Expert: David A. NewMyer - 8/17/2010

Question
I have consult many expert but no one can answer it.

I am starting my carrier in aviation sector as a pilot in US and
fear about, that there is no job because of less experience so,
my question is how to get that  experience. without spending
more money after getting 315hr.For getting job we need atleast 1500hr of flying experince. Even after doing
intructer rating course I wont get that much of experince. Please suggest me.
Thank you.


Answer
Hi, Sahil:

Thank you for your question, I will try to help!

First of all, a career as a pilot requires EVERYONE to have three things:

1.  A solid academic education, hopefully with coursework related to aviation....a bachelor's degree if possible.  For a list of schools and colleges that offer aviation degrees (mostly in the USA), please go to the website of the University Aviation Association at www.uaa.aero and search for the COLLEGIATE AVIATION GUIDE. This publication is available for sale from the University Aviation Association.

2.  Aviation certification and licensing--whether it is from your certifying body there in India or here in the USA (here in the USA that would be the Federal Aviation Administration).  The basic pilot licensing in the USA is as follows:

FAA Private Pilot Certificate--usually achievable in 50 to 55 hours of flight

FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Multi Engine Ratings--usually achievable in 192 to 215 hours of flight at an FAR 141 Flight school, or 250 hours at an FAR 61 Flight School.

FAA Flight Instructor Certficate (Airplane), usually another 15 to 20 hours of flight instruction, with much more ground instruction.

You may also want to earn your Flight Instructor (Instrument) Rating to go with your Flight Instructor (Airplane) Certificate since that will help make  you a more marketable employee.

3.  Once you earn your Flight Instructor Certificate (and Rating) you will begin to be able to earn additional experience as a pilot by working as a flight instructor.  If possible, you will want to work as a flight instructor at a company or employer where you can also fly other kinds of aircraft (aside from as a flight instructor).  Some companies, for example, fly charter aircraft that they charter out to individuals or companies that need an aircraft for transportation of a group of people, for cargo, or both.  While flight instructing, you might also be able to fly right seat (or co-pilot) on such flights.  

One thing to keep in mind is that it is important to earn over 500 hours of PIC or pilot in command flight time because, in many cases, once you are over 500 hours of PIC time, many aviation insurance companies will then insure any company you may work for to allow you to fly charter for them--at least in a single engine aircraft or in the right seat of a larger aircraft (under the direct supervision of a captain).

So, the big three are:  EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE.

The toughest one is Experience.....earning the extra hours of flight time to build toward 1500 hours is important, especially right now when it is so competitive.  In three years, the new US federal regulations will require 1500 flight hours to work for the largest of such airlines (called FAR 121 airlines).  So, my suggestion is to definitely begin to do FLIGHT INSTRUCTION as the FIRST STEP in gaining your flight experience.  Then, once you are over 500 hours, it is a good idea to begin to gain other kinds of experience---larger aircraft, flying for different kinds of employers with different aircraft, etc.

Remember, the rush will be coming to get into aviation as things start to turn around in the global economy in the next couple of years.  You need to be ready for that upsurge in demand....and, by earning your Flight Instructor Certification and teaching others to fly, you will be building your flight time to be ready!

I hope this answer helped you.  If you have questions, please follow up with me.

Thank you,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu