How realistic is it to build enough hours for atp minimums while working on a 4 year degree? To get the 1500 hours I will have to instruct about 300 hours a year. Would instructing 300 hours a year be difficult while working on a degree full time?

Also, do many schools have part time CFI jobs?

Thanks

 

It can be done. You'd want to plan out your timeline for earning ratings, and then instructing.

If you're doing a university 121 program, I'm not sure if their program would allow you to front load the ratings into the first year or two. But if it's 121, you only need 1000 hours for R-ATP.

If it's 61 or off-campus you're only limited by time and money. If you have the money, I think you would have the time to do that, unless you're also doing an engineering degree compressed into four years.

Schools with flight programs typically employ their own students once they get CFI certs. But there may be a priority order, ie seniors get first dibs.

Plenty of folks work their way through college. This would feel similar to that.

 

I've had 2 years of college as a full time student and completed all my ratings and flew 800+ hours in that time. It's definitely possible. After those two years, flying was more important so I did college online.

 

You should definitely do this! This will put you 2+ years ahead of people waiting to build their time after college. This is exactly what Id do if i did it over again.

If you're going to a 4 year school and need to build 1,250 hours over that time span, you'll only need to average 26 flight hours per month. That is completely doable and will be a nice way to earn money on the side as you're in school. The main thing you will need to do is go to a school thats located in an area where you'll be able to find a job as a part time instructor. That shouldn't be hard to find because everyone is desperate for instructors.

Also remember that 26 hours is the average per month. During your winter and summer breaks you'll be able to fly much more and could even build all the hours you need for the year over that period.

Good Luck,
- Dillon