Jobs while training

[MDTS]

Hey people!

I am currently looking for a job while i'm going to do my Commercial Multi/IFR. I have got a interview with a Purolator which is a part time gig (only 15hrs a week) but it is at the airport loading and unloading aircraft with packages. On the other hand I have a job interview with Princess Auto for a night gig which is full time Mon-Fri 7pm-430am... I wouldn't mind this as it gives me time to go do flight training during the day. Just curious if time at the airport working for Purolator would look better to future employers to hire me on to ground crew? If is did take the purolator job I would have to get another part time job to fill the gap in the week and to pay for my flight training. Any thoughts on what you guys would do? I plan to try and get with a company once I am all done that would hire off the ramp. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Another question, where did everyone work while they were flight training/building hours for the CPL Multi/IFR?

Thanks!

[square]

You don't need to wait for your pilot's licence to get a job as a rampy. Work for a 703 or 704 carrier.

[MDTS]

The problem is with the FTU im with, there is no real big 703/704 operators out of there... So just going to push to get my qualifications done then plan to move to somewhere like Calgary which has many operators, which a few hire from off the ramp.

[Brown Bear]

Find a refuelling gig. There's one listed on this site. Good place to meet crews. Just a thought. Once you have a CLP, get a flying gig.

[MDTS]

I would love to! The place around here that I applied too is looking for someone with a 3A... Would have been nice to get that license!

[square]

Better to find a new FTU. Your one year of training followed by 3 years on the ramp for CMA/Georgian in YYC could then instead be one year of training/ramp work plus 3000 hours of flight time in the following 3 years as a pilot. Just have to find a small, cold and remote place that has an FTU and an air operator Work smart not hard.

[5400AirportRdSouth]

I'd have to agree with Brown Bear, I fueled for a couple years and although I went a different route, there were a couple other guys that were in the right place at the right time and got flying jobs as a direct result of the refueling gig.

Obviously, you may not get the choice to take a gig like that, so with the two options you have "in-hand", I'd lean to the Purolator gig.

1.) They'll get you set up with a RAIC( Red Pass ), this might come in handy later, even though they are typically employer-specific, getting a new RAIC when you go to a new employer is a piece of cake compared to starting from scratch. If you're looking a t ramp-to-flying gigs later, this could be a pretty good plus on a resume, I'd think, considering it can take months to get an unrestricted RAIC for a new hire.

2.) You like planes right? Purolator is at the airport, so are most planes.

3.) You MAY get to learn some more rampie-skills, like marshalling, operating a GPU, tugs, airstairs, belt loaders, containerized loading, etc.

I didn't work for Purolater, but a slightly more purple version of the same thing. ( Tip - if you get a choice between Red and Purple, go with purple. ) Keep in mind, when they say loading/unloading packages, it might be just that, you could be stuck inside the warehouse unloading cans all night and never see an airplane. Make sure you ask them about that.

All that said, an FBO job would be way better than sorting packages. I cant remember what a 3A was worth, but if you thought you'd have a decent shot at a refueling job, it might be money well-spent. Mine was paid for by the FBO, but I had to promise to stick around for a year. I wasn't going anywhere anyway as I had just started training, so I thought it was a fair deal.

[co-joe]

I'd favour a job more on the aerial and air taxi side of things. (AKA CAR 703 operators) It won't pay as well but contacts are everything. EVERYTHING. The cool thing about being a rampie without a pilot's license is nobody can benefit by stabbing you in the back in the great game of survivor. By the time you have your license everybody who matters will know you....hopefuly in a good way. The guys at Purolator may know a guy, or even know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy, but they can't hire you directly to fly. Borek, Cariboo, Sunwest, etc can eventually hire you once you are licensed. Borek might send you to Frobisher Bay or some other resort town along the way which isn't the end of the world...but you can see it from there. At the 703 companies you'll meet dozens of guys who all know guys who know guys (and occasionally a girl). Why not work at a flight school. They always need cheap labour and you may get a deal on your training.

[Brown Bear]

Working at and around aviation during the time you spend learning to fly can be a good experience. Working on a ramp, AFTER you have blown through a fortune becoming a CPL is tantamount to slavery. Once you have a CPP, get a flying job.

[Pop n Fresh]

I think everyone is leaving Calgary for flying jobs. Lot's of other work there though. We don't have nearly as many flight training units as there used to be.

[MDTS]

I know this topic is dead, but I just wanted to update which path I ended up going (Not that it matters, but more another option for future pilots like myself). This WILL be the better choice in the long run, but was a hard decision to make. My commercial ground school tried to pound into my head to take out as many loans as you can to complete the CPL Multi-IFR... Which lots of people have been doing. But I grew up (I'm only 20) to try and keep out of debt if you can. I completed my PPL and night rating by working in the oil field and came out of it with 0 debt. And now, instead of taking out loans and trying to get my foot in the door by working at the airport, I have opted to go back to the oilfield. I am working on a rig, which I plan to stay for the next year. I fly when I can, but is very minimal. But I am banking an unreal amount of money. I plan to keep working and save up enough money to complete my CPL, Multi-IFR, and be debt free... and even come out of it fully licenced and money in the bank to tie me off while making peanuts while ramping. It was a hard decision to make, as I have to take a step back from my dream. But I feel that it is the smartest. I would recommend for all future pilots to take a step back and at least look at other options. Flying schools want to make money and will try and push you to get everything done as soon as possible by any means. If anyone wants to PM me about working in the oilfield and even possible job opportunities in it, I would be more then happy to answer them. Apart from making 80 grand a year to start, you come out of it with one hell of a work ethic, and a happy bank account. Happy flying out there!

[Pop n Fresh]

Nice. Just don't buy a decent car. You're going to make the indentured pilots jealous.

[Colonel Sanders]

came out of it with 0 debt

Yes!!

If you can, try to resist the urge to buy Shiny Toys (tm),
especially financed ones. They will come later. Better ones.

Avoid debt. Drive a paid-off (used, older) car.

[Posthumane]

Living below your means while making good money will benefit you in many ways in life, so good on you. I'm always saddened when people i know say they can't afford to go to school or whatever and are amazed that I can afford to follow my dream of flying, and I see them driving a brand new $50k+ F250 with chrome, lift kit, etc.

Oil field jobs are good for making money fast, just make sure you don't fall into the trap of staying just one more year every year because of the money. However, it doesn't sound like that will be an issue for you. Anyway, congrats!

[mike123]

My commercial ground school tried to pound into my head to take out as many loans as you can to complete the CPL Multi-IFR.

You should have asked them if they wanted to co-sign your loan application