I have a bit of a dilemna, and I am in need of some help from those who know best.

I am 30 years old and hoping to leave my good paying, stable career of 11 years to pursue a job with a regional airlines making low wages and working long hours. I currently have a Comm Multi Rating with >325 hours PIC and 20 Multi.

As of now, the ASA rebsite requires 500TT with 50 multi and American Eagle requires 400TT with 100 multi.

Until recently speaking with another pilot in the industry: My plan of action was to purchase 100 hours of Multiengine time in a Seneca, and hopefully attend a Jet Transition training course from a misc flight training center. This will come to a cost of appx $11000 + $4000= $15000.

The advise I recieved today was that I should instead spend the money on obtaining my CFI, CFII, and/or MEI ratings. I was told that the airlines would prefer to see time built while instructing as opposed to purchasing block time for cross-country flight. In addition, I was told that 60-80% of a airline new hires wash out of the flight training program. If I have my CFI rating, I would at least have a backup plan just in case. However, we all know that flight instruction can take a while to build the nessessary hours.

Obviously, if I had the money to do both...I would. I work as a Firefighter/Paramedic making appx $52k/yr. The money is good, but not bottomless. So, I must choose one over the other. Buy the multi time, or get my CFII/MEI rating?

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Wd