Av8er1550

First off, I'm ALMOST done with my CFI rating and in the position now to where I've been reflecting. All through flight training, I always thought about going to the airlines initially (maybe corporate after) but never thought about the path in between finishing my training and the airlines. Lately, this has been rolling around in my mind.

I have been looking EVERYWHERE online for differently opportunities. So my question to you guys whether you're just getting into the industry or a seasoned pilot is do you think it is better to flight instruct for the experience or go with a position that will get you the flight time the fastest?

I work for a cargo airline in the offices just doing small jobs so I get the chance to talk to our guys all the time. It seems as if people who flight instructed are bias toward flight instructing and other guys who did other things are geared more toward getting the hours the quickest.

I also understand that teaching teaches you as well. What I am not saying is that flight instructing is useless. It is definitely useful and I know I would have fun with it; however, in this time of this 'hiring wave' should someone sit around and get comfy with instructing or go out there and grab every opportunity to just build that time.

The opportunities I am looking at include flight instructing, aerial surveying, and flying jumpers at a well known well operated (clean) DZ who operate a 182, 206, and two caravans. I know a guy who flew for them and built 1,900 hours in two years.

I apologize for the long post. I'm just trying to listen to different people's advice and the path that they chose. Thanks guys!

CaptUnderhill

Well I'm also a low timer as of now. Since you're almost done with your CFI, I say do that to build time. There are lots of places looking for CFIs. Depending on how many hours you have, finding a job with less than 500 hrs. is going to be difficult. Since you already invested so much time and money into the CFI, go with that.

charlie1017

Finish the CFI. During the depths of the 2008-2009 Economic Crash, it was the CFI that got me my first job when there were no low time jobs to be found.

ScottyDo

After you finish your CFI get your CFII and MEI almost any flight school will hire you. Choose the one that will get you the most amount of hours quickly. Then you will have the magic 1500 within 2 years easy if not less, then take your pick of the regionals if that's the rout you want to go. From my looking around online most decent corporate jobs have tougher hiring minimums than the regionals unless you know someone that can get you in the door.

OnCenterline

By all means, teach. You won't regret it. If you can find a place to work where you will do more than that, great. In the meantime, network with the local pilots to try and get exposure to their high-performance planes, as well as just to have a network of people. Do the same with mechanics.

Give every student 6 business cards, and ask them to hand them out to prospects. If you market yourself correctly, you could be turning away business.

Apokleros

Focus on building time potentially any way that you can, whether that be flight instruction or something else. I highly recommend that you get your flight instructor ratings if you are close. If you want to instruct the whole way to 1500 hours, then do that following your desire. There are also other ways of earning your flight time as well, so don't discount them if that is what you want to do. I instructed for a while, then was hired on with a part 135 VFR operator at over 500 hours. I don't regret it, since one can learn more by having done both. There is great value in diversifying oneself.

teddy3412

I went the flight instruction route and I have to say that it has made me a better pilot overall. you realize you don't know as much about flying until you actually start teaching it. But I'd also agree with the other posters that you should branch yourself out and get exposure. Network cause those could be people walking your resume into a job you might want.

TheFly

Cfi, 91/135, 121.

NeverHome

Do the CFI thing. Not many people want to be an CFI (at least not for long). I really didnt want to do it. But I am Glad I did. Looking back I can say that some of my best days of flying were as a young CFI. I learned alot, not just about flying but about this industry. As others have said, its okay to diversify yourself too. With that said, while you are trying to build all that time, try to learn from everybody you fly with and try to have fun too.

Yoda2

Whichever route you take; try and finish the CFI ratings (even if you don't end up instructing) and look for gigs that will also get you the X country time for the ATP. (lots of folks have ended up with a couple thousand hours and still lack the X country, not a good spot to be in)