Experience for pilot job in regional airlines?
genius asked:
All regional airlines require atleast 500-600 hrs of experience in order to apply for a pilot job. My question is- how can one have so much experience unless he is employed previously? Please advice on how can i build my experience after getting my Commercial pilot license. Do any of you have personal experience on this? Thanks
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All regional airlines require atleast 500-600 hrs of experience in order to apply for a pilot job. My question is- how can one have so much experience unless he is employed previously? Please advice on how can i build my experience after getting my Commercial pilot license. Do any of you have personal experience on this? Thanks
January 13th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
There are many ways. You can be a CFI and instruct people. There are some small cargo firms that fly Cessna 206’s and similar aircraft. And you must have at least 250 hours for a Commercial certificate.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:50 am
The best way is to become a flying instructor. It serves two purposes.
1, It is an easy way to build flight hours
2, You aircraft knowledge increases which is handy to know when you get tested in the interview by the regionals or majors.
If flying instructing isn’t for you. Your only other hope is going to remote areas and seeing if you can get some charter work. ie; scenic flights or flights out to remote bush strips.
January 15th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I flight instructed for most of my time. And the rest i paid for out of my pocket.
January 18th, 2009 at 10:07 am
most people get to that number by being a flight instructor.. but with the industry snatching up every pilot it can get its hands on right now, you should throw your resume out there even if you only have 250 hours.. like northwest, they were starving for pilots a few months ago and i heard they dropped their requirements down to just having the proper certificates.. i just graduated in april.. i got a job with a cargo operator with 275 hours total time and 13 hours of multi time.. never had a flying job before.. just talk to people, find out who is in the most need and be willing to pack your bags and move away..
January 21st, 2009 at 9:10 am
The current regional requirements are very low. Not enough to get into the right seat of most private jets. I instructed about 1300 to 1400 hours (1600 hours total time) before getting a twin turboprop gig. (Did some instructing after that, too, but not to “build time”. My later instructing was exclusively as an instrument instructor and in complex aircraft transition.) Had over 2,800 hours, a jet type rating, an ATP and all instructor ratings, and turboprop time, before landing a jet gig. So, 500 hours of single engine piston time and wet ink on a multi rating in earned in a Seminole are collectively minimal. But legal. Instruct, banner-tow, traffic watch, pipeline inpection are typical entry-level single-engine piston jobs. For the sake of your students, do take your instructing seriously at least for the time that you decide to actively instruct.
January 21st, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Yes, people get that experience by being employed in various entry level flying positions like:
share time as a safety pilot (both get PIC*)
banner towing
skydive pilot
traffic watch
pipeline patrol
fish spotting
ferry pilot
aerial survey
…and instructing with the additional CFI certificate.
Get ideas on how to build time here-
career info-
*http://www.rodmachado.com/Articles/Logging_Flight_Time.htm