Best path for a career changer
12-05-2022 | 01:36 PM
#21
Prime Minister/Moderator
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
I see your point and I agree but with a family (at this moment) that's a hard sell. I will say one thing that might work in my favor is that I have an extremely flexible job where I could block out afternoons or mornings with no issue. There is also weekend time. The school I am near is cranking a full speed and has a high student load. Appreciate the input.
If you bought a C-152, it would probably cost north of $50K in hourly costs to do 1200 hours. A homebuilt which can burn avgas would be a cheaper proposition. You'd still need to pay for annuals and Mx since you didn't build it (minus the stuff you're legally allowed to do yourself like oil change, brakes, etc).
12-08-2022 | 08:01 PM
#22
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You could buy a small experimental and just fly your arse off in your spare time.
If you bought a C-152, it would probably cost north of $50K in hourly costs to do 1200 hours. A homebuilt which can burn avgas would be a cheaper proposition. You'd still need to pay for annuals and Mx since you didn't build it (minus the stuff you're legally allowed to do yourself like oil change, brakes, etc).
If you bought a C-152, it would probably cost north of $50K in hourly costs to do 1200 hours. A homebuilt which can burn avgas would be a cheaper proposition. You'd still need to pay for annuals and Mx since you didn't build it (minus the stuff you're legally allowed to do yourself like oil change, brakes, etc).
12-09-2022 | 04:04 PM
#23
All is fine at .79
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Paahlot
Work, any kind of flying work will enhance your experience but everything has a limit to its value.
12-09-2022 | 06:43 PM
#24
Prime Minister/Moderator
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From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Clouds contain ice and CB's, and gyro instruments fail regularly.
Airline training is quite a bit different than piston GA steam gauge IFR. I'd probably get current and proficient approaching 1500 hours.
You could also benefit from MS flight sim, etc. It's good for IFR procedure practice (not so good for learning it in the first place). You could also use glass in FS if you don't have it in your real airplane.
12-10-2022 | 03:46 AM
#25
All is fine at .79
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Paahlot
IFR and IMC are two different things.
File as much IFR as you can during time building just be very cautious with actual IMC.
It can be done with minimal additional risk under very specific circumstances such as an overcast at 5000 AGL and filing at 6000 or filing above a scattered/broken layer with a high overcast.
Don’t go flying around at night when the whole entire state is down to minimums.
Not until you’re in a multi engine jet with redundant systems and an abundance of fuel…..and a copilot.
File as much IFR as you can during time building just be very cautious with actual IMC.
It can be done with minimal additional risk under very specific circumstances such as an overcast at 5000 AGL and filing at 6000 or filing above a scattered/broken layer with a high overcast.
Don’t go flying around at night when the whole entire state is down to minimums.
Not until you’re in a multi engine jet with redundant systems and an abundance of fuel…..and a copilot.
12-10-2022 | 09:19 AM
#26
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From: Time building
12-10-2022 | 10:17 AM
#27
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From: Time building
You could buy a small experimental and just fly your arse off in your spare time.
If you bought a C-152, it would probably cost north of $50K in hourly costs to do 1200 hours. A homebuilt which can burn avgas would be a cheaper proposition. You'd still need to pay for annuals and Mx since you didn't build it (minus the stuff you're legally allowed to do yourself like oil change, brakes, etc).
If you bought a C-152, it would probably cost north of $50K in hourly costs to do 1200 hours. A homebuilt which can burn avgas would be a cheaper proposition. You'd still need to pay for annuals and Mx since you didn't build it (minus the stuff you're legally allowed to do yourself like oil change, brakes, etc).
12-12-2022 | 10:12 AM
#28
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Joined: Nov 2022
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I was curious what your professional opinion was for the best path for a career changer. I just turned 43 (late I know) and am unable to start full time training until June as I am currently a teacher. I have about 100k I can spend to do this, but will probably need to a little something for living expenses as my wife can just cover the bills. I have come up with three paths that I am thinking of doing but having trouble deciding which is best.
First and most obvious is academy style school (ATP, Aeroguard) CFI to 1500 and off to regionals. Should be about 100k but nearly no income for 7 or so months, maybe I could Uber here or there. I would have at least the PPL and IR written done before starting. I like the possible direct entry to F9 or Spirit with this option and the 100-hour Multi time ATP offers. But of course, ATP has a bad reputation, and I haven't heard much on Aeroguard.
Second is mom and pop school, although finding one is difficult right now as a bunch wouldn't even return my call to setup an intro flight. But one I did find near me (and liked) says it's 61 thousand (including some time building) from zero to CFII, but only includes 10 hours Multi and no MEI. The pro's are that I can go at a slower pace and work part-time (Still try to be done in a year though) for income. Plus, I would have 35 or so thousand for time-building, or possibly buying a 30k C140 or something else and building a bunch of extra hours outside of CFIing. Additionally, I can start working on my PPL now and hopefully have that done before I could even start at a full-time school.
Lastly is the hybrid, do my PPL at the mom and pop. Then off to ATP for everything else (I don't think Aeroguard has a start with PPL program) and then CFI. I should save a few dollars this way and shave some time off the no-income period at ATP.
Which would you do? or is there an option I haven't thought of?
Thank You
First and most obvious is academy style school (ATP, Aeroguard) CFI to 1500 and off to regionals. Should be about 100k but nearly no income for 7 or so months, maybe I could Uber here or there. I would have at least the PPL and IR written done before starting. I like the possible direct entry to F9 or Spirit with this option and the 100-hour Multi time ATP offers. But of course, ATP has a bad reputation, and I haven't heard much on Aeroguard.
Second is mom and pop school, although finding one is difficult right now as a bunch wouldn't even return my call to setup an intro flight. But one I did find near me (and liked) says it's 61 thousand (including some time building) from zero to CFII, but only includes 10 hours Multi and no MEI. The pro's are that I can go at a slower pace and work part-time (Still try to be done in a year though) for income. Plus, I would have 35 or so thousand for time-building, or possibly buying a 30k C140 or something else and building a bunch of extra hours outside of CFIing. Additionally, I can start working on my PPL now and hopefully have that done before I could even start at a full-time school.
Lastly is the hybrid, do my PPL at the mom and pop. Then off to ATP for everything else (I don't think Aeroguard has a start with PPL program) and then CFI. I should save a few dollars this way and shave some time off the no-income period at ATP.
Which would you do? or is there an option I haven't thought of?
Thank You
12-13-2022 | 04:33 AM
#29
All is fine at .79
Joined: Sep 2016
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From: Paahlot
Bring along another instructor and do (short) instrument cross countries.
Short as in long enough to count as XC > 50NM but short enough that it gives you some time to relax but you’re not droning along in cruise.
Basically tie instrument approaches and missed approaches together with a 20-30NM stretch in between.
Do this at night after dinner with the spouse and kids.
- Total time
- Night
- Cross country
- Simulated Instrument time
- Approaches logged
12-13-2022 | 11:32 PM
#30
New Hire
Joined: Jan 2014
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They give you credit for PPL and IR for sure. Just call them to confirm it. The problem there is that they do not have enough airplanes and new sims to get you done fast like ATP does. They fly Archers III from the PanAm era (PanAm - TransPac - AeroGuard) and some new Archers TX (leased by SkyWest) that are not enough to expedite the program. Management do not understand that to make money you must spend money.
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