New CPL - how long did it take to find your 1st job?

[cptn2016]

I'm just wondering what the average timeframe is from getting your CPL, how long did it take of pounding the pavement and looking before you found your first paid flying gig? I'm particularily interested in those that had a float rating and/or went to work in the bush.

Was it part-time or fulltime?
Did you have a second job?
Did you have to move?
I understand a lot of it is who you know and the impressions and relationships you build up to that point, but if anybody has stories or anecdotes to share, or advice, I'd be interested to hear it.

Also, would you do things differently? Would you have saved money instead of taking out a loan, for instance? Or gotten your multi-IFR first? Things like that...

[CPLMike89]

From CPL flight test to my first time flying for hire was 1.5 years. I had the CPL/float at the time and went straight to the ramp working for two different companies but no movement. Left the ramp moved back home was in the right place at the right time and started flying full time for a 702 operation. Would I do it differently? while the time on the ramp sucked I met alot of good people and had some great times so no I wouldnt. Anyways best of luck in whichever path you take.

Mike W

[electricalfailure]

After completing CPL, I was soon after offered a 703 position at our establishment. The instructor that taught me from start to finish was also in charge of our 703 AOC. He might have had inside knowledge of my overall conduct as a pilot. It has been a good fit for me. On call, fairly busy in the summer with fire detection flying. I have a good job with a very supportive boss elsewhere, and he allows me to go perform short notice charters without a fuss. I come back and make up the hours in the evening,(when possible). Overall, I make a comfortable living for me and my daughter, and continue to learn each flight. The drawback, is in the off months, I fly infrequently. And usually get called the one nice day each month, to do a charter across the water in less than perfect weather. Or a photo flight in some good wind with 30 degree plus orbits. I only have 500 hours. And it is a challenge each time I get a call to go. Ive said no to flights to aerodromes in the winter with notam'ed poor CRFI, and been heavily criticized by the customer about it. I dont want to explain to them the exact effects of what the current weather could do to us, (land and barrel off the runway) but rather stand firm with the fact that I dont think the weather is conducive to a safe flight.
This position has taught me decision making, more than anything.

[The Old Fogducker]

Did the ride in the morning in Sault Ste Marie with an Inspector from the Toronto office, was faxed a temporary licence, then flew my first paid flight after lunch on floats doing float plane rental checkouts and basic float rating instruction ... (CPL + 50 hours on floats.)

I'd been lobbying for that job for about a year before it came to be .... developing contacts, lots of talking to people, hanging around the float base, making coffee, buying a beer or two in the evenings, doing my best to "fit in" and be a part of the organization, helping the guys dock or fuel ... just being a set of competent hands around the airplanes.

That lobbying (or grovelling, depending on your point of view) .. eventually turned into a promise of the job "if I got my Commercial."

I was fortunate that float time was available to students and renters in Sault Ste Marie at Partridge Point at a place called "Algoma Airways" on a couple of Super Cubs and a Super Cruiser.

Those were good times.

The Old Fogducker

[Adam1100]

One year and counting.

[loopa]

From CPL flight test it took 1 year and 10 months. But I was shooting for instructor jobs, so I think you have to look at the instructor ftest, which took me 6 months.

Keep your head up, smile, network, and don't forget why you got into this industry!

Cheers!

[Fly Boy]

Multi-IFR Float, IATRA written, 2 months and counting......

[sounder]

8 months to get on a 185 on floats

[KK7]

Two months to get a revenue flight, but that was just a one off. 6 months for a part time position instructing, 10 months from CPL to full time position instructing. However I was already working as dispatch at the school I was brought on to, did my CPL and my instructor rating there, and was essentially hired before doing my instructor rating, but had to wait for a spot to open up.

It is sometimes all about being in the right spot, at the right time, and a little bit of luck. Of course it matters if you have a good attitude and good work ethic, but once you have that, you need the former to get the job. The story of my career has been all about luck, right place and right time, I could just as easily have been unemployed for the past 10 years!

[cdnpilot77]

Did my cpl flight test at 7pm on a friday night, was on a plane to YQT from YYZ monday 8am for my dock job which was the summers of '08 and part of the summer of '09. Was out of work for 1 yr to the day before getting a full time flying gig in a 172/180 on floats in June of this year. On my second flying job now and loving every minute of time behind the round engine. Wouldn't trade the heartache, headaches and struggles for a minute to be where I am at!!

[hairdo]

4 months. Though I was doing my instructor rating during that time. About 18hrs after my instructor ride, I was doing my first rev flight.

[Big Pistons Forever]

While I was in the air doing my Instructor ride one of the Instructors at the school got a telephone call from a charter operator saying he had a spot on the Ho if he could start his PPC training the next day.

After my ride I walked into the office and the CFI said "Bob just quit effective immediately, If you passed you start this afternoon " Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good

[ahramin]

2 years from when I got my multi-IFR done doing road trips through 2 provinces every six months and making phone calls in between. I had a good job in the meantime though so I turned down a couple of shady jobs before a good one came along. $40 a day to sit in the right seat of a ho just seemed ... stupid.

[square]

6 months looking, 6 months on the ramp. Flew 600 hours that summer.

[cptn2016]

Good stories so far, keep 'em coming!
Sounds like unless you get lucky you gotta keep at it for 6 months to a year at least...sort of what I expected, but there seems to be quite a few of the lucky ones as well that were just in the right place at the right time.

[KAG]

I had a job working the ramp for Wasaya within two weeks of graduation. The funny thing is I didn't even apply, the ramp manager called me on the recommendation from an instructor at my school who had a job lined up but didn’t want to go. I went, lasted 3 months and went back east to do my instructor rating. The day I finished my rating I had a job lined up, again from people I knew/met along the way.

Almost every job I’ve had I got because of people I knew and friends I’ve made.
The others were right place, right time, luck or experience.

I'm a firm believer in making your own luck. Your not going to land a job sitting at home firing off resume after resume, you need to shake hands and introduce yourself.

[gaamin]

11 months after my CPL ride / 8 months after my MIFR ride / 1 week after my FIR ride.

Full-time flight instructor. No time for a second job.

I had moved to do my FIR here in Pitt Meadows after having previously switched schools to do the MIFR in Winnipeg instead of Steinbach.

Had I know this school here before, I would have done my whole training here. I would also have done multi-VFR, 50h float and aerobatics as part of the CPL instead of a full MIFR that just elapsed without being used.

[Chaffey]

less than 1 month after CPL and Multi IFR - RAMP
less than 1 month after Instructor rating - Full time Instructor

If you have what the employers want then you'll be picked over someone who still needs training. Luck and Good timing is everything. I went door to door until someone hired me. Bring some work gloves or lesson plans, depending on what job you're going for and hope for the best. Besides, Road trips are fun!

[bandaid]

I wasn't looking for a job when I got the one I have. Thirty one years later I wish I had been a fireman.

[mattedfred]

I was offered 2 jobs prior to graduating from an aviation college with my MIFR. I had also done my float rating on my own time.

I have had to move for almost every job.

I'm on my 8th location in 15 years.

[peakbagger]

3 months from finishing my MIFR ride to flying full time a 180 on floats. A whole lot of shit sandwiches in those three months though. Basically it was just being in the right place at the right time.

[jdmh]

Multi : CPL : IFR(coming in the new year everyone just left)... i got my CPL in August...

I have a job lined up if I get tailwheel time

[dieselbro]

Got my CPL, Multi-IFR, Float Rating as well as the IATRA written in June 2010. Still looking for that first flying job so thats 6 months and counting. Currently working on the ground for a company that has a plane I can rent at a very reduced rate, however there is no prospect of me getting a flying position with them.

[aviator2010]

hired by jazz out of school

[Big Pistons Forever]

hired by jazz out of school

In what position ?