The Magic 200 Turbine hours

[Mungo5]

Fellow Helicoptrians,

 

I notice there are quite a few posts and threads running about jobs for new pilots, and we widely accept that a newly minted CFII is going to be instructing for their first 1000 hours or so.

 

When you're a CFII with with close on 1200 hours, all in Pistons, you'll be starting to look for your next move. No doubt a step up to Turbine's.

 

But, it would appear to me that all the entry level Turbine jobs need at least 200 to 500 Turbine hours.

 

So my question... where do you find those first few hundred turbine hours?

 

Most schools will only teach in Piston aircraft, so Turbine time is scarce there too. A factory course is usually out of the question too, given the cost.

 

It seems to be this is a catch 22, no turbine hours, no turbine job. No turbine job, no turbine hours.

 

Is anyone taking on pilots with hours but none in turbines?

[r22butters]

Temsco in Alaska usually hires guys with no turbine at the start of every Tour season. Once and a blue moon, you may be able to get into Papillion or Heli USA, flying Tours in the Grand Canyon, with no turbine?

[ChprPlt]

People are currently being hired by major operators with no turbine experience. I personally know 3 people. All 3 had at least 1400 hours.

 

It seems to be picking up!

Edited April 3, 2011 by ChprPlt

[Goldy]

Someone you know out there must be flying a 206! Tag along! Buy lunch...book some hours!

[AngelFire_91]

I too know quite a few people that have been hired with absolutely zero turbine time. If you read, most job descriptions say "Recommended 100 hours turbine" or "Turbine experience preferred." I don't know of too many that actually say "500 hours turbine required" unless it's a government contract. Even then, a lot of time they will still take someone with little or no turbine time if they interview well and can prove they have the maturity to learn or fly larger ships.

[Mungo5]

Yes, true - I guess this all boils down to keeping in touch with the operators, networking and staying at the forefront of their mind; rather than waiting for the advert to pop-up on the interwebs somewhere.

 

From what I've seen the entry level turbine jobs are more likely to be 'caught' through the who-you-know process rather than anything else. I can't remember the last time I saw something advertised that I would classify as entry, with little or no turbine time.

[Goldy]

Yes, true - I guess this all boils down to keeping in touch with the operators, networking and staying at the forefront of their mind;

 

Amen...

[Spike]

When applying to any job, if you are reasonably close to the “Total Time” minimum requirement, then go ahead and apply. Don’t get too wound up with the peripheral requirements.

 

This topic comes up quite often and what people need to understand is, if an employer wants to hire you, they will, regardless of your experience level.

 

In short, your resume will not get you anywhere. It’s YOU that gets you hired. Turbine or no turbine…………………

[rotormandan]

The real trick is to network and look for jobs beyond facebook and the rest of the internet. Show up, make friends, ask a local company if you can tag a long and watch the mission or even help out if they'll let ya. They might not due to insurance liability but you can probably score a seat at least in the back or even the fuel truck and just watch. Tell them you're interested in doing what they're doing one day. As Goldy said, buy the damn lunch. I think the real key is to get past the internet and facebook. No entry level "no turbine time needed" jobs are goin to be advertised. There's too many piston pilots itching to jump in a turbine ship that have already networked the heck out of that job and are breakin' they're ears off while they smile during their free or even paid turbine training.

[Azhigher]

Temsco, Papillon, Sundance. They don't have to advertise because they are flooded with resumes, but these are probably your best bets to get a turbine transition with no previous experience. Go see them in person in the winter months as that's when they start really looking at resumes to start filling interview spots.