Low-timer Looking For Advice From You High-timers

[beltdrive]

why wait till february....I landed my first job in Dezember...........the time u spend on the computer u should be on the road.......and yes it is right time right place....so quiet hidding behind the computer and ask old questions.......going to be old answers u get.....give er...... :up:

[Over-Talk]

I don't know the secret on phoning or not before a visit.....this forum is usually split 50/50 on that one.

 

It's hard to know the magic secret to attracting the Chief Pilot's attention.

Consider that alot of his reaction to you will be about what else is going on in his life..........hopefully the Ops Manager just told him to hire a 100 hour pup.......being in the right place at the right time is HUGE........you may also be knocking on someone's door after he had a fight with his wife. Don't take it personally, smile, say thanks, and move on.

 

The head office is usually the best place to get hired.

Visiting bases is good (if you have time) just to meet people, maybe you'll get to ride along on a test flight etc., or just have a coffee.

Conversely, they may be too busy to talk to you, so ask if you can come back and chat that evening and help clean the machine etc.,.....you will have to feel-out each situation,...your time may be better spent by moving on.

A good impression with a base pilot can be passed on by him to his boss.

Try to remember everyone's name, then write them down once you are back in your Jetta, as you will bump into these people sooner or later in this business again.

 

The mountain course and low visibility training is useful, but you usually need 500 hours before you are Certified to use the training. I suggest getting a few hours (5-10) of mountain time at one school or another (on a 206) out in B.C. if you can afford it.

 

At this stage you have more questions than we have solid answers.....alot of your success will depend on your ability to read and react to situations as they arise......it's just like flying !!

[teabagger]

Hey Skidz

 

Here is a list of operators compiled by Pitchlink about a month ago on an earlier thread. You will notice that there are several company names on here other than thoes found in the Helicopters Mag. directory. Some of them are schools, others exclusively leasing companies, etc., but if you do your homework you may find a couple of possibilities.

 

Good luck out there, it's a tough go but all worth it in the end.

 

TB

 

 

 

ABERDEEN HELICOPTERS LTD.

ADVANTAGE HELICOPTERS INC.

AGROTORS, INC.

AIRSPAN HELICOPTERS LTD.

ALPEN HELICOPTERS LTD.

ALPINE HELICOPTERS LTD.

ALTOFT HELICOPTER SERVICES LTD.

AND TEMSCO HELICOPTERS

ARDUINI HELICOPTERS LTD.

ARROW LAKES HELICOPTERS LTD.

Aurora Helicopters Ltd.

BAILEY HELICOPTERS LTD.

BAJO REEF HELICOPTERS LTD.

BASE HELICOPTERS LTD.

BIGHORN HELICOPTERS INC.

BISCAYNE HELICOPTERS, INC.

Black Swan Helicopters Ltd.

BLACK TUSK HELICOPTER INC.

BLACKCOMB HELICOPTERS LTD.

BLACKSTONE ROTORCRAFT, INC.

BRITISH COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS LTD.

BUSINESS HELICOPTERS

CALEDON HELICOPTERS LIMITED

CAMPBELL HELICOPTERS LTD.

CANADIAN AIR-CRANE LTD.

CANADIAN HELICOPTERS LIMITED

CAPITAL HELICOPTERS (1995) INC.

CARIBOO-CHILCOTIN HELICOPTERS LTD.

Central Helicopters Inc.

CHC HELICOPTERS INTERNATIONAL

CHC HELICOPTERS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CHINOOK HELICOPTERS (1982) LTD.

CLASSIC HELICOPTER CORPORATION

COASTAL HELICOPTERS, INC.

CONSTRUCTION HELICOPTERS, INC.

COUGAR HELICOPTERS INC.

COULSON AIRCRANE LTD.

CUSTOM HELICOPTERS LTD.

D.K. HELI-CROPPER INT'L. LTD.

DAY & JOHNSTON HELICOPTERS LTD.

DELTA HELICOPTERS LTD.

DELTA HELICOPTERS LTD.

DENENDEH HELICOPTERS LTD.

DISCOVERY HELICOPTERS LTD.

E & B HELICOPTERS LTD.

EAGLE HELICOPTERS, INC.

ECLIPSE HELICOPTERS LTD.

ERA HELICOPTERS

ERICKSON AIR-CRANE INCORPORATED

ESSOR HELICOPTERES INC.

EVERGREEN HELICOPTERS OF ALASKA, INC.

EXPEDITION HELICOPTERS INC.

FAR WEST HELICOPTERS LTD.

FIREWEED HELICOPTERS LTD.

FOREST HELICOPTERS INC.

GATEWAY HELICOPTERS LTD.

GEMINI HELICOPTERS INC.

Glacier Helicopters Ltd.

GOLDWING HELICOPTERS

Great Lakes Helicopter Corp.

GREAT SLAVE HELICOPTERS LTD.

GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INC.

HAYES HELICOPTER SERVICES LIMITED

HELI DYNAMICS LTD.

HELI/EXPRESS INC.

HELIBEC INC.

HELICO SERVICE INC.

HELICOPTER CAPTURE SERVICES

HELICOPTER CONSULTANTS, INC.

HELICOPTER TRAINING CORPORATION

Helicopter Transport Services (Canada) Inc.

HELICOPTER TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.

HELICOPTERES TRANSIT LTEE

HELICOPTERS BY OZ, INC.

HELICOPTERS CANADA FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOOL AND CHARTER

HELICOPTERS, INC.

HELI-EXCEL INC.

HELIFOR INDUSTRIES LIMITED

HELI-INTER INC

HELI-JET CORPORATION

HELIJET INTERNATIONAL INC.

HELI-LIFT INTERNATIONAL INC.

HELI-MAX LIMITED/HELI-MAX LIMITEE

HELIQWEST AVIATION INC.

HELIQWEST INTERNATIONAL, INC.

HELI-SKILLS L.L.C.

HELI-STAR INC.

HELI-TRANSPORT INC.

HELI-UNGAVA (1997) INC

HELI-WASK

HIGH TERRAIN HELICOPTERS LTD.

HIGHLAND HELICOPTERS LTD.

HI-WOOD HELICOPTERS LTD.

HUDSON BAY HELICOPTERS LTD.

HY-RIDGE HELICOPTERS LTD.

INTERIOR HELICOPTERS LTD.

KANANASKIS MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS LTD.

KEYSTONE HELICOPTER CORPORATION

KLUANE HELICOPTERS

KOKANEE HELICOPTERS INC.

LES HELICOPTERES ABITIBI LTEE / ABITIBI HELICOPTERS LTD.

LES HELICOPTERES WHAPCHIWEM LIMITEE

MACKENZIE HELI SERVICES LTD.

MARLIN HELICOPTERS INC.

MCMAHON HELICOPTER SERVICES, INC.

MILLENNIA HELICOPTERS LTD.

MOUNTAIN VIEW HELICOPTERS

Mustang Helicopters Inc.

NATIONAL HELICOPTERS INC.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HELICOPTERS, INC.

NEWFOUNDLAND HELICOPTERS LIMITED

NIAGARA HELICOPTERS LIMITED

NORTH CENTRAL HELICOPTERS LTD.

NORTHERN AIR SUPPORT LTD.

NUNASI HELICOPTERS INC.

NUNAVIK ROTORS INC.

OCEANVIEW HELICOPTERS LTD.

OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS, INC.

OSIMAS HELICOPTERS LTD.

PACIFIC WESTERN HELICOPTERS LTD.

PANORAMA HELICOPTERS LTD.

PANTHER HELICOPTERS LTD.

PARK CITY HELICOPTERS

PATHFINDER HELICOPTERS, INC

PEMBERTON HELICOPTERS INC.

PEREGRINE HELICOPTERS

PHOENIX HELI-FLIGHT INC.

PINE TREE HELICOPTERS LTD.

PIONEER HELICOPTERS, INC.

PRAIRIE HELICOPTERS INC.

PRECISION HELICOPTERS INC.

PRISM HELICOPTERS INC.

PRISM HELICOPTERS LTD.

PROVINCIAL HELICOPTERS LTD.

PULSAR HELICOPTERS, INC.

QUANTUM HELICOPTERS LTD.

QUEBEC HELICOPTERES INC./

QUEBEC HELICOPTERS INC.

QUESTRAL HELICOPTERS LTD.

QWEST HELICOPTERS INC.

Rangeland Helicopters Inc.

REMOTE HELICOPTERS (NWT) LTD.

RESOURCE HELICOPTERS LTD.

ROTORS NUNAVIK INC.

ROTORWORKS INC.

SAHTU HELICOPTERS

SELKIRK MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS LTD.

SHARKEY'S HELICOPTERS, INC.

SILVER HELICOPTERS LTD.

SILVERLINE HELICOPTERS INC.

SKYLINE HELICOPTERS LTD.

SKYWAY HELICOPTERS INC.

SLAVE LAKE HELICOPTERS LTD.

SOUTH COAST HELICOPTERS, INC.

STANDARD AG. HELICOPTER INC.

STAR HELICOPTERS LTD.

STARS AVIATION CANADA INC.

SUNWEST HELICOPTERS LTD.

SUPERIOR HELICOPTERS CANADA INC.

SWISS HELICOPTER LTD.

TAIGA HELICOPTERS (1993) LTD.

TALON HELICOPTERS LTD.

TASMAN HELICOPTERS LTD.

TECH HELICOPTERS LTD.

TEMSCO HELICOPTERS, INC.

TERRAQUEST LTD.

THE HELICOPTER COMPANY INC.

THEBACHA HELICOPTERS LTD.

THUNDERBIRD HELILOG LTD.

TIMBERLAND HELICOPTERS INC.

TRANSWEST HELICOPTERS LTD.

TUNDRA HELICOPTERS LTD.

ULTRA HELICOPTERS LTD.

UNITED HELICOPTERS LTD.

UNIVERSAL HELICOPTERS NEWFOUNDLAND LIMITED

VALHALLA HELICOPTERS INC.

VALLEY HELICOPTERS LTD.

VANCOUVER ISLAND HELICOPTERS LTD.

VELOCITY HELICOPTERS INC.

VENTURE HELICOPTERS LTD.

VERSATILE HELIC0PTERS, L.L.C.

VERSATILE HELICOPTERS LTD.

VIH LOGGING LTD.

WEST COAST HELICOPTERS MAINTENANCE AND CONTRACTING LTD.

WESTERN AERIAL APPLICATIONS LTD.

WESTERN SLOPE HELICOPTERS, INC.

WESTLAND HELICOPTERS INC.

WHAPCHIWEM HELICOPTERS LIMITED

WHITE RIVER HELICOPTERS INC.

WILD WATER HELI-FISHING LTD.

WILDCAT HELICOPTERS INC.

WILDERNESS HELICOPTERS LTD.

Wood Buffalo Helicopters

WORLDWIND HELICOPTERS, INC.

YELLOWHEAD HELICOPTERS LTD.

YUKON HELICOPTERS LTD.

ZIMMER AIR SERVICES INC.

[windy miller]

I feel motivated to reply for a change as your post made me remember just how I felt a few years ago. I don't have a lot to add to the excellent advice above, and I know that you are looking for concrete advice and a solution to your problem. However I really believe that there is a job out there with your name on it, if you are prepared to do everything possible to find it. Attitude counts for everything, be keen, be polite, be professional, be persistent but don't be annoying. Some operators simply cannot hire you, they would like to but they can't, so concentrate on the ones who do hire lowtimers. The 214 operators out West, the sprayers, the piston outfits, all hire guys just like you, network with lowtime pilots, find out where they got hired, maybe the ramp at helijet ( a great outfit), there are lots of opportunities. Above all, don't get bitter and twisted about not getting a job, sure its a great life and you've made a huge investment, but remember lots of other "cool" professions are even harder to break into. Keep on calling, mailing and driving and, above all keep your sense of humour, the best of luck to you.

[Skidz]

Thanks for the advice folks ! I guess I've got my homework cut out for me...

[Guest Angry Egg Driver]

I was just wondering Skidz, how you got a PPC without a job?Thought you had to be employed to get a PPC?

[Skidz]

I did my PPC 'cause I did some pipeline inspection flying for the company where I did my training. The PPC is a requirement to do commercial flying. Doesn't necessarily mean you get paid for it...

[longliner]

Just so I understand You did some commercial flying for a company on an unpaid basis?

You wouldn't be a company employee so if anything happened how would you be looked upon by the insurance company?

Would you be covered by that Province's worker compensation plan in the event of an incident?

I know that every one is anxious to get the first job but make sure your personally protected as well

 

Lastly ,I know that your looking for any leads or advice to get that first job but I would expect that if a company is willing to USE you and your skills to do a little revenue flying for them on an unpaid basis then surely they will have you down as the next low timer to fill the next opening!!?

 

Good luck with you search and if your little job was a foot inthe door, don,t let it slip away without a wrestle

 

Merry Christmas

[rotrhd1]

Excellent advice.

 

Definately concentrate on the western half of the country. Target mid sized to larger companies that have at least half a dozen machines. The companies with one or two machines usually fill one seat with the owner and the other with a buddy. The really large companies seem to be really difficult to break into, probably due to the contracts they have being so strict about pilot experience.

 

The co-jo logging positions seem to be plentiful... for the number of seats that are available... and there's a reason for that. The ramp at Helijet is a great way to network with companies in the lower main land that use their facilities, and I think there are oportunities for the non-rev repo flights they sometimes do.

 

Buying time in the states or somewhere else isn't all that bad. It's not as good as getting paid for it but... time is time. You're still getting some experience and stick time out of the deal.

 

Don't show up to the operator's place wearing a suit. Look respectable but not overdressed.

 

Hang around a bit after your interview or meeting with the CP or OPSMGR. BS with the guys on the hangar floor... engineers, pilots, whoever. Don't get in the way or be a nuisance, but get your name and face out there to the field guys. Like someone said, you'll bump into somebody down the road at some time and it'll be useful.

 

Some mountain flying may help out west but any time you decide to get doesn't have to be in a turbine. Techniques learned are just as valid in an R22 or R44. 4-5K feet in an R22 is just as useful as 10-12K in a 206.

 

I might stir something up here but... if and when you meet the requirements for and instructor rating and you figure it could be your thing (instructing, I mean) research that avenue. You'll hear things about low time instructors and such but it always seems to be an area where supply is outweighed by demand.

 

Good luck and happy hunting,

[teabagger]

To All Low Time Pilots

 

* Take all advise with a grain of salt!!! *

 

**** When someone advises you to become an instructor as a low time pilot in order to build time, RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!! ****

 

Just My Two Cents

TB