Twin Otter float plane jobs

[Tiger_ Moth]

Hi,

I was looking at TMA's site and the flying looks fantastic. It seems they accept 250hr guys in theory if they have a float plane rating.

Does anyone know if they are likely to continue to recruit over the next year? If so it may be worth my investing in a float plane rating.

Also would I realistically stand a chance of employment, as it says they prefer people with time on the Twin Otter, of which I would have none.

Thanks in advance for any helpful responses.

[EK4457]

Probably a silly Q but who are TMA?

[mikehammer]

http://www.tma.com.mv/HTML_Pages/index.htm

[Nearly There]

Trans Maldivian Air taxi service, in the Maldives

:ok:

Mikehammer beat me to it.

[Upslope]

WOW, That has to be one of the coolest flying gigs there is!!!
Good Luck with it.
:ok:

[bcfish]

The companies in the maldives have been legislated to only hire maldivians as co pilots, the only way to get on down there is having a ATPL and lots of float time...

[Biswendu]

think twice before jumping on to it, Capt. Rob chief pilot from Maldivians Air Taxi had asked me to go for float rating and once I came back the man showd me his back !!!

[zondaracer]

I spent some time in Victoria, Canada (really nice) and US Virgin Islands (Tropical but not so nice). There are a couple of outfits running Twotters on floats in BC and one in USVI (US And Canadian work rules apply)

Careers | Seaborne Airlines : Flights to San Juan, Vieques, St. Thomas and St. Croix (http://www.seaborneairlines.com/about-us/careers/)

[smith]

try this place, the scenery round miami is amazing.

Saw a bull shark from the air the other day, awesome.

Miami Seaplane Tours - employment (http://www.miamiseaplane.com/employment.htm)

[flybywire380]

smith - I'm guessing US work/employment restrictions will apply with that one .... ?

[smith]

Of course fbw, unless you know of any other way towork inthegood ol' USofA?

[Superpilot]

Above poster is correct, they only take foreign pilots who have a full ATPL and who can act as Captain from day one. You will therefore need in excess of 1500 hours (I was quoted 3000!). This is a regulatory requirement. They also require a crazy amount of float time which only those flying in the Caribbean/Hawaii/Canadian north will have. Practically that means they only hire Canadians and Americans. Webbed-feet are therefore probably common at TMA and I'm not talking about the sea life!

In a word, don't bother. Try Susi Air in Indonesia. I did and it worked :ok:

[sky&ocean]

Hi all,

Please allow me to bring some precisions concerning the potential jobs in the Maldives since I am currently working there !

First, it is true that unfortunately they will not hire any foreigners FOs since the government stopped granting work permits/visas for these positions.

Second, indeed the only way to get in is with the following conditions :
Captains
ATPL (ICAO)
3500 hours total time
1000 hours on floats, including 500 hours on DHC-6 on floats
6 "O Levels passes minimum 3 C's including English

Hope that will help those interested !

Cheers

[bumitch]

Bummer :{

[pez1]

Hi Sky&Ocean,

Is that restriction on foreign FO's a fairly recent thing?

Only I was on holiday in the Maldives 2 weeks ago and our FO on the shuttle flight from Lilly Beach to Male was German. (MAT-We had quite a nice conversation with him!).

[bumitch]

Pretty recent - this year I think

[walu]

Lovely place to work, the Maldives that is, things have changed in the working environment there but essentially it's still the most challenging and often blissful flying you will see on floats. To me it's industrial seaplane flying these days, extremely long days often, bad wx and sea state, crew can be very inexperienced, hotels not worth mentioning and time off that just vanishes too quickly....then for us expats that enjoyed a beer or two in our time off in our own apartments... Well you can forget about that now as well! It's been in steady decline the overall appeal of this work to me for sometime but the memories of the best commradery and flying will never vanish in my mind.
Now I've found another place to be content and miserable at at the same time but at least it's a profession that pays well when youve put your time in.
The co-pilots who are not Maldivian are guys and girls who've been there since before the Government enforced the nationalization programme some 18 months ago now.
There are some great crew there, both National and expat and the companies both have their pro's and con's so if you get the chance to work there enjoy and make the best of it.
Making the best of any situation is good advise for people willing to go out there away from their comforts and taking on new challenges and the same applies to the Maldives.
BTW it's Trans Madlivian Airways and Maldivian Air Taxi.

Cheers :ok:

[clknodl]

Hi Sky & Ocean,

I am heading to the Maldives end of the year. Starting at TMA for 4 month contract. Are you with MAT or TMA???