Edited. Thanks

Check your PM's

Hey there, I'm new here, just signed up because I was pretty much in the same boat as you about a year ago and I thought I'd tell you my little story, maybe it can help you out.
So I dropped out of university (I was flunking out anyways ), took my savings and moved halfway across the country to Montreal. Man were my parents happy! I looked around for flight schools and started flying, enventually got my ppl, night and multi-rating. I got a job as a lineman at my flight school, which is also a charter company with King Airs and Navajos. Now I spend most of my time working on the ramp fueling planes, and the rest in the school's sim getting ready for my IFR. It's been hard, especially trying to fly as much as possible while working full time, but it sure beats living in my parents basement.
My advice would be to try and find a place where you can work and do your flying, sure you kinda start getting to feel like you live at the airport but you also get to know a ton of great people. My instructor's been awsome, taught me everything I know from the ground up, and helped me get my ratings fast. I've also learnt a bunch of stuff on the maintenance side of things while helping out the mecanics.
I don't know how far along you are in your trainning, but I started from scatch, I had 0 hrs this time last year. I would never have thought things could go so fast, hopefully in a few more months I'll have my instructor's rating and start doing what I really love for a living, (instead of freezing my nuts off on the ramp ) and after that, well who knows...
Good luck finding a place to work, and don't give up on the applications. With a little luck you'll find what you're looking for.

I spent two seasons on the dock with Stanton Air in Orillia while at College. It didn't lead to a job flying but I sure learnt a lot and met a bunch of really great people. What college are you at now?

Yellowknife is hot right now. A fellow/gal looking to work the ramp should only have to fax a resume in to secure a job right now, and work less than the two years it has previously been prior to checkride. Check PM.

Are you at Georgian? Good luck (if it is) with Sarah. The only thing that lady knows and will hep out with are the GTAA and YYZ ramp jobs...made me think what on earth was I paying for.

Wow one year later and yet another newbie looking FOR THE EXACT SAME ADVICE. Its actually kinda incredible. I find myself in the same situation as Hard Deck flyer and am seeking the same advice. The difference is that I have dropped the flying portion of my college program and am just about finished a degree. Took what I had left for what I would have used for IFR and have got my float rating and am building time on a 180 and should have 50hrs by the start of the season(250 TT). Currently working the ramp fueler for an FBO on the coast, unfortunately no charter opportunities, but occasionally some nice pilots to talk to as they pass through.
When do i get into my car and track down these float ops? Will they call before the season or after it starts? I guess I am looking for some more stories too about how things started for you. Its nice to know that I am not the only one out there and that there is hope of the horizon.

Thanks in advance

my first year i did the usual gig that everyone does, find a list of operators and fire off resumes, then follow up calls, and even second follow up calls, the job i ended up getting was just being in the right place at the right time and asking who might be looking for help, ive found that if your looking for a job and one operator doesnt need you, they will give you some people to see, and those people will have others to see, its like a union without the meetings...or the whiners

Harddeckflyer ,Check your PM'S.

Hardeckflyer posted that in Feb 2006 ... I think the guy looking for advice now is Cadismack who posted on the Feb 2008 ...

ressurected