Is 500 hours true benchmark?

[Ilikebeaver]

I just started my new and first job flying floats in northern ontario. After the summer I believe that I will have just under 500 hours TT. What kind of entry level position would I be able to get with a small company or will I have to do another summer of time building? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

[co-joe]

It is a benchmark for AB health co-joe minimums. Not sure that's the career path you want but beats the ei snowboard team.

[just curious]

An astonishing number of companies consider it a benchmark, government programs, oil & gas companies, insurance writers, they all like the idea that statistically, you're a survivor, and B) not buried in bad habits.

Fill out your logbook, pour yourself a celebratory glass, and revel in the moment. Then take the time to summarize what you've learned.

At 500 hours I was just sending someone solo in Chatham NB, who later joined the air force and flew Hercs. The aircraft was a 172 C-GLRU. Later that day , I released a girl for solo who almost flew into the air-to-ground range in Gagetown while the CF-5's were firing. I ended up buying a lot of beers as punishment, but received a bunch in recognition of my time. At roughly the same moment the same day I was giving a safety chat with my new protégés, when a late forum poster, Duke Elegant swooped into Chatham from Dunphy, 45 nm away, with a TBM at full power doing about 450 knots. He told it better here:
viewtopic.php?f=51&t=196

Savour the moment. I still do.
JC

[Moose47]

"who almost flew into the air-to-ground range in Gagetown while the CF-5's were firing"

Do you actually mean the Tracadie Range vs Gagetown. While I was posted to CYCH, the CF-5's from Bagotville and Cold Lake did all their live there.

I was flying Captain Jim Seel's aircraft at Chatham Air Services as well.

Cheers...Chris
CFB Chatham October 76 - October 78

[just curious]

Nope, the weather sucked at Tracadie so 434 went off to Gagetown. My student got some sort of a joke plaque from 403, who intercepted her, and life went on.

It was a crazy and fun time, working for a Voodoo NAV who was never there to lean over my shoulder. Intriguingly, I made as much instructing in 1980 as instructors seem to today.

[petey]

It is a benchmark for AB health co-joe minimums. Not sure that's the career path you want but beats the ei snowboard team.

I know you were joking - but in all seriousness, if you can get on the EI snowboarding team, take it!

[ScudRunner]

Throughout my career there was always a magic number to get hired by whichever airline, somehow that number kept getting higher. Just a few I heard over the years.

@250 hours - We need 500 hours to meet xyz requirements sorry ace!
@500 hours - We need 1000 hours min for insurance
@1000 Hours - We need an ATPL pilot/We need 1500 hours for a quick upgrade
@1500 Hours - How much Multi time you got, ya we need at least 1000 MPIC
@2000 Hours - We need someone with turbine time
@2500 Hours - We need someone with two crew experience
@3000 Hours - We need a type rated guy
@4000 Hours - You pay what?? Sorry not interested
@5000 Hours - No profit sharing or benefits ?? Sorry not interested
@6000 Hours - Hey Chief, hire my friend hes good shit.

most of these benchmarks you hear are just polite ways to tell you to piss off we ain't hiring. However as others have posted above there are insurance requirements and contract minimums such as contrails operators need to meet. 500 hours is just the first hurdle you will encounter

[Wacko]

Throughout my career there was always a magic number to get hired by whichever airline, somehow that number kept getting higher. Just a few I heard over the years.

@250 hours - We need 500 hours to meet xyz requirements sorry ace!
@500 hours - We need 1000 hours min for insurance
@1000 Hours - We need an ATPL pilot/We need 1500 hours for a quick upgrade
@1500 Hours - How much Multi time you got, ya we need at least 1000 MPIC
@2000 Hours - We need someone with turbine time
@2500 Hours - We need someone with two crew experience
@3000 Hours - We need a type rated guy
@4000 Hours - You pay what?? Sorry not interested
@5000 Hours - No profit sharing or benefits ?? Sorry not interested
@6000 Hours - Hey Chief, hire my friend hes good shit.

most of these benchmarks you hear are just polite ways to tell you to piss off we ain't hiring. However as others have posted above there are insurance requirements and contract minimums such as contrails operators need to meet. 500 hours is just the first hurdle you will encounter

Wait, are you saying there's light at the end of the tunnel?

[Louis]

There is, but it flickers at times. And if you're really unlucky, its two lights one on top of the other