New CPL - getting started

[launchpad74]

I'm new to the PPrune gig. I've had my CPL for a year now and can't seem to land a decent job as a pilot (charter or other).:bored: I'm in South Africa, its pretty hard here. In Europe or US and other places one can get in as a FO on a B737 or A319, but here its get your instructor rating, build 1000hrs, in many cases it turns out to be the wrong hours as you need turbine and multi engine turbine etc.:ugh: Not everyone is financially set to keep paying for ratings etc. I am 32 and the envelope is getting smaller. So what do you do with a CPL and 250hrs? Any advice out there, real advice that works. I am willing to relocate (i'm single), do bush flying, island hopping, charters.....anything, just to follow my passion and dream, and to enjoy the privilege of being a pilot. Doing the Load Control thing any longer is gonna drive me nuts.
Thanks guys

[newcrew]

keep your nose clean

get a instructor rating ( "a good one" )...i have never known a good instructor who is / was without work....(IF YOU ARE TRULY KEEN AND WILLING TO INSTRUCT!!!!)

ME AND TURBINE WILL COME IN TIME

PUT A ADVERT IN AIRNEWS

NETWORK

JHB (AND NORTH) UNFORTUNATLY IS WHERE THE ACTION IS

ENJOY

p.s this is what i did now on 737.....i am sure there are other shorter / better ways.............

[BeechGecko]

It really is a b!tch getting that first job... especially in South Africa. I've heard people say that the South African market is the second most difficult market to break into, outdone only by Australia. An instructor rating is probably the quickest way to get your hours up initially.

Apart from that, just keep on trying and never give up! Do the rounds at Lanseria every week if you have to! Hand in CV's to every company you can find and eventually something will happen.

My reasoning in the beginning was I'm gonna give them so many CV's that they will hire me just to get rid of my CV's... It worked for me. The only way to get in is to make people know of you!

Good luck mate... :ok:

[Rude Boy]

Go to Maun, you might still be in time to make it in for this year's season.

206's, Islanders, Caravans

Good luck

[LongJohnThomas]

Don't you worry mate, jobs come and go!
I'd think you should give Arik Air a try, i hear they're currently looking for hands on the 733s.
This is if you're not too scared of the stereo-typical NIGERIA.
Quickest way to a jet job if you ask me?
Cheers mate!

[Torry123]

Hi, I just got my CPL and IR a month ago and I'm looking for That First Job.

I am considering companies in Asia and Africa, I have contacted some on the phone and emailed my resumes.

At one point I will buy a flight ticket and go knocking on doors. My question is, where do I go? I'd appreciate a tip of where is a a good place to go where a) I can meet up with, say, three operators and b) there will be at least some chance of catching interest.

I'm really not so specific where it is, I'm looking for flying and adventure :)

Short resume: Male, 35 years old, single, FAA CPL/IR SEP, TT 250 hrs, don't need to fly a jet

Any help is appreciated!

[John Miller]

Starting June issue, SA Flyer is running a monthly Job Hunter page specifically geared for new guys. First one is NAC contracts and the next is Federal Air. It relates starting salaries, hours needed, aircraft types and other stuff. :ok:

[I.R.PIRATE]

so you can read about what you dont have the hours for.

[launchpad74]

hi Torry. good advice from John Miller and also a point to note from IR Pirate. Yes indeed try Fedair and NAC. with Fedair you will earn peanuts!. NAC will offer contract work that could pay well. I avoided being an instructor as it was not my thing. If u feel ur up to it, then try FTS at grand central, Loutzavia at wonderboom etc. get your hours up to 1000 and then bail . . or you will get stuck doing instruction. Try Sefofane in Botswana and namibia and Zambia. there you could start on the C210 or C208. Asia would be tough considering ur new to the game. if you have 35k lying around, then propose to NAC, King Air Services or such to do a B200 rating if you are guaranteed a job. we all went through the same tough times with a new cpl. you would be doing the right thing by knocking on doors and meeting people. Susi air in Indonesia are always looking for pilots on the Caravan. but they sometimes ask for 4000 usd upfront as security for "training". Try Aviation@work in wonderboom. speak to Frikkie. he has caravans flying around in Tanzania and Namibia. good luck . .

[cavortingcheetah]

If airlines or aviation operators are expecting people to pay with their souls for type ratings as a prerequisite for consideration as staff then by demanding that Faustian compact those companies have surely forfeited the right to expect the victims of their industrial bully boy tactics to do anything other than lie, cheat and back stab in order to be able to profit in their turn from those ratings.

[vdaff]

I am also same like you, here in india airlines are asking money to pay for the rating infact they even ask to pay for selection...I am broke down. Someone pls tell me a way to get a job

[gchangflyer]

Ja,so you can read about the jobs you don't have the hours for...nicely said I.R. PIRATE...

[Torry123]

@ Launchpad, thanks! I plan to go to Namibia this fall for two - three weeks and check it out! Looking for that first job does feel like being hurled into a void at times, but it's €&%* exciting, too!

[darkroomsource]

2 or 3 weeks is not enough time, you're wasting your time and money. No-one I've talked with, or seen, has every been hired with less than 4 weeks in country. And the operators won't even talk to you if you're only staying 2 weeks. You need to be committed to this. And 2 weeks is not a commitment.

[Torry123]

From reading a lot of pprune posts, I've gathered that the best hiring season in Namibia is December - March. I think a good way for me to progress is to go down there this fall to get an impression of what it's like and to introduce myself. Then go home and decide whether I should commit or not, meaning making necessary the arrangements with my current employer. I can then be ready to go in January, as notice time in my country is three months.

On my CV is included working as a dive instructor in Egypt and doing volunteer work in India, I was hoping this would help convince that I am able to commit. I spoke with one Namibia operator who would be willing to endure my three months notice time if they wanted me on the team from seeing me this fall, but I guess staying there for longer inceeases my chances hundredfolds.


@ Darkroom, thanks for your comment. I need to make some smart decisions on how to proceed so it's not all a waste of time and money.

[Torry123]

@ Launchpad, the 35K for the B200 rating, which currency is that?

[uddaraju]

hi John Miller
can u give me sum mor information i have cpl (faa)

[Torry123]

...but I'll ask anyway.

Say I go to Namibia/Botswana/Tanzania for three months looking for a job, and say I'll actually get one. Generally, would one be allowed to go back home for say two weeks before starting to work? In order to move things out of the apartment etc.