Where to start?
04-21-2017, 05:12 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Apr 2017
Position: Dreaming
Posts: 1
Where to start?
Hi all,
I'm new to the forums here and I'd like a little general advice and guidance from the membership here regarding how to use the site most effectively and any gouge on perhaps how to steer my career.
About me:
31 in May. Incomplete degree in Finance from a four-year university from several years ago. Currently work as a CFI for a flight school in Goldsboro, NC specializing in training military service members. I'm the chief single-engine flight instructor and I've worked with everyone from enlisted guys trying to make career moves to full bird Colonels trying to get additional ratings. Third generation pilot flying my entire life, first logbook entries were over 20 years ago. Private didn't come until July 2015 because I was simply unmotivated to finish and my teens and twenties were spent with the thought in my head that I didn't want to fly professionally because it would detract from my pleasure of flying as a hobby. I have just shy of 750 hours and I'm averaging 30-35 hours a week between instructing and pleasure flying.
I've been wide open since getting my CFI, so progress on my CFII has been slower than I would like. Targeting May for CFII and June/July for multi commercial and MEI. I've got 120 hours (roughly) of complex and high-performance time (a little more HP than complex), about 10 hours in various Barons, and a buttload of tailwheel time as the airplane I've been flying since I was tall enough to reach rudder pedals and see over the instrument panel has been my family's 1952 Cessna 170B.
I've got a very good friend and fellow 170B driver based in LSV that has been an American 321 FO based at LAX (and soon going through upgrade training for 737 captain basing at LGA, I believe) that has been a positive influence and is trying to light a fire under my butt about the next step in my career. He's advising that I start making plans now to transition out of being full-time CFI to being a full-time airline pilot and part-time CFI.
I feel like I'm behind the curve already and I want to start arming myself with as much information as possible to make an informed decision on where to go next, with respect to 121 carriers. I've heard good things about PSA and SkyWest, but I'm open to suggestions.
As does everyone, I would like to be able to move to the left seat as quickly and painlessly as possible and hold a line as soon as possible. I live in Greensboro, NC and my wife and I have no kids yet, but I have no interest in permanently relocating at this juncture. Ideally, a domicile reasonably close to Greensboro (on the eastern seaboard, really) would be ideal for me for when I'm on reserve.
I'm not looking to be spoon-fed answers, but I'll be glad to read any good threads that are thrown my way and soak up any and all knowledge from the collective knowledge base here. I'm not averse to flying 135 for a period of time prior to flying 121, but I'm concerned with losing seniority if I do that.
Quite simply put - I don't know what I don't know and I want to know more. I'm active on BeechTalk, and enjoy reading forums with real content. I've heard high praise about this forum, so I'm eager to start learning.
Thank you everyone for your consideration.
Kindest regards,
Ryan Smith
I'm new to the forums here and I'd like a little general advice and guidance from the membership here regarding how to use the site most effectively and any gouge on perhaps how to steer my career.
About me:
31 in May. Incomplete degree in Finance from a four-year university from several years ago. Currently work as a CFI for a flight school in Goldsboro, NC specializing in training military service members. I'm the chief single-engine flight instructor and I've worked with everyone from enlisted guys trying to make career moves to full bird Colonels trying to get additional ratings. Third generation pilot flying my entire life, first logbook entries were over 20 years ago. Private didn't come until July 2015 because I was simply unmotivated to finish and my teens and twenties were spent with the thought in my head that I didn't want to fly professionally because it would detract from my pleasure of flying as a hobby. I have just shy of 750 hours and I'm averaging 30-35 hours a week between instructing and pleasure flying.
I've been wide open since getting my CFI, so progress on my CFII has been slower than I would like. Targeting May for CFII and June/July for multi commercial and MEI. I've got 120 hours (roughly) of complex and high-performance time (a little more HP than complex), about 10 hours in various Barons, and a buttload of tailwheel time as the airplane I've been flying since I was tall enough to reach rudder pedals and see over the instrument panel has been my family's 1952 Cessna 170B.
I've got a very good friend and fellow 170B driver based in LSV that has been an American 321 FO based at LAX (and soon going through upgrade training for 737 captain basing at LGA, I believe) that has been a positive influence and is trying to light a fire under my butt about the next step in my career. He's advising that I start making plans now to transition out of being full-time CFI to being a full-time airline pilot and part-time CFI.
I feel like I'm behind the curve already and I want to start arming myself with as much information as possible to make an informed decision on where to go next, with respect to 121 carriers. I've heard good things about PSA and SkyWest, but I'm open to suggestions.
As does everyone, I would like to be able to move to the left seat as quickly and painlessly as possible and hold a line as soon as possible. I live in Greensboro, NC and my wife and I have no kids yet, but I have no interest in permanently relocating at this juncture. Ideally, a domicile reasonably close to Greensboro (on the eastern seaboard, really) would be ideal for me for when I'm on reserve.
I'm not looking to be spoon-fed answers, but I'll be glad to read any good threads that are thrown my way and soak up any and all knowledge from the collective knowledge base here. I'm not averse to flying 135 for a period of time prior to flying 121, but I'm concerned with losing seniority if I do that.
Quite simply put - I don't know what I don't know and I want to know more. I'm active on BeechTalk, and enjoy reading forums with real content. I've heard high praise about this forum, so I'm eager to start learning.
Thank you everyone for your consideration.
Kindest regards,
Ryan Smith
04-21-2017, 05:45 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: Window seat
Posts: 5,211
At the rate you're flying you're six months away from having your ATP. Target that and not necessarily you're CFII. Comm/MEL, ATP.
PSA has a CLT crew base. Not sure if it's junior or senior but you should be able to get there eventually. Keep out the regional forum and see how long it takes to get CLT.
It's 1.5 hrs from GSO. Flow through to AA. Seven to 10 years? You're at AA.
You're done assuming the current system stays in place.
Want to have more options? Get your four yr degree. There are online degrees available for pilots. A four yr degree gives you more options under the current hiring system. It might change in the future but reducing weaknesses in your resume is important.
Based on current hiring you could be at a major airline within 10 years. No guarantees.
PSA has a CLT crew base. Not sure if it's junior or senior but you should be able to get there eventually. Keep out the regional forum and see how long it takes to get CLT.
It's 1.5 hrs from GSO. Flow through to AA. Seven to 10 years? You're at AA.
You're done assuming the current system stays in place.
Want to have more options? Get your four yr degree. There are online degrees available for pilots. A four yr degree gives you more options under the current hiring system. It might change in the future but reducing weaknesses in your resume is important.
Based on current hiring you could be at a major airline within 10 years. No guarantees.
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