Gama - First Officer position on Cessna 406
 

Hi,

I've recently finished my flight training with a FTO in the UK gaining my MEP, IR and CPL.

I've always wanted to fly the cessna 400's and have been looking around for any position.

I found on Gama's site that they are recruiting a captain and F/O for the Cessna 406, but the hours requirement for a light twin for the F/O position requires a hell of a lot of hours it seems for a light twin F/O.

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this as to why the hours requirement is pretty high for this particular job AND.......could anyone whos flown the cessna 400's possibly give any career advice/direction to where to possibly even do some pilot assistant work.

Kind Regards,

:ok:

Whilst 500 TT isn't too much for an FO I do think 250 ME is! It's not like it's flown single crew!!

Oh by the way, I believe the 406 is a turboprop so better than a light twin! :)

Does anybody know what is happening with this job? I applied months ago with far more than the minimum requirements but didnt get an acnolegment. Do they just need to update their website or are they still looking?

Captains roles have been filled now just about.

The FO positions are being filled over the course of the next six months.

Hour requirements are part of the contract, so no movement on them.

Website being updated today.

Although I present myself to be shot down, I do believe that operating a 406 or similar aircraft safely can be more demanding than operating larger aircraft. Therefore some experience is at very least highly desirable.

Generally the larger the aircraft the easier it is for pilots to fly due to SOPS, support, only large airfields, established procedures etc. Small aircraft are operated from less controlled airports and environments with significantly more captaincy and airmanship required.

Fly safe

MM

Agreed that 250hrs is ridiculous for an FO job on what is a single crew aircraft. Bearing in mind you could legally be flying it on your own with 700 hrs TT and 100 ME. I can understand min hour requirements for the lhs but not the rhs.

you might be missing the point. The minimum requirements for the aircraft have nothing to do with recruitment policies. Right now it would be possible to put a requirement of over 1000 hours and you'd still get applicants. There is an enormous supply of pilots with lots of experience and hours is just one way that companies reduce the potential training overhead they take on when employing pilots.

Some companies want pilots with lower hours because they stay for longer when things start to recover. Keep a look out for those and remember that most jobs like that get filled without an advert ever being placed. I've never got a job in aviation through replying to an advert (actually I've never had an interview!) and I think I'm on my sixth.

Good luck

The clue to all of this is in the Job spec on the Gama website. Without going into too much detail have a look as to the type of flying that this position is asking for. I agree the hours for a Caravan F/O are a bit high in response to he inital post about this, but it suggests there is a reason for it. Aerial survey work takes on many forms from geographical mapping to fisherie protection to double 0's in the sky.

Gama are a business/corporate outfit flying jets. We may have to think deeper as to the fact that this could be a contract that they have undertaken on behalf of someone and that someone could be setting the ''bar'' on hours.

To be fair that job has been up on their website for a while and with the website updated today as mentioned above, and the job still there, it may suggest that the role/roles aren't fulfilled yet. Worth sticking in an application regardless because they may not find candidates with the correct pre requisites. You never know. Plus if you're starting out and you manage to get in, there may be that possibility of transfering across onto their jet fleet in the future and start your jet career.

All that said..........good luck

I also applied many months ago and also exceed their requirements by quite a margin, and as yet have not heard a thing. the advert on their website is well out of date though; it mentions a Jan 2009 start.

thanks for all the replies guys - appreciated!

Will keep my chin up and keep working away in the meantime I guess.

Does any1 know where there would be any possibility of pilot assistant positions in the north or scotland?

What does GAMA pay its FOs & Capts for the 406 and for the Kingair air ambulance contract?

Sometimes you will find that the contract requires a set ammount of hours for the crew. I remember some mining companies setting super high hours for the crew that would be employed to fly them. If the aircraft operator wanted the contract they would have to come up with the crew that meet the requirements.

Hey Vulcan. Sorry forgot to answer the other part of your question. I have flown the 406 in single pilot ops. It is an awesome aircraft, I loved that thing. You might get a start at a company that has them if you are willing to move out of the UK. I think Fugro has quite a few on survey ops around the world. Try and get hold of the JP Fleet Directory and see who has them. You might be able to start somwhere on a 206 or similar and move up to the 406. Good luck chum, feel free to send me a PM if you need anything. Cheers.

This a/c is for a specific contract and the 'client' is very sensitive. High levels of security clearance are required and flying involves specialist skills. Could tell you more but then I would have to kill you ;)

King air pay £21 to £42 k depending on experience plus the usual extras.

Tough flying, not for the faint hearted :eek:

Youaintseenme :E

I'm reasonably familiar with the air ambulance flying there - I used to do it in Shetland single pilot in Islanders (there I was... 380 m strip.... only gooseneck flares at night....gales....unlit obstacles....ice & snow......no catering.....yada yada :p )

Just considering whether another move is a good idea or not.

You coming back Tinny?

If its surveying operations offshore,then this could be some of the most demanding flying you would see this side of having your license issued. Bank angles of 60deg at 60ft with a 40ft wingspan are not uncommon.

I used to work for an outift that had a 145 bolted on and used to look after the MAF aircraft, the guys used to brief in our ops and it was very interesting. Positioning up and down the country IFR outside CAS, 3 sometimes 4 radios on the go at once Marine/VHF/Tactical UHF and HF, 2 crew plus Observer meant good CRM was a must .

With all due respect for the nubes just out of Oxford, this isn't a job for Nubes out of Oxford.

Hi Flintstone

Not necessarily, but it never hurts to keep up with what's around. I'm eligible to apply for US citizenship as of a month ago so I want to start that process. Who knows how long they'll take? If I left the country now the clock would start ticking for eventually losing my permanent residency. With citizenship that's no longer an issue - which opens the options markedly. Just think: We would have access to Oz & NZ, UK/Europe, and US & its dominions and always have the right to return to any of them. Mini-Tinny will have that too as soon as I pull my finger out and get him his Oz passport.

Ill second G-SPOTS and MilesMagister on both points. I used to fly survey single crew offshore and its no picnic! Very accurate hand flying for many hours on end, sweating your nuts off in a dry suit. Not somewhere for a noob to cut his teeth. Now flying airliners seems like a piece of piss sometimes compared to that.

I was wondering if anyone knows what company Gama are recruiting for the Cessna 406 first officer role and whether or not the pilots are the same company as the operators in the back work for.
I work as a operator but my contract is soon coming to an end and I will be looking to move on.
Thanks in advance
p.s. please feel free to pm the info if it’s too sensitive to post openly.