASCAR and someof the racing teams will hire lower time pilots as long as you can be "part of the family." Depending on who you work for its very good pay just be prepared to not be home for most of the week.
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Old 03-01-2006, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by ryane946
As far as corportate VS. regional, my advice would be regional.
Beg to differ:

(in most cases)

Corporate pilots get treated much better than regional pilots.
Corporate pilots earn more than regional pilots; at least the first couple years.
Corporate pilots have a better schedule than regional pilots.

note: I am talking corporate, not fractional; so please do not bring up that angle.
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Old 03-01-2006, 02:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Punkpilot48
I know NASCAR and someof the racing teams will hire lower time pilots as long as you can be "part of the family." Depending on who you work for its very good pay just be prepared to not be home for most of the week.
Hmmm... That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. I don't really care if I'm gone everynight. I'm single and have no kids, so I don't Have to be home for anything. Any specific teams I should check out, any flight dept websites out there for them?

I was wondering about the 60 ME time, though I was hoping that the fact that 20-some of it was turbo jet time might help out a little. Unfortunately where I work, we have no multi's available for rent or instructing in even. I do know someone near by that owns a seminole and never flies it, so I might be able to get some hours in that. I'll have to do some checking though.
Hmmm... either way I guess, I could always start submitting resume's and see what happens. Mesaba might be hiring soon, right...

The CRJ would be nice, but as long as it's not a 150 and has a steady income tied to it,I'd be happy.

I'm still waiting to see if ATC will pan out, but for every good rumor I hear on that, I hear about 10 bad ones as well (or so it seems). I'm at a point where I can't flight instruct anymore, but I also can't sit around a wait for ATC to maybe start hiring again. It won't be too long and I know I'll have all the req's for flying part 135 frieght, but I'm still trying to decide if that's a route I want to take. Flying checks around wouldn't be so bad, I guess.
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Old 03-01-2006, 02:53 PM
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Originally Posted by KiloAlpha
Beg to differ:

(in most cases)

Corporate pilots get treated much better than regional pilots.
Corporate pilots earn more than regional pilots; at least the first couple years.
Corporate pilots have a better schedule than regional pilots.

note: I am talking corporate, not fractional; so please do not bring up that angle.
I gotta say I tend to agree. The few trips I did in the Citation were great.
I've got several friends working for piedmont and I've gotten to know a few corporate pilots that fly into the FBO I work at. When listening to all the stories and then comparing the ups and downs of both I think Corporate is a better fit for me. Though I wouldn't mind getting some first hand experience in the airlines and see how I like it and then go from there.
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Old 03-01-2006, 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Harblar
I was wondering about the 60 ME time, though I was hoping that the fact that 20-some of it was turbo jet time might help out a little.
If you try to play that card during an interview, you darn well better know that aircraft inside and out. If you can't tell the guy how much fuel it carries, basic engine specs, operating speeds, et cetera; it will surely hurt your chances of being offered an employment opportunity.
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Old 03-01-2006, 03:10 PM
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Well there is nascar its self which would probably the best of them all. BUt the teams (big names) Hendrick, RCR (Richard Childress Racing), DEI (Dale Earnheart INC), Rousch, Yates, Wood Brothers just to name some of the big ones. You can go to the national registry on the internet look up some of the names and get some email addy's of the cheif pilots.

I know NASCAR has hired low time guys outa riddle before but they want guys who will stay for a while not just build time. Most corp.s know you are a stable pilot especially if you've been a "working pilot" before. In the interview they wanna see you say yes sir and that youll be their employee and they like you and can be a good representative of their company.
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Old 03-01-2006, 05:29 PM
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You can check out smaller airlines such as Great Lakes their minimums are 50 multi, not sure on total time I know it's less than 800 tt. Great lakes flies Brasilias and Beech 1900. They are the only airline I can think of that does not require a minimum of 100 multi (there are probably more but I can't think of any right now). More multi time makes your more competative and it opens up more options.
You could get some multi time by flying day VFR 135 when you meet the 135 mins for night multi time sky rockets in no time, now you possibly have a better chance of getting hired than a regular cfi with no experience other than teaching. Good luck.
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