What's going on?

[flyinggordyhalen]

Hi
I am looking at trying to get back into flying and I am wondering if there are any posts that I can look at. It's been a long time since I've been up and I know my first step is to actually get back into a plane. My real question is what should I do. Should i get my instructors rating, try the ramp, skydivers, pipeline? I've heard from some sources that Air Canada and Westjet are hiring and it's finally making a ripple effect for the rest of the lowtimers. Is this true? Are the minimums still high after the post 911 fiasco? I got my Multi IFR just after 911 and things went really downhill for me after this and well...life happens. I only have 240 hour and things have expired so I know I have some retraining that I have to do. But in the mean time, I just want to know.. What's going on?

Thanks in advance.

[brokenwing]

I'd say your on the backside of the hiring hump, but if you act fast enough its not too late. I don't think things will get to post 911 again though. What kind of flying do you want to do ? and how willing are you to move around?

[flyinggordyhalen]

I want to eventually get into a King Air flying Medevacs. But for now just get on to an outfit that has a good reputation for Maint, and that has some Navajos that I could get onto after getting some PIC in a 210 or something. I have a family so it makes life a little difficult, cuz I want to do what is best. When I just got my licenses, I had the possibility of a position and I told them I would be willing to stay on for a while just to have some stability for the family. I worked dispatch and the ramp for a while. I did the usual thing about practically whoring yourself out just to get a job, at least that's what I felt that I had done. Then suddenly after a long history of promoting within, they went outside the company. The 3 of us that were there, just didn't understand it. We were waiting for our chance and it really pissed me off so I tried elsewhere. I'm not sure if they believed me or what, but here I am in the same place trying to find some stability and willing to stay on for a while. I think that is why I went away for a while. Post 911 was just insanely stupid with the minimums and insurance etc, and I got out cuz I had a family to support. If things have changed and if people are willing to look at a guy who wants to stay on for a long time and not want to eventually go for heavy's, I'm your man. If things haven't changed then what's the point, I would rather stay put and keep my family happy tHAn go out to try for that elusive first job. Anyway, that's some of it so far.

[tsgas]

IMHO your showing up at the party a little late. Oil at $100 a barrel will ground a lot of airplanes.
Aloha has gone bust and Delta is looking at grounding 45 airplanes. Nothwest is grounding 50 DC-9's.
In canada NAC has gone bust and there will be more to follow.
Aviation is anything but a secure profession.

[beast]

I would agree with the previous posters - if you're looking for a stable, family-friendly career, you will have great difficulty finding it in a smaller operator.
Perhaps a carrier like Flightcraft would be an option - unionized, seniority system, long (relative) times for upgrades, but with fair stability and pretty good money - with very low entrance reqs for s/o's. I don't know if you'd be interested, but it could definitely be a career job.

[synthpro]

HEY DUDE...

I DONT QUITE GET WHY THESE GUYS ARE PAINTING A DARK PICTURE ON THE GOIN'S ON WITH THE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW. THINGS ARE COMPLETELY OPPOSITE FROM WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU.

IT IS HOT HOT HOT!!!...... I FINISHED WITH MY LICENSE THE SAME TIME YOU DID... AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE YOUR SITUATION. BUT I AM TELLING YOU, I HAVE NOT SEEN IT THIS HOT SINCE I STARTED - IN FACT, NO PILOT HAS. AND THE WAY THINGS ARE LOOKING... I THINK ITS DEFINATELY GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.... FOR A LONG TIME.

IF YOU KEEP A WATCHFULL EYE ON AVCANADA EVERYDAY, YOU'LL SEE SOME JOB POSTS FOR LOW TIME PILOTS (200 HRS.)

JUST KEEP ON APPLYING AND YOU'LL EVENTUALLY LAND ONE.

SO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND REJOIN THE INDUSTRY. IF YOU HAVE TO DISPATCH OR SOMETHING ELSE... WAIT TIME SHOULDN'T BE MORE THAN 6 MONTHS.

PEACE.

SYNTHPRO

[canpilot]

I'll give you the same advice other have given me..

Call, show up (meet and greets ) and keep on em. Bug em enough and you'll get something. Also, don't be suprised if you have to do dock time etc. Keep in mind, in the smaller outfits everyone does everything to keep things afloat. If someone JUST FLEW things would grind to a halt.

Things to consider:

Cadets- towing gliders etc. You get a free tail dragger checkout on a L19
or fam flying...

If you can't get something now, do the cadet thing etc for a year and ur game on. I've talked to a few people saying they'd hire someone with 200 hrs.

GIVE ER!

And best of luck!

[just curious]

While you were away, AC,WestJet, Jazz, and sundry ex-pat jet operators (Cathay, Gulf Air etc..) grabbed a great many well-experienced 704/705 pilots. Many people moved up 3 or 4 levels to fill as 703 navajo drivers became kingair 350 co-pilots as theri captains went to Jazz, which lost a bunch to WestJet. Now they are 350 captains, wondering whether to bond for the jet postition in their company or wait for WestJet, Ac etc.

The dust hasn't settled yet. Wages took a hike, some work conditions changed. In the end, a new entrant won't have huge amounts more bargaining room, but it isn't 911 anymore. Experienced drivers need only look at the employment threads.

[SQ]

I've talked to a few people saying they'd hire someone with 200 hrs.

who... where ... for what kind of operations ?

[Noob]

Every one of us at one time or another had 200hrs so obviously there are operators out there that will hire someone with that amount of time. Given the number of jobs that are out there for experienced guys it stands to reason there are jobs available for those with less experience to replace them. As canpilot said, get out there and find out who they are. If you are persistent I can guarantee you will end up with something. Even though things are slowing down it is still better than it has been for a long time. Good luck and keep us posted.

[flyinggordyhalen]

Hey everyone,
Just like to say thanks for the positive outlook. I've finally had some time to look through the previous pages for jobs and I gotta say that things really have changed. If things are still turning around like just curious says then i'd say that I'm back. I remember when a job was posted at this time of year before, there would be in some cases 3000 people looking at a ramp position. And that was about 1 posting every 2-3 weeks. It still seems liike it's also a who you know business and a right time at the right place type of business. I think it will always be but at least the lowtime guys have a chance now. Any recommendations of a good flight school at springbank? I also talked to some guys about working conditions and the've told me that some are even asking "what's in it for me" to take the "lowlife" 210 position somewhere up north. This just seems unreal to me especially when there were so many pilots out there that wanted to fly and didn't care where as long as they got their shot. It' almost like people can pick and choose where to get a job. Is this for real?

canpilot, how can I get a fam flight on a tail dragger? I thought that once you had any type of fam flight then you are done for those...am I wrong?

Thanks
flyinggordyhalen