Working the ramp = future flying job?
12-22-2009, 03:19 PM
#1
Gets Weekends Off
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Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: ERJ Right
Posts: 541
Working the ramp = future flying job?
Perhaps it might be premature to ask such questions.
At your airline does getting a job working the ramp or as a cross utilized agent improve your chances of getting a job flying?
Once hiring resumes it is going to be an environment of extreme competition to get the flying jobs out there.
I understand the basic qualifying credentials are hours, types of flying jobs held, college degree, ATP etc, but does having an employee number improve your chances or change some of the secondary requirements like time on type or instrument time.
I realize the pay sucks, the QOL sucks, I'd be better of driving a school bus.
At your airline does getting a job working the ramp or as a cross utilized agent improve your chances of getting a job flying?
Once hiring resumes it is going to be an environment of extreme competition to get the flying jobs out there.
I understand the basic qualifying credentials are hours, types of flying jobs held, college degree, ATP etc, but does having an employee number improve your chances or change some of the secondary requirements like time on type or instrument time.
I realize the pay sucks, the QOL sucks, I'd be better of driving a school bus.
12-22-2009, 03:46 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 216
Perhaps it might be premature to ask such questions.
At your airline does getting a job working the ramp or as a cross utilized agent improve your chances of getting a job flying?
Once hiring resumes it is going to be an environment of extreme competition to get the flying jobs out there.
I understand the basic qualifying credentials are hours, types of flying jobs held, college degree, ATP etc, but does having an employee number improve your chances or change some of the secondary requirements like time on type or instrument time.
I realize the pay sucks, the QOL sucks, I'd be better of driving a school bus.
At your airline does getting a job working the ramp or as a cross utilized agent improve your chances of getting a job flying?
Once hiring resumes it is going to be an environment of extreme competition to get the flying jobs out there.
I understand the basic qualifying credentials are hours, types of flying jobs held, college degree, ATP etc, but does having an employee number improve your chances or change some of the secondary requirements like time on type or instrument time.
I realize the pay sucks, the QOL sucks, I'd be better of driving a school bus.
A lot of them will even give you leads on time building jobs that they did to get their hours.
12-22-2009, 03:48 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 43
Certinaly many airlines hire from within. Keep in mind that some of the best companies to work for (IMO), place more importance on the type of person that you are and not so much on whether you have X amount of actual IFR or some crap. An employee number with their company (or any company) tells them you have a clean disciplinary record. You show up, you do what you are supposed to do, and you do it well. At the end of the day, they can teach a monkey to program an FMS and fly an ILS profile. What the airlines need more than anything else from employees is the ability to think outside the proverbial box. A job on the ramp would certainly help you with that.
Good luck!
Good luck!
12-22-2009, 03:58 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: G550 Captain
Posts: 1,206
At Mesaba we have several pilots who worked previously in nonflying positions like ramp agents etc.
My opinion is that at Mesaba it is a plus provided you have good work record. I would say get all your ratings and go work that ramp job. It will give you a very good insight into flight operations on the ground. Ramp operation is one of the key elements to smooth on time arrival and departure performance. Do your best to be that ramp agent everyone praises. We have some really good ones who goes out of their way to help us out like cleaning the windshield without being told to do so. And then we have those that wait till the last minute to show up.
It looks bleak right now but you are lucky you are just starting out now. In a few years, with age 65 retirement kicking in, I'd say your chances are very good in getting your airline pilot job. In this industry, timing is everything along with some luck. But I believe you make your own luck and don't stop chasing your stars.
My opinion is that at Mesaba it is a plus provided you have good work record. I would say get all your ratings and go work that ramp job. It will give you a very good insight into flight operations on the ground. Ramp operation is one of the key elements to smooth on time arrival and departure performance. Do your best to be that ramp agent everyone praises. We have some really good ones who goes out of their way to help us out like cleaning the windshield without being told to do so. And then we have those that wait till the last minute to show up.
It looks bleak right now but you are lucky you are just starting out now. In a few years, with age 65 retirement kicking in, I'd say your chances are very good in getting your airline pilot job. In this industry, timing is everything along with some luck. But I believe you make your own luck and don't stop chasing your stars.
12-22-2009, 04:31 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: ERJ Right
Posts: 541
Thanks for the info guys, I'm a little further ahead then I let on.
1000 hours of dual given
240 multi, had an interview canceled with eagle four days prior. Now, thankfully my wife makes all the money, plan on it staying that way for the next 10 years.
Specifically I'm looking into SkyWest, I'd love to stay in California.
1000 hours of dual given
240 multi, had an interview canceled with eagle four days prior. Now, thankfully my wife makes all the money, plan on it staying that way for the next 10 years.
Specifically I'm looking into SkyWest, I'd love to stay in California.
12-22-2009, 04:55 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,536
OK, serious suggestion despite the way it sounds...
Apply as a flight attendant at the airline of your choice.
If you really want to hang with pilots and learn about the airline while you build time and a good work history, the closest employees at the company are the F/As.
After a few trips you will get to know the pilots much better than being a wingwalker or working in the bag sorting shack.
The pilots that write the recommendations will remember a good F/A much better than a good fueler.
As a tug driver you'll never hang out with pilots at dinner or on the hotel van; as a F/A you will. Ask any pilot on here if he can name a dozen rampers at his airline, and compare to how many F/As they can name.
On the other side of the coin, if you find that being tied to a pager, commuting, living out of hotels and crashpads, working crappy hours and holidays, and reduced rest overnights are not to your liking, better to find out after a couple months as a F/A than after investing thousands in training and years building time going the airline pilot route.
Your CRM skills will be much better as a crewmember than as a rampie. And when you transition to the front of the plane someday, you will be a much better pilot for knowing what goes on behind that door.
Finally, if you're a single straight guy, there tend to be a lot of eligible females among the F/A ranks. A lack of rainbows on your overnight bag and a lack of "flair" on your uniform would help you stand out amongst the male F/A crowd. Or so I've heard. (Nevermind, I see now you're married. We posted at the same time.)
In any case, Good Luck!
Apply as a flight attendant at the airline of your choice.
If you really want to hang with pilots and learn about the airline while you build time and a good work history, the closest employees at the company are the F/As.
After a few trips you will get to know the pilots much better than being a wingwalker or working in the bag sorting shack.
The pilots that write the recommendations will remember a good F/A much better than a good fueler.
As a tug driver you'll never hang out with pilots at dinner or on the hotel van; as a F/A you will. Ask any pilot on here if he can name a dozen rampers at his airline, and compare to how many F/As they can name.
On the other side of the coin, if you find that being tied to a pager, commuting, living out of hotels and crashpads, working crappy hours and holidays, and reduced rest overnights are not to your liking, better to find out after a couple months as a F/A than after investing thousands in training and years building time going the airline pilot route.
Your CRM skills will be much better as a crewmember than as a rampie. And when you transition to the front of the plane someday, you will be a much better pilot for knowing what goes on behind that door.
Finally, if you're a single straight guy, there tend to be a lot of eligible females among the F/A ranks. A lack of rainbows on your overnight bag and a lack of "flair" on your uniform would help you stand out amongst the male F/A crowd. Or so I've heard. (Nevermind, I see now you're married. We posted at the same time.)
In any case, Good Luck!
Last edited by Boomer; 12-22-2009 at 04:58 PM. Reason: Marriage info became available as I was replying.
12-22-2009, 05:04 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: MD80
Posts: 1,111
Thanks for the info guys, I'm a little further ahead then I let on.
1000 hours of dual given
240 multi, had an interview canceled with eagle four days prior. Now, thankfully my wife makes all the money, plan on it staying that way for the next 10 years.
Specifically I'm looking into SkyWest, I'd love to stay in California.
1000 hours of dual given
240 multi, had an interview canceled with eagle four days prior. Now, thankfully my wife makes all the money, plan on it staying that way for the next 10 years.
Specifically I'm looking into SkyWest, I'd love to stay in California.
12-22-2009, 05:30 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,536
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