Contract Flying
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Contract Flying
Not sure if this is the right forum but here goes...
I'm a wannabe (fATPL, CPL/IR etc).
Just wondered if any airlines effectively lay you off over the winter. I'm sure the holiday companies such as MyTravel and Thompsonfly etc go fairly quiet in the winter months.
Reason for asking is I'd like to keep a second career ticking over during the winter months...in case I loose my Class 1 medical etc.
Any advice appreciated.
Mer.
I'm a wannabe (fATPL, CPL/IR etc).
Just wondered if any airlines effectively lay you off over the winter. I'm sure the holiday companies such as MyTravel and Thompsonfly etc go fairly quiet in the winter months.
Reason for asking is I'd like to keep a second career ticking over during the winter months...in case I loose my Class 1 medical etc.
Any advice appreciated.
Mer.
Re: Contract Flying
Airlines normally hire you as a fulltime employee. I have known pilots who have taken periods of unpaid leave so they can go and do other things (such as fly warbirds on the European airshow circuit 
), but this is not always a good prospect for the airline, it may cost them more money to get you current again when you come back.
P.S. Your airline should carry "loss of licence" insurance for you so if you lose your Class 1 you have the money available to allow you time to change careers.
), but this is not always a good prospect for the airline, it may cost them more money to get you current again when you come back.P.S. Your airline should carry "loss of licence" insurance for you so if you lose your Class 1 you have the money available to allow you time to change careers.
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I still do consultancy in my old area of expertise for the equivalent of about 1 month a year. Working for a charter company easily allows me the time tio do this. There is no need to take half a year off. However if you want to do more than this you need to consider your future airline employer carefully. A LoCo or regional will have you working your socks off for them so little spare time for other pursuits.
As you are not finished training yet, my advice would be:
Get that first commercial job - any flying job. Gain experience and hours for a couple of years and if your roster allows keep your other interest going. Once you have the experience and hours for your long-term preferred airline apply to them and if you get in go part-time after a while. Most airlines will consider this without too much fuss. That will allow you to devote up to 50% of your time to your other interests - Any good for you?
As you are not finished training yet, my advice would be:
Get that first commercial job - any flying job. Gain experience and hours for a couple of years and if your roster allows keep your other interest going. Once you have the experience and hours for your long-term preferred airline apply to them and if you get in go part-time after a while. Most airlines will consider this without too much fuss. That will allow you to devote up to 50% of your time to your other interests - Any good for you?
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Yes, that answers a few questions. Thanks.
On the charter side of things is it the norm to work on say a Citation for eight months on short term contract ?
I take it contract work on say the Boeing fleet is out of the question because of line training costs etc...?
Mer
On the charter side of things is it the norm to work on say a Citation for eight months on short term contract ?
I take it contract work on say the Boeing fleet is out of the question because of line training costs etc...?
Mer
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I think we may not quite mean the same thing when talking about a charter company. By charter company I mean one of the airlines that works for travel agents and holiday tour operators, for example Britannia / Thomsonfly, First Choice, Excel, MyTravel and Monarch. Most of these companies fly less in the Winter, hence I have time to work on my other part-time consultancy work in the Winter.
As for contracts on Citations and biz-jets - I have no knowledge of that side of the industry so I do not know what their standard terms and conditions are.
However I can say that there are plenty of contracts, short and longer term, on Boeings and Airbuses if you are prepared to work anywhere worldwide. The Far East and Eastern Europe both seem to have a boom in opportunities for contract pilots at the moment. I do not know what the implications would be for line training and line checks. However, most contract opportunities state that applicants must be current on type and have a min of about 500 hrs on type - therefore there is no real chance of contracting straight out of flight school. You'll need another airline job to build that experience first.
As for contracts on Citations and biz-jets - I have no knowledge of that side of the industry so I do not know what their standard terms and conditions are.
However I can say that there are plenty of contracts, short and longer term, on Boeings and Airbuses if you are prepared to work anywhere worldwide. The Far East and Eastern Europe both seem to have a boom in opportunities for contract pilots at the moment. I do not know what the implications would be for line training and line checks. However, most contract opportunities state that applicants must be current on type and have a min of about 500 hrs on type - therefore there is no real chance of contracting straight out of flight school. You'll need another airline job to build that experience first.
