No jobs for young Pilots

[Chris Patrick]

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not upset about what has happened to me and just about everyone else because of the economy, such is life. I am merely trying to shed light on many young pilots careers... or lack of career due to the lies we were fed and the over lending for flight training to young people from financial institutions.

I don't know about any of the rest of you and maybe I'm just alone in this thought, but I was told that the need for Helicopter pilots was great and it was a wide open job market. So without hesitation I did everything in my power to get into flight school, because it has always been such a passion of mine! What I wasn't told unfortunately is that their was a shortage of "experienced" (1000 hours of more)pilots and that is all any company wanted to hire, with good reasoning. I have had my Helicopter CFII for 3 years now which I procured through a Professional Pilot Program at an accredited Flight School. I haven't climbed into a single cockpit since the day I took my final Check Ride for my CFII. My flight school closed it's doors the week after I finished my program. I received my flight training through a loan, a very sizable loan as many of you out there I'm sure have done as well. I, like many pilots out there are now struggling just to get by in our day to day lives financially. I am still working the same job (which pays practically nothing) as I did while attending flight school, but now with a $60,000 flight school bill to pay off. I have sent in close to 100 resumes to flight schools and flight employers all over the country, but do to my low hour time and experience level I haven't been considered for one. I have done everything in my power to come up with ideas to get into the aviation business, but to no avail. I have been hit with a flight school bill that no one could possibly be expected to afford without a reasonably high paying job.

What I am trying to get at here is that it is unfortunate for so many pilots out there to be in such a situation as I am. I can't afford to seek more flight training to build hours due to the cost of paying off my loans for my original training and I can't get hired by a company to make more money due to my low hour level. A rock and a hard place is where I have found myself and it seems to be getting very crowded with the amount of people being placed here beside me.

I wish there was a way that Flight Schools, Aviation Employers, Insurance Companies, Pilots could all figure out some way to help all those out there in desperate need of a break. It is just a real tough situation from one end to the other and in an industry as booming as aviation you would think that a pilot who went to school and received all licensing and certifications he/she needed that he/she would be able to find a job.

If you are a struggling pilot that also can't seem to get their career off the ground in aviation, please share your story.

[mrjibbs]

yep, sadly its a common story. But dont give up hope. My friend just got hired literally this week and he hasnt flown since his CFII ride two + years ago. One thing to consider is the army, they have a student loan repayment program that will knock out $55k of that loan for you. And you can submit a WO app and fly in the army. But i feel your pain man.

[Eggbeater]

Isn't this the third time you posted this exact same thing? I know you want to increase awareness, but perhaps a bump on the original topic might suffice.

[r22butters]

I hate to say this, but the number one reason so many of us cannot find work, is that THERE ARE TOO MANY PILOTS OUT THERE!

 

As long as employers have stacks of resumes on their desks, the plight of the unemployed low-timer will never change!

 

Flying will always be a cool way to make a living! Therefore, there will ALWAYS BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DO IT! So unless the military decides to mothball their entire helicopter fleet, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A TON OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED PILOTS, TO KEEP THE COMMERCIAL SIDE FULL!

 

The only thing any of us can do, is try and make a friend on the inside somewhere who can, one day, help us get in!

[ChprPlt]

wow Butters you must have had a little too much Mountain Dew tonight..haha

 

 

I agree with you by the way!

[mrjibbs]

The only thing any of us can do, is try and make a friend on the inside somewhere who can, one day, help us get in!

 

Simply, the most important part in todays world. As they say, its not what you know, but WHO you know.

Edited March 26, 2011 by mrjibbs

[matas]

Well some places can guarentee a job after a certain # of hrs (yes, in writing), so I imagine that's where I should go....

 

I guess the best thing to do would be to find the right friends lol

[Gingerw00ki3]

Sorry to be beating up a cold dead horse (thread)... But you'd think with the issues I've seen with pilots earning their time in the seat, that schools would be going crazy with planting branches of their school next to large active duty military bases... For instance, Fort Carson CO. Tons of people who have a post 9/11 GI bill paying for %100 of the FAA minimum (Private, Comm., CFI, Inst rating) The only one I've seen like this is the Sequioa school in Cali... I guess I'd have to find out whether or not something like that is feasible for a flight school... You as a CFII would sure get your share of students hours...

[klas]

...or lack of career due to the lies we were fed and the over lending for flight training to young people from financial institutions. ...

 

If I hear / read this one more time, I will scream.

Some lessons:

1) never believe what you are told by people trying to sell you something.

2) no one forces you to sign anything.

3) never let passion get in the way of a clear head.

4) don't take on debt you cannot pay.

5) quit blaming others (see your quote above).

 

Oh, one more thing. Your quote, "I have been hit with a flight school bill that no one could possibly be expected to afford without a reasonably high paying job." Do you realize that if you got a flight job fresh out of flight school, it would not have been a high paying job? You would have been in the same situation, low pay, high loans.

[RagMan]

Of the many schools and companies you have sent resumes to (I'll assume only the flight schools even thought about considering you) how many have you physically visited?

 

How many flight schools have you called once, twice, three times about job positions?

 

Are there any pilots you learned to fly with that might be instructors at other flight schools? Have you considered getting in touch with them about possible instructor positions? What about having them put in a good word for you?

 

If you have your CFII, you have got to know at least a few people who you learned to fly with during the program (stick buddies.)

 

Use that to your advantage in helping locate an instructor job.

Edited February 21, 2012 by RagMan

[Rotorhead84]

Simply, the most important part in todays world. As they say, its not what you know, but WHO you know.

 

This. ^^^

 

I lucked out once again. One my dad's old co-workers from the hospital called him up looking to see if I ever ended up getting my commercial and start spraying for my dad. My dad told him I had finished up and had been flying for him for 2 years and he decided he wanted to give me a job doing pipe line patrol. 550 hrs TT. I lucked out hard in this business. But it pays to have a well connected, high time pilot for a father.

Edited March 4, 2012 by Rotorhead84

[Falko]

Congratulation

[Rotorhead84]

Thanks! I'm excited!

[Chris-tt]

Hi,

Reading all the negative posts about getting a pilot job I wonder if im on the right track, starting training next month.

Having a dream is one thing but not all dreams come true sadly.

After 4 years I finally sold my house (well it giving away is a better description) I'm ready to start my training to become a helicopter pilot.

But because I'm a late starter (39) I am googeling my ass of the last months to get information.

looking for minium recuirements of getting a job, regardless what or were as long as its EASA.

FAA transition is also possible but thats extra money again so i prefer EASA.

I found articles of people who found jobs immediatly after training so with 250-300 hours, and even of my age. so there is hope, it's not all sad storys.

The schools keep saying lots of pilots will retire in the next 10 years and the army is cutting down on the ammount of training pilots because of the cut backs.

But is the noticeable on the market ?

Are there really many helicopter pilots without a job?

And is this because they only look for a certain kind of job or..

My thought is, if I contact lots of companys and also call and visit them, not being picky about the kind of job the or the location where it is, i think and hope i will find a job.

 

I keep looking and keep reading storys.

Reading never made anyone dummer.

Chris

[eagle5]

"The schools keep saying lots of pilots will retire in the next 10 years and the army is cutting down on the ammount of training pilots because of the cut backs"

 

Schools have been saying that since the 1980s, at least that's what the old guys I've talked with have said!

 

As for a job, you just have to pick the right school, and flight instructor is the only job you're going to be able to get until you have about 1000hrs.(at least here in the States) Entry-level jobs are where you can find them, and we're all willing to relocate, so that won't give you an edge over anyone.

 

Best of luck.

 

By the way, what's EASA?

[jim_222]

EASA stands for European Aviation Safety Agency, and it is the new name for JAA. In other words, at least the way I think of it, it's Europe's FAA...

[Wally]

European Aviation Safety Agency.

 

As to the long anticipated winnowing of the Vietnam era pilot pool, I see it as happening right now. My employer has 80+ open pilot seats. I hear rumors of bases with a single pilot permanently assigned out of the usual 4. These are EMS seats, so they're not entry level.

[zippiesdrainage]

I agree with Wally, the Vietnam era pilots are retiring, but I think a lot of schools and students seem to think that it will occur all at once, it's instead happening very gradually I can't say that I know for sure but I would imagine that over the past 5 or so years there have been a few dozen retiring yearly and perhaps within the next 5-10 years the remaining pilots will retire. But it's gradual.

 

When I hear people discussing the "Vietnam era guys retiring any day now" I think a lot of guys were expecting a sudden explosion of job openings one day and frantic companies dropping their hour minimums down to 600TT to get those pilots in as soon as possible.

[eagle5]

European Aviation Safety Agency.

 

As to the long anticipated winnowing of the Vietnam era pilot pool, I see it as happening right now. My employer has 80+ open pilot seats. I hear rumors of bases with a single pilot permanently assigned out of the usual 4. These are EMS seats, so they're not entry level.

 

Your company has 80+ open seats, maybe pilots just don't want to fly EMS? How many applicants do you have?

 

In any rate, if they all are retiring now, it doesn't seem to be affecting the entry-level side!

[Goldy]

European Aviation Safety Agency.

 

As to the long anticipated winnowing of the Vietnam era pilot pool, I see it as happening right now. My employer has 80+ open pilot seats. I hear rumors of bases with a single pilot permanently assigned out of the usual 4. These are EMS seats, so they're not entry level.

 

Wally- with 2000-3000 hour minimums I think there may be some challenges filling those slots. We've had 2 major interruptions to the pilot training pool in the last 5 years, SSH first and then the economy crash. Both of those lead to some hickups in the "normal" migration of pilot experience. Add in an increase in Vietnam era retirees and I think you just may be getting a raise next year!

 

Add to that a healthy mining/oil and gas and EMS industries and poof! Few qualified pilots!

 

Thats good news for the guys working full time with 1500 hours. For those sniffing for work at 200 hours the options are still the same....almost nil.

[Fred0311]

I can't wait till I'm holding a cardboard sign on a street corner that says cfii will fly for food. (kinda sarcasm kinda not)

[Pohi]

Like Wally and Goldy said, it's the "qualified" pilots that are lacking. We have medium and heavy aircraft that do not have full crews because lack of qualified pilots.

 

It's not a lack of pilots though, when these jobs post there are 20-50 people that apply from within the company, but the majority are light ship guys with no twin time and don't qualify. Therefore, the position remains unfilled.

 

That's good news for military guys though, since a lot have twin time. They get scooped up as fast as they can find them for the mediums.

 

Add to this, a huge (8 month last time I heard) delay in flight safety class openings, and the issue gets more complicated.

 

So it's not pilots that are missing with the magic number, it's qualified pilots with the experience.

 

My two cents...

Edited June 14, 2012 by Pohi

[Pohi]

.. Now if somebody came up with an affordable twin engine training aircraft. :-0

[eagle5]

It's not a lack of pilots though, when these jobs post there are 20-50 people that apply from within the company, but the majority are light ship guys with no twin time and don't qualify. Therefore, the position remains unfilled.

 

I don't get it, are you saying that they won't even move pilots up from within the company? Don't these twin jobs use 2 pilots, because if they do I would think that a pilot from their own company would be good enough for the SIC position, and even if they do only use one pilot, if they can't promote and train from within, how do they expect to ever fill these slots?

[Pohi]

 

 

I don't get it, are you saying that they won't even move pilots up from within the company? Don't these twin jobs use 2 pilots, because if they do I would think that a pilot from their own company would be good enough for the SIC position, and even if they do only use one pilot, if they can't promote and train from within, how do they expect to ever fill these slots?

 

It's not that they won't move people up, I guess I could have explained a bit better. There are upgrade classes from VFR to IFR that they offer for in company people. There was one in the end of last year, and another class picked a few months ago but they are still waiting on flight safety classes.

 

Then there are the contract positions that are empty. These positions have minimum times that are based on customer requirements. A common start of the requirements are S76(or whatever) SIC, IfR qualified and current, 250 hours multi engine....

 

The guys from within the company promoted and trained for ifr sic need to build time in the pool until they are qualified for the contract. Or they can get lucky with one that has lower minimums.

 

It comes back to the same thing, lack of qualified pilots :-)