Our son recently finished his CFI for helicopter and then took the Robinson Safety Course this past December. Since that time, he has put his resume online, handed it out to schools, and mailed it to all places suggested to him. He's called other pilots and, as of today, has not been able to get one interview. He just passed the CFII knowledge test. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
-Richard
Frankly, there are helicopter jobs out there. Just Google "helicopter flight instructor" and you will see a load of opportunities. The problem is that the minimum time required for these positions is 1,000 to 3,000 hours of helo time. Companies that specialize in EMS, offshore drilling, and even the military are looking for qualified rotorcraft instructors today. But, as you are painfully aware, there's not a whole lot a young, freshly produced CFI-Rotorcraft with a couple of hundred hours can do to accelerate the experience except by instructing on the primary level.
The problem with looking for work at flight schools is that many schools are likely to employ one of their own graduates. After all, if I am running a training operation, I'm going to give a nod to one of my customers to fill that rare instructing position if one develops. It's only right to hire someone who has helped me make my payroll. But then, you can play this to your own advantage.
Your son is aiming at a CFII-Rotorcraft. It may be time to make a deal with the school, and it's a good bet flight schools are hungry these days. You simply agree to invest another $7,500 to $10,000 to finish the training, provided that the school agrees to hire your son! Get it in writing, and insist on a minimal guarantee. Any school can place a CFI on its roster but only pay when the CFI is actually instructing. That's not good enough. Negotiate something, such as $500 per month. If the school pays your son $3,000 over six months, that is a small amount to guarantee thousands of dollars in training revenue. If the school doesn't bite, take your business elsewhere.
Sending r�sum�s in the blind and posting on Web sites is very much like direct mail. Your son needs to send out dozens of r�sum�s and letters in hopes he can get a reply from a handful. In tough times, the best bet is to network, "cold call" on schools, or both. Knowing somebody who is in a position to help or hire is best. Networking is a must when jobs are scarce.
Unfortunately, most employers are generally inundated with r�sum�s during tough times and don't want to deal with answering them. Your son may need to dress up and knock on doors, sell himself in person, and arrive just at the moment the flight school manager is looking to replace someone who resigned at noon.
Finally, and this may be out-of-the-box thinking, perhaps your son should consider a career as a warrant officer for the U.S. Army, fly the heavy helo iron for free, and build up thousands of hours on Uncle Sam. That program will be featured in an upcoming issue. Check it out with an Army recruiter.
Remember, after every storm comes the sun. Things will get better. Industry forecasters are betting on it. Your son may just have to hang in there, even if it means working at Ruby Tuesday's until the clouds move off into the distance.
Wayne Phillips is an airline transport pilot with Boeing 737 and Falcon 20 type ratings. He is a B-737 instructor and operates the Airline Training Orientation Program at the Continental Airlines�Pilot Training Center. He is also a speaker for the AOPA Air Safety Foundation and flies around Michigan in his Cessna 182RG.
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