Getting in the back door
 

I've decided that once I have my frozen ATPL (hopefully end of the year) I will apply to airlines not only for pilot positions, but also for positions related to my current non-pilot profession. My theory is that if I don't get in as a pilot I'll still have access to 'insider' info. Not sure how practical this is, but I'm willing to give it a bash.

Anyone else followed this route?

MR x

Loads of people have followed this route before you. It works in some airlines but definitely not in others.

Good idea. I know fATPL's working as Cabin Crew for target airlines. It can only help their application when they start recruiting flightdeck crew again.

By law the company must advertise internally for positions. Inform the HR manager that you are eligible for FO positions and he will ensure that the advert goes first on the company notice board before it hits Flight.

You might still not meet the minimum requirements but you would get first shot.

Consider jobs in Operations, Crewing or perhaps Despatching for the agent the target airline employs.

Good luck,

WWW

Then again I met the 3000 hr instructor who'd previously been employed in ops with a UK airline that couldn't get a flying job with same airline. He felt there was definite (if unspoken) policy of not recruiting from the "lower decks."

HP - thats interesting. I had never heard of that. Seems all employers are different.

WWW

Let's say somebody just finished their training with a fresh CPL/IR with 250 TT, he/she wants to work for eg KLM UK. But currently works as cabin crew at that airline.

If this airline is recruiting and their minimum requirements are 500 TT with 100 ME Time, does this person have an advantage??.

I followed that route and didn't get a job when they started hiring becuase my experience fell well short but would have got a shot if I had the hours.When I went back to them a few years later with a few thousand hours I walked in because of all the contacts I had made in the first place.Its amazing the people you meet when you are cleaning out the bogs.:D

Many people seem to target the bigger operators for positions when sadly, their minimums are way above what the person has. Perhaps it would be better to target the smaller operators that have taken on "low" houred guys in the past. More often than not, you'll get a much better grounding in all areas of operations and get a bigger insight into what goes into a flight/charter and so forth. You'd be "johnny/jilly on the spot" as well. Chances are you'd get to know the pilots better too and believe me, they know "who's recruiting when and where".
Also, never look past hangars and workshops. If new aircraft are on the way, engineers know first.
Just a thought.

Red's quite right. You may not know their names but go out and find those smaller operators. The IPA and Balpa employment newsletters are excellent starting points.

Good luck.

WWW