Whats the job market like at 1000hrs and a MIFR?

[justwanttofly]

Hello,

Just wanted to see what the job market is like right now for someone with 1000hrs and a MIFR. Are people finding jobs out there? I have come to a crossroad where I could make good money doing something non-aviation related or continue to slug it out with people waiting for that first turbine job. How much perseverance does it take and when is it time to call it quits..... Who has had to make this decision and what is your best advice?

Also, how much of a hindrance would it be to take a year off then come back to flying?

[leftoftrack]

Hello,

Just wanted to see what the job market is like right now for someone with 1000hrs and a MIFR. Are people finding jobs out there? I have come to a crossroad where I could make good money doing something non-aviation related or continue to slug it out with people waiting for that first turbine job. How much perseverance does it take and when is it time to call it quits..... Who has had to make this decision and what is your best advice?

Also, how much of a hindrance would it be to take a year off then come back to flying?

Take the money. It won't buy you happiness but it will put you on a boat so you can pull up along side it

[fish4life]

I would say the job prospects are pretty good

[B52]

Dito,
I've seen quite a few junior instructors, as I shall call them,
go to a turbine job on a few hundred hours with little multi experience.

But, if you are thousands of hours multi turbine and instructing,
it's a lot easier to get a job on a King Air than it is to get a job
instructing.

I'd agree with the last post.

Remember, flying is more about losing money not making it.
If you want to make money, there are other careers.

[Changes in Latitudes]

Hello,

Just wanted to see what the job market is like right now for someone with 1000hrs and a MIFR. Are people finding jobs out there? I have come to a crossroad where I could make good money doing something non-aviation related or continue to slug it out with people waiting for that first turbine job. How much perseverance does it take and when is it time to call it quits..... Who has had to make this decision and what is your best advice?

Also, how much of a hindrance would it be to take a year off then come back to flying?

Take the money. It won't buy you happiness but it will put you on a boat so you can pull up along side it

That's funny, I was once in the exact same position and was told to do the same thing: Take the cubicle and join the rat race. I didn't, I stuck it out and my boat is in the marina at the moment. If the goal is to fly for a living and to do well at it, ask yourself how taking a year, or any other amount of time off is going to help.

It's going to take all of the perseverence you can muster and only you can decide if that is worth it.

[Kapitanov]

To me, it seems that it is still pretty hard to find a job even at 1000 hours. In fact, when you have 500 hours, they tell you they won't hire you before you have 1000 hours and when you finally have those 1000 hours, they now ask for 1500 hours or turbine experience, etc.
Finding your first turbine job has more to do with luck, timing and who you know then having the so-called 1000 hours. I mean, some guys found that job with no or little experience (only a few though), so hours is not always the main criteria for getting hired actually.

And every time there is a job post asking for 1000 hours, you can be sure that there will be guys with 2000+ hours applying for the same copilot job on a turbine as you... So, if you have no contact or you are not the one with the most hours, you get unnoticed...

[esp803]

I never understood the fascination with turbine time. Easier to fly, less stress, more power.... instead of looking for "that elusive first turbine job", perhaps try looking for a job that simply gives you a better lifestyle, be it more money, better schedule, or a friendlier atmosphere.

E

[garfield]

I never understood the fascination with turbine time. Easier to fly, less stress, more power.... instead of looking for "that elusive first turbine job", perhaps try looking for a job that simply gives you a better lifestyle, be it more money, better schedule, or a friendlier atmosphere.

E

Samething for me, never undestood that.

There's even a greater fascination about ``jet`` time and it's easier to fly than a turbine!

[Krimson]

For the most part, the "better" the plane, the better the schedule. I could care less what is easier to fly, but I would care about moving on to a better position.

[justwanttofly]

Thanks for the replies. There's something appealing about flying a turbine. That's likely because all I have ever flown is pistons... It seems more and more like finding a job flying turbines is similar playing the lottery.

What non-turbine jobs can someone expect to find with 1000hrs?

[SuperchargedRS]

If you are going to give up after 1,000hrs you're sorry, and likely won't make it in any industry.

You should already have a idea where to look with your hours.

If I were you I'd start calling up drop zones, that would be the fastest way to put turbine hours on, also polishes those stick and rudder skills up.

[ba31pilot]

justwanttofly...I know that West Wind used to look for 800 hr guys for the mail run on the piston 401/402 fleet. I would think that with your multi-IFR and 1000 hrs, you would still meet their requirements (although it has been a few years since I was there). I would also think that SunWest would look at similar hours as they have similar mail runs with their navajo's. Build multi-PIC time and get your foot in the door with companies that offer room for growth and diverse experience.

Best of luck!