Originally Posted by
bgmann
It's not about a number. It's how well you fly the aircraft, fly instruments, your knowledge of regulations, aircraft systems, weather, and your companies FOM. The other pilots in my class had more flight time than me. From 700 to 3000 hours with Part 121 experience, I had 421TT and 26ME. 4 of them pink slipped and 3 were kicked to the curb. Others were given a second chance on their ride. The check airman said it was one of the best checkrides he had seen in awhile. It's not about your total time, its about how you are as a pilot! You brought up something that pinched a nerve. Total time is just a number that fulfills the check boxes of airline applications. Lets not forget "the real" reason pilots become CFI's. They do it to get free flight time so they can get a flying job with typically a regional. Well I already fly a multi engine turbine, why should I take steps backwards? You sound jealous. The aviation market is different today. If my timing was 3 years ago I would be flight instructing.
So if you have 1200TT and another has 400TT, does that mean your 3 times as smart as the other? I believe it comes from the training you received, and the knowledge your able to retain.
First of all, how did I "pinch a nerve" when we said nearly the same thing. Second, if you've never instructed, then you don't know what you may have learned. Last, I never said I was "3 times smarter than a 400TT guy." If a 600TT instructor had done 250 dual given in IMC around thunderstorms at night, then his time would be much more valuable than an instructor who did 500 hours of pattern work with students. I'll say it again: There's more to look at than strictly hours. That being said, and not to talk out of both sides of my mouth..a 1200TT guy has more experience than a 400TT guy no matter how you slice it, and that has to count for something. Not necessarily "3 times more," but something.
You could also turn this around. You probably got some experiences flying your multi- turbine airplane that I didn't gain instructing. Many ways to look at this. The only reason I replied in the first place is because the guy was told he wasn't even qualified to instruct. That and the fact that he had to ask someone he'd never met if he was ready to fly for a 121 carrier...