Take a turbo-prop job or wait for a better one?
 

I've got an interview coming up for a job but I'm not sure wether I should accept or not if I'm offered the position. I currently have about 2000h from instructing, about 400h of these are ME.

The job is to fly an older turbo-prop twin >20 tonnes but it will only get me about 350-450h per year. The pay is ok but nothing spectacular.

I feel my career might be slowed down a bit if I take this job although it would provide some much needed twin turbine time to my CV for future job hunting.
I might have an opportunity for an interview at a much more interesting company in the beginning of next year but that would mean that I have to decline this position.

Any input on this?

FFS take the damn job. How picky can you get? Certainty over speculation?

keeflyer

It's more or less a guarantee but you do make a pretty damn good argument.

Of all the people I instructed with we went on to 737, A320, B200, S2000 and D328. And threw are still stuck instructing, one miles from home. The turbo prop fliers seem to have WAY WAY much more fun than the two of us on jets.

My advice would be take the first job you're offered. You never know what will happen in the industry so take what you can when you can.

It's a sad fact that few people these days seem to move up the ranks on to jets. You either get straight on to a jet or your stuck turbopropping for a long time. It's just the way it is unfortunately. However I much rather be on a TP than still instructing - there are only so many trial lessons you can do in a week! I often feel that I missed out by not getting any TP experience, but I wouldn't swap where I am today.

Take the job. You'll never look back.

fa2fi

Why are the TP guys having more fun? is it the flying that is more fun in a TP or is it the company that is better?

And I've decided to take the job. I'll only work 4 days a week so I'll keep instructing on one of my days off, that should make for enough variation in the flying.

I'd say the routes and the general flying. A lot of their flying is Scottish Highlands and Island to some rather interesting places and not just flying from one vectored ILS to another. One is air ambulance flying up there too.

That's good to hear that you have accepted the job. Happy flying. Like I said, you'll never look back.

The word arrogance comes to mind
 

What a ridiculous question. Pilots fly aircraft. This is an aircraft and it will pay the bills. But if you are allegeric to turboprops or they are beneath you, then I you had better wait until someone begs you to fly a jet aircraft, one worthy of your status in the aviation community.

Truly, I hope this employer sees your ambivalence towards this job and gives it to someone who will appreciate the experience that this job will offer.

That one in January must be a G650 gig! Take the damn job. Nothing is guaranteed in aviation. If you have a definite offer of a job versus the sniff of an interview sometime in a few months, it's a no brainer!

Happy that you took the TP job.

I would die to have at least that opportunity to get to interview.

Almost all my classmates have now jobs because they come from countries where they only take nationals and have a lack of pilots so everyone with a license there will get a job.

I am not that fortunate. I just had one interview and wait already for almost 4 months for an answer if they would take me or not. Most probably not. That was my only sniff to a job in the last 3 years since I got my license.

As mentioned I would die for such a job. Flying TP is REAL flying. I understand of course that usually Jet Jobs pay better, but for your general skills TP is a lot better then flying Auto Land everyday with big jet. And of course the FUN Factor is extremely high on a TP.

Happy that you took it. Enjoy the flying and next to it the instructing.

On Tuesday morning they postedLater in the same post they wroteSo in the morning they had an interview to fly a turbo prop lined up and thought they might have a chance of an interview to fly a jet in the new year.

Later the same day they posted
So they came on PPRUNE in the morning, went for the job interview, got offered the job and by the end of the day had come back on PPRUNE to tell us they had lowered themselves enough to fly a turbo prop.

Who else thinks this could be a wind up.




If this is for real the answer is simple.

Take the turbo prop job, if a better opportunity comes up in the future then leave the turbo prop job, apologises try to leave on the best terms you can and pay off the bond that you agreed to accept for the type rating. You would have a bond wouldn't you because to pay for a type rating would be stupid thing to do?

Council Van this sounds like a job on a certain BAe made disaster with a certain Midlands based freight carrier. Now while they bonded in the past on recent contracts this lot were charging something in the region of 18k plus for a rating which is used no where else in the Northern or even Southern hemisphere.
So yes I think the poster does need to exercise caution on this one.

The OP did not mention paying for a type rating. Bond, Well I would take that, pay for an ATP rating, that would need some thought. However the first Multi Crew job is the hardest to get, turn that down for a possible interview in the new year. That is a big gamble.

I know a few lads who started at Atlantic, most who's next move was to DHL, it is a good start to your career.

I seem to recall that Atlantic wanted a 12k bond back in 09 to go left seat on the ATP, I got a better offer 4 weeks before I was due to start.

Bae ATP First Officer based in CVT and CPH-Latest Pilot Jobs-Latest Pilot Jobs

Type Rating

"The cost of the Type rating will be borne by the employee"

Looks like they are charging for the rating. Of course it may not be WA the poster was referring to, but old TP over 20 tonnes, only 350 hours a year not sure who else it would be.

I've seen this turn on it's head this year, the turbo-prop outfit I fly with has lost dozens of people to big jet operators, the industry seems to have turned on it's head.

Good times to move up the ranks, just make sure you're in a seat you're happy with when the music stops!

Thanks for the input guys!

I ended up landing the job. Seems like an awesome place!