Community Notes. ✍️

How to get hired at Susi Air, 2025 “predictions”, first low time job post of the year...

Author

Ivan
January 26, 2025

If you don’t remember, Community Notes are a rundown of key discussions that happen in the low time pilot market. I’m chronically online so you don’t have to… 🤣

So I came across this post last night: “Would having more time in a HP C182 open more doors as a low time commercial pilot?”

For me, the answer is an obvious yes.

First, because of how many dropzones fly the C182. I don’t have an actual number but seriously, it’s a lot. Most of their pilot requirements go like this: 500TT, 25 hours in C182 or previous jump experience. They usually won’t look at you if you don’t meet at least one.

Second, because aerial survey operators have started to swap out their C172s for C182s. If you’re rather new to this newsletter, you may not know that Optic, Skylens, JAV, Prostar (just to name a few) were all hiring C182 survey pilots, for the first time. It seems Eagleview came up with new technology for their vendors, for C182s. So no, it wasn’t just a one-time thing. I don’t know for how much longer survey C172s will be around, but what’s a fundamental rule of flying? stay ahead of the aircraft.

Well, it would be a good idea to stay ahead of the market too!

Sure, it’s not turbine time but High Performance time is always better than “regular” time. Quality hours.

If you’re sceptic, there was this job post in the facebook group, just last week:

$25/load and $30/hour of towing, jump 7 days a week, housing assistance provided

Notice how it says minimum 10 hours of high performance time required? Some operators will ask for up to 25 hours in type, others only 5 hours.

Bottom line is, yes, C182 time definitely is helpful as a low time pilot. In a market where competition is tougher than the past few years, gotta stand out somehow.

Because that’s the 2025 prediction. Those who are willing to go the extra mile to be attractive for a specific position will have an easier time on the market. We’ve seen it last year, and it probably will be the same this year.

So what must we do this year?

if you won’t listen to me, maybe you’ll listen to Cap’

There was another listing for a Cessna pipeline patrol pilot for Barr Air Patrol posted yesterday. Not solely a C182 job (you’d fly C172s and C206s too), and hour minimums weren’t listed (although it used to be around 600TT), but it shows there are multiple opportunities for experienced C182 pilots.

I thought that was common knowledge. And if it wasn’t, then i guess I’m putting my own competition (you) on game… you’re welcome! 🤪

Now, this next section is if you’re interested in flying for Susi Air after reading the last deep dive, a breakdown of how to get the job, by one of their pilots.

The application process…

“In short, I think US guys have an advantage already (Susi Air like FAA licenses because they’re easy to maintain). The most important is, whenever they send you the questionnaire, and ask “how many years you're gonna work for the company” just say “as long as I live I will work for you guys.” It’s almost what I said. Of course they know it's not true. Just show you’re interested. Don’t try to be picky. Don’t ask how much the salary is, don't ask for anything, just go and get your hours. That’s it, that's the most important.

Have a very nice CV. Put your picture on it. I know the US doesn't like it, but the rest of the world likes to do it, so put a nice picture of you. I think for me it played a big role because because a lot of people don’t add pictures to their resume. Keep applying, they're doing selection every 2-3 months.

The questionnaire has questions about your hours, basic things about your license, qualifications, ratings, etc. And behavioural questions like: how long do you see yourself working here, are you okay traveling… I mean, I don't remember EXACTLY, but it's to see if you're a good fit for the company.

They require you to have everything current, at least for 8 months, including your passport. So everything was okay for me, except my IR, I didn't fly instrument much.

But they said it's okay, it was 6 months, so it was good.

The interview process…

You have tests about Caravan’s manual, you have a test about general knowledge, which is almost a copy-paste of the FAA theoretical knowledge. Then you have the psychotechnic tests.

You have to play with a joystick, like a plane in between two lines, to test your coordination. You have an oral interview as well, and this is really to see if you're a right fit.

They ask you many different questions, theoretical and again about who you are, how long you're going to be there working for the company, if that type of life suits you,...

Then you have the simulator test, which is the hardest part, where most of the candidates got eliminated. I think 40 persons got invited, 22 came to the compound, and 8 people passed.

So, it took us 10 days to start the training. It was a ground class for two weeks, we had some tests, then started the simulator session. It was five tests on the simulator, and once you pass that, you're pretty much good to go.

You’ll have four flights, including a DGCA checkride, to convert your license.

That’s basically the entire process.

One week interview, between two, three months training, depending how good you are, and also how many instructors they have available. For us, it ‘ two months and a half, but three months there just because the training took 10 days to start, so we just were hanging around. During the training, they pay you half of the salary, which is $55 a day, so you had $27.5 plus money for food, which is around $5 a day.”

As always, short, concise, and hopefully valuable.

We have a deep dive and another community note in the works for February, as well as a 2025 updated list of low time pilot jobs, plus some actionable pilot job tips that I’ve found on LinkedIn and Facebook. Our own little job board should be rolling in too.

Until next time!

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