First time poster looking for a little help

[Chase]

Hey guys I have been lurking for the last couple of months but I figured it is about time I start making contacts on-line here as well.

I currently have 260 hours and just finished my Class 4 instructor.
I did not get my multi or instrument as I figured my first job would end up not requiring these.

I used to be an instructor at a call centre and honestly I loved the instructing not the management. I got a chance to take a lay off and used the time for my PPL and CPL, knowing my love for instructing I decided to go the instructor route.

I am in the London On area and have started doing the local circuit, meeting new schools and getting contacts. I am not against moving but am baffled as to how I can get my resume noticed without a walk in.

So any tips, tricks or hot leads you guys can give me?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[Doc]

Hey guys I have been lurking for the last couple of months but I figured it is about time I start making contacts on-line here as well.

I currently have 260 hours and just finished my Class 4 instructor.
I did not get my multi or instrument as I figured my first job would end up not requiring these.
.

I think this was a good move. There are SO many pilots with 250 hours AND a MEIFR. WTF? The instructor rating might get you a job instructing. 250 TT with MEIF will get you a job as slave labour on some ramp in the far north.
You are correct about the walk ins. Ya gots to knock on doors.
Bon chance

[C172Heavy]

I think you're on the right track. I attained my MIFR after about 800 hrs. of instructing and single engine air taxi. This helped me more than I appreciated at the time, it took me far less hours and cash to finish the ratings than my 200 hr. peers. I got my first multi turbine job at around the 1000 hr. mark.

As far as emailing / mailing resume's.. What Doc said. Personal introductions are everything. Budget the time and money as best as you can to hit the road.

Good Luck!

[Prairie Chicken]

Ditto what Doc said. Getting a ME/IFR is step one; keeping it up is the expensive & continuing step two, and three, and four and ...

I also agree with the comments about getting some time under your belt before starting the ME/IFR. Instructing is a good route to go. Even part-time will get you in a door while you keep looking.

[iflyforpie]

Yep. I got my IFR, have never used it coming up on ten years later. I did do it as part of my CPL build up and the multi time came in very handy later on, but for instructing I wouldn't sweat it.

In fact, it might give you preferential treatment because they know you aren't going to go off to a ramp position in BFN for the shot at a turbine gig.

Get some hours under your belt, then worry about MIFR.

For job prospects, hang around the local haunts. Usually you can meet some good people, establish a rapport, and maybe even be able to figure out if they are understaffed or an instructor is leaving. I pretty much got a job simply by getting a rental checkout at a local school--unfortunately economics dictated that I could not be an instructor at that time.

[whiteguy]

Hey guys I have been lurking for the last couple of months but I figured it is about time I start making contacts on-line here as well.

I currently have 260 hours and just finished my Class 4 instructor.
I did not get my multi or instrument as I figured my first job would end up not requiring these.
.

I think this was a good move. There are SO many pilots with 250 hours AND a MEIFR. WTF? The instructor rating might get you a job instructing. 250 TT with MEIF will get you a job as slave labour on some ramp in the far north.
You are correct about the walk ins. Ya gots to knock on doors.
Bon chance

Having a MIFR isn't a bad thing. I was right seat in a King Air at 250 hrs. Depends what you want to do initially I guess but it can happen.

[Doc]

White guy, you got lucky! You know it, I know it. Your result is far from normal. For most, a MEIFR is a total waste of money. Total. Two years on a ramo and they have NO clue. Happy it worked for you, but it's really poor advice for the rank and file.

[Bronco Billy]

I say try to find something around you. I was surprised to see many friends doing trips around canada to finish with some nice little operator around there Province (home).


Good Luck


By the way I also find ME IFR is useless at 250 and you know that at 800 hrs or so you will clear those training much faster and with more ease (good for your wallet ).


Bronco

[whiteguy]

White guy, you got lucky! You know it, I know it. Your result is far from normal. For most, a MEIFR is a total waste of money. Total. Two years on a ramo and they have NO clue. Happy it worked for you, but it's really poor advice for the rank and file.

Sure Doc, luck and a good career history got me to where I am. I was just saying its not impossible. Not giving out career advice but just giving him some perspective that it can happen. I know quite a few guys sitting right seat in a King Air at 250 hrs. If you have the money to do it why not.....

The way the market is right now you may see it happening more often!

[lilflyboy262]

White guy.
That is the exact reason why we find ourselves in the situation we are in today with having to pay for ratings to get into a big machine.
"Well, I have the money so why not. Will get me a leg up over the other guy."

[shimmydampner]

Last I checked, $15/hr or better is an average ramp wage "up north" which is far from "slavery." Furthermore, in the current job climate, it is not uncommon for rampies to find themselves in the right seat of a twin turbine in far less than a year's time.

[Doc]

Total edit.

[Bronco Billy]

Shimmy thats one hell of a ''TOUCHEY '' . Maybe one of the best ive seen on this forum.

[whiteguy]

White guy.
That is the exact reason why we find ourselves in the situation we are in today with having to pay for ratings to get into a big machine.
"Well, I have the money so why not. Will get me a leg up over the other guy."

Are you kidding me? So now getting a MIFR yourself is the same as buying a type rating?

[ant_321]

I would recommend getting your IFR done relatively soon, or at least do some sim time so you would be able to acquire the rating very quickly. I did my multi rating and most of my IFR training in my 200hrs and thought I would just do the flight test down the road. Before I was finished my instructor rating I was offered a job flying a multi turbine through a connection I had but of course was IFRless. With that being said, after a year of part time/full time instructing and just over 500TT I landed a 1900 gig so it all worked out in the end. The moral of the story, be ready to go. With the industry going the way it is now you should certainly be able to move on from instructing in less than two years, if that is what you want. And if your IFR does expire what's another couple grand when you've already spent 40.

[Doc]

White guy.
That is the exact reason why we find ourselves in the situation we are in today with having to pay for ratings to get into a big machine.
"Well, I have the money so why not. Will get me a leg up over the other guy."

Are you kidding me? So now getting a MIFR yourself is the same as buying a type rating?

Not at all. Buying a type rating demonstrates thinking outside the box.....there are actually JOBS if you buy a type rating!

[whiteguy]

White guy.
That is the exact reason why we find ourselves in the situation we are in today with having to pay for ratings to get into a big machine.
"Well, I have the money so why not. Will get me a leg up over the other guy."

Are you kidding me? So now getting a MIFR yourself is the same as buying a type rating?

Not at all. Buying a type rating demonstrates thinking outside the box.....there are actually JOBS if you buy a type rating!

But don't pay for a MIFR yourself???

Maybe I'm missing his/her point.......

[shimmydampner]

You could have posted that to me on a PM?

Yes, in hindsight, that probably would have been more appropriate. My apologies.

[Doc]

We can fix it with a delete.

Done. That's better n

[lilflyboy262]

Doc got more what I was aiming at.
Wasn't meaning not pay for the MEIR. How else are we supposed to get it! I sure as heck don't think operators should be paying for it!

The attitude of "I have the money for it, so why not." is why we have to pay for ratings at all.

Doc, you're correct in stating that paying for a rating opens doors now days, but it shouldn't be at that point. It only got there because the companies are cutting costs at every turn, and pilots are silly enough to do it.

[Doc]

Doc got more what I was aiming at.
Wasn't meaning not pay for the MEIR. How else are we supposed to get it! I sure as heck don't think operators should be paying for it!

The attitude of "I have the money for it, so why not." is why we have to pay for ratings at all.

Doc, you're correct in stating that paying for a rating opens doors now days, but it shouldn't be at that point. It only got there because the companies are cutting costs at every turn, and pilots are silly enough to do it.

If I were in my late twentys to mid thirtys, with 1500 or so hours, I'd be buying a 737 ng ticket.

[iflyforpie]

If I were in my late twentys to mid thirtys, with 1500 or so hours, I'd be buying a 737 ng ticket.

I'm there. I'm not.

[Doc]

Iflyforpie, one question. Do you fly for pie. I would. Warm blueberry with ice cream. I'm so there.

[iflyforpie]

Absolutely. But lemon meringue is where it's at.

If you ever make it out to Chilliwack BC, you'll see my username above the coffee shop at the terminal. Best pie I've ever had!

[Doc]

Lemon meringue is number two on my list. YUM!