rickair7777

I would think that many would not hesitate to hire you...you will show up on time, work hard, not have attitude issues, and will give at least two weeks notice when the time comes...

Rampers don't last long anyway.

supersix-4

I worked 10 years on the ramp at SWA. I did Ops and Provisioning too. I really enjoyed it and made some great networking connections. What you want to do wont hurt, but as someone said already, You will meet a heckuvalot more pilots as a F/A. And they will remember you more then a ramper in xxx city.

Boomer

It's like putting your toe in the water before jumping in.

If the commuting/reserve lifestyle sucks that bad, better to find out after two months flight attending than if he works the ramp for several years hoping for a pilot slot.

Or he could be throw bags and be home every night, and talk to a pilot every day for three minutes on the employee bus after work.

If a fella wants a line pilot to walk his paperwork into HR and tell them "This guy busts his butt, always acts professionally, shows up on time with a smile on his face, has great customer service and teamwork skills, and would be a great asset to this company", how would you rate his chances if:

• He flew with that pilot for a month as his F/A,
• While fueling, he always says hi to the FO doing the walk-around,
• He always talks to the pilots in line at the airport food court, or
• On headsets, he tells the pilots a flying story as he pushes them back from the gate?

jayray

Have you looked in to the military for flying? How about nursing?

The Dude Abides

I would say go with the job on the ramp as well. You don't need to be on an overnight with a crew to get to know them. Working the ramp I met plenty of crewmembers. If you are working the ramp for that airline your work ethic as an employee will also be documented, so it won't be left to how cool of a story you told during a pushback.

Secondly, I'm assuming the individual who asked is currently instructing. Working the ramp would allow you to work part-time and still be able to instruct. Currency is quite helpful in an interview or even in getting that interview.

bblack88

I would agree, you might have to try a little harder to get to know the pilots as a ramp worker, but I dont think its necessary for you to become a F/A. Yea, you would hang out with them alot more, but chances are you would just settle in and fall completely away from aviation. And you would suffer come interview time because you would be so rusty on all the topics. Stick with the ramp and keep flying or instructing as much as you can! You'll get help along the way, good luck!

OldSF3Dude

Here's an update on my situation (I posted on here just before Christmas). I'm the guy with an ATP, MEI, 5000 total, 3700 part-121 who got out to get another degree and was looking to get a foot back into the door at AWAC by working the ramp.

After working the ramp for about 6 months I was invited to interview for a first officer position at Air Wisconsin. I don't think that working for the company was doing a whole lot for me getting a pilot interview as far as HQ noticing me, but my city manager thought highly of me and wrote the chief pilot and HR about me several times and I was offered an interview about 4 weeks ago.

I'm not sure that I fit the mould that AWAC is looking for right now. Everyone else I've talked to that interviewed had 400-1200 hours and no prior airline experience. I gather that AWAC had some problems with airline experienced pilots they hired earlier in the year and thought they had attitudes. So, I got the impression that I would not have even been invited to interview had it not been for me already working there and for the help of my manager.

I have yet to get a yes or no answer (I interviewed 3 weeks ago) as to whether I am hired as a pilot or not. My understanding is that everybody else that interviwed with me was told yes or no a week or more ago. I'm not sure why that is? In any case, I guess over 3000 pilots applied for the few pilot openings at AWAC this year. Working the ramp helped me stick out from the crowd. Whether or not it helps me get the pilot job remains to be seen.

DSRoss996

I've worked the ramp for American Eagle for the past year and half with hopes of getting a pilot job. Eagle is activily hiring but still want nothing to do with me because I don't meet there minimum times.

I was non-reving and had a 4 hour layover in DFW and decided to get in contact with the pilot recruiter and drop out to AMR headquarters to talk to her. We had a time set up to meet and I spoke with her in the morning. I took a series of buses out there, waited 2 hours and she never showed. I called her a couple times and left some messages. 3 days later, she didn't call me back, she emailed me and said "we're not interested in your time".

I was really put back by the whole experience. I was hoping to meet with her, get my face in there and keep building my time. The way it went about really upset me. To blow off somebody who works for your company and went out of their way to try to get some face time, i thought, was pretty low.

That being said, I'm still working the ramp for Eagle but I don't see myself having a future with the company. Not only did I have that incident but I've gotten a general sense of the pilot group and am pretty sure I wouldn't enjoy working with them. I'm not saying all of the them are bad, but you do get a sense of the culture within the company. Our station doesn't just work Eagle flights, I've done CHQ, CommutAir, and ExpressJet. I've meet some really cool people and see myself going with one of them.

Working the ramp is awesome, and I'm glad I'm doing it. I've learned alot about the industry and the ins and out's of daily operations. I get to be around planes everyday, get exercise, and work outdoors! As for guarenteed employment, not so much. I have networked with a ton of pilots and I think one day it will payoff.

Globerunner513

I'm currently working as a cross-utilized agent for Allegiant.

Though I'm not positive it will necessarily do a great deal as far as getting a job in the future, I am certain that my experience on this side of the fence will help make me a better pilot when the time comes. None the less, I still try to bust my butt while on the job and attempt to keep a clean record. Time will tell how it pays off.

I would say for anyone else looking to gain experience towards a bigger goal, try finding a job as an out-station agent. Being cross-utilized, we do everything from ticket/gate agent to dumping lavs, throwing bags, cleaning RON's, catering, and pushback/de-ice. You really get a good view of a variety of parts that make up the airline. I have friends in our operations center too which is another very interesting side to the game.

I definitely get a good amount of interaction with our locally based pilots, and most of them know my story and where I want to get to. Several have offered their instructing services which I plan to take advantage of hopefully.

I would also suggest Facebook as a fantastic networking tool.

Oh, by the way, I really enjoy what I do. Though some days I can't wait for a reinforced door to put between me and the PAX....