Originally Posted by
detpilot
"In reference to an airline career if you can skip the CFI route and then don't then it is a needless diversion and as such a "waste of time"."
Furthermore, I strongly disagree with this statement. I currently have just over 500 TT, 75 Multi, and a highly desirable (To regionals) Jet course under my belt. I can easily leave now and go to a regional. A lot of my colleagues have left for regionals with 100 hours less than I have. However, I CHOSE to become a CFI and instruct for a year before doing this. The reason... I want to build experience. If you deny the fact that a pilot becomes infinitely more skilled by teaching, then you are sadly misguided. I feel that I have a talent for teaching, I enjoy it, and I feel that I am gaining as much as my students are from the experience. I want to begin my airline career alright, but I also don't want to be a burden on my captains, and a safety hazard for my passengers. And extra year of experience teaching someone to fly can only help.
The only one who is loosing out is yourself. No one really knows if this regional hiring thing will continue. Oil could hit $100 a barrel and then you would be left out in the cold while your friends have cushy regional jobs. They would have careers and would be building turbine time. You could be stuck as a CFI and virtually worthless to the industry.
It wasn't very long ago when the regionals wanted 1500 minimum and were hiring at 3000. Things can change on a dime. It is foolish to wait. Perhaps you are nurchuring a confidence problem? Often instructors like to hide in the safety of the flight school rather than to take the abuse of being the new guy at the next rung in the ladder.
Perhaps your friends can help you get a job in the future but you are doing yourself no favors today.
Skyhigh