Realistic Ramp Time???

'effin hippie · Post by **'effin hippie** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:47 am

Shooter:

With 500+ hours you should have no trouble avoiding the ramp, however if all you have heard is '1-3 years' (HOLY @#$!!!!!) maybe you are a little too focussed on staying somewhere in particular?

Absolutely there are jobs for low-timers out there, but they are not in places most people want to live. If you don't know about these jobs, you have not done your research.
I guess the competition for jobs in places most people want to live is a wee bit more intense, and those operators might still be able to squeeze some ramp time out of potential hires.

Try to ignore some of the more strident posts here. You are NOT doing ANYTHING wrong by working the ramp. Absolutely avoid it if you can, because it sucks, but if a few months (certainly not 'years') gets you where you want to go, go for it.
Obviously everyone wants to fly right away, and is going to choose the quickest path they can find to that end.

And for those who think a CPL provides the god-given right to the cockpit, I'd ask you to think about the attitude of entitlement that engenders. I get your point, and the abuses this industry has seen are undeniable; but the good times have only been here for a couple of years, and I am already pretty sick of 500hr turbine FO's too good to change a few seats.

ef

canpilot · Post by **canpilot** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:55 pm

Ef hippe et al,

With 500TT + (mostly pic)However, none of this time is flying for a commerical air operator. The " time" comes from volunteering with cadets/ CASARA etc....while going to univeristy.

I'd rather not work the ramp for a few years.. A week/ month or so...fine. I don't want to sit hucking bags (which i've already done for a few years while getting my Cpl/ going to univ.) and never see a seat until the industry goes to crapola..at which time, my odds of getting a seat ..will be ..well..we won't go there..

I've been told that because this time is not logged flying for a commerical operation i'm basically at 200TT. eg. it doesen't count for shit..Hence the ramp!

I also don't give a @#$! where I live ..I want to go bush ..I'm looking for a C206/ C207, C185 etc job. I also have 70 hours on floats and hopefully a group 1 in a month or so.

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:27 pm

canpilot wrote:
I've been told that because this time is not logged flying for a commerical operation i'm basically at 200TT. eg. it doesen't count for shit..Hence the ramp!

Guys BS-ing you on that one.

bcflyer · Post by **bcflyer** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:52 pm

Let me guess. The guy telling you that the 300hrs you spent flying for cadets etc means nothing, is the same guy telling you that you need to spend 1-3yr on the ramp? Maybe even HIS ramp? Don't believe it. You are a 500 hr pilot. Period.

'effin hippie · Post by **'effin hippie** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:04 pm

500TT and more than 50 on floats?

No worries mate!

ef

flying4dollars · Post by **flying4dollars** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 8:41 pm

ShooterMcGavin wrote:I'm wondering what the realistic time working on the ramp is? I've been quoted 1-2 years. The reason I ask is because I believe that working on the ramp is valuable experience. At the same time I would like to get flying and think that I've got a decent number of hours to get a flying position.

what exactly do u consider a decent amount?

or...what do u have for time?

ShooterMcGavin · Post by **ShooterMcGavin** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:39 pm

Over 800 hrs. I think that working the ramp is a great way to get to know the airplane and the operation, and would consider working the ramp for those reasons. But I don't want to end up staying on the ramp for up to 2 years.

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:48 pm

You have over 800 hours and you think working the ramp is a "great way to get to know the airplane and the operation"??? What the hell do you plan to do AFTER lunch?? Ya really THINK that with 800 hours you actually NEED to learn an airplane.....by what??.....loading it? Have some pride man!

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:57 pm

Doc wrote:You have over 800 hours and you think working the ramp is a "great way to get to know the airplane and the operation"??? What the hell do you plan to do AFTER lunch?? Ya really THINK that with 800 hours you actually NEED to learn an airplane.....by what??.....loading it? Have some pride man!

Bingo.

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:14 pm

At over 800 hours i wouldn't settle for anything less than an FO on a twin turbine man.

flying4dollars · Post by **flying4dollars** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:50 pm

ShooterMcGavin wrote:Over 800 hrs. I think that working the ramp is a great way to get to know the airplane and the operation, and would consider working the ramp for those reasons. But I don't want to end up staying on the ramp for up to 2 years.

800 hours and you'd consider working on the ramp....

uh..

Freddy_Francis · Post by **Freddy_Francis** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:43 pm

wow....

I just started reading this thread today after I see it's been going on for a few days and I feel like it got dumber as it went on....someone wanna explain to me why the 800hr guy wants to work the ramp? my eyes are all blurry.....[/quote]

spitffire · Post by **spitffire** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:55 pm

Having 500 hours TT I’ been told from some company that they have hired somebody with more experience, yes there are probably pilots out there with around 800 hours willing to do the ramp, believe it or not!. I have a friend who is flying Airbus 320 in South America with 500 hours TT., what’s wrong with the industry in Canada?

spitffire · Post by **spitffire** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 4:58 pm

Sorry, I forgot to mention, it was a ramp job offer.

sky's the limit · Post by **sky's the limit** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:32 pm

spitffire wrote: I have a friend who is flying Airbus 320 in South America with 500 hours TT.,

I think it's flying him....

stl

SQ · Post by SQ » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:17 pm

that's depressing to hear such BS on this thread but each day we can learn more about human stupidity

those same i**ots working the ramp with 800hrs will complain because there's no pilot job
but please, admitt you don't want to be a pilot!

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:35 pm

What would you rather be flying if you had an engine failure at night IFR over the rocky mountains, a PC12 or a King Air?

TopperHarley · Post by **TopperHarley** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:45 pm

Cat Driver wrote:What would you rather be flying if you had an engine failure at night IFR over the rocky mountains, a PC12 or a King Air?

That depends on which PPC is cheaper to buy. Anyone know where I can buy one?

flight instructor · Post by **flight instructor** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 8:08 pm

Shooter,

What about continuing flight instruction? You' d better fly 1000 hours PIC this year than working on the ramp. IFR, multi instruction? It would be a good experience.

In one year you would be a 2000 hours pilot instead of working on the ramp. If the industry goes down you may able to survive. If the industry continue to improve you may be able to find a good position.

At 1000 hours TT you should be able to be PIC on a Caravan, or F/O on a beech 1900, so think carefully.

I know that it' s normal in Canada to work on the ramp. But don' t loose your time.

However if this is really what you want, just listen yourself, everybody is different on earth. Ask 25$ per hour though. That' s what they would have to pay a motivated individual with knowledge in aviation, but not willing to be a pilot.

Goog luck.

flying4dollars · Post by **flying4dollars** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:30 pm

ShooterMcGavin wrote:Over 800 hrs. I think that working the ramp is a great way to get to know the airplane and the operation, and would consider working the ramp for those reasons. But I don't want to end up staying on the ramp for up to 2 years.

great way to learn the operation? you betcha
great way to learn the airplane? not really

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:53 pm

flying4dollars....how is it a good way to "learn the operation"?

Here's the "operation"....toss the pop and chips on the airplane. Airplane comes back....toss the pop and chips on the airplane.....airplane comes back.
Repeat as necessary. Let me know when you're starting to "learn" the operation??? Okay?

It's only "normal" in Canada to work the ramp, because the guys before you worked the ramp, and they don't have the BALLS to admit, it really wasn't a very good idea. Nobody seems to be able to figure out, that if you have 300 hours, and you work the ramp for two years....guess what? you have 300 hours....STILL!

Learn the operation...what a crock of crap!

SQ · Post by SQ » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:29 pm

Doc wrote: Nobody seems to be able to figure out, that if you have 300 hours, and you work the ramp for two years....guess what? you have 300 hours....STILL!

+1
I don't understand that nonsense.

C-GGGQ · Post by **C-GGGQ** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 3:59 pm

SQ wrote:
Doc wrote: Nobody seems to be able to figure out, that if you have 300 hours, and you work the ramp for two years....guess what? you have 300 hours....STILL!
+1
I don't understand that nonsense.

+1 again

Now if they want you to work, ramp/ desk for a couple and I mean a couple (not 18-24) months till theyhave an opening/ while they get you your ppc/pcc then fine its a paycheck till you can start, other than that......

Realistic Ramp Time???

Re: Realistic Ramp Time???