Originally Posted by
UnbeatenPath
You definitely build time faster as a CFI but the experience at a 135 is more useful overall I believe. The people with previous type ratings and/or 135 training seem to have an easier time in training from what I've seen. Big difference between an ILS at 90 knots under the hood and doing them in IMC down to minimums (what seems like every day in ACK) at 130 knots. Not sure how it looks on a resume for moving on. I'm not that far yet. Overall I'm glad I did it that way. I still instructed on the side on my days off and made up the time difference that way so it didnt take as long. Either way in the beginning you have to put in the work and grind to get to that first airline job as soon as you can.
I personally think it helps. My 135 wasn’t in jets, but it was in a twin hauling checks M-F. As the pilot told me in my regional interview, “You haven’t killed yourself or scared yourself out of flying so I guess you’re alright.” Every varied experience you have in aviation helps build your bag of tricks and understanding as long as you learn from it. Learning new airframes and new procedures becomes easier. Shooting approaches to minimums, doing complex missed approaches and dealing with emergencies or curve balls is less demanding.