Finding misc flying jobs.
 

I've just gotten my commercial iicenses (MEL, SEL). I plan on becoming a CFI/I, but I was wondering where you would look for other jobs to have on the side flying. I want to be a diver driver but the dropzone by me has a 500tt min that I don't meet yet. I'm kinda guessing that i'm going to have to put in some time being a CFI before I'll really get to do much of anything else. I just wondered where you could look for these jobs to do for some more time. Thanks for all your help/advice :D.

500TT is pretty much a baseline minimum for entry level flying jobs - with the exception of instructing. (Or a few random regional airlines out there...but don't make that mistake) Your best bet is to continue on with your training and start teaching....you will be at 500 before you know it.

Yeah that was what I was thinking the case was/is going to be. thanks for the input. Hopefully I'll get my CFI in the three week period that it's suppose to be... I've got to get those writtens done.

My first commercial job was traffic watch. This is in the major cities, of course. I was in the San Fran/San Jose/Oakland area doing this. I flew 6 hours a day. I did 1200 hours in one year. I got my ATP with 45 hours multi! Not good to have a bunch of single engine time, but it was a great time builder. I also had my CFI and worked at that part time too. I ended up doing 1600 hours as instructor too. Then I got into corporate flying, regionals, and then majors. This was back in the day when you had to have loads of time for a job.

I've heard banner towing, pipeline flying, and glider towing is another good time builder. Get out and find it. Move if you have to.

Aerial survey is another field worth looking into. I was able to build a substantial amount of single and multi time in a short period of time.

Just wondering why the regional airlines would be a mistake? I don't plan on going this route at this point, I want to do my CFI, but I was curious about the comment...

He's saying that the regionals that have min's below 500 are the ones you probably don't want to go to in the first place. Not that the regionals are good or bad, just depends on what you want in life. Personally it wasn't the path I wanted, but didn't have to worry about it because during my time, you couldn't get into one without 1500-2000hrs(the last 3 years really) and 200+ multi. I went the Part 135 route and did freight/pax flying as single pilot PIC. Good times, good experience, and now I'm getting ready to start a very sweet and very different part 91 job.

Do tell!! :rolleyes:

Cloud seeding. They usually hire guys with very low time and it's usually multi time. You fly into level 5 thunderstorms and do what cloud seeders do. I'm looking into it myself in the midweat for a few months. Will be GREAT experience and teach you a cr@p ton about thunderstorms.

hang out at the fbo and offer to clean any twin around there for free if you get to go on trips with the owners. Be the coolest most personable guy around and make lots of friends. You'll have more opportunity to fly then you'll know what to do with. I did this kind of thing and wound up flying for a part 91 operation with 2 310s and a malibu mirage while I was still in college and flight instructing. You can get hours fast. Graduated college (not an airplane degree) 23 yrs old with 2000TT and 600 multi and was hired by my number one choice regional 2 months before I graduated and started class about 2 weeks after graduation. Also, don't skip out on having as much fun as possible during this time in your life. College frat life can't be beat!!