Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Career Builder > Career Questions
Best path CFI to Airlines? >

Best path CFI to Airlines?

Search

Notices
Career Questions Career advice, interview prep and gouges, job fairs, etc.

Best path CFI to Airlines?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-14-2009 | 09:03 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Line Holder
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Default Best path CFI to Airlines?

I am a CFI in Seattle with 1300 SEL hours and working on my MEL rating. What is the best path for me to take to get me to an airline from where I am now?
Reply
Old 11-15-2009 | 05:03 AM
  #2  
WmuGrad07's Avatar
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Whale FO
Default

get your MEI and build multi time.
Reply
Old 11-15-2009 | 07:13 AM
  #3  
bryris's Avatar
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
From: Hotel
Default

And fly a lot.
Reply
Old 11-15-2009 | 12:58 PM
  #4  
Thread Starter
Line Holder
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Default

Thank you for the advice
Reply
Old 11-15-2009 | 01:49 PM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
20 Years
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Likes: 20
From: 7ER B...whatever that means.
Default

And be prepared to wait a few more years.
Reply
Old 11-18-2009 | 07:38 AM
  #6  
etflies's Avatar
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 767
Likes: 0
From: KCCO
Default

Go through with the CFI/CFII/MEI and instruct as much as you are comfortable with. If you want to get to an airline asap, then work your rear end off. If you aren't in a hurry, take your time. Either way, be in it for your students and their success. Don't instruct to put hours in your logbook, you will be doing yourself, and more importantly your students a disservice.

For the multi, find someone to split time with, beg borrow and steal multi students, at least where I am, they are hard to come by. Most of mine have been previous students who were on the fence about it, so I had to convince them to go through with it. I fly a twin out of a small local airport now and then for a small business, and when I can afford it, will split an hour or two with a friend either going somewhere, or shooting approaches.
Reply
Old 11-22-2009 | 08:41 PM
  #7  
Line Holder
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by etflies
Don't instruct to put hours in your logbook, you will be doing yourself, and more importantly your students a disservice.

Most of mine have been previous students who were on the fence about it, so I had to convince them to go through with it.
well, your high horse must be a shetland pony, cuz it didn't take you long to come off of it.
Reply
Old 12-06-2009 | 04:59 PM
  #8  
Seattlecfi's Avatar
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: 320b
Default

I was in about the same position about 7 years ago. I took a trip to Anchorage and ended up with a job teaching at the Elmendorf Aero Club. Teaching in Alaska gave me the experience and the contacts to get a part 135 job in Anchorage. It is great flying, and some of the best experience I have had.

I was able to get the flight time needed to be competitive with the airlines when they began to hire after 9/11. I was hired at American Eagle in the 4th new class in March of 2004.
Reply
Old 12-07-2009 | 06:52 AM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 320
Likes: 1
From: Aviation Consultant
Default

Stunami -
Like the others here have said, fly as much as you can. You will be competing with folks who have a lot more time and experience than you so it is so so so important for you to stay flying. Focus on a job, any job, flight instructing, fire patrol, VFR 135, anything. It is much more important to an airline if your hours are built through a job than splitting time with someone and just buzzing around the patch. Have patience - lots of it - get your ME rating and MEI, if possible, and stay in the air!

Good luck
Lori
Reply
Old 12-08-2009 | 09:57 AM
  #10  
propjunkie's Avatar
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: E-170
Default

Once you get your mel rating try applying at a 135 carrier. most of them fly light twins and only require around 50 multi to get hired. The mel time really builds fast.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Sailor
Spirit
14254
10-09-2015 07:55 AM
Sniper
Major
8
06-18-2009 09:31 AM
DWN3GRN
Major
18
06-12-2009 04:47 AM
Flatspin
Regional
43
02-16-2009 07:45 PM
DLax85
Cargo
3
08-30-2008 07:00 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Your Privacy Choices