Originally Posted by Lear55driver
One more thing to keep in the back of your mind. I won't repeat what's already been said, because everyone has already done a great job of informing you. I just wanted to give you (and whoever else) another option of building up flight time in addition to flight instructing that some people forget about or sometimes dismiss. Skydiving!!!
There are hundreds of drop zones all over each state that are dying for pilots. Most of the times it is the small DZ's that operate 182's that really need the help. So take some time and look around for some. Most of the time they either won't pay that much or they won't pay at all, but just think of it as free flight time and who knows they might turn you into a skydiver for free. That was my story. I built more time flying the jumpers around than I did flight instructing. Plus they didn't have any minimums for me to start.
It builds good character, makes you an ace at landing and perfects your visual flying skills (because most of the time none of the instruments work in the plane anyway). Just something to keep in mind. You'll need your commercial license to do it, but I highly recommend it. Good luck.
Actually that was one of my questions I've had in the back of my head for the past month. Does building your hours that way influence the major airlines in a negative way opposed to getting your CFI and training pilots? IF not, then why become a flight instructor when I can fly an airplane and skydive.