All posts by CarlValeri

Host of Aviation Careers Podcast. For more about me go to AviationCareersPodcast/About.
Podcast

ACP100 – Agricultural Flying Careers

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CropDusterWelcome to Episode 100 of the podcast where we take you inside the many careers in aviation. Today we will take you inside agricultural flying careers. When we started this podcast our intention was to help you understand the many aerospace careers and motivate you to move forward in your aviation career. Since then we have added many resources including our scholarships guide, career coaching, and interview preparation. I encourage you to find out more about these services at AviationCareersPodcast.com.

Today we get back to our grass roots dating back to episode 1 when we interviewed an international airline pilot and introduced you to his world. In Episode 100 we introduce you to another aspect of aviation, agricultural aviation, or as many like to say “crop dusting”. To help us understand the challenges and rewards of agricultural flying careers is Leif Isaacson, an agricultural pilot and Past President of the National Agricultural Aviation Association.

Lief and I discuss agricultural flying careers:

  • What is Agricultural Application.
  • Why you would consider a career in crop dusting.
  • The various non-flying jobs in Ag flying.
  • How drones have changed the career field.
  • The challenges of an Ag pilot.
  • The lifestyle of a crop duster.
  • Where to begin your career in Agricultural flying.

Scholarship of the week:

Agricultural Aviation Scholarship from The National Agricultural Aviation Association $5,000

Airline Pilot, Corporate Pilot, Interview Tips & Advice, Podcast

ACP099 – Recurrent Training. Living on starting pay, and Flying During the Holidays.

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IMG_8034Welcome to episode 99 of the podcast where we give you an inside look at many aerospace careers and help you achieve your career goals. Joining me today is Paul Grieco, scholarship analyst and interview prep consultant; and Tom Wachowski host of The Private Jet Podcast. In this episode, we discuss Recurrent Training,  Living on starting pay, and Flying During the Holidays.

Recently I have had the pleasure of coaching some very interesting and motivated aerospace professionals and students. One thing I have been hearing from you is that we have been providing some much needed and nuanced information as to the lives of pilots, flight attendants, engineers, and other professionals. To help you decide if an aerospace career is for you and motivate you during the holidays, I want to talk about working during this holiday season.

Today we are recording this on the eve of Thanksgiving in the United States, so for all of those listening that celebrate this holiday, Happy Thanksgiving!  This is a holiday we give thanks and I want to start off with giving thanks for having you as a listener and for the amazing team we have here at Aviation Careers Podcast!

Today we discuss:

  • Preparing recurrent training.
  • Interview Preparation for Cape Air and CommutAir
  • Scholarship of the week
  • Flying during the holidays.

Listener Mail:

  • Do you have any tips for anyone who is interested in converting to EASA?
  • Does the solo long cross country have to be done solo without anyone in the airplane except yourself, or can it be done with passengers?
  • Can you actually make a living on $40 an hour your first year and pay your school bills?
  • How do the airlines view multi or single engine turbine time compared to flight instruction?
  • Do you know of any Airframe & Powerplant scholarships?

Scholarship of the week:

HFI Maintenance Technician Certificate Scholarship

Airline Pilot, Podcast, Questions Answered

ACP098 What Is The Best Type Of Turbine Time?

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What is the best type of turbine time on your path to the majors? Welcome To Episode 98. We will answer this and many more questions in another episode where we answer your questions. Joining me today is Paul Grieco, airline pilot, nurse, and scholarships analyst.

What is the best type of turbine time and more questions:

  • Will I really love flying for the rest of my life?
  • Would I have some free time to do what I love?
  • Would I make enough money as a pilot to afford all I want to do?
  • Would I have time for family as an airline pilot?
  • I just finished episode 94 with ExpressJet and it came at just the right time.
  • Would my experience with the turbine PIC along with a year as a regional FO make me a strong candidate for the legacies?
  • If I am flying at the 135 operation do you think that attending OBAP and WAI job fairs will be enough to get a call from a legacy?
  • Do I just have to deal with first-year regional pay if I want a decent chance at a legacy or the major of my choice?
  • I was wondering what are some things I can do starting now that will distinguish me from the crowd when applying to pilot positions at the regionals and majors?
  • What is the best path to the majors turbine regional or turbine fractional?
  • Does buying time destroy the industry?
  • I am currently a 32-year-old. If I chose to change my career, do you recommend the ATP fast track?
  • Can you provide information on the cost of your coaching services?

Links:

Coaching Page

ACP094 ExpressJet Airlines Pilot Interview

Scholarship of the week:

ExpressJet Airlines Employee Scholarship

Accelerated Pilot Training, Aviation Training, Career Change, Podcast

ACP097 Too old to fly? Will an Additional Degree Help Your Pilot Career?

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Talon6FlightTeamPolkStateCollegeAre you too old to fly? Will an additional degree help you with your piloting career?  What direction should you take in your training? These questions and more will be answered in this episode of Aviation Careers podcast.

Welcome to episode 97. Joining me is Eric Crump; flight instructor, college professor, and Aerospace Director at Polk State College. Today we will answer your questions concerning your aerospace career.

Announcements:

Polk State College Flight Team wins awards at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Regionals.  Membership in a flight team is rewarding, teaches how to win with integrity, and is helpful towards advancing your career.

The new ebook version of the  Aerospace Scholarships 2015 is available for download.  The version is completely revamped and is much easier to use. Go to AerospaceScholarships.com to get your copy.  Members of the website can download the PDF file for free.

The electronic PDF version of the book Aerospace Scholarships 2016 will be available for purchase online for $10 and will include ALL quarterly updates throughout the year! Advanced purchase will include a copy of the 2015 Aerospace Scholarships Book.  Available soon at AerospaceScholarships.com.

Listener Mail:

  • I am a 35-year-old husband and father of two. I’m worried that I’m too old to be competitive in the marketplace.
  • Am I too old to become a major airline pilot?
  • Would I be able to make enough as a regional pilot to support a family?
  • If being a pilot is out of the picture, are there other career paths in aviation?
  • Should I get an additional college degree in aviation?
  • Should I pursue a 10-month aviation flight school program?
  • Should I join an Ab Initio cadet program and fly the right seat of an A320?
  • I would like to set myself up to fly for a major airline.
  • Should I attend flight school and college in a good weather environment such as Florida and move out of the cold north?
  • I am 28 years old  and struggling to make a decision on what to do next.
  • I want to be a competent safe pilot, share my love of flying with others, and get paid.

Scholarship of the Week:

AOPA Blackburn Flight Scholarship $5,000

Helicopter Pilot, Podcast

ACP096 Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot Sal Fragoso

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Air Ambulance Helicopter PilotWhen someone is injured and in need of assistance, the first thing many people think of is an ambulance to rush them to the airport. What happens when the victim is in a remote location or stuck in heavy traffic, or the hospital is too far away? This is where the Air Ambulance comes in.

Sal Fragoso is an Air Ambulance pilot working in New York City, where traffic jams can put a patient’s life in mortal danger. He has also worked in the Southwestern US, where the distance to a hospital, even without traffic, could be life-threatening for a patient. He is here to speak with us about working as a helicopter pilot in the tour and medical industries.

In This Episode we discuss:

  • How to become an Air Ambulance Pilot as a civilian.
  • How Sal was able to obtain his career goal.
  • Ways to build time as a helicopter pilot.
  • Job Prospects for Helicopter Pilots.
  • The rewards and challenges of becoming a Helicopter Pilot.
  • Advice to those looking to move forward with a career as a Helicopter Pilot.
Podcast

ACP095 What is Ab Initio Flight Training?

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We recently received a number of  listener questions asking “what is Ab Initio flight training?” Ab Initio is normally used by carriers outside the United States, but with the current shortage of qualified pilots some airlines are considering their own flight training programs. This is why we are beginning to hear more about Ab Initio and other type of training programs.

Ab Initio is a Latin term meaning “from the beginning”, but what does it mean in aviation? Listen to this episode to discover the many meanings of Ab Initio.

LufthansaFlightTraining
Image Credit : Lufthansa Flight Training

At times the terms we use in the flight training industry can be confusing especially when discussing  new programs. To help me explain Ab Initio Flight Training is Eric Crump, Aerospace Director at Polk State College, and Tom Wachowski, Corporate Pilot and the host of The Private Jet Podcast.  Both have extensive aviation experience and knowledge of the training environment.

News and Announcements

Congratulations to Eric on his new program with ExpressJet Airlines.

Tom did a  great job on the last episode of Private Jet Podcast How To Mitigate Operational Mistakes w/ Dan Dominguez from OpenSafety.

What is Ab Initio Flight Training:

Scholarship Of The Week:

AOPA Breitling Flight Training Scholarship $5,000 (10)

The AerospaceScholarshipsGuide is available as a downloadable pdf file or on the Amazon Kindle.

Contact Us:

If you have any questions please contact us by sending and e-mail to : feedback@AviationCareersPodcast.com

Don’t forget to visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and iTunes.  To help others find our podcast please give us a 5 star rating in iTunes.

Podcast

ACP094 ExpressJet Airlines Pilot Interview

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ExpressJet AirlinesThinking of becoming an airline pilot? Most pilots will work for a regional airline before moving onto the majors. Which regional should you work for?

Welcome to Episode 94. Today I have with me someone who feels you should work for ExpressJet Airlines. Welcome back to the show Robert Guyer. Joining Robert are other members of the ExpressJet Team.

We Discuss:

  • Why you should consider working for ExpressJet Airlines.
  • The type of equipment ExpressJet operates.
  • How to prepare for an upcoming ExpressJet Airlines pilot interview.
  • How To apply to ExpressJet
  • The interview process.
  • What you should expect during the interview.
  • How to prepare for your first day at ExpressJet
  • Upcoming job fairs and open houses. How to find out about them.

Links:

ExpressJet on Facebook

Expressjet Airlines Future Pilots

ExpressJet Airline Pathway Program

ACP065 – How to Become an Airline Check Airman with Robert Guyer

Scholarship Of The Week:

AOPA Gina Santori Flight Training Scholarship $5,000
This scholarship was designed to encourage and support young people to pursue recreational aviation as well as professional aviation careers.

This scholarship is funded from an endowment that was created by Dr. Gina Santori in honor of her late husband Richard Santori who was an Air Force reserve pilot and loved flying his Bonanza. Gina Santori a physician and surgeon from Aurora only practices pro bono cases for diabetic and renal patients. She began her career in medicine by earning her RN degree. Dr. Santori has a commercial pilots license in both sea and land airplanes. She established the endowment in her late husbands memory to provide scholarships in the fields of aviation, medicine, and science.

ExpressJet Airlines Employee Scholarships.  Scholarships are available to employees of ExpressJet Airlines and can be found on the employee internal website.

Podcast

ACP093 How To Become a Flight Nurse With Paul Grieco RN

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How To Become A Flight Nurse With Paul Grieco I was stuck in traffic on route 80 in New Jersey thinking: “why aren’t we moving?” Then in the distance I could hear the sound of a helicopter as it approached and then flew toward the flashing lights ahead. Moments later after circling the helicopter was on the ground. It was then that I thought to myself: “I sure hope I never need to use that helicopter, but I’m sure glad it is there if I need it.”

One of the more exciting jobs I can imagine is flying into a remote location and picking up injured people. But with that excitement comes some risk and I really appreciate those first responders who answer the call every day to fly into remote and hazardous locations to save lives.

Today I have with me a flight nurse who is no stranger to this podcast Paul Grieco, RN. Paul has been a nurse for 13 years and a flight nurse for 10 years and is an advocate for those who wish to enter the field. As you know from past episodes Paul has taken a new direction in his life with an airline career. Paul is able to successfully combine both his passion for nursing and passion for flying. He is one of the hardest working people I know.

Paul and I Discuss How To Become A Flight Nurse:

  • Why he became a Nurse.
  • The Challenges of becoming a Nurse.
  • How he became interested in becoming a Flight Nurse.
  • The type of aircraft a Flight Nurse will fly.
  • Unique skills and challenges to being a Flight Nurse.
  • How he is able to combine both careers as a pilot and nurse.
  • Why he chose to fly for the airlines.
  • Advice on how to become a flight nurse.

Links:

PHI Air Medical
Air Methods

Scholarships of The Week:

Medical Transport Leadership Institute Scholarship

Video:

Helicopter Pilot, Podcast

ACP092 How to Become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot with Pam Landis of Ocean Helicopters

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pamaward

Many times I dreamed of hovering above the Earth looking down upon my home, where I went to school, or simply watching dolphins play in the azure waters below. One way I have realized this dream is by flying a helicopter.

The helicopter is a unique aircraft; transporting people to unique locations, allowing us to view the world from a point in space, and playing a key role in helping save lives. If this sounds like fun you should consider a career as a helicopter pilot.

In past episodes, we spoke with Police, Army, and Coast Guard helicopter pilots and you can find those episodes linked below. Joining us today is a pilot who will help us understand how to become a commercial helicopter pilot.

Pam Landis is Vice President and Chief Flight Instructor of Ocean Helicopters in West Palm Beach, Florida. Pam is truly passionate about helicopters and teaching people how to fly. Pam is also on the training committee with Helicopter Association International.

As a testament to her commitment to aviation education, she was instrumental in Ocean Helicopters being awarded the 2014 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) ‘Flight Training Excellence Award‘ for Outstanding Flight School. Only 10 flight schools from around the country were selected for this award, and Ocean Helicopters was the only helicopter flight school featured.

Pam and I discuss:

­

  • The joy of flying helicopters.
  • Why you should consider a career flying helicopters.
  • Various jobs you can look forward to as a commercial helicopter pilot.
  • How to become a commercial  helicopters pilot.
  • Things you should do before you begin your training.
  • Costs of training and how to make your training more efficient.
  • How to become a helicopter pilot if you are a fixed wing pilot.
  • Ocean Helicopters and how they prepare pilots for a career as a
    commercial helicopter pilot.

Links:

Ocean Helicopters

Whirly Girls

Helicopter Association International

RotorcraftPro Magazine

Helicopter Salaries

Past Episodes With Helicopter Pilots

Scholarship of the Week:

Helicopter Foundation International Commercial Helicopter Rating Scholarship

In answer to the helicopter industry’s need for qualified pilots, and in an effort to attract new talent to the industry, HFI is sponsoring four Commercial Helicopter Pilot Scholarships.

Candidates who currently holds a private helicopter pilot license to obtain a commercial helicopter rating. A primary determinant will be evidence of the applicant’s skill and ability to be a commercial helicopter pilot and interest in pursuing a career as a pilot in the helicopter industry.

Typical scholarship open date: September 1, closing date November 30. A total of 4 scholarships is available each valued at $5,000 each.

Pilot Shortage, Podcast

ACP091 How To Avoid Complacency In Your Career

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StormsAheadI am concerned about the current pilot shortage, or should I say lack of qualified pilots available for hire. This is the only industry we can’t call a pilot shortage a pilot shortage for political reasons. But that is a topic for another podcast and you can listen to my discussion by clicking on the pilot shortage tab on the homepage of this website or click on Pilot Shortage. But I digress.

My concern today is the complacency amongst many pilots when it comes to their careers. Many of you have rejoined this career after years of pursuing another job because of the recession. Having been through a few recessions in the aviation industry, I want to you understand the pursuit of an airline job or any job you truly want is a marathon and not a sprint.

During every downturn, the first people who bail out of this industry are those who were sold on an airline pilot career as being a six figure income with many days off. Although this is true later on in your career it does take years to realize this goal. Therefore, please if you are considering this as a career go into it because you enjoy the job. Don’t do it simply for the money because in the beginning you will be disappointed.

Furthermore, though many airlines may be knocking on your door and it seems if you can fog a mirror you can get a job as an airline pilot, this won’t last forever. “The worm always turns” is a saying in this industry, meaning for every uptrend in the industry there is an equal and opposite downturn. So please don’t become complacent during this current pilot shortage and we are going to show you how.

We discuss:

  • How To Avoid Complacency In Your Career
  • Why you should plan for the worst and hope for the best.
  • Why you should work on your credentials first.
  • Why there are ups and downs in the airline industry.
  • How to prepare yourself and stay hungry even during the current job market.
  • Listener Mail

Scholarship Of The Week:

AOPA Noe-Singer Flight Training Scholarship $12,000

This scholarship is offered through the AOPA flight training scholarships program in hopes of expanding the pilot population by helping an individual who has a definite interest in learning how to fly, however, would be unable to without the extra funds from this scholarship.

Larry Noe, a Bonanza G36 owner, and an instrument-rated commercial pilot recognized the need to assist students who have a financial need and strong desire to complete flight training. His desire is for students to use this scholarship to begin an aviation related career track, or fly recreationally as he does.

Sponsored by AerospaceScholarships.com