Originally Posted by
Mach E Avelli
Also it’s worth realising that the Chief Pilot in small GA outfits is often only there to satisfy a CASA post holder requirement. The real hiring and firing power rests with the owner or CEO. CP turnover can be quite high as they either burn out, get fed up with being the fall guy for regulatory breaches, or move on to better jobs.
This means that while you need to meet the CP at some stage (and you certainly don’t want to bypass him! ), somehow you have to get an audience with the real boss. In small towns that could quite easily be when he is having a social moment with the CP and you pull their beer or wait their table. You won’t get that opportunity unless you are on the scene.
Always have a copy of your CV in your pocket in anticipation of that ‘chance’ meeting.
Don’t expect any response from mailed-in applications. They are in the business of flying aeroplanes, not filtering dozens of unsolicited resumes and replying to each one.
As for your CV. Rather than regurgitate advice here, do some research on Pprune where you will find what an entry level pilot needs to include. A 200 hour basic CPL should fit everything relevant on one page. The operative word is ‘relevant’. Be prepared to tailor that one page to the target - there may be no point in highlighting the time you did as a museum guide in London if you are chasing a fish spotting job some place in the Gulf; whereas listing prior involvement in tourism would be relevant to a scenic flight operator.
This is the truth, don't forget the bosses wife, she usually holds a fair bit of hiring/firing power.
"Pitch up on a Friday with a 6 pack" ;-) those were the days.