LowerLoon185

Hello,

This came up in another thread, but didn’t want to derail.

I’ll have all my ratings this fall and about 1050 hours. I’m looking to go straight to a regional as soon as I can, but need those last ~450 hours. Couple of things to consider; I have a great paying job that allows me to sock away money every month, have good insurance, etc. I also own my own plane.

I think the conventional thinking is get a 135 job to cover the hours, but only needing 450 or so poses a problem. I could do pipeline or instruct as well. Issue is those would require quitting my job to do it properly and get the time.

Does it sound crazy to just keep my current job and fly my own plane for the last 400 or so till I’m ready to apply? I know it’s a lot of money, but keeping my job allows me to pay for it and still save money. The airplane is a “forever airplane”, so it’s here to stay....I’m paying for it anyway. Lastly, will the regionals look at me funny for having the last 450 in a Cessna?

Thanks in advance.

Positiveg

Trans States will front you up to $40k of your bonus for time building if you sign a two year contract with them. Anything you don’t use is given to you as part of the normal bonus schedule. You can use pretty much any local flight school. I negotiated a block rate with a local school and flew a couple hundred hours using bonus money.

galaxy flyer

Get a job flying airplanes, adds credibility to your resume and will make the transition at a regional much easier. Flying as a job and logging hours in your own plane not answering to a chief pilot are very different things.

GF

LowerLoon185

Thank you for the heads up, i had no idea. Honestly, i hadn't looked at TSA because of range of domaciles...but Denver would be do-able. I'm willing to relocate for the right job.

LowerLoon185

Thank for the response, this is what i was worried about. I know getting a job flying 135 for the last portion of hours would be highly preferrable; i'm just concerned if anyone would want a guy for ~6 months or i'd have to sign a long training contract when really my goal is to get to a Regional ASAP. To that point, i've been looking at Ameriflight.

So, all agreeing that flying employment is better......would filling the rest with GA time be a negative or hurt my chances for getting on with a regional? If that's the case, i'm biting the bullet and i'll plan on putting in at least a year at a 135.

sourdough44

I agree, a few extra hours in your own plane is one thing, but 450?

I’d try to get a ‘real’ flying job.

Rhoads287

If you end up just flying your own plane for the last 400 or so hours, make sure they are productive hours. Don’t just do the usual 100 dollar cheeseburger cross country. I would recommend spending lots of time shooting approaches under the hood, and sharpening other skills that will come in use during your regional training. If I remember correctly, during my regional training there were 3 or so guys that had gotten there by just owning their own airplanes. Not of them made it through, I suspect because a lot of their time was just joyriding. Just make sure your instrument skills and procedures are up to snuff.

LowerLoon185

Yep, that's what i'm leaning toward. Main reason I thought of it was i'm already paying for the plane..and my current job pays way more than a time builder job to get to 1500. Plus, there's part of me that doesn't want to get that interim job just to bail on an employer...doesn't seem right, but i know this industry is different. I took a second look at my schedule, and it's more than likely ~350 or so that i'd need. Still sounds like too much.

Thank you for the response.

LowerLoon185

Thank you. I've obviously never been in a 121 training program, but i'm assuming it's challenging. Even more challenging if you've not been honing your skills. Recently been looking hard at Ameriflight. Looks like i could potentially qualify for the Be99 CA job at 1200 hours and be in the domicile i want. Again, new to this, but hand flying two PT6's single pilot for a year or two gaining TPIC would be infinitely more useful. I would think that might even get me a leg up when i eventually go to a regional, but who knows.

rickair7777

It would give you a leg up in 121 training (compared to PPL or ASEL GA ops), but probably won't help you much to get hired, they are pretty much hiring all-comers, although the additional experience might get you an earlier class date.