BCkingair

I am a part 141 flight student currently holding a Private certificate and working towards my Instrument rating. I am also simultaneously attending college and receiving a Bachelors of Science in Aviation. I recently got a job working as a ticket agent for Colgan Air.

My current plans are to receive my Instrument rating and then my commercial license and multiengine rating. I will then go on to get my CFI, CFII, and possibly my MEI, build some time, and go for regionals.

My question is: What should I focus on doing in order to make my resume stand out above other pilots? Instead of worrying about what is and isn't appropriate to put on my resume, I would like to go ahead and start working towards anything that may give me a boost when I start searching for a job at a regional airline.

Here are some of the things I was considering doing to improve my resume:

A few hours of Aerobatic training
Take an aviation maintenance class as an elective course
ATP Written
High altitude endorsement
Participate in that program where I am deprived of oxygen in order to recognize the effects of hypoxia on my body
Jet transition programs at flight academies (obtain a few hours in a regional jet sim)
Attend some aviation safety seminars
Receive glass cockpit training

Now I'll just go out on a limb with some ridiculous ideas:

Single engine sea rating
Get a few hours in a helicopter
Taildragger endorsement
Attend a brief but expensive course to receive about 2 hours in a 737
Fake an engine failure in order to obtain "hero of the day" status
(That last one is joke)

Even though I'm still in school, I'd like to think that my career has already begun and I want get started working towards my dream job. If you see anything above that might make my resume stand out a little more or if you can think of anything else that could improve my chances I would appreciate your help.

Unfortunately I am a poor college student (and a flight student on top of that) therefore I cannot do every single thing I listed.

snippercr

I took the Aviation Physiology and Survival training at CAMI as part of one of the courses offered at my University's flight school. I have to say that the pressure chamber has been one of the most educational experiences ever for me as far as learning about Hypoxia. You know those symptoms they talk about in the FAA books? Head ache, euphoria, blue finger tips/lips? I call BS on every single one of those! The most important thing to remember and more importantly, teach your students is that EACH PERSON IS DIFFERENT!

My MAIN symptom were one that no one in my class experienced: I felt like it was suddenly 200 degrees in that room when it was actually about 60. Also that feeling of Euphoria? BS again! Most people actually reported a feeling of dread. Oh and only 1 or 2 people had cyanosis (blue finger/lips).

Sorry for a bit of a rant but if you have the opportunity to go to CAMI - DO IT! The other activities could teach you to save your life some day too.

I haven't taken a Jet Transition course but most people here recommend against it as a resume padder. However, people I've talked with say it IS good if you do get hired by an airline - it helps make training a bit easier. If you go the CFI route, you will be thrust (giggity) from an airplane that goes 100kts to one that goes 500 kts and you will easily fall behind. If anything, the Jet Transition course exposes you to something new, although it would probably be best to save that until you are getting close to getting hired by an airline.

Depending on where you are with your training, you may or may not make it by the 1500 rule date of August 2013. If that's the case, most airlines will be hurting for pilots to work regional jobs that you should have no problem getting in without any additional help. Already most airlines are at or below 1000 hour requirements and contrary to what people here say, we probably will be seeing 500 hour hiring soon. I fear maybe even 250 hour. Who knows (except people here who claim they know!).

In general, all that stuff you listed is great and will expand your knowledge and make you a very diverse CFI. Not much will be useful on a resume per se, but it could give you that extra edge during the technical interview when they ask you some "gotcha" questions. Good luck!

USMCFLYR

I'm taking this course in two weeks and looking forward to it.
I'm not sure what you're talking about calling BS though on the hypoxia symptoms though. Those ARE true symptoms of hypoxia, yet I agree that each person is different and absolutely should learn their own personal symptoms. I'm not doing the chamber ride though (it is broke right now), but even more impressive is the device called the ROBD (Reduced Oxygen Breathing Device). They can hook it up with a desk top simulator even and have you fly a profile while they instantly take you up to altitude and make you hypoxic - the best part being that you have no physical effects after or during!

To the OP - I think that a lot of the things that you listed on the resume builder list are great training, but many are expensive and have limited (if any) value to you to make you more interesting to a potential employer. First you will have to meet the mis for whomever you are applying too. If you meet the mins then and they are hiring then you'll probably be called for an interview. It is then your chance to impress the panel, CA, HR folks, etc... with your knowledge and ability to think on your feet during the interview process.

I hope our own former pilot recruiter will chime in here with the usefulness of such things on your list as the Jet Transition Course. I question the usefulness if you were to take that course early in your studies and then it might be months or years before you were able to get a regional interview. What would you remember from the course? I'm pretty sure that the Regional training programs are set up to take someone with the typical CFI, piston freight dog or King Air background and get them up to speed to act as a FO on a CRJ for example. You mentioned the tight finances and I just an't imagine spending that type of money at this point in your budding career.

USMCFLYR

rickair7777

All of that stuff is window dressing, except the ATP written which will probably be required by airlines anyway. try to score mid-90's or better. An RJ course might help with some employers also.

What you REALLY need to do...

1. Don't fail any checkrides (don't worry about 141 intermediate checks, I'm talking about any test which will result in the issuance of a certificate or rating. After colgan, 141 status will no longer cover up your failures, airlines are going to ask about that.

2. Don't get involved in any accidents or incidents, especially at-fault...ie Be Careful Out There. A non-fault accident/incident will still prevent you from being hired until the investigation formally concludes and absolves you...that could take a couple of years.

3. Meet people, especially people who are going places where you want to go. Stay in touch. I can't over-emphasize this...the people with connections get hired early in the hiring wave, the off-the-street applicants get hired later when the supply of pilots starts to dwindle. That occurs right before the inevitable industry crash and mass layoffs, so the last to get hired get furloughed.

4. No DUI's or other criminal records, this includes arrest, airlines may have access to info that other employers don't.

5. Earn quality flight time, with emphasis on ME time. If your current employer cannot not offer ME work then start looking for one who can...today.

The altitude chamber is an enlightening experience and I would recommend it (but it probably won't help you get hired).

BCkingair

Most of the students who have gone to my school simply turn around and teach for the school. They start out with just a CFI, the get their CFII and eventually MEIs. My instructor just got his MEI a few months ago after two years of teaching.

If I were to do a Jet transition program, it would probably happen after I get my MEI and start building some more ME time. I wouldn't take it now even before I have my instrument rating. If the regionals are hiring 1000TT, I might take the course at roughly 800TT. Or if I get stuck behind the new 1500 rule in '13, I can take the course at about 1300TT.

As far as money is concerned, the typical Jet transition program looks like it costs about $3000-$5000. If I were to do this I would probably get a career loan for it (I'm already going to be about 100 grand in debt anyway).

What about Aerobatic flight? I've heard from many experienced pilots that any aerobatic training greatly increasing your overall skill level. Do employers not consider this? If not, is it still a good idea for myself?

snippercr

Oh boy. I'll let others comment on the $100,000 debt part.

If your school is like most, you probably will get to 1500 hours and still only have 40-50 hours of multi engine time. Dropping 5 grand on a RJ course will not get you an interview. Dropping 5 grand on renting a cheap twin WILL because it allows you to put a "check mark" next to the 100 hours multi. I would say if you are trying to get an airline job, multi-engine time is FAR more valuable in securing a job than an RJ course.

Those be my 2 cents.

BCkingair

My school's program shows me getting 46 hours multi time in a Beech Duchess. I also get 25 hours in an FTD sim where I can log a few hours of King Air and Citation time.

I should also be able to get some multi time when I am a CFI by volunteering to fly the Duchess to different airports for 100 hour inspections and pitot static checks and other stuff like that.

Hopefully once I get my MEI I can get some time instructing. I was aiming for 100 hours of multi before I move on. I don't know how realistic that may be. Maybe it would be better to get a job flying a King Air or something.

As far as the $100,000 is concerned, that's including tuition and living expenses while in college. The flight part of the debt is going to be $7000 for Private, $7000 for Instrument, and 24,000 for commercial+multi. Then about $2000 for CFI. So about $40000 for flight. I transferred from another college after 2 years where tuition was $6000 a year, to this college where tuition is $5000 per year. I'll only need living expenses for this year and next year which are $12000 a year. Obviously I am not attended ERAU or any school like that. But I digress...

I took private last fall, instrument this spring. I plan to start commercial this coming fall and finish it by the end of summer 2012. Spring 2012 I will take my CFI ground course and I will receive my CFI rating in fall 2012 and start teaching. Not sure when I will start going for my CFII and MEI, probably as soon as possible. I will have one more year of school left, I will be teaching throughout that year (which is why I won't need living expenses). That's my plan. As you can see, I like to have my path laid out before me. I could go on as to where I want to work after that as well.

USMCFLYR

For safety's sake - upset training is invaluable and it very well may save your life someday.

As or what an employer thinks of it, I get warned nearly evry time I fly that my crew doesn't want to go upside down today and they will be much more impressed if I don't spill their coffee during manuvering

USMCFLYR