Porter Airlines

[EricCartman]

10 years non current, market status and buying type ratings

I think I get it: The type rating is for my own fun, ego and whatever small gain I get.

Re: the jealousy / envy I'm not too worried about that, the issue is that I run a business (and have full time since 2000) that really makes it hard for me to stay current - I fly a seaplane a bit, but that's about it.

I miss flying professionally and I'd like to be ready to dive back in should I be able to get part time work and my thought was simply that getting the type rating would keep me fresh on glass and more sophisticated stuff and generally know what is going on.

But I appreciate the heads up re: the negativity on having money and using it for professional development. I'm not sure I understand it, but I'm willing to acknowledge it / deal with it if I run in to it.

As far as doing the type rating a 2nd time upon hire - more than happy to do that since it is likely I'll need it anyway. (Type ratings are tax deductible if you have aviation income from what my accountant tells me and 10% of our business is aviation income.)

So my big question is, if you had 2500 TT / 500 ME and no 12,500 lbs + or turbine time, what type rating would you pay for, if you could pay for any?

(The goal here to get entry level job at FBO or turboprop Part 704 / 705 operator.)

**February 12 2011** Update:

Just got a call from Pinnacle out of KLGA for an interview. I spilled the beans on all the big brother stuff they'll find out anyway: totally not current, older, two moving violations and a 297 FAR 135 that went less than optimally.

them: "no problem.. we want to bring you in"

me: "but I haven't flown in 10 years, I need time, can I push back the interview date & get some sim time in advance?"

them: "not a problem, we have interview slots every mid month.. if we don't call you for April.. then call us please by mid March."

So there you have it - and I still have not purchased the type. My sense is that I'm going to have to pay for some training before any interview vetting (they evaluate you in a sim) and the reason why I got called was that they probably just need people and my 2500TT and 500ME was "good enough" to begin the evaluation process.