Career Question
 

Hi all,

Here is my story. 40 years old, working on CFI and only have 300 hours. I own a construction company that has offices in a few states (160 nm) and I also practice law sometimes. I have always wanted to fly for an airline and I am finally in a position to do so. I know I will never make it to the majors and that is fine. I was thinking about buying a 152/172 to commute to my other office and to build time, but my club has a nice 152 for $70 wet and 172 for $90 wet. Would the airlines look down on logging the 1,200 or so hours via paying for them? I plan on teaching some, but I do not think I will have the time to teach primary students; it wouldn't be fair to my students. Opinions? Fortunatly my wife can run the business so I will have a nice income while I fly. Thanks all.

Airlines prefer quality time when they can get it, and successfully doing CFI work under the pressures of an employer and customers is obviously more challenging than recreational or personal GA...you don't have nearly the pressures to perform in the later.

But with the anticipated shortage of 1500-hour pilots, I doubt you would have any trouble getting hired at a regional.

Be aware that professional pilots understandably tend not to have a high regard for wealthy dabblers who want to play airline pilot. If you just come in for a few years and then quit you'll just help drive wages down.

Also the actual job is relatively sucky at least until you get some seniority. I'd seriously consider how bad you want to do this, how long you're going to want to do it, and maybe think about sticking to GA (which is usually a lot more fun than 121 flying).

Thanks Jeff for the reply. I would only make the jump only if I could do it for 20 years or so, as it is something I should have done 20 years ago. I would much rather teach and what you said about challenges makes a lot of sense. Finishing the CFI and paying dues is the right way to do it...I just feel the pressures of old age. Thanks again for the info.

I don't know that the airlines would look down on you logging all of your time flying back and forth between your offices. I think it would depend on a lot of factors. Compared to a CFI, you will get a lot more cross country experience and if you are constantly flying in the IFR system, all the better. But... Teaching other people how to fly is an excellent way to gain experience and learn about flying, all while getting paid to do it. Why not do both and get the best of both worlds. If you don't have enough time to teach primary students now, what will change when you get hired by an airline? The schedule of a new regional pilot will be much more demanding and less flexible than that of a CFI.

If you really want to aim for an airline, and many feel it is a worthy goal even if they do not make it a career, make sure you accrue enough flight time towards meeting ATP minimums by the time you want to apply. See FAR 61 Subpart G for the specific numbers. You can arrive at 1500 but still not have what you need for ATP minimums if you do not plan for it a bit. To get what you need, CFI work is helpful. Multiengine time used to be big, numbers like 500 were common, but that requirement has fallen by the wayside recently so do not do a ton of multi. 100 hours of quality flying toward the end of the 1500 would be great.

Corporate flying is also a good way to go. Higher starting wages, lots of free time (although you may not know when it is or be on call), great experience as an alternative to a regional airline.

Often in corporate its not what you know rather who you know and working at the airport is the starting point for making good contacts.

I've personally seen a handful of career changes go extremely well in corporate aviation.

Jeff, I'm going to agree with arvin that you should seriously consider aiming toward corporate. Here's my thinking; you've been a businessman most of your working life, working for yourself, not being an employee, not being labor. As an airline pilot you will be labor, not even close to having any meaningful input to the how and why of your airline. You will only have control over operating the airplane, and not even totally that, until you make captain. Corporate will be an easier transition, relative to the culture and working environment, and as a bonus, the equipment is top rate, similar to the airlines in terms of complexity and mission.
You may be able to use contacts through your current occupation to network into a job. If flying is your love, this may be a better fit. ;)

Thanks for all the great info. I should just focus on finishing my CFI (Feb I hope) as that is proving to be very difficult, but I am learning so much. Thanks again and I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.