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.
In a perfect world I would say CFI to 1200 then 135 for sure, makes you a better pilot.
But the world's not perfect, two identical pilots one of whom has a checkride bust on his record, can have two very different career paths.
Regionals today are mostly pretty much geared to get CFI's through training... they simply can't afford to waste any seat meat.
Do your homework, at least make sure any employer has a good training program. The old school programs often just gave you a bunch of books, some canned lectures, minimum canned sim sessions, and you were on your own to pass the oral and checkride.