Hey guys I've looked around for a post that had the same question I had, and came up with nothing. I apologize in advance if this question has been answered.

I' am currently time building by instructing at my local FBO. I teach out of 172s, and was curious if the airlines care about PIC Single-engine piston time? Do they care? Or does it not even count in today's competitive job field for the airlines?

 

Best answer: It depends.

-mini

 

At best it does 2 things: Builds your TT and hopefully moves you closer to getting some ME time with some students looking for their multi-engine.

 

The biggest benefit to having some kind of PIC time, is meeting the requirements of the ATP. Someday, if you choose to go to an airline, you may find that many people didn't instruct or do not meet the PIC requirement to obtain an ATP certificate. That will probably change with the new 1,500 hour rule.

 

Some airlines won't care either way. 61.51 is 61.51. Others only care about how much 121 jet PIC time you have at night, flying through thunderstorms, inverted, OEI, severe turbulence, ILS approaches to 300-1 at towered airports having 3 or more runways.

It depends.

-mini

 

K thanx man, that makes sense. I had the opportunity to teach at a flight school with multi's, but it was outta state and I have to finish my college degree. So I had to choose the local FBO that operates only 172's, so that I can finish degree. I just was curious if I made a wrong decision. But what you just said helps, thanx!

 

That makes sense too! Thank you for you thoughts

 

It counts for total time, but you will need several hundred ME hours too.

If you are planning on doing 135 to build ME, then you can meet the 135 pic mins with 1200 ASEL.

If you work at a school which employs MEI's, you may as well build ASEL time while waiting your turn for an MEI job.

If your school does not employ MEI's, you will not be getting an airline job from that position. Better look into MI jobs elsewhere or 135.

 

Sleepy,

As other have posted "it depends."

Here's how I think SE-piston time can help. After I left the military, I had approximately 1700TT (military) over 10 years with all of the time turbine and most of it PIC. On the side, I also flew piston SE for fun and the ~400 hours civilian time I had dating back from high school helped put me over a few benchmark numbers. Combining my mil+civilian allowed me to check the "2000+ TT" the "1500 PIC" boxes etc when I was filling out multiple applications/resumes. (And no one ever knows where the cut-off is when HR is thumbing through thousands of apps.)

During your climb up the ladder to better and better jobs, all the hours you accumulate will help you achieve the next wicket allowing your check-marks to be further and further to the right on the application.

Best luck,
Cubdrick

 

It is my opinion only, but I think finishing the degree, no matter what you had to do (even if it meant not flying and flipping burgers or waiting tables) was the right call. It's a box I can't check and some day, our total times will be close enough (or high enough) that it really won't matter. That degree will put you ahead of me for a lot of jobs.

Smart decision.

Again, just my opinion.

-mini