Question for real world Pilots

[eagl]

I wonder if the majors will be desperate enough to hire me.  Unless I find time to fly CAP or work out an occasional instruction gig, I won't have a single "real" flying hour for the last 4 years of my AF career due to flying UAVs.  I heard that's pretty much immediate disqualification during the application process no matter what kind of time the applicant had before then.  I only have about 2500 hrs anyhow, about 1400 IP hrs, 650ish F-15E, and another few hundred student and trainer PIC hours.

I don't have the cash to maintain currency out of pocket.  I need to finish getting my mil comp CFII so I can get someone else to pay for my flight time, but my initial instructional target would be upset recovery training.  Not sure what I need to do in order to be able to teach that though.

[Golfer]

Know whereabouts you're intending to live when you're getting out and the approximate timeframe for when the last of those last 4 years are going to be?

[Tordon22]

Selino, gaurunteed interview isn't much for the reasons golfer mentioned. And flight safety actually has a deal where if you complete your commercial ratings and sign an instructor contract with them (18 months) they'll pay for your CFI, I-I, and MEI.

[B4Buster]

Friend of mine went to FIT and loved it.


Make sure the school is Part 141. Also be prepared to dish the cost of your PPL out of pocket.

[Selino631]

Selino, gaurunteed interview isn't much for the reasons golfer mentioned. And flight safety actually has a deal where if you complete your commercial ratings and sign an instructor contract with them (18 months) they'll pay for your CFI, I-I, and MEI.

oh wow really?! They still offer this?

[Golfer]

oh wow really?! They still offer this?

If you want to go an airline route I would not let 18 months of seniority pass you by for any reason.

[B4Buster]

Also, when I toyed with the idea of going for my commercial license, my airline buddies told me to stay away. Make sure to sit down and talk with some guys who have experience and who will give you an honest opinion about it.

[Tordon22]

Assuming you finished the program and instructors ratings with around 200 hours you'll take about 18 months to get to 1500.

[eagl]

Know whereabouts you're intending to live when you're getting out and the approximate timeframe for when the last of those last 4 years are going to be?

I expect to retire in Las Vegas near the end of 2015, but depending on job situation and what the AF offers I could potentially stay in until May 2018.  But probably out around Nov 2015.  If I had my shzt together I'd find a local guy with a citabria or something equally simple and capable of mild aerobatics, find another couple of chair pilots with mil instructional backgrounds, and open a little school for upset and mild aerobatic training.  I have 1500 hrs in the T-37 and T-6, so I'm GOOD at taking noobs and showing them spins, rolls, loops, etc.  I'd obviously have to do it the FAA way in order for it to count as true upset training, but I figure I could get a few hours a month that way, paid for by whoever wants a fighter pilot and military IP to show them a few things in relative safety.

But, I'm behind at life at the moment so I might not ever put that plan into motion.  But it would be a fun way to keep current and make some coin on the side.  Way back in 1989, the local upset/spin instructor charged $100/hr on top of the rental expenses.  No idea what its worth now but I only need to charge enough to make it pay for itself (insurance, books/training, checkrides, etc).

[Golfer]

Definitely doable but there are quite a few places that specialize in exactly that.  Vegas would be as good a place as any for it though networking your way into one of those places shouldn't be impossible. I also know an L39 instructor who flys airliners and instructs in the 39s on the side. That's a good compromise. Great guy also.

I asked since a buddy just called in a pinch looking for someone with pretty low qualifications. (2500 Total/500 PIC/500 Jet) for a charter Gulfstream FO. Its a 3 pilot deal and aside from a vacancy they just had open up the other remaining guy just came down with a big (but temporary) medical issue so they're grounded on doing any charters until they get someone.  They're having trouble finding the right fit.

[Gixer]

Unless you can go through military obtain multi engine jet rating and plenty of hours, and/or add a aeronautical relevant degree you'll need to think long and hard before committing the dollars and hours towards private lessons in the hope of a airline pilot career which for many years will probably earn you less than a truck driver.

I completed a CPL Helicopters and fixed wing years ago but never took it further as couldn't see the long term career rewards/goals I was looking for. I was fortunate that my instructor was also an airline captain who gave me plenty of realistic advice on aviation as a career. Most instructors just feed students dribble about becoming airline pilots, reality they are just after the next pay check you are supplying. The longer they can keep you as a student spending money the better.

If you love flying keep it private otherwise it will just become a job. Pursue a career which will pay big dollars and have a lot of job satisfaction. That's the path I ended up taking and have earned over six figure sums for years which has allowed me to continue to enjoy flying as a hobby.

Also the other posters point about buying a small cheap plane and using that to gain own hours and rent out is a good one. I did the same with a small syndicate of friends which helped a little towards increasing own hours and paying for a helicopter rating.

Something to also think about airline pilots these days are cockpit managers, computers fly the plane, possibly not long before they start doing that task from the ground. Firstly with cargo and eventually passengers will follow.


<S>...-Gixer

[eagl]

Thx golfer.  I haven't scoped out the scene yet so your insight is appreciated.  Finding an established group and joining them part time would be easier than rolling it alone, and since it isn't my primary income I could be pretty easy about the scheduling priorities as the new guy.

[Selino631]

I keep hearing the same thing over and over about how its a big financial risk to become a Commercial Airline Pilot. Is this also the same for Helicopter pilots?

[jigsaw]

Absolutely one of the worst career path choices you could make these days if you're starting from scratch. Unless you were flying cargo coming out of the military ready to 141 right into an ATP rating, you'd be better off getting a viable degree and flying for fun.

[Gixer]

I keep hearing the same thing over and over about how its a big financial risk to become a Commercial Airline Pilot. Is this also the same for Helicopter pilots?

Yes absolutely, unless you know someone in the industry who will give you a first foot in the door towards flying helicopters extremely difficult and very expensive. That's why as first choice always try gain flight training and flight hours through the military. (though US is easier, my experience is Australia/NZ)

If you want to fly helicopters as a career and nothing else will satisfy of course work three jobs as I did and save enough for flight training, work towards a CPL and then instructor ratings, eventually after instructing for a couple years you might just then be employable. One of most expensive aspects  of helicopter flying is turbine time experience.

From the time I did my first solo to when I finished CPL with rating for H500 I must of spent close to $100,000 and with that you are basically unemployable no matter how many letters you right to operators. One reason and often the case is due to helicopter insurance, often the policies state that pilot must have min 1000 hours or more on that helicopter type rating to qualify for the insurance. And insurance is a bigger expense than maintenance, looking at roughly 10-15% value of the machine each year.

Therefore operators can't even if they want to, hire you with only 100 hours turbine time. Realistically you need 1000 hours plus, and to obtain that privately is going to cost you on average well over $500 an hour.

I don't want to put anyone off if their goal is a career as a helicopter pilot, but you need to step back and keep it realistic. Helicopter pilots unless they can work locally are more likely than not have to work globally, traveling from what ever job they can get, all commercial pilots I know only one is currently still in his home country all rest had to move overseas and travel around from job to job generally following the summer months.

Plus helicopter pilots don't earn much, even less than airline pilots.  After considering all the realities of being a helicopter pilot I decided for me the right choice would be high income private sector within finance and keep flying as a hobby, glad now I made that choice.

Skim through the online job offers for helicopter pilots, often the minimums for experience of a particular rating type are far beyond what you will be able acquire via private flight training and a first instructor job.



<S>...-Gixer