Get another 100 multi pic and you can be a 703 chief pilot.FL-510 wrote:Okay here is my situation,
I have been working as a flight instructor in BC for the past two years. Currently have 900TT and 150 twin pic hours....
Seems many operators find that instructing isn't the best experience and with all these lay offs going on in Alberta, manitoba.... Getting that first gig seems harder and harder...
I would have the opportunity to go up north, be a rampie or dispatcher for 3-6 months and then f/o on a medium turbo prop.
what do you guys think is the right step, roll the dice or play it safe with the instructor job.....?
Thanks
What would you do? Advice needed
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Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience often comes from bad judgment.
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Hi there
I am planning to be a instructor therefore i might want some opinions from you. lol
2 years with 900 hrs, is it a average time that instructor will have in flight school? And what is the path does instructor usually going to eventually going a large company such as AC. Besides from being instructor, does it any other path that I can get my first step into this industry?
thanks
I am planning to be a instructor therefore i might want some opinions from you. lol
2 years with 900 hrs, is it a average time that instructor will have in flight school? And what is the path does instructor usually going to eventually going a large company such as AC. Besides from being instructor, does it any other path that I can get my first step into this industry?
thanks
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Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Hey FL-510,FL-510 wrote:Okay here is my situation,
I have been working as a flight instructor in BC for the past two years. Currently have 900TT and 150 twin pic hours....
Seems many operators find that instructing isn't the best experience and with all these lay offs going on in Alberta, manitoba.... Getting that first gig seems harder and harder...
I would have the opportunity to go up north, be a rampie or dispatcher for 3-6 months and then f/o on a medium turbo prop.
what do you guys think is the right step, roll the dice or play it safe with the instructor job.....?
Thanks
If you can "play it safe" until spring it might be a good plan. Plus like some of these other guys are saying, some more multi time won't hurt you. With that said, if a good opportunity presents itself, research it carefully and don't be afraid to take it. Don't listen to the naysayers about the instructing time. Opinions are like arseholes: Everybody's got one. Just don't forget to spend a fair amount of time demonstrating things to your students so you can keep current. I was an instructor a long time ago and never made it past class 3 or 4 (can't remember). I punched out with 1100 hrs and went straight onto a Beaver as CP. While that isn't likely to happen nowadays, flying is flying. The extra time I spent on instrument training and hood work instructing has saved my Bacon more than once while .. running at tree-top level in an Otter.
Good luck!
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Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Why do you have to work the ground?
Looks for operators that fly Navajos or small turboprops. 900hrs should be plenty to go right seat on a 1900 or Metroliner (but the upgrade usually is a year or two away).
I wouldn't take a ground job, that is for damn sure. That was not part of my advice. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground. Never ground yourself.
Be patient if you are going to move. Leave the ramping to the really low timers.
Have you checked out CMA?
Looks for operators that fly Navajos or small turboprops. 900hrs should be plenty to go right seat on a 1900 or Metroliner (but the upgrade usually is a year or two away).
I wouldn't take a ground job, that is for damn sure. That was not part of my advice. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground. Never ground yourself.
Be patient if you are going to move. Leave the ramping to the really low timers.
Have you checked out CMA?
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Unless this has changed, CMA is hard on the 1000 hour requirement. Anything below you will be considered a low timer. Had a few guys with 800 hours on the low time list during my time there.
I would hold onto the mpic job if I were you. Irrespective of what the instructor-basher's say, there will come a day where the mpic you are getting right now will actually count towards job requirements that have high pic requirements.
Also, if you have managed to pull off a Class 2 rating by 900 hours, I would presume that you must be a rather competent instructor. This will pay off later as described by others. You'd be surprised how natural the training captain role would suit you as compared to someone who may have all the exp, but inability to transfer the knowledge.
One thing I've learned the hard way is to enjoy the ride and not to be in such a rush to the next step. I still miss my instructing days and sometimes wonder if I left it too early. There will be a day that I will return to it.
Best of luck man!
I would hold onto the mpic job if I were you. Irrespective of what the instructor-basher's say, there will come a day where the mpic you are getting right now will actually count towards job requirements that have high pic requirements.
Also, if you have managed to pull off a Class 2 rating by 900 hours, I would presume that you must be a rather competent instructor. This will pay off later as described by others. You'd be surprised how natural the training captain role would suit you as compared to someone who may have all the exp, but inability to transfer the knowledge.
One thing I've learned the hard way is to enjoy the ride and not to be in such a rush to the next step. I still miss my instructing days and sometimes wonder if I left it too early. There will be a day that I will return to it.
Best of luck man!

Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Thank you for your input. I feel your post is conclusive and resumes a lot of what other guys are saying. I feel it is the safe thing to do, holding on to the flying job.loopa wrote:Unless this has changed, CMA is hard on the 1000 hour requirement. Anything below you will be considered a low timer. Had a few guys with 800 hours on the low time list during my time there.
I would hold onto the mpic job if I were you. Irrespective of what the instructor-basher's say, there will come a day where the mpic you are getting right now will actually count towards job requirements that have high pic requirements.
Also, if you have managed to pull off a Class 2 rating by 900 hours, I would presume that you must be a rather competent instructor. This will pay off later as described by others. You'd be surprised how natural the training captain role would suit you as compared to someone who may have all the exp, but inability to transfer the knowledge.
One thing I've learned the hard way is to enjoy the ride and not to be in such a rush to the next step. I still miss my instructing days and sometimes wonder if I left it too early. There will be a day that I will return to it.
Best of luck man!
Mpic is gold. I am a guy that likes movement, and it might be my impatient side that is looming in my mind... At the end of the day MPIC is golden and I will fight for the 1000-1200 hour range which will get me closer to the first turbine gig.
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Just to chime in on something here. While it's great that you have a goal of 1000-1200 hours before your first turbine gig, make sure you move onto the gig that is right for you. Even if it's not turbine.
Being in a rush to move on to my first turbine gig was a mistake, and I shouldn't had taken it. If my older version today was to speak to my younger version, I would have told myself to stay at my school to teach multi-ifr whilst enjoying my instructing career for while longer - as it would a) still get me to where I wanted to go as evidenced by my peers, and b) was a job that I got a lot of fulfilment/enjoyment from. Ahh ... what one would do to relive yesterday with today's wisdom eh?
Anyway, so the hearsay my peers would fill me in about the first turbine gig I applied to was how it's the best gig in town, great pay, everyone loves it there, etc (people who are all now complaining about their jobs btw, if not already moved onto greener pastures). Being young, naive, and easily influenced about how great this 200 knot job is, I applied, got the job, and quickly figured out that while the glory of flying a turbine was refreshing, the lifestyle associated with the job itself wasn't for me. I guess the lesson I am trying to pass along is not getting hung up on your first turbine gig, but to enjoy what you have. The next step will come when the time is right. And I promise you will end up at the spot you're meant to end up at irrespective of how you go about it.
This industry can attract you into a vicious circle like someone whose chasing fame. There's always shinier, greener pastures, more money / fantasy jobs out there than where you're presently at. Even when you've made it! So it has taken some time for me to realize this, but I've finally found that it's about enjoying each step, and holding onto the experiences along the way that makes my career rewarding. So my advice to anyone would be to "take the scenic route." A quote that didn't make sense to me when I was in your shoes, but a quote that I am learning to appreciate more and more as time goes on. When flying in the 705 world, you can tell who jumped through the hoops, and who enjoyed their route. The ones that bitch and complain a lot are usually the types that don't/won't ever appreciate what they have and are always looking for greener pastures. The ones that enjoy the scenic route are completely satisfied with their jobs because they are enjoying every moment/experience in it. And this is the 705 world we are talking about, so how on earth could anyone really complain when they are holding what is normally considered the higher end jobs?!??! So there's some chime involved with enjoying your career man. Do yourself a favour and don't fall for the trap of always chasing the next step. Ahh what I wouldn't do to fly a 172 and teach spins again - hence why I will return to instructing; just a matter of time.
Thanks for hearing me out - be patient, I need that reminder myself sometimes. In the meantime, enjoy being PIC
Being in a rush to move on to my first turbine gig was a mistake, and I shouldn't had taken it. If my older version today was to speak to my younger version, I would have told myself to stay at my school to teach multi-ifr whilst enjoying my instructing career for while longer - as it would a) still get me to where I wanted to go as evidenced by my peers, and b) was a job that I got a lot of fulfilment/enjoyment from. Ahh ... what one would do to relive yesterday with today's wisdom eh?

Anyway, so the hearsay my peers would fill me in about the first turbine gig I applied to was how it's the best gig in town, great pay, everyone loves it there, etc (people who are all now complaining about their jobs btw, if not already moved onto greener pastures). Being young, naive, and easily influenced about how great this 200 knot job is, I applied, got the job, and quickly figured out that while the glory of flying a turbine was refreshing, the lifestyle associated with the job itself wasn't for me. I guess the lesson I am trying to pass along is not getting hung up on your first turbine gig, but to enjoy what you have. The next step will come when the time is right. And I promise you will end up at the spot you're meant to end up at irrespective of how you go about it.
This industry can attract you into a vicious circle like someone whose chasing fame. There's always shinier, greener pastures, more money / fantasy jobs out there than where you're presently at. Even when you've made it! So it has taken some time for me to realize this, but I've finally found that it's about enjoying each step, and holding onto the experiences along the way that makes my career rewarding. So my advice to anyone would be to "take the scenic route." A quote that didn't make sense to me when I was in your shoes, but a quote that I am learning to appreciate more and more as time goes on. When flying in the 705 world, you can tell who jumped through the hoops, and who enjoyed their route. The ones that bitch and complain a lot are usually the types that don't/won't ever appreciate what they have and are always looking for greener pastures. The ones that enjoy the scenic route are completely satisfied with their jobs because they are enjoying every moment/experience in it. And this is the 705 world we are talking about, so how on earth could anyone really complain when they are holding what is normally considered the higher end jobs?!??! So there's some chime involved with enjoying your career man. Do yourself a favour and don't fall for the trap of always chasing the next step. Ahh what I wouldn't do to fly a 172 and teach spins again - hence why I will return to instructing; just a matter of time.
Thanks for hearing me out - be patient, I need that reminder myself sometimes. In the meantime, enjoy being PIC

Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Yeah! No kidding! Great stuff eh! Thanks a lot for that, I think I must just calm down my 22 year old's impatience and enjoy the ride!lownslow wrote:^What he said. Every word of it.
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
I was 22 once
Touched my first 705 machine then. So I come from a real place when I say first hand that you should take some time just enjoy what you're doing. I tell ya, if you rush, you won't be any more or less ahead of anyone. You just have to wait longer to progress at your job while it seems like other's are pulling ahead of you in the industry.
Some people are lucky and find themselves in a very fortunate spot in very short order. But the majority of us have bloody hands before we can say we have made it. Some of us with more stains than others. There's also that saying "The smarter I work, the luckier I seem to get." Take it with a grain of salt or apply it as you see fit.
Have a good one. Update us when you're a few months into your new job and tell us how it's going!!!

Some people are lucky and find themselves in a very fortunate spot in very short order. But the majority of us have bloody hands before we can say we have made it. Some of us with more stains than others. There's also that saying "The smarter I work, the luckier I seem to get." Take it with a grain of salt or apply it as you see fit.
Have a good one. Update us when you're a few months into your new job and tell us how it's going!!!

Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Anything beyond 1000 hours instructing really is useless, unless it's all multi pic.
Instructing is a good foundation to learn, if your going up north (which is what i did and recommend you do the same) go with an attitude you're there to learn. That is a problem for some instructors, which painted us all with the same brush.
I may try to find somthing where there is no ramp position, but three months really isn't too bad. Just make sure this outfit has a Rep of quickly advancing their ramp workers.
Having the pic in your log book will also advance you faster.
Good luck, it's time to get out of instructing.
Instructing is a good foundation to learn, if your going up north (which is what i did and recommend you do the same) go with an attitude you're there to learn. That is a problem for some instructors, which painted us all with the same brush.
I may try to find somthing where there is no ramp position, but three months really isn't too bad. Just make sure this outfit has a Rep of quickly advancing their ramp workers.
Having the pic in your log book will also advance you faster.
Good luck, it's time to get out of instructing.
The feet you step on today might be attached to the ass you're kissing tomorrow.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
Chase lifestyle not metal.
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
If you take a ramp job now expect to be there until next spring. Having said that I would still do it!
In the meantime put 1000hrs total on your resume and over the winter write your ATPL exams (and put that on your resume when completed)
In the meantime put 1000hrs total on your resume and over the winter write your ATPL exams (and put that on your resume when completed)
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
Not sure if this is worth considering, how are the rest of the provinces as far as advancement for rampies? No doubt if you have in the vicinity of 150-200 (guessing that number) pilot's laid off due to oil and gas, they may be saturating jobs that would normally upgrade internally, even if outside of AB? Just food for thought if accepting a ramp position at the moment.
At the same time, if going north is something for you, I've heard that it's a good option as well.
Either way, have fun!
At the same time, if going north is something for you, I've heard that it's a good option as well.
Either way, have fun!
Re: What would you do? Advice needed
I think I heard Discovery Air is asking for 750TT and probably about 100MPIC for fire patrol in Ontario if you REALLY need to get out of instructing. As I understand it they usually hire all through the season.