Pacer17

Currently sitting at 1100TT, but only 180 XC, and 20 ME. I am CFIing, but it is slow and i dont get much XC time out of it. Id like to try to get into the IFR environment more. My goal is to try to get to a regional sometime soon. Any advice on how to build more cross country time to meet the ATP mins? Id love to right seat somewhere and build the time, but so far everywhere I have seen either want a ton of hours, or run SPIFR.

nikdue22

I feel ya. I'm on the last few months of my CFI days before I start at a regional, and the XC time was the hardest to find. I had a couple buddies who would split costs and rent a local Apache or just a 172 for XC time building. Bring a few more friends to sit in the back and cut the costs some more.

We also always filed and flew IFR. Also, try to work as a crew when you fly with other pilots for CRM practice.

TallFlyer

VFR 135 in AK. No IFR or night but plenty of ATP XC.

Aviator89

Got any students going for a career? Make each lesson a 50nm xc, it will benifit them as well. Also the atp is 50 nm point to point, dont need to land somewhere
maybe even talk them into night flying as well. Also, mei will help alot. Unfortunatly most employers require 100 ME time, to use that MEI, but it will open up doors in the future. I found a guy who owned a light twin and because of my MEI i got a bit of time in it. If i didnt have the mei and only 30 multi at the time, i would not have.

Also, get ur cfii, that will open up loads of more oppurtunites for ifr, and xc time. I do t know where you teach at, but the place i taught at had a lot of ac owners and weekend warriors that would enjoy extra training. For example a realworld IFR xc flight. (IMC if your lucky) Also doubled as a IPC, landing practice/currency, and sometimes even the BFR all rolled into one day.

Pacer17

Good stuff. Im going to try them all. Im also looking for any companies that run SICs but to no avail yet

nikdue22

SeaPort was hiring a lot of 135 FOs last year into their Memphis base. It's Caravan time, but it's Turbine and XC, although they had a one year contract.

pokey9554

Have you already taken into account that the ATP cross country requirement is different than other certificates and ratings in 61.1? The distance requirement of 50NM straight line still applies, but no landing is required.

(vi) For the purpose of meeting the aeronautical experience requirements for an airline transport pilot certificate (except with a rotorcraft category rating), time acquired during a flight—

(A) Conducted in an appropriate aircraft;

(B) That is at least a straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

(C) That involves the use of dead reckoning, pilotage, electronic navigation aids, radio aids, or other navigation systems.

Loon

Go do some REAL flyin and built some character too: 135 freight!

PilotJ3

I agree!!!! 135 freight was the best experience I ever had.

Pacer17

I would absolutely love to do that. But I still need 300 more hours of XC to meet 135 IFR mins, and at this rate, it would take me 3 years... So I am trying to figure out how to build more XC time so I can stop bombing around the pattern.