What are the chances?

[HN1708]

Seriously considering self sponsoring a rating for a Citation Bravo, though i'm worried about my chances of getting a job with only 400h TT.

Seems like a better investment than an instructors rating and cheaper than Airbus/Boeing rating, not to mention the Multi-Pilot time and a long desire to fly corporate.

Any advice?

[IHL]

Before you lay out the money do some research.
How many Citation Bravos are in your prosective job search area?
Will a company hire you with a type rating.

Maybe a King Air would be a better option.

[Phil Brockwell]

IMO a Kingair rating (as a single crew aircraft) is unlikely to get you a job.
Do a count of the types in the country you want to work.
Phil

[HN1708]

Thanks for the advice.

There's 20-25 C550 on the UK register and at least 5 operators.

Considered the BE20 as i have a wee bit of time on one as a pilot's assistant, but it's single crew and any second pilot job would not pay as well as Citation co-pilot and it's not multi-pilot time either!

My main worry is being able to pass the TR with low time and if it would affectmy chances of being hired.

Cheers

[Chippie Chappie]

HN1708,

If you are intent on going down the self sponsor path (you will have a lot of people recommending against it), why not chat with the operators first? Paying for a type-rating on spec is VERY risky (probably better odds in Las Vegas). Companies like LEA will only take you on if you have a type rating however, a type rating isn't the only requirement. So chat first. Someone may offer you a job without you having to pay for a type rating. Or worst case scenario, they might offer you a job IF you get a type rating. It's a big difference to getting one on spec.

Please note, I'm not recommending that you pay for a type rating. An instructor rating may be the way to go. It's hard yards but as I understand it, there's a lack of instructors in the UK at the moment. It would be cheaper than type rating and you could build valuble experience in dealing with people (in corporate, the flying only equates to about 20% of the job).

Also, don't worry about the multi-pilot time. It is only relevant for you to COMMAND a multi-pilot aeroplane and you are unlikely to get into the left seat with less than 500 hours jet experience.

Good Luck,

Chips

[drag king]

Seems like a better investment than an instructors rating and cheaper than Airbus/Boeing rating, not to mention the Multi-Pilot time and a long desire to fly corporate.

Wrong. The FI job keeps you in the loop where you are in close contact with GA operators if you fly in & out of a reasonably busy aerodrome. IMHO it's an ideal stepstone from which you can handle your CV's and get a bond for a TR (Maybe on that too-quickly disqualified B200) as it happened to me.

Best luck

DK

[dynamite dean]

get a lear 45 TR we need more pilots desperately at our place!

[HN1708]

Yes FI jobs keep you in the loop, but many operators still want a self funded rating with any offer of employment and £6-7K for a FIC is an expensive way of staying in the loop, not to mention the lower earnings for a new FI. Would love to fly a King Air, but seeing it's single pilot any co-pilot job will pay peanuts if they need a second pilot at all.
Bravo seems a good choice as the rating is cheaper at £11K than most multi-pilot jets like Lears.

I don't agree in principal with paying for ratings and effectively buying jobs, but more and more people are doing it and a lot of operators are taking it for granted. I can't afford to be an FI then self fund a rating (it's one or the other) like i see a lot of FIs having to do these days to move on- not that there's anything wrong with career instructing if that's what you want to do and are cut out for.
Thanks for the advice.

[Touchdown]

Go for it... I self funded a HS125 rating a few years ago when the need for crew was nothing like what it is now and walked straight into a job within a few weeks of completing the rating. Moved on from that now but it was a great start and probably the best thing I ever did.

So many companies looking for rated crew at the moment - now is a great time to take the chance! Just choose the type carefully, but you wont go far wrong with a citation!

[FL470]

Do not pay for a type rating! IMHO it is not the job of the pilot to provide the operator with a type rating - it is the other way around.

Yes, a lot of operators are looking for type-rated pilots. But the shortage of pilots is going to increase and the operators will have to pay for your type rating in order for their airplanes to be crewed properly.

You might wanna try the airline business for starters... It's a bit easier to get a job as a low-timer.

[CPTVOR]

Dont forget that even with the rating you will still be a 400hr pilot with zero time on type. For many employers this will be a no go due to insurance requirements/owner requirements etc etc. If you really feel this is the best way to go, I would think it best to approach operators and talk to them. Tell them about your plans/aspirations etc and see what happens. There may well be someone out there that needs a rated F/O and then you're in!
Good luck

[LRdriver II]

Anything is possible.. we hired a 400TT boy-wonder on the CL604 with typerating costs split 50/50 as this ensured some loyalty for a year or two hehe..
Hard work for us training captains but possible. I myself started with 350TT in a Citation so it would be hypocritical of me to say it cant be done. But the weaknesses I have seen amongst all our young (on type/TT) FOs has been radio skills in IFR (funny accents and slang along with rapid-rate London/NY atc gets you the "deer in headlight"-look).
But like they said, the rating isnt enough.. if you are a twonk to be stuck on the road with for a few weeks, then the employment wont last long either.