How Long to Log 1500 Hours?
 

Almost 40 and debating a career change. Just trying to get a gage for how long it will take to get all the requirements done to get to a regional/corporate job. For those that have completed their 1500 hours how long did it take? If you are a CFI how long did it take? How many hours did you average a week/month? Thanks

When I was a CFI it was possible to log 100 hours/month (or even a little more) with some hustle, assuming the students (and planes) were available. I assume students are available right now, planes might be depend on the operation... the current prices for used ASEL indicate a bit of a shortage.

Hustle would involve flying six days/week, and being available for am, afternoon, and night flights... maybe all three in one day. Career oriented (full time) students usually fly on weekdays, recreational students tend to prefer nights and weekends.

Thanks for the info. So realistically I should plan for about 2 years unless I am to quit/cash out my current job and be a CFI full time.

How much time are you starting with?

If you have a full time job and need still 1000 hours, yeah two years might be about right. That would be hustling when you're not at your day job, so nights and weekends if you're a nine-to-fiver.

I am starting from 0 now. Weighing the costs/time of switching careers and the timeframes associated with them. The 1500 hrs is the big hurdle (other than the cost of flight training) it seems for many aspiring second career pilots, especially when you are pushing 40.

Normally I'd say minimize debt incurred for flight training. But if you're older with some assets, it may make sense to expedite the process even if you have to tap your assets or take a loan.

Given the current hiring wave, I'd lean even more towards getting on with it and getting a seniority number at a major while the gettin's good. This is a frankly unprecedented opportunity, the likes of which have not been seen for about 60 years. And won't be seen again for another 60 years, if ever.

At this point in time, if you're going to do it, get on with it asap.

In 2018, I quit my job and devoted full time to training. It took me a little under 9 months to go from 0 to CFI and I spent 11 months as a CFI working 6-7 days a week 8-12 hours a day. It cost me $45k to get from 0 to CFI employing as many cost saving methods as I had access to i.e. splitting time, renting a cheaper 152 for straight time building etc.

If you're actually in MN then there are many good CFI'ing gigs in the Twin Cities, and not just at FCM/STP too.

CFI check ride in late 1995 in the northeast, couldn't find a job.
Moved to SoCal, started teaching in spring of 1996.
I hit 1500 TT in September 2000, ATP check ride in October.

Probably could've been quicker, but I had a side hustle as a server, which paid waaaaay more than teaching, so I didn't have to kill myself with flying.

If you know you will be building hundreds of hours, buying a 152/172 or a simple experimental would be the cheapest method.