Bravo Employment

[wigwag]

Hi there all, Thinking of joining a pal of mine who is embarking on a citation barvo course at simuflite.

Question is, what`s the employment market like for a type rated bravo pilot? no time on type , but over 1000 hrs multi and 1600 hrs total,frozen. I know that Netjets require an atpl un-frozen but i was hoping for other employer oppertunities.

cheers

[JoeCo]

Good question wigwag. Especially if you are going to spend the money to take a course, you want to know if it'll pay off in the end. If you don't mind me asking, where are you taking the course, how long (ie. days/weeks) and how much. I'd be interested in your results if you can remember to post.

Cheers and good luck.

Joe

[wigwag]

Well the cost is about £ 14000 GBP all in with accom, and about 16 days in total with a base check to complete in the uk. Think i`ll be going to the usa if i can get throught he paperwork. Also hope there is a chance of employment too.

[GTJDS]

Get the job first and let the company you work for pay for the training no reason you should pay unless you got money to burn.

[bluesafrica]

Get a job offer first! Then, if the company do not pay the rating you can decide if the job is worth for such investment...
Blues

[Miles Magister]

It is a sad fact of life at the moment that there are very few companies who are prepared to pay your rating for you. Especially as there are already so many type rated pilots around.

The decision is yours alone, Good luck.

[mumble xp]

wigwag,

try contacting London Executive Aviation at Stapleford Airport, UK. Chief Pilot is a Mr Karl Ratcliffe. Smashing fellow and would be intersted in your friend as he is self financing his rating.

They do charter flights on bravo, CII and excel, mainly out of London Stansted. Good company to learn jets and GA with.Sorry can't furnish you with contact numbers as i am down the line in a corner of a a foreign field.

Best of luck.

[Munchie]

If a company isn't willing to invest in its employees (ie finance their type rating) I would question whether they're worth working for at all.

[BBCapt]

I agree with you in principle Munchie but many companies ( esp in GA ) have had their fingers burnt financing type ratings for Pilots who then take the rating and run, or break 'bonding' agreements.

Doesn't do 'our' image any good at all. I self financed all my jet type ratings and although some might say I was nuts, it was a careful choice on my part as a career investment. 'To thine own self be true.'

However, the basic advice is at least come to an 'understanding' with a Company before jumping in with both feet. Good luck.

[Miles Magister]

Munchie,

I disagree with you, in the politest possible way.

Margins in the GA world are so narrow at the moment that companies have to be careful they are not just sponsoring self improvers through their 500 hrs multi pilot time.

To all you chaps who are trying hard to start out. Most Chief pilots are really simpathetic and are keen to help, but you will only get out what you put in. Simple economics. Work hard and make a contribution and you will find there are people who will be happy to help you out.

It is an unfortunate fact of life that you will only get a job if you self fund. Do that, make a serious effort and there are people who will look after you.

MM

[wigwag]

Well firstly thanks all for the great balanced view points.

I think the common sense is as stated by BB capt "try to come to an understanding ".

Munchie, i agree whole harted with you, that after all the hours of study and pain (financial and emotional). that if a company isnt willing to invest in employees then give them a wide birth. This is true,in essence, but, when as pointed out by Miles, the current climate within aviation, not just GA, is for most if not all candidates to self type rate, then what are you going to do ? Join in or stay in a dead end job and never to progress.

I hate this insidious cancer, now spreding through aviation. Paying back loans is tough but to be looking at spending more money is hard to justify (especially to the bank manager), and where will it end? Sadly, you give an inch,and in some quarters of the airline industry they seem to be taking the mile.

It is a shame that so many and i have met many cap 509 people not willng to wait , but rushing to spend more money with type rating companies, yes this happend in past but indeed more and more are rushing in.

BUT, thanks to you all for the differing view points and mumbles i`ll get onto LEA and try Titan too, seem like a good outfit.

Safe flying all

:ok: