mattrosswalker

Hey guys...I'm currently looking for a job as a pilot...I know...get in line. I had a really good gig that I was working with a few guys that I would be flying a maul as a sightseeing thing in the virgin islands...unfortunately...the deal broke through and they're not going to go down there...so I'm back at square one. I'm trying to find a good low time job...I don't have any issues re-locating anywhere. I've spent some time doing some flying in Alaska and loved it there...would even like to get back possibly. I'm just trying to brainstorm right now for ideas and see if anyone here had any good contacts they could recommend.

I'm commercial multi/single instrument land with 220 something TT
I also have complex, high-performance, and tail-wheel endorsement (around 25 hours tw)

Again...I'm looking for anything...crop dusting, banner towing, glider towing, bush flying...don't really care. Anyone have any good contact info that might be helpful? Thanks a lot guys...

DirectTo

Where?

With ~220...good luck...plenty of 500ish guys out there looking for the same gigs. I'd be looking at every dropzone you can find around there.

usmc-sgt

Not a knock against you but I find humor in the 220 ish..When I hear 4000 ish it is plus or minus a few hundred hours....when I hear 220 ish it is plus or minus 9.

On a more useful note I think you would have a potential shot pulling a banner. I dont believe any skydiving outfits would look at you (yet) and certainly not crop dusting or bush flying. The 25 tailwheel may be enough to get your foot in the door towing a banner. It is too bad traffic watch is almost extinct as you would have qualified for that. As usual, with the current state of the industry a normal wet commercial cert job now requires upwards of 500+ TT.

Good luck, you are just getting to the good part...paid to fly.

XDriverX

You need to go get a commercial first brother, and get your 250 hours TT. Then do a quick CFI course and build your time doing that for a couple years. Lots of flight scholls will hire you. Then wait for the supposed "shortage of pilots" and send out apps to the regionals...walla you have your foot in the door.

usmc-sgt

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bcpilot

1st thing, At this begining stage of your carreer, you should ask yourself where U want to be & if your aim is a regional, then the next target in your life should be the magic 500 Total Time & 50 hrs on Multi; and getting there ASAP.....

I agree with with usmc-sgt; banner Tow or even pulling gliders is the way to go if U can find one.

2nd thing is how your finances look like......

If U can afford it, I would say do a CFI & CFII, this one qualification will help U a long way.......

Since U already have a Multi rating, I assume U have at least 10-15 hrs on multi, figure how U are going to get the remaining to get to 50 multi; again depends upon finances........

Position yourself as soon as possible to as close as possible to these magic numbers & hopefully during this process in the next 12 months, the magic numbers of 500/50 will be lowered again, but I don't think that 50 multi will be lowered down too much.

I was talking to someone last month who did 200 hrs last season towing gliders at a some place in michigan, he said it was a good gig, paid decent & hrs were buliding fast.. This year he did his CFI & now is working as an instructor & looking to get his multi rating & build time & move further......

snippercr

I have to snicker at that. It seems like only months ago the popular APC chant was "The days of 500 hour hiring is long gone, rightfully so!" But it seems now all you need is 500 hours and 50 multi. Regionals are becoming, again, the entry level job.

Anyways, on a more real note. Those 25 hours of tail wheel time I think should help you land a banner towing gig. It's a bit late in the season now - I am sure most places have hired their banner towers but some many have taken off to the regionals. Just be careful where you go, ask around and avoid places that make you pay for training.

Good luck. If the tugs on the string go few and far between, you may need to get that CFI. If airlines are indeed your goal, you may need to start getting hours sooner than later once the 1500 hour rule comes along. But if you have a commercial at 220 hours you probably went to a 141 school and most think that will help when 1500 gets watered down.

mattrosswalker

I'm honestly not looking to go airlines. To big...not enough fun for me I'd love to stay small...ideally I'd like to work towards getting sea plane ratings and either go to the islands or Alaska and fly something smaller. I sent in an application earlier today to van wagner for banner towing. If ya'll know of or have experience with any other places...please feel free to send me any info you have. [email protected]