So, job search. Fact is, and I knew this going in, that there are not a lot of jobs out there that a pilot with a CPL and no other ratings aside from that is qualified for. Certainly very few that would pay enough for my husband and I to live off of. Even if I were to go up north, employers typically expect pilots to work the ramp (non-flying position, loading and fueling planes, etc) for a year or more for little more than minimum wage with no guarantee they will ever be moved to a flying position.
An acquaintance was kind enough to look around for me, and advised that all the people he knew that he hoped to get me an interview with required at least a float rating and some float time. That’s typically 50 hours, which is a good bit, when renting a float plane is 250$ an hour.
Apparently getting my multi-IFR would get me in the cockpit right away, and every commercial pilot I know says that’s the way to go, but that’s gonna be another 15 000$ or so. At which point, I’m reaching the edge of what I have available to me on lines of credit, and would be starting to run up my credit card. So all I need is 15K and I’m set. Incidentally it’s my birthday (I’m thirty two). Just sayin’.* **
Which makes me think of all the statistics about people starting flight training and not finishing. I believe one stat I read was that 75% of people who start flight training never finish. Far fewer ever make it to a commercial license, probably a similar proportion. And only 6% of those who get a commercial license are women. I’ve beat a lot of odds. And I’ll keep going at this until I get a job.
*Just kidding.
**Not really, I accept cash, check, or paypal.
Lindsay Kitson - Author and Pilot 
Good luck!
Thanks. 🙂 Good luck to you to – I know it’s not an easy road.
My dad did the bush pilot thing and mostly taught at the flight school in St Andrews to get his hours up. We almost moved to BC but he didn’t feel it was safe because of the lack of instruments and the conditions. Honestly, he gave up and worked at Hydro when the flightschool out in Southport started, he got a job and he’s been doing it now for 20+ years.
It’s not easy – I know it’s a catch 22 when you need to get your hours up, but if you do what you love, and plug away at it, it’s possible. That’s the reason I always say go through the military if possible – they pay for you to become a pilot and you can walk into lots of different positions. You can always try for a position with air medical transport; but like you say the pilots make a pittance above minimum wage until they get a ton of hours under their belt.