Career Advice

[YYZYUL]

Good evening,

I am looking for advice and trying to plan my next steps, and I would appreciate any insight. I am hoping to finish my Group 1 Multi-IFR in the next few months and start the next stages of looking for work. I understand that instructing is the ideal pathway, however, it would not be my first choice. I should finish my training with around 215 hours TT. I am hoping to hit the road and do a cross country tour in search of any opportunities.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers and happy flying!

[nohojob]

Well, why is instructing the ideal pathway?

That's what I did and it worked but the only case flight instructing would be the ideal pathway is if you want to make a career in flight instructing.

[YYZYUL]

It seems that building hours by instructing is the most recommended way according to what I’ve been told. I feel that being an instructor definitely requires the passion to teach. You can easily make or break the whole experience for a new student. I’m not opposed to it, but I’d definitely prefer aerial survey/northern flying if I got the chance.

I’ve been doing a lot of research, but it seems these jobs can be elusive. Any recommendations to get a foot in the door?

Much appreciated!

[canadian_aviator_4]

Don’t waste your time up North giving low cost labour in exchange to eventually fly. Instruct! I think it’s a pretty easy decision.

[nohojob]

So if northen/aerial survey is what you want, focuse on that. There are also dropping parachutes, banner flying, towing gliders fire patrol you name it. The bummer with instructing is that you have to pay for the rating.
Bottom line is what you need is a foot in the door as you righfully said. So my advice is try everything, as long as you get this 1st job, it's what really matters.

But yes, hitting the road to drop resumes is a goid idea.

[flyinhigh]

Good evening,

I am looking for advice and trying to plan my next steps, and I would appreciate any insight. I am hoping to finish my Group 1 Multi-IFR in the next few months and start the next stages of looking for work. I understand that instructing is the ideal pathway, however, it would not be my first choice. I should finish my training with around 215 hours TT. I am hoping to hit the road and do a cross country tour in search of any opportunities.

Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers and happy flying!

So the question is, what is your ideal choice?

That is all that matters. Go after what you want and don’t look back. Want to be a float pilot (best flying I’ve ever done) than focus on those operators and market yourself in a hard way to that type of operation. Wanna be an aerial crop duster, the same applies.

Depending on what you want, will determine how to prep and who to hit up.

[YYZYUL]

Thanks for the advice. My ideal job would be aerial photography or surveying. I’ll aim for that and start doing more research. Do you think it would be to early to start contacting companies? I would love to get my name in to have a head start after my training is complete.

[flyinhigh]

Start as soon as you can.

Work the ramp abit while you finish training, learn the planes so that when your time comes you don’t have to start at square 1.

[Loading...]

lol who told you instructing was the "ideal pathway."
As an instructor you basically dont fly, and you get no real world flying experience. Go up North and fly a king air. Work ramp to flightline if you have to. The best thing you could do now is start on the ramp somewhere, so that by the time your training is done you'll be ready to go.

[YYZYUL]

I agree with you, I prefer real world experience to get things going as quick as possible. It seems like the majority opinion asking around leads toward instructing, hence it being the most ideal way to building hours. However, it's good to know there are still alot of options outside of instructing. Looking forward to getting things going.

[‘Bob’]

lol who told you instructing was the "ideal pathway."
As an instructor you basically dont fly, and you get no real world flying experience. Go up North and fly a king air. Work ramp to flightline if you have to. The best thing you could do now is start on the ramp somewhere, so that by the time your training is done you'll be ready to go.

I told him that.

Let’s see.

Having to demonstrate and evaluate maneuvers perfectly rather than sitting fat dumb and happy on autopilot most of the time.

Having to exercise CRM in what is effectively a two crew environment.

Getting all of your requirements for your ATPL.

What does throwing bags for a year and being a gear and flaps operator for another get you?

And when the time came I had no problem flying up north other than the glare from the rampies who I bypassed and the other FOs who would have started ramping the same time I started instructing who were renting 150s and begging for PICUS to get their AAs.

[Cough Syrup]

I wouldn’t instruct unless you need to for first job.

[Loading...]

lol who told you instructing was the "ideal pathway."
As an instructor you basically dont fly, and you get no real world flying experience. Go up North and fly a king air. Work ramp to flightline if you have to. The best thing you could do now is start on the ramp somewhere, so that by the time your training is done you'll be ready to go.

I told him that.

Let’s see.

Having to demonstrate and evaluate maneuvers perfectly rather than sitting fat dumb and happy on autopilot most of the time.

Having to exercise CRM in what is effectively a two crew environment.

Getting all of your requirements for your ATPL.

What does throwing bags for a year and being a gear and flaps operator for another get you?

And when the time came I had no problem flying up north other than the glare from the rampies who I bypassed and the other FOs who would have started ramping the same time I started instructing who were renting 150s and begging for PICUS to get their AAs.

I would recommend that you get a flying job. So if its instructing or throwing bags, then yeah I would instruct. But if there was any other flying job you could get instead I would go for that. Because sitting right seat in a 172 is not ideal.

[YYZYUL]

Ideally, I would prefer to start flying right away. That is the goal. I will start the search now. Thanks again!

[khedrei]

From someone who did the instructing route, if your goal is airlines as quick as possible then dont go the instructing route. If you don't mind being up north and can find a flying job or have confidence that you be moved from ramp to right seat quickly thats probably better than instructing.

If you arent in as much of a rush, being a dedicated instructor will make you a better pilot (my opinion) and you can built time likely faster. But the time isn't worth as much to airlines.

There is a thread that details the benefits of instructing quite well.

Good luck.