Expert: D. Norkus - 7/10/2006

Question
In developing the necessary flight time, resources speak of the possibility of obtaining a job flying to build PIC time.  The jobs usually mentioned include industrial flying for a pipeline or other utility company, aerial photography, aircraft delivery, traffic watch, and flying blank checks.  Where are these jobs found and what is the typical PIC time to get these jobs?

Thanks for the help,

John

Answer
John

Time building jobs are usually had by networking. Aerial survey, pipeline patrol, fish spotting, traffic watch banner tow and skydive pilots quite often land the job because they knew someone and networked with that contact so they had an "in" when the position came available. An aspiring commercial pilot would do well to network in the aviation community as they earned their ratings. Many employers will hire a face they know over a faceless resume. Chatting up pilots already doing these sorts of jobs provides a personal contact for the future. The importance of good networking skill in the aviation community as a commercial pilot cannot be underestimated! Talk with all the charter/commercial pilots you meet at your local airports about their jobs and company. Even if they can't provide insight, they may ave a contact they can pass along.  

Banner tow & skydive operators can be found in the phonebook or online. This site provide some good advice for skydive pilots- www.DiverDriver.com. This link has an article about banner towing- http://www.studentpilot.net/acf/towpilot.html

Call your local radio station and ask for the contact information for their traffic watch operator. Seek them out with resume in hand. Even if they aren't hiring at the moment, you will be a familiar face if you check back every month or so and they may consider you at a future date.

There are places that do advertise for such jobs as well. Check out sites such as http://www.climbto350.com or http://www.findapilot.com (or do a search for "pilot jobs" and many employment sites will come up).

Try this link too- http://www.flightinfo.com/buildtime.htm

Jobs such a flying "bank checks" or on demand freight/charter are under FAR Part 135 and those operators require 1500 hours unless they are VFR only at 500TT- and 99% are IFR. Those are 'time building jobs' for the pilots that already have their ATP.

Sometimes you will find a job that hires in <500TT, but is seems those opportunites are getting fewer and fewer. I got my first job flying skydivers at 325TT, but since the aviation insurance company shakedown a few years ago, many will not insure low time pilots so many require 500-750TT. You will have to check with the operators in your area. If you are having a hard time finding them, go to your local FSDO and ask them about who does such operations in your area.

This is a good place to research and make some 'contacts'-
http://forums.flightinfo.com

Good Luck
Dottie