FB
Agree completely with you an all that have posted on this thread. From an owners point of view I see our CP blood pressure rising slowly over the last few years as it seems that newbies come demanding a job with the attitude of what can you do for me not the other way round.
We have always had a policy of giving pilots first job in the industry. We take our responsibility of giving back to industry very seriously and as an owner it's a great feeling when you invest a lot of time and frustration in developing a newby into a confident strong experienced decision maker, with great stick and rudder, skills to see them move onto the next stage of their career. We have had a feeling of pride a lot of times to board a heavy somewhere in the world to hear a familiar voice and name then have them thank us for the start and tough love and basic commercial skills.
Newbies come into this industry with a dream that's what drives every one on. However loose the attitude. We don't care about ATPL in fact you are rubbing our nose in the fact that we as charter employers are only a step for you, that you will leave us as soon as you can. A lot of our past employees have gone onto do ATPL after 1000 hours of charter time and said they are so glad to have done this later as so much made more sense after doing real commercial time and helped them into RPT as it also refreshed them and helped revisit areas of op's they knew they were deficient in.
Come to your first job as a blank canvas. You have basic skills, remember you are starting as an apprentice. Your main job is to make your boss money so he can stay in business and give the next pilot a job.
The most important skills you are about to learn is about profitable operations. How you treat and look after your tools(aircraft), how to profitably manage fuel and plan for high stressful situations. How to adapt quickly to changing situations and remain professional and smiling the whole way through.
There are so many things that are to be learnt in small charter that are just not taught in textbooks or cadet ships. Unless you are a natural gun and breezed through all CPL subjects with high 90's on first attempt and found all your practical flying and planning easy go for a cadet ship. If not, then sorry charter miles is the only way up.
To go north hunting a job this is basically what you will require.
100-200 command time. We look at TT to judge how hard it was for you to learn your basic skills and if you have spent to much duel time training then you are best looking for another career as whoever has trained you never gave you that advice an just plainly stole your money.
20 hours on a 200 series Cessna will be an advantage. (Insurance minim times are getting tighter.)
Willingness to sweep hangers, pickup freight,refuel aircraft and turn up for work each day happy with a smile.
Come with an attitude of, what can I do to help, will get you in the door. Prove you want to learn. Ask lots of questions.
Apart from a few bad operators that most rumour mills know about most operators are not there to rip you off with cheap labour it is a way of trailing your keenness and patience. When a spot is available you will be first in a seat. Don't expect big wages for a start as it costs us a lost seat or freight weight to put the CP in next to you and usually longer days, the operation still has to balance books. Your wages will increase as your skills do.
Hope this gives some insight into employment from the other side of the fence. We generally all love to fly and the industry as much as you. We all started at the same basic level. Some of us had a dream to run their own business other to hand on their skills to others and other to fly the big things around to world. It's a responsible job as lives are involved at any level. No other way really of getting were you dream easily. It's hard work, miles and willingness to learn that will make your career.
Last edited by Mick Stuped; 19th Aug 2013 at 07:17.