What kind of pilot jobs are there in the smaller aviation classes in USA?

[Frank N. O.]

The title is probably a bit vague but I'll try to clarify here.
What kind of jobs are there for pilots flying smaller planes or helicopters, either passengers or cargo. Is it a tough place to get jobs due to it normally being a starting step for commercial pilots or is it possible to find a job there as long as you have the needed licenses etc? I read in one of my flying magazines from 02/03 that helicopter-pilots were decreasing in numbers due to most of them comming from the Vietnam-war and were retiring now while the helicopter-fleet was growing. Is it "easier" to get a job piloting sling-wings or stuck-wings and what are the working conditions? And the practical question, is it possible to live of the pay when you're not interested in a big mansion in Beverly Hills and a Porsche?

Frank

[Roland]

Big plans coming up, Frank? 

[Frank N. O.]

Ok now that was a quick reply, I only just posted the thread.
Well I have a ton of big plans, but so far not one has ever materialised
I'm just trying to keep my brain working on something constructive with a possible future in it instead of focusing even more on the worries here at home than I already do, but I can't do anything about more than I do already (mainly my mom's health).

Frank

[Roland]

I think it is always good to have ideas and dreams. Not all of them will be fulfilled but some will. I need dreams and ideas to carry on. I whish you the best with it and now it is the turn of our native US colleges in this forum to answer your questions ….

[Mike]

I have found as well that the rotor business is picking up. We are trying to find a pilot right now and really have a hard time with it (we are kind of specialized though). But you can see the requirements go down for EMS jobs because they just can't find anybody. The thing about the Vietnam vets retiring is true, there a re a lot more jobs out there for us. If you look at www.justhelicopters.com you can see tons of people looking for pilots. Ten years a go I saw maybe 2 or 3 positions open per month. The salaries are going up and I can make an o.k. living with a job that allows me about 2 months off a year and gives me money and time for Chicken Wings.
HOWEVER it's still hard to get into and you will have to make sacrifices for many years before it starts paying off. I assume it's the same in the fixed wing world. I always told my students they really have to want doing this because it's not easy initially...

[Gulfstream Driver]

I've started sending resumes out around the Upper Midwest.  The pickings are pretty slim, though.  Flight instructors aren't being hired away like they used to be, so it's harder for new instructors to break in.  It's pretty tough to make a living on instructor's pay, unless you've got 4 or 5 students, which is also why I've put in apps for part-time jobs in Fargo.  Getting a job in aviation is based mostly on who you know.  Everyone applying for the job is qualified.  It's people with "ins" that get the jobs.

[Frank N. O.]

I think I heard when around my first flight at Odense Airport that getting jobs in the business was more who you know and vice versa than reading wanted-ads. Tough in one way for new people but then again if you've known someone personally for a while you know a lot more about them than you get from even a long interview and the aviation business seem to be complicated and how you are as a person also counts and that's not something one can see from a resume or a short job interview. Of course this is mainly a guestimate on my side, please correct me if I'm wrong or add information where applicable.

Mike have you ever written any other articles about how your day is as a helicopterpilot besides the one in 2003 about small airfields at the fire where the road was destroyed leaving you and your colleagues stranded and with little fuel?

Btw I stumbled over this page at the link shown above, it's just so funny http://www.justhelicopters.com/Articles/detail.asp?iData=70&iCat=641&iChannel=2&nChannel=Articles

Gulf: Best wishes for your succes

Frank

[Gulfstream Driver]

Thanks, man.    

Hiring based on who you know is both good and bad.  I've seen many instances where a bad pilot is hired over a good one, simply because of who was doing the hiring.

[fireflyr]

Thanks, man.

Hiring based on who you know is both good and bad. I've seen many instances where a bad pilot is hired over a good one, simply because of who was doing the hiring.

Yeah Gulf---Good luck!    Persistence is a valued commodity for pilots, so keep on keepin' on and you'll get what you want.

The fire industry is rife with examples of people getting hired because of "who daddy knows", a person just has to keep networking to eventually be in the right position at the right time.   Of course, a bit of skill helps so don't stop increasing yours--be your own biggest critic.

[Gulfstream Driver]

Thanks, Jim.

[Frank N. O.]

Some more questions:

I was wondering, does anyone know if a full-time pilot job is acceptable grounds for a job-related permanent residency visa to USA?

What kind of flights are made with smaller planes, I mean I doubt that the CW strips with Chuck flying the Skyhawk from LA to Detroit is normal (I'm sure it wouldn't be economical) but what kinds of flights are there besides flying normal commuting passengers (normal people, not firefighters or other personal)?

Is the FAA licenses, ratings etc. also cheaper than in Europe when taking commercial ratings? (and here for comparisom I'm assuming that the FAA standards aren't lower than the european ones).

Frank

[chuckar101]

Can't really answer many of your questions Frank, but from what I know and have been told is who you know helps.  It definately isn't everything though, the biggest hurdle I see is getting the required hours after you get your ratings.  And I've seen that article for airplanes as well, so a lot of things seem to be recycled throughout the aviation world as well.

[Baradium]

After 500 hours (I believe that's 135 PIC mins), if you have a commercial license and instrument rating you can fly a Cessna 206 or 207 for a company like Grant Aviation... pay is supposed to be very good, but you get paid well for a reason.  You're flying in the bush, VFR, in weather that gives IFR pilots a workout getting into the airport.

Grant got rid of their last "chicken" (what the 135 guys up here call 172s) last year, but they still run the stationair's and sleds (207s) and will be for the foreseeable future.  In fact, they have the #2 serial number 206 off the assembly line, which is also the highest time 206 in existance.

Honestly, I can't really recommend that job to anyone... I wouldn't want to do it, and it's definately dangerous.  On the other hand, some guys live for doing stuff like that.  The real "traditional" bush flying.  So I guess if you want to fly a little single engine cessna in a land that time forgot...

It's probobly cheaper to get any rating in the US than in Europe.  There's a visa thing for flight training, no idea how it works for permanent residency.

Small airlines are hiring with lower and lower minimums now.  If you really don't care where you work, or what kind of outfit you work for, finding a job gets a lot easier.  There are outfits out there that will hire anyone with a commercal multiengine into a SIC slot easily.  On the other hand, others are more picky.  There are some companies where even if you have connections you need the experience becuase they are so popular (example, FedEx). 

Generally, companies that will hire you with low time are doing it because as people get experience they leave to get a "better" job.    There are jobs out there, just depends on what you are willing to accept for one. 

[Gulfstream Driver]

As far as I know, after you get whatever ratings you want on your visa (might be some type of student visa), you can apply to stay in the U.S. if a company sponsers you.  Don't quote me, though.

[tundra_flier]

I understand Brooks Aviation in Fairbanks will take just about anyone with a commercial, multi and willingness to fly their planes.   

Phil