The best time for a road trip

[AOtterstrom]

I am trying to get that elusive first flying job and realize that a road trip to visit the operators in person may be the best way to go about this. I have a CPL (obviously) a bit over four hundred hours, fifty hours on floats and a multi rating. I want to fly floats although I realize I will need to work the dock for a season or two (or more?) to attain this goal. Any advice would be appreciated but specifically when would be the best time to go on a road trip looking for a dock job that would lead into flying. Is it worth it to go in the fall and then again in the spring? Or should I wait and just go in the spring? Also where are the best places to go? I am willing to work anywhere.

[Randleman]

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[SayAgain]

My advice is to pick a city that gives you a couple of companies that you might like to work for. Then move to that city and work another job and keep visiting the aviation companies until you get that ramp/dock job.
Yellowknife is a city that comes to mind where lots of guys have got jobs by being in town at the right time and getting to know the operators and employees.

I wasted nearly a year in my hometown sending out resumes before I just packed my bags and moved north.

A road trip is a great idea, you might get lucky.

I think your best bet is to move north as soon as you can.

[AOtterstrom]

Thanks guys, any more advice would be greatly appreciated...

[oldncold]

save money for road trip now spend it later/

10,000 k of driving at say 30 miles to the gallonx 100 liter ish more the fatrher north you go =22tanks of gas at $70 a fill = 1540$

now lets say you need a hotel /motel once every 3days to shower/ proper rest so that you are not a danger every one on the road 10 times = $300

Community swimming pools are a good way to save money and be non odorus when ya show up on mr /ms float operators doorstep. Food on the road can be expensive, so a good way is to go to the deli section of a chain supermarket with and purchase lots of deli meats/ cheeses and veg's /good bread etc
so that you can eat healthy on the road . oh a cooler that you can plug into the 12outlet (nee cigarate lighter ) back in the day . one does not want montazuma revenge due to food spoilage.eh . budget about 150$ for this and you will save 300 in restaurants.
time to travel.

Late January / febuary . alot of hiring is done or conditional offers
done . by late january alot of lodge owners/ tourist offiters /are attending the outdoor shows .so can be harder to meet an greet .

Vehicle maintenance:
now we know you are a keen starving aviator ,but nothing says to ops guy this lad seems careful and caring( like a well maintained car or truck ) REMEMBER your asking for the keys to his/her aircraft and for him to pay you ...
No it does not have to be new but tidy ,the muffler should not sounds as an piston otter at full tilt while in the parking lot. he looks at your ride while you give your speel. besides if you want to get off to a good start and you line up a few meeting and greetings being on time does lend itself a favourable impression and january in the middle of but f..k nowhere on the way to somewhere is not the place to break down in january. in canada. get it tuned up the squaks taken care before you start out lights tires battery etcx.

a good survial kit just case and your cell phone probably wont work enroute to middle of nowhere.

Finally go to the gym get in shape if you are not already maxium material
cuz if you do land that first job rolling drums of fuel boat motors propane lumber etc . will beat the hell out of ya for the first few weeks and your complaning about tired muscles and exhaustion WILL SAY volumes to employer . it is alot easier this way and the older ya are the more important it is to do this. . think of it this way a hockey player trains all summer to be in shape for fall winter you are just the opposite train all winter to be in shape for spring /summer.
Have fun take your camera the usual hot spots for prospecting float job
from west to east:
1/ coast of b.c you will be on the dock there for sure unless you have very good connections and have shown previous outstanding performance ( safety judgement etc.)
2/ fort mac . alberta though later in winter late march
3 /la ronge, sask
4/ flin flon
5/ thompson mb
6/lac dubonnet mb
7/fort frances ontario the whole lake of the woods area > prime territory in febuarymarch
8/redlake on
9 sioux lookout 10
10 yellowknife nt

[North Shore]

+1 to the above.

And add: Show up dressed appropriately to the operation - slacks and a tie, while presentable, aren't really what Joe's Drill Haulin' and Barrel Rollin' Airline is looking for. OTOH, Clean jeans and workboots and (used) work gloves aren't exactly Air Canada material either!

WRT the car - buy a Canadian Automobile Association membership. IIRC, it's only about $60/yr, and if you breakdown in the middle of nowhere it'll save you a bundle. My unscheduled stop occurred ~180km out of Saskatoon - about a $300 touch for the towing alone, had I been paying the whole shot myself.


Good Luck!

[CBSW]

+ 1 To all of the above..


Also bring a headset and kneeboard or whatever you choose to use out there. And yes, DO NOT show up in a shirt and tie for a bush job. Carhaart pants, jeans etc and a suitable work shirt are best.. They can and will get you helping out etc. At the same time look clean and tidy..its happened to me and I was happy I was well prepared.

Your car etc should also be clean and presentable..(as previously stated)and don’t' drive in with the music blaring or doing a million miles per hour through town. You'd be surprised who you may cut off on the road into the base.

Little off topic but.. I'll throw it out there anyways..

When you get that job be constantly busy.. if you are sitting down somewhere drinking coffee you are doing something wrong, keep lunch breaks short 5-10 min and maintain the ground equipment as you would maintain the aircraft. An operator will draw a conclusions on how you will treat his/ her aircraft based on how you treat the ground equipment/grounds.

[Big Pistons Forever]

I am on my fifth operator in 20 + yrs of commercial flying. None of them involved sending a resume, being called for an interview etc. All of them were obtained as a result of personal contacts. The first thing most small/medium operators do when they need more staff is ask existing pilots if they know anybody. Is there anybody at your FTU that you know, used to train with ever flew with etc , that has moved into a ramp or flying position ? If so start with him talking to him/her. No outfit hires wannabe's off a resume you have to be there when they need somebody, so hit the road well before the start of the season. Last thing is make a good impression everywhere you go, this industry is really small.....

[kevinsky18]

I always tell the new guys to go when no else wants to go.

Do you want to go at the "best time." When every other wannabe is parked outside an operators door waiting for a job? If you figure you got more time and experience than the rest then this will work for you.

However, if your qualifications are low be there during the slow season when everyone else is at home. If one of the regular pilots gets sick, injured or quits you'll be the only one there / or at least one of the few available to quickly fill in.

I get two or three offers in the winter every year when I pass through certain places (I’m not looking for work so I usually pass on the offer). In the spring and summer when everyone is out road tripping I usually don’t hear of much or get any offers.

[iflyforpie]

I am on my fifth operator in 20 + yrs of commercial flying. None of them involved sending a resume, being called for an interview etc. All of them were obtained as a result of personal contacts. The first thing most small/medium operators do when they need more staff is ask existing pilots if they know anybody. Is there anybody at your FTU that you know, used to train with ever flew with etc , that has moved into a ramp or flying position ? If so start with him talking to him/her. No outfit hires wannabe's off a resume you have to be there when they need somebody, so hit the road well before the start of the season. Last thing is make a good impression everywhere you go, this industry is really small.....

+1

I'm only two jobs and five years in the flying end of things but both jobs were the result of networking. I wasn't interviewed for either or asked for a resume. At my current job, they only found out my times as I was filling out the insurance forms. I've made tons of other contacts that I keep in my back pocket just in case things go south where I am at...

[AOtterstrom]

Wow the form has really taken off. Thanks for the input everyone.