1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

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Laxputs
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1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Laxputs »

Looking for your advice. I'll be laid off in October, with two seasons of flying under my belt. I'll have over 1100 hours TT and all PIC except for the original training. 300 hours on floats, the rest are wheels, C206-turbo. Should I take my MIFR this fall or should I take the caravan course/flight safety course in Wichita? I can't afford both. If I took that course I'd have a PIC Caravan job by the spring time whereas if I get my MIFR I don't know what I'll do. Any other thoughts? I imagine PIC jobs are going to be tough to find this winter... I wouldn't mind working in the Carribean just don't know if I'd be a candidate.

Looking for any general advice. My goal is basically to move up in the aviation world, not work in the bush or secluded areas anymore, and earn a more reasonably wage.

Thanks.
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flap16
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by flap16 »

Well if you don't want to work in the bush anymore, I would recommend getting the MIFR.
I don't think buying a rating on a Caravan in the hopes of having a job in the spring is a smart investment.
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xsbank
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by xsbank »

Why limit yourself to a Caravan? Meh. Anyhow, somebody else will buy that training for you if you get to the right place at the right time.

When you get laid off, get EI to buy you a MIFR. EVERY PILOT should get one, paid by my taxes. Go for it. If we can ensure all those GM lunch-buckets have better pensions than virtually every pilot, with my taxes to the tune of 14 BILLION (14 FZCKING BILLION!!!!), go get your share. The best you will ever get on your pension will be 1200/month and if you are getting laid off, you will not have had enough to qualify for the maximum and you will NEVER GET THAT MUCH.

You have to work every day of your life from your birthday age 16 to 65 to get the maximum.

IMHO, if you are fond of eating, don't think you can avoid the bush yet.
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Doc
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Doc »

If you can talk EI into buying you a MIFR, go for it. Go hunting for a couple of CP's that will hire you if you get one. In writing. Even if they have no real intention of carrying through with it. Get the letters.
Otherwise, enjoy the "E.I. Ski Team".
Do NOT throw your money at a 'van course. Total waste. Probably count on more float time come spring. It's a dying industry, as far as new blood goes....there will always be a place for YOU.
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Chuck Ellsworth
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Chuck Ellsworth »

In Canada and Alaska it will always be a good sector of aviation.

However like the rest of aviation there are getting to be less and less training facilities that can train you properly.

Bush plane operators know generally who gives good training and who just puts you through a course using instructors who have no idea of what to teach.
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Captain Kangaroo
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Captain Kangaroo »

MIFR
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HuD 91gt
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by HuD 91gt »

If you truly want to go the Caravan route, screw flight safety. Go with Turbine Training Center out of Manhattan Kansas. You end up with the same qualifications for half the price. I would go the MIFR route.
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Laxputs
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Laxputs »

Decent odds of getting on somewhere with 1000 pic and a mifr over the winter ya figure?
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raven54
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by raven54 »

WTF? No one is tearing this guy a new a-hole for thinking about buying his PPC? What gives?
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Laxputs
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Laxputs »

I don't think I would go buy it. However, if I paid for 10k for the 'Van ppc, and had a job lined up, my C206 2500$/mth salaray gets doubled, and in 4 months I've paid for the training and have turbine time. Strategically, it wouldn't be a bad move if job security was a guarantee.
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ftp
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by ftp »

Buddy, your asking the wrong crowd.

What your basically asking us is "if I work for free for 4 month I will have a better log book, should I do this?" (keep in mind, most people on here are starting out just like you, how do you expect them to react?)

Will this advance your career? Probably. Will it help you get out of the bush and make more money? Yes and No. It will help you, but you are shelling out about 10g's that you should never have to spend. Companies make money, training is a calculated cost.

Don't be the lowest bidder.

If you are in with the company, how about give them a handshake or even a written commitment that you will work X number of seasons with them for them to pay for your training. Bonds seem fair, self funding is just selling yourself.

Do I think you will really care what others think, probably not. But trust me, it sucks to feel like others are willing to do your job for less money.

FTP
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Laxputs
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Laxputs »

I'm just looking at the reality of it. Boss would rather hire someone else to fly the new 'Van than pay for my training. Therefore, I stay on 206 for an indefinite time making 2500/mth. Or, I pay my own training (assuming job security) and with the doubled salary, that means that I basically keep 2500/mth for 4 or 5 months and have my training costs paid for in that time. Not working for free. I'm not looking at what's the high ground, just what's best for me.

And ftp, you really have it wrong. It's not about the log book, it means getting on a much better plane, with financially good reasons to do so if you think about the math.
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Raybanman
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Raybanman »

You could spend 10k on a course that qualifies you for one aircraft in particular and one particular job in the present, or you could put the same money into a multi-IFR course that will qualify you to fly pretty much every other airplane in the Canadian 703/704 fleet for the forseeable future in your career. More opportunities for larger/better paying equipment and in addition, also looks good for Caravan operators that operate IFR. I would also reccomend writing your IATRA around the same time as you do the Multi, as your brain will still be in "Training mode".

Multi-IFR makes more sense.

PP
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Laxputs
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Re: 1100 Hours, Your advice on my next move please

Post by Laxputs »

Yeah I'm going to MIFR it. Just got laid off as the 206 contract isn't being renewed.
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