Working in the UK

[leee]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what kind of hour requirements most companies want for new hires and is there a certain time of year that companies have an employment drive??
Working abroad at the mo ( yep i know i have to convert ) but it would be nice to have an idea of how many hours i would need if/when i come back.

Cheers Lee...:O

[Slotty]

Lee,

You need a minimum of 300 hours if you want to Instruct back in the UK and a good figure would be 500 to 1000 for this and other types of work with as many turbine as possible, what type of work are you looking for? What are working as at the moment?

Not sure about North Sea as it can change all the time, best give them a call, but seems a lot of peolpe are getting JAA IR(H) these days before applying!!! Loads of Money!!! Cheapest £28K.:}

No real good time if theres a job, Spring is generally better.

[leee]

Thank you for your reply slotty although it makes me feel a bit sad that 255 people read my questions and only one person could bother to try and help a fellow pilot.

As for your question i currently have 1200 hours ( a small amount turbine ) I was thinking about instructing but would prefer some other kind of work, maybe police maybe news copter, dont think I would have to time or experience for EMS yet.
But basically I was hoping people would share their experience and give me examples from where they work and the type of work they do/

Cheers Lee...

[John Eacott]

Leee,

Don't forget that out of those 255 readers, a majority (such as me) are not in a position to advise on working "in the UK".

If you are after what people do, there is a separate thread on that very subject ;)

[leee]

Hi John,

I am not after what people do, what i meant by my second post was ie " i work for X company and they like pilots to have x hours" or "i fly charter around London and most companies want x hours" no deep details just a general overview of hour requirements so i won't end up going home just to find my self unemployable.

Cheers Lee...

[Thomas coupling]

Leee: we can't have you wandering off...sulking now can we:(

Generally (and I used that word carefully):

Charter helo work: 1000+ for small company (perhaps even less for mickey mouse outfits).

Corporate: 2000+ and IR + twin+ night.

Emergency services (Uk that means only EMS/police): 2000+ twin time + night and bolt on bits occasionally such as previous experience, mil flying etc. Not compulsory, but an unwritten rule.

Flying training: 300+ depending on type of training.

Agri: not sure, but <1000.

Powerline: 1500+

Offshore: 1500+IR+twin+night (probably >2000 for captain)

Basically, to tap into the reasonably well paid end of the spectrum, you really do need a JAR CPL (IR), ATPL(H)IR.

There is no "hiring season" for a long term pilot. If you want seasonal jobs then obviously that speaks for itself.

Fly safely:)

[McShrek]

Hi Leee

Working in the UK; Thomas's reply seems to have just about summed up the ball park figures people ask for over here, (Offshore captain 2500hrs). The north sea has no apparent fixed lower limit for co pilots, especially if they just need bums on seats. The rest are a good guide, though I will say that if you ended up in the right place at the right time it almost doesn't matter how many hours you have, provided you have the right pieces of paper.
They are however probably the most expensive peices of paper you will ever purchace. Don't want to discourage you but...CAA doesn't stand for the Committee Against Aviation for nothing.
To that end, can you or anyone else point me in the right direction to do some fire fighting, (obviously given the season South would be a good way to go). How would I go about getting validations and visa's etc to work the season in Australia for instance. There isn't a whole lot going on in the UK just now and I'm very keen to spread my rotors, so to speak.

Good luck all and fly safe.

[leee]

I wasn't sulking, my bottom lip was just dragging a bit:O
But any way, cheers Thomas that was just the general info i was looking for, the hour side should be ok but need to work on a plan to get the twin endorsement!! and i didnt mean i wanted seasonal work its just in the states and Canada March ( give or take a couple of months ) is the time companies start to look for pilots.

McShrek, I dont know about Australia but British Columbia is pretty busy with fires right now around kelona and kamloops, for the visa part i know folks come on a student visa ( sometimes works, sometimes doesnt ) or if you can get a job offer to fight fires you can get a work visa as it is for "the good of Canada" that you do.
I came to Canada with a FAA licence and converted to a Canadian in two weeks, exams were pretty straight forwards. You may shave time off that by getting your medical before you arrive as you can not take the written exams until you do( also the culhane books are ok for test prep).
America also has fires around california and arizona ( so i am told)not sure about the visa procedure now ( i would think you can still get a J-1 student visa from a school do your conversion, then you can work for the rest of your visa ( normally two years))


Hope that helps.

Cheers Lee...

:ok:

[Winnie]

Leee

You going home now?
And where have you been flying the last year?

Remember me?
Your former instructor?:ok:

[leee]

Hi Harold,

Hows it going?? Still in Gander or back home??

I'm not sure if i am going home or going to go through the imigration stuff. going to give it another year or so and then decide.
I am working in northern alberta at the mo on a 44 ( hopefully will be on a 206 soon as well )
Just moved to edmonton, claire transfered with work again so that has all worked out well.
So i am going to see what a winter is really like!!!!!
But just trying to find how many hours and type of hours i need to get a job if i do go back home and pay all that money to convert.

Any how, tell me what you are up to.

Cheers Lee...:ooh:

[Winnie]

Cheers

Still here in YQX, but unsure what to do now, may stay on if I get some 206 work, soon, or go home to the great ol' north sea, for some offshore. Kinda unsure, with all variable aspects and so on!

See ya
Cheers
Harald