Hi all, new to the site. I'm looking for advice on advancing/changing pilot careers and thought this looks like a good place to start.

I am a 1500 hour GA pilot. Flew mostly in the midwest, avoiding the "big airspace" just enjoying flying SEL planes... about 15 different models, even built 2 planes, owned several, bla bla... fast forward...

I now find myself with 4+ middle east deployments, over 2100 hrs direct combat tier 1 and 2 UAS PIC time, all instrument time. Every condition you can imagine.

I'm seriously wanting to move into the manned ISR field, which now requires the King Air 300/350 type rating. I'm willing to pay for the rating, no problem, but most require the 2-500 min time-in-type.

I know most pilots build hours through CFI work, but if you dont have the min hours to get hired, how do you magically acquire the 2-500 hrs ?

I'm sure almost no one will pay for those hours... At least not in my world!

Thanks for any assistance and advice.

You'd have to find a job in the right seat of the king air and do that for a while to get the hours. There will certainly be places that will hire you with 0 time in type.

Where are you located?

Thank you ! CFin, I'm presently located in northern CA, 30 min out of Sacramento. I also still have a house close to St Lousi, MO, so thats always an option too.

Go to Great Lakes for 15 months?

If you do the type rating they should be able to put you in contact with some BE-350 operators. If you're dead set on that job, getting the type then knocking on doors might be an easy way to get a foot in the door somewhere.

Make sure either the airplane or the OPSPEC requires an SIC...otherwise the flight time is not really FAA loggable as SIC. Although some employers in the King Air ISR realm might possibly be OK with that sort of right-seat time, you'd have to ask around.

Yes, but better hurry, they seem to be on their last legs.

Ameriflight has BE-99s and BE-200s. I don't know how close those are to the 300/350 or if the company you want to work for would count that time.

Rickair, the OPSPEC would definitely require the SIC slot... conditions and workload dictate that. I'm waiting on a reply to some questions along those lines.

Threeighteen, checked out the Great Lakes site... unfortunately I'm trying this move later in my flying career instead of earlier, so the pay they're talking about monthly is where I'm at weekly now... would be hard to take that pay cut. I realize it may be too late for this opportunity, but I'm still trying to work it.

Viper, may be good info to know, thanks ! Again, the questions I have in, may help answer who may be allowing a low time entry due to SIC requirements.

Thanks guys ! Still the dream continues...