Originally Posted by bluestarairtaxi
I am so new to aviation that my paint has not dried- so i read and take notes.
Understand the newby status and I'm going to try and clear up a few misconceptions in your post.
Originally Posted by bluestarairtaxi
Some folks on this site have hundreds or even 1000's of hours. add it up. 500 hrs @ 150.00 and hour is a lot of cash. and i guess what blows my mind is 500 hundred is peanuts. ( again-newby )
Those 1000s of hours you see weren't bought at the local FBO flying a 172 with a CFI sitting next to them. I stopped paying for flight time (meaning training) at around 300 hours after getting my CFI and CFII then I did my MEI at the flight school I taught at for a significantly cheaper rate. Now, except for the occasional personal flight with the girlfriend I am getting PAID for those hours I am accumulating and I am pretty sure that is true of most others on this board.
Originally Posted by bluestarairtaxi
Then i started to look into schools like atp and the lot. 60,000.00 bucks.
wow.
I ask-so what do i get for that- enough hours to get hired somewere?? NOOOOp.[CFI at a fight school to build time] must have a MINIMUM of 1500 hours pic mei turbine time with a PhD trown in- and then you still an't there yet. 250000 dollers later- no i havent but know most of you folks have spent this and more. For what?? 100,000 or less per year and a life of stress. NOPE- not for me. however.....
Unless you are older (30s-40s) and want to get into aviation fast, there is NO reason to pay as much as those schools want. Even those older guys who plunk down the cash for it will probably never see a return on their investment. They would be better off buying bonds or CDs with their money but still some people do it... The advantage is that some of those programs have deals with airlines to hire grads at significantly lower time than someone off the street. I'm not sure where you got the idea that you need 1500 PIC turbine and a PHd to get an airline job. You can get on with most regionals with 800TT and 100ME without too much trouble. And besides, instructing at an FBO will be some of the most fun you have flying and you will LEARN a hell of a lot more than some 300 hour wonder pushing buttons at FL350. As far as a degree, yes a 4 year degree is "preferred" (meaning required) but a PHd? Give me a break....
Originally Posted by bluestarairtaxi
What is for me is part 135 single pilot. 500 hours and im making $$. Laugh if you want but if it the aircab or taxi thing is good enough for Bob Crandall- its good for me.
That 500 hours for 135 PIC is to fly in JUST VFR conditions (and FYI I was instructing with less than 400 hours and making money). So that means you are either flying on bright sunny days or you are scud-running on those murky days. A quick trip to the NTSB database will illustrate the mortality rate of that endeavor. If you want to fly in IFR single-pilot you are going to need to reach much higher 135 PIC mins. 135.243(c) states you need 1200 total flight time, 500 hours cross country flight time, 100 hours at night, 75 hours of instrument time to act as PIC under IFR.
Now you are right, you are much better off in ANY industry if you are in a position to control your own fate. But aviation is a tough business with a high cost of entry, huge operating costs and relatively small profit margins. There is only one way I know of to make a little money in aviation - start out with A LOT of money.
Hope this helps. Good luck in whatever you decide.