I kind of was joking. I learned to fly because I was good at it and loved to fly but more importantly because I thought I could earn a good living as well. It never occurred to me that people would actually pursue the profession solely because it was "fun".

It seems absurd to me that some would intentionally spend a small fortune on education and flight training to knowingly get a job that pays 18K. Yet here we are. The profession is being taken over by those who are willing to do your job for nothing.

If you are comfortable competing with that mindset then go ahead however if you expect to make a living at this profession then I think you had better take stock of the situation.

Skyhigh

I didn't get into flying because of the money. I had no idea what pilots got paid when I signed up for flying lessons. I just thought it would be a cool career. That being said, money is a factor in any job you take. Even if it's McDonalds paying 8 bucks an hour vs. Wendy's paying 8.50 an hour.

Money is a factor however there is a growing number of people out there who are willing to work for free and surrender their lives to the company. I need to make a living and to be able to make a life.

Flying makes for a cool career but for a difficult life.

Skyhigh

I can't read anymore I have to comment...
First Stay in the 206 if your flying for a private owner you WILL GAIN the EXPERIENCE your looking for because winter is comming and decision will have to be made. Every one on this thread has been in your position before flying a single looking to get into a turbine or just a multi because the airlines stopped hiring ppl with wet tickets. If the owner that you fly for travels a lot and is impressed with your skills he will get a bigger aircraft. I flew a Cutlass (C172R) many years ago for a private owner that ended up buying a sky master or the blender and flew him his wife and their dogs all around the northeast for a summer season with no radar. Dumb? Perhaps but I learned about using the resources that were provided to me as will you in the 206! and eventually convinced the owner to reactivate his nexrad account.

To cut this story short.. do your time in the little stuff, respect your self your not a ***** your a pilot. IF you are going to pay to play which I highly do NOT recommend at least go to someplace like Eagle Jet International and get a type in a falcon to fly frieght! It's your career so do as you please just remember Gulfstream Air cut their training program because of what Senators thinks about Colgan 3407!

In certain situations SIC can be logged legally in a single pilot aircraft, our op specs called for a SIC in a PC12 for IFR 135 operations = legal.

As for the rest, define pay to play. I used to see guys coming through FSI who paid 10k for their initial training in a SAAB 340 for a well known regional. The company would repay that over time if they stuck it out.

Paying for right seat SIC time will not get you ahead, how do I know?

I have had the opportunity, but have not done so, to interview potential new hires at my current company. If you show up with time that includes right seat SIC in a Metro or PC12 it will mean no more to me than a guy that has piston PIC, it's just total time. We have had guy’s with piston only time excel, and others with multi turbine who’ve been shown the door.

That’s not what you wanted to hear is it?

Again, good luck.

Let me guess. Passenger carrying IFR operations or eligible on demand operations?

-mini

Or a work ethic. Take your pick I guess...

Don't feel bad. I did not have contacts or money either. It really burned me up to see peers buy their jobs or lie and get ahead but that is life. We all have our advantages and disadvantages. I don't think it is right to try and talk others out of using what they have.

Skyhigh

Why would I feel bad? I went into aviation knowing I was going to have to work hard and network. So far having a work ethic has worked great for me in aviation, just like it has for every other endeavour in my life.

I feel bad for the guys on here that feel entitled to flying jobs. They're going to be in for a big shock when they try to get a REAL job after wasting a bunch of money on crappy right seat schemes.

Yeah, but we could create our own right seat scheme and at least benefit from it.

-mini