As a float guy or instructor, how did you make the jump from all the single engine time, to multi? I take it the most common route is a FO job first then move up...or possibly SIFR.

Any companies in particular that take men and women, with a bit of time...but just about no multi time? Thanks

Hey Pete

Give companies like Transwest a shot. They have a float division you can start with and then make the move to an F/O in the winter. Check out pilotcareercentre.com to find companies that have the type of operation that will give you the next step. Or network with your friends in the industry who are flying twins to see if they can put a good word in. Either way, knocking on doors and building contacts is your best option. Start sooner than later so that you catch this float season with the right outfit.

CD

Pete wrote:As a float guy or instructor, how did you make the jump from all the single engine time, to multi? I take it the most common route is a FO job first then move up...or possibly SIFR.

Any companies in particular that take men and women, with a bit of time...but just about no multi time? Thanks

I hired a spray pilot who had next to no twin time. He was a good guy so I got him the time he needed to go on his own. It was one of those situations where it's who you know that got him hired though. I probably wouldn't do that just for anyone off the street.

I had just gotten 300hrs, and my multi rating. I walked into the chief pilot's office and said "Now that you have paid for all my multi training, you must let me fly that twin engine plane."

He said, "Ok, son"

I said, "Thanks pop"

I jumped from SE to the multi world. ATPL, with thousands of hours, including Co-pilot on twin turbines (1,000 hr). I can't even get a job as a cptn on a Ho or rampy with Buffalo Air. 500 MPIC is equivalent to GOD on your resume. If you can do it get one of the small gigs on Ho's or Cessnas. Fly for a year or 2. Then move on to right seat on something bigger. IMHO

AntiNakedMan wrote:I had just gotten 300hrs, and my multi rating. I walked into the chief pilot's office and said "Now that you have paid for all my multi training, you must let me fly that twin engine plane."

He said, "Ok, son"

I said, "Thanks pop"

I walked into the chief pilot's office and said "Hey Pop, now that I've paid for and finished my Multi-IFR, I want to fly the twin."

He said "Sorry our insurance requires 500Multi, but we have a low time pilot program and you can start on the ramp tossing bags and work your way up and after two years you can buy a Navajo PPC and you can fly free to gain experience"

Invertago that is a true story,Air Cadets paid his private.He then worked his ass off on the ramp for enough money to live on and we paid the cpl and multi.He did not get it for free....in this time he got to ride around and get some good expirence.I am lucky enough to have a open pilot clause and can self approve anyone with a multi.After flying around dual for awhile we then could send him on trips that were easy and on good weather days.Turned into one hell of a good pilot and now left to finish his law degree.We have also started about 6 other 500 single engine hour pilots over the last 6 years on our twins.They have all worked out great.

lost in the north wrote:Invertago that is a true story,Air Cadets paid his private.He then worked his ass off on the ramp for enough money to live on and we paid the cpl and multi.He did not get it for free....in this time he got to ride around and get some good expirence.I am lucky enough to have a open pilot clause and can self approve anyone with a multi.After flying around dual for awhile we then could send him on trips that were easy and on good weather days.Turned into one hell of a good pilot and now left to finish his law degree.We have also started about 6 other 500 single engine hour pilots over the last 6 years on our twins.They have all worked out great.

I was just poking fun at what is the normal industry standard. Great that you've had success with lower time guys, its a tough industry to break into so I hope they returned the favor and moved onwards on good terms. Getting into the right seat beside an experienced guy is the best way to learn the trade IMHO.

Invertago wrote:

AntiNakedMan wrote:I had just gotten 300hrs, and my multi rating. I walked into the chief pilot's office and said "Now that you have paid for all my multi training, you must let me fly that twin engine plane."

He said, "Ok, son"

I said, "Thanks pop"

I walked into the chief pilot's office and said "Hey Pop, now that I've paid for and finished my Multi-IFR, I want to fly the twin."

He said "Sorry our insurance requires 500Multi, but we have a low time pilot program and you can start on the ramp tossing bags and work your way up and after two years you can buy a Navajo PPC and you can fly free to gain experience"

AntiNakedMan's father is way cooler than yours.

I wonder what Anti-Naked-Man's father thinks about adoption lol

I must be one of the rare fortunate guys.

Got a multi right after my private but never did anything with it.
A year or two later finished off my single IFR and my commercial just in time for a friend (non-pilot) to buy a Navajo 32, who asked me to fly for him. So I started flying the PA-31-325 at around 300 hours TT. Did my training on it for a few weeks including my multi-ifr (around 40hours or so duel).

So far I've racked up an additional 150 hours in 2 months as PIC on it. Airports include Sarnia, Kitchener, Toronto Pearson, Toronto Island, Buttonville, Montreal, Moncton, Fredericton, and a bunch in the States with several in Florida. I'm probably flying it 3-4 days a week.

It's more of a hobby thing but I'm getting paid for it so it's a bonus. I'm told by a TC DPE friend of mine that, not only is that multi time golden - but the experience of going in and out of Pearson and the USA flights is the cherry (I fly into YYZ several times a month). All single pilot IFR in a plane with no GPS. This is a "Standard with Mode C" plane if I've ever seen one . I'm told I wouldn't have any problem going into the airline biz then the TT is up to 1500... I must confess - I have no desire too though. By the time I hit 1500 hours, 80% of my TT will be multi though... not bad!

Thats right, multi time is golden. Which is worth what? More than single engine time? So now you've gotten your multi time, then what? Need some jet time eh? Boy that pays big, but not as much as pic jet time! Oh wait, you know what pay's more? Ballon captain time! How many people have that in their logbook? Go work the ramp for westjet, show up 10 minutes early every day, and leave 10 minutes after punch out. Work all weekends and holidays for regular pay. If they hire you to the flightdeck you'll have it made. Best of luck.

Actually the only real " golden " flying time I can recall flying multi engine airplanes was the successful flights I had in multi engine airplanes with only one engine operating.

Cat Driver wrote:Actually the only real " golden " flying time I can recall flying multi engine airplanes was the successful flights I had in multi engine airplanes with only one engine operating.

And if I were an employer, with a guy who had that kind of time, I'd take a serious look at'em. At least I know he's smart enough to pull some levers during a panic situation rather than becoming smeared salsa on a few rocks somewhere. 'Whats that son? You've got 742 multi hours, and 107 of those are multi-single time? When can you start?'

[quote="At least I know he's smart enough to pull some levers during a panic situation rather than becoming smeared salsa on a few rocks somewhere.[/quote]

Smeared Salsa...
HA
Hysterical.
I am definitely going to use that line.
Smeared salsa on a few rocks.... priceless.