Maritimes flying

[PARADISE]

Hello- Can a 250 Hr MIFR pilot find a job (ground, hopefully flying) in the Maritimes?? Any leads,info, tips would help out alot.

PM me if you like.

Cheers Paradise

[Switchfoot]

Hello- Can a 250 Hr MIFR pilot find a job (ground, hopefully flying) in the Maritimes?? Any leads,info, tips would help out alot.

PM me if you like.

Cheers Paradise

Forget working the ramp and get into an airplane! Stop allowing the employers to take advantage of pilots. If you can't find something back East then come out West.


Switchfoot.

[R2000/1830]

there is nothing wrong with working the ramp, that being said if you can find a flying job all the power to you. Don't stay east or come west, GO NORTH

[Switchfoot]

there is nothing wrong with working the ramp, that being said if you can find a flying job all the power to you. Don't stay east or come west, GO NORTH

If you want to load airplanes or fuel them then go ahead. I'd rather be flying them though. It just doesn't make sense to invest $ to work a ramp job. Get an instructor rating if nothing else.

It's too bad that this industry is such that people have to work the ramp. Nothing wrong with hard to work to prove yourself but you're better off to save the $50K on flying and just work the ramp if that is your ambition.

But hey, to each his own. I'm just throwing my two cents in.

[R2000/1830]

I learned a lot on the ramp and it took the chip off my shoulder that most pilots have, like the one on your shoulder. I do fly airplanes and no longer work the ramp, but I would do it again if I had too.

[Switchfoot]

I learned a lot on the ramp and it took the chip off my shoulder that most pilots have, like the one on your shoulder.

No chip on my shoulder. Perhaps I misunderstood the original post however it does not make sense to work the ramp only to prove yourself or have a chance at an airplane seat.

And R2000/1830, FYI, I flew several years with a company where my first job was pilot and my secondary duties involved hard work to fuel, clean, and help maintain the aircraft I was flying.

But just to work the ramp and not have and opportunity to fly is just plain backwards. If you train to become a pilot, then that is what you should do. If you train to be a rampie, then knock yourself out.


Switchfoot.

[Donald]

That's funny you know, I sit here and read:

If you want to load airplanes or fuel them then go ahead. I'd rather be flying them though

and I can't help but agree. Then I consider what if I had of turned down my first "ramp rat" job. At the time, I was told 6 months to a year of non-flying work MAY lead to a flight crew position. After working my butt off, and some lucky coincidences at the same time, I was flying about 2 months after I started. Now, a few years later and I'm in a good position all because I was willing to start out at the bottom.

The people that chose not to accept the same working conditions, or didn't try very hard at that job, well some have done okay and some haven't. The majority it seems, find a non-aviation job to pay the bills (bartending, construction, sales, etc) while they search for their "flying" job. Eventually, all of their licenses expire, or they start to make too much money in their non-aviation job to quit.

Having said that, you do still have to be careful about which companies you choose to "ramp" for. 1-2 years on the ramp for a position which is bonded and you fly 200 hours/year, is probably not a good deal. And I will freely admit that I got lucky, or at least I feel I did.

The maritimes? I'm going to venture out on a limb and say that is going to be a tough search. Charter/small-scale sched operators are few and far between. I can think of PE Air (do a search on here), Provincial (again search), Air Lab (I know it's not maritime, but close enough), and an operator based in YFC although the name escapes me at the moment. There are just too many roads and the distances relatively short to make flying feasible.

I would think if you want to return to the maritimes someday, consider gaining experience elsewhere (North, NW ON, West) and then when you have some time and marketable skills, bug some of the corporate operators. You'd be surprised how many companies have bizjets based in the maritimes.

[Switchfoot]

That's funny you know, I sit here and read:

If you want to load airplanes or fuel them then go ahead. I'd rather be flying them though

and I can't help but agree. Having said that, you do still have to be careful about which companies you choose to "ramp" for. 1-2 years on the ramp for a position which is bonded and you fly 200 hours/year, is probably not a good deal. And I will freely admit that I got lucky, or at least I feel I did.

For some it DOES work out. Consider yourself fortunate! There are some success stories, and good for you for achieving that! I also know of some who worked the ramp for 3-4 years with 250 hours TT and finally got into the right seat of a BE20. Well guess what, they will forever be stuck in the right seat.

Heck, we have folks applying to our company with 7000 hours and plenty of time in heavy jets with only 300 PIC. They can't upgrade. That would suck.

I just think it makes more sense to get some PIC time to achieve the final goal.

[Donald]

And I would agree that PIC is a golden thing on your resume and when it comes to your ATPL application.

However if you walk through the hangar door into an interview saying "I will not work the ramp unless you put me straight into an airplane", I think you will find yourself being shown the exit rather quickly at most establishments.

After awhile we will have all met someone who: started flying right away, or worked the ramp/dispatch for less time, or got a start on a better plane, or made captain quicker, etc etc etc etc. That's life isn't it? Enjoy the ride...

IMO, if you limit yourself to only jobs where you will fly without ramp/dispatch work first (when you have 250 hours TT), then you have limited yourself by quite a bit.

If you are worried about the "co-pilot" trap, i.e. the B200 co-joe that "can't upgrade", consider putting in your time and once you have some co-jo time start looking elsewhere for that PIC position. Now you will have some marketable experience above the 250hr pilots.

As far as the 7000 hours with time in heavy jets goes, well that is someone who has chosen lifestyle in the short term over the long term. Kind of apples to oranges don't you think?

[Switchfoot]

However if you walk through the hangar door into an interview saying "I will not work the ramp unless you put me straight into an airplane", I think you will find yourself being shown the exit rather quickly at most establishments.

Agreed. But I do feel strongly about standing up for yourself and deciding what is best for you. If an individual wants to work the ramp with the 'chance' of a seat, then so be it.

No doubt this is a difficult industry and you pay your dues. Even later on down the road with time and experience. I have no difficulty in getting my hands dirty in conjunction with the flying, but just ramp and no flying; NO THANKS.

Been there, done that. Earned my seat.

Tough road for the up-and-new-comers.



Switch.

[Donald]

Been there, done that. Earned my seat.

So why tell a low-timer not to do it?

[Switchfoot]

Been there, done that. Earned my seat.

So why tell a low-timer not to do it?

Because a licensed commercial pilot should not have to work exclusively on the ramp to have a 'chance' at a seat. How many times do I have to say the same thing?

[Radial]

PARADISE, from a former maritimer, it may be possible to find work there, but when I searched out east, I found that the pay generally sucked. Things may have changed by now, I don't know.
I had to go west...not sorry I did, lets face it, in this business you'll eventually have to move, lots.
Good luck on your search, finding that first job is a bit*h.

[jofo]

The company out of YFC is called Capital Airways, they are associated with the flight school.
Also one in Halifax, Maritime Air Charter, good company but only part time.