How can I get Pilot hours to get a good piloting job?

Question

Before anyone answers with "Fly a plane, duh" here's the situation.

I’m close to getting my Pilots license (40 hours) but the organization I want to work for (Airserv) requires 800 Hours minimum. Any advice on getting these hours without paying $80 an hour plane rental? 760 hours X $80 = $60,800.

Answer 1

Which pilots license are you actually getting? Private? Instrument? Commercial? Your going to need all of those. That will build time. Also the next step many people take is to become a CFI, CFII, or and MEI (flight instructor, Instrument Instructor, Multi-engine instructor respectivly). This way someone else pays for your flight time.

Answer 2

Buy an aircraft as similar to th one that you hope to be flying. Aquire your instrument, commercial and anyother certification that the company suggests will be useful in your future job. Fly the 800 hours at the cost of fuel, maintanence and hangar. After you are qualified for the job, sell the airplane.

To get the maximum return on your investmnt (the aircraft) it helps if you will make what ever improvements that you can, both mechanically and cosmetically, to the aircraft that you will be selling.

After you have the 200 hours required for your commercial liscense, you may want to provide pipeline or other patrol services with your aircraft. Instruction for private pilots may also be an alternative, but your aircraft may suffer in your "re-selling" attempt. A lot of buyers do not want a plane that has been used for instruction. The primary thing is your committment and determination to succeed. Don't be afraid to let your futur employer know (and frequently!) that you are committed!. He WILL take note of that. He may decide to lower his requirements for YOU since he believes that YOU WILL NOT BE DETERRED!
He wants you to succeed in making his job easier, better and more profitable by hiring a committed and determined individual such as yourself.

Good luck!

BvL

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Answer 3

Consider joining an aero club or buying an interest in an airplane. This has its drawbacks, since you need to find a way to share the aircraft and there are maintenance and insurance costs to be considered, but this is one pretty good way to reduce the costs of flying.

Also, see if you can find an FBO that rents dry and shop around for good fuel prices.

See if your company will hire you in a non-pilot status, perhaps as a clerk or office worker. That will get your foot in the door.

You will need a commercial pilot's license with instrument rating minimum for any kind of meaningful pilot job. Best way to build time once you are qualified is to become a flight instructor.

That is challenging, but a lot of pilots use it as a steppingstone to a flying career.

Good luck.

(I have a Commercial SEL with Instrument Rating, but haven't flown in years. I don't know if I could get the medical certificate.)

Answer 4

I have a friend in a similar situation. He dosen't need 800 hours, but he needs to log up his flight hours as a PPL pilot .
So, he's not allowed to charge any fee for taking passengers, but he is allowed to share the expense of a flight with his pax. Consequently, he hires his aeroclub planes, and takes people for scenic flights etc. The pax pay most of the rental of the plane and he adds a symbolic amount. No adds alowed for this type of thing, but info gets around by word of mouth. I hope you find a solution, and best wishes!

Answer 5

your calculations are flawed you will need a great deal of multi time also,
which is a lot more $ per hour than a single,
The cheapest twin I have rented was an Apache for $210 an hour.

plus all the stuff that has already been posted about extra ratings.

It is cheaper to go to med school then to become an ATP that is hireable ( thats a fact )

Answer 6

Get a job on the airport doing something. Be a line tech at an FBO in case you will possibly desire to, simply by fact it facilitates you to fulfill human beings. before you be attentive to it you will make some super connections which will help you get a flying gig. You gotta swallow your satisfaction, and what is going to seperate you from anybody else is your will to do what it takes to go up. don't be too solid to pump gasoline or marshall planes, do only what you will possibly desire to, be friendly and effectual yet do not permit everyone run you over. it gets you places in case you play your enjoying cards suited.

Answer 7

You need to get to get the remainder of your ratings prior to anyone hiring you - so everyone usually get their CFI and starts teaching to gain hours.

Answer 8

Another place to look is at skydiving outfits. At least go and ask.

Answer 9

flight instructing, or the military.