Author Topic: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?  (Read 3861 times)

Three Wolf Moon

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Location: Denver
Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« on: May 10, 2018, 10:07:46 AM »
Hi.  I'm a Denver based SWAMI - been FI for years but I love to fly and it's great to keep getting paid to do it.  We have an opening in our flight department for another pilot on the Gulfstream 200, and I would love to help out a fellow Mustachian.  If anyone out there knows of someone who might be interested, let me know.  Feel free to reply/message me for more details.  Thanks!

goalphish2002

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 290
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2018, 11:43:55 AM »
Not a pilot but have a question.  What are your thoughts on a mid-career person learning to fly from square one?  Is it possible to make a transition into being a professional pilot? 

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2018, 11:47:40 AM »
I recommend jetcareers.com, it's s pretty good group of people.

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2018, 11:50:52 AM »
Not a pilot but have a question.  What are your thoughts on a mid-career person learning to fly from square one?  Is it possible to make a transition into being a professional pilot?

It's expensive but the rewards now are much better than they were even 3-4 years ago.

You will still take a QOL hit at first. The career pays off long term IMO. I work for a legacy airline and make excellent pay along with lots of time off, now in my mid 30's. About the quickest you'd go from zero to major airline is five years nowadays which is very fast compared to a decade ago. Took me 14.

Three Wolf Moon

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Location: Denver
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2018, 01:55:47 PM »
Not a pilot but have a question.  What are your thoughts on a mid-career person learning to fly from square one?  Is it possible to make a transition into being a professional pilot?

Like five said, it's doable but there are challenges.  The biggest one might be the cost - flight training to get a commercial license so you can work an entry-level type job can cost as little as $40k to upwards of $100k. (for more details check out this post)  At that point you can start doing flight instruction, banner towing, etc type jobs for low pay and long hours until you reach 1500 hours when you can get the Airline Transport Pilot rating.  At that point, you are at least at a position to work better jobs - although getting on with a big airline you'll probably need another 1500 hours on top of that.  So, it takes some time, effort, and investment but the payoff can be rewarding, both monetarily and working a career that can be quite enjoyable.  I've been able to retire for years but am still employed because I love my job.  The fact that I only do it 10-11 days a month is a huge bonus, most of the time I feel like I am already retired anyway - when I do go to "work" I usually get to travel somewhere decent for 2-3 days, stay in nice hotels and eat out, and then come back home.

I recommend jetcareers.com, it's s pretty good group of people.

Thanks for the recommendation - I wanted to take the (admittedly very slim) chance that there might be someone on here interested, odds are it would be someone I could get along with very well.  Important in a corporate job where you're sitting next to the same one or two guys all the time...
« Last Edit: May 10, 2018, 02:06:18 PM by Three Wolf Moon »

WildJager

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 440
  • Age: 37
    • Can't complain.
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2018, 02:53:13 PM »
If you can wait 3 years until the Air Force will release me from their iron grip I'm sure we'd get along just fine, haha.

I was curious but I've been too lazy to research since there's nothing I can do about it for a while, do small outfits like yours flying Gulfstreams and the like require an ATP or just commercial?

Good luck with the search!

Three Wolf Moon

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Location: Denver
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2018, 03:32:21 PM »
If you can wait 3 years until the Air Force will release me from their iron grip I'm sure we'd get along just fine, haha.

I was curious but I've been too lazy to research since there's nothing I can do about it for a while, do small outfits like yours flying Gulfstreams and the like require an ATP or just commercial?

Good luck with the search!

ATP for most places.  Some charter outfits with low standards will hire commercial pilots that are close to ATP mins for an SIC position.  I was Air Force also - are you three years away from 20 or from the end of the UPT commitment?

Greenback Reproduction Specialist

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 483
  • Location: Running barefoot thru Idaho mountains
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2018, 04:47:34 PM »
Is 20 hrs enough to qualify? I've landed a plane a few times... I recon I could get a Gulf on the ground safe enough to fly her again... Lol jk, but seriously wish I had more hours and the ratings, that sounds like it would be my dream post FIRE "job"!

WildJager

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 440
  • Age: 37
    • Can't complain.
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #8 on: May 10, 2018, 08:04:12 PM »
If you can wait 3 years until the Air Force will release me from their iron grip I'm sure we'd get along just fine, haha.

I was curious but I've been too lazy to research since there's nothing I can do about it for a while, do small outfits like yours flying Gulfstreams and the like require an ATP or just commercial?

Good luck with the search!

ATP for most places.  Some charter outfits with low standards will hire commercial pilots that are close to ATP mins for an SIC position.  I was Air Force also - are you three years away from 20 or from the end of the UPT commitment?

Commitment.  I doubt I'll make it to 20.  The current environment in active duty is a bit sad.  Guard is still up in the air.  I've gotten plenty of job offers thanks to my current gig liaising with a bunch of guard units, but we'll see.  When I work with them they just seem much happier than active duty units right now.  I have enough stash to never work again, but I'd potentially still like to fly some more.  But I want to keep it... low commitment and less queepy.  I have the potential to get some C21 time on my next PCS.  That white jet time might be useful, but I'm leaning towards small cargo for the fun of it.  At the very least I'll teach a bit in whatever small town my wife and I end up in.

Syonyk

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4610
    • Syonyk's Project Blog
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #9 on: May 11, 2018, 11:14:00 PM »
Hi.  I'm a Denver based SWAMI - been FI for years but I love to fly and it's great to keep getting paid to do it.  We have an opening in our flight department for another pilot on the Gulfstream 200, and I would love to help out a fellow Mustachian.  If anyone out there knows of someone who might be interested, let me know.  Feel free to reply/message me for more details.  Thanks!

Would you take a 110hr PPL without Commercial or Instrument? :D

That sounds like a great gig for someone, just that someone isn't me.  If I found myself in Denver, could I write a check for an hour or so of turbine training?  I keep kicking myself for not doing the "intro flight" on an Eclipse Jet a while ago when I had the chance.  The most I fly is an O-470 (wonderful snarling beast of a motor), but I mostly fly O-360s of various arrangements (I just can't justify the extra cost of the 182 over the 172 for the flying I do, and there's a 180hp 172 that's just such a sweet flying bird with a purely mechanical panel...).

What are the minimum requirements?  I do know a few pilots looking for work.

Three Wolf Moon

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Location: Denver
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2018, 08:24:25 AM »
What are the minimum requirements?  I do know a few pilots looking for work.

ATP, 3000 hours, living in or willing to relocate to the Denver area.  If you know of anyone interested message me their email.  Thanks.

Syonyk

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4610
    • Syonyk's Project Blog
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2018, 09:19:44 AM »
Not with 3000 hours or an ATP yet.  Good luck!

JetBlast

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 496
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #12 on: May 12, 2018, 03:39:38 PM »
Do you have any contacts at United that could spread the word to recent and soon to be retirees?  There are always guys and gals that hit age 65 and want to keep going.

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2018, 06:40:50 PM »
Do you have any contacts at United that could spread the word to recent and soon to be retirees?  There are always guys and gals that hit age 65 and want to keep going.
Ex-airline and corp generally don't mix well...although with the pilot shortage they might take a chance. I think airline guys are generally considered pre-madonnas. We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Three Wolf Moon

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Location: Denver
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2018, 08:08:57 PM »
Do you have any contacts at United that could spread the word to recent and soon to be retirees?  There are always guys and gals that hit age 65 and want to keep going.
Ex-airline and corp generally don't mix well...although with the pilot shortage they might take a chance. I think airline guys are generally considered pre-madonnas. We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Sometimes it can work fine, but as usual it all depends on the individual.  I actually discussed the job with a retired United guy, but he fit the stereotype described above a little too well - so we're still looking...

JetBlast

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 496
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #15 on: May 12, 2018, 09:39:25 PM »
We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Shhh... 🤫

Don’t give management any ideas!

swampwiz

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 451
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2018, 06:42:40 AM »
We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Shhh... 🤫

Don’t give management any ideas!

Looking at your avatar, I'm curious as to whether you've ever had a problem with the automatic pilot that a stewardess had to assist you with. ;)

JetBlast

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 496
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #17 on: May 14, 2018, 03:20:34 PM »
We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Shhh... 🤫

Don’t give management any ideas!

Looking at your avatar, I'm curious as to whether you've ever had a problem with the automatic pilot that a stewardess had to assist you with. ;)

Surely you can’t be serious!

inline five

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 675
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2018, 04:56:09 PM »
We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Shhh... 🤫

Don’t give management any ideas!
Ha on the flip side I think a corp guy would melt if he had to do the six and seven leg days I did at the commuters. I honestly don't know how I survived it.

JetBlast

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 496
Re: Any professional pilots looking for a position in Denver?
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2018, 07:33:02 PM »
We literally do nothing but show up to work. Everything else is handled for us...we get quite spoiled...

Shhh... 🤫

Don’t give management any ideas!
Ha on the flip side I think a corp guy would melt if he had to do the six and seven leg days I did at the commuters. I honestly don't know how I survived it.

Boy is that’s the truth. I don’t think I’ve ever been as tired as after a seven leg day in and out of O’Hare with an FO that was flying traffic patterns in a C172 a couple months before.