Twin Time Building
 

Okay, it is number crunching time. I’m half way through my commercial and have estimated that by the time I’m done with that rating, I’ll have about $10,000 remaining in my financial aid pot. My goal is to get the minimums to start applying for the regionals and I only have about 220 hours right now. I understand that the most cost effective way to build total time is to be a CFI ($5000). So what is the most cost effective way to build 100 hours of twin time? I see these ads for ARI-BEN and ATP, but I read the reviews on this website regarding those schools, and it is a bit sketchy. Does anyone have any suggestions on a good way to do twin time and how much it will cost?
Thanks for the help.

Get your CFI to build total time, experience, and make a better pilot out of yourself. If you have no multi, you can get the rating and do a little timebuilding stuff later. I don't think you'll need 100 hours, the way things are going. But, the way everyone is building twin time is either to buy it via the safety pilot loophole, or to work as a MEI.

toe, where you located at?

Get the MEI. It will seriously lower your insurance requirements when you do get checked out. Not a bif deal with checking out on a PA-44. However to get into a twin cessna it will really help.

I'm in Sacramento CA.
I was shopping around for programs that do the ME rating + 100 hours, but I don't know which ones are reputable.
I just might share time with a safety pilot.

I did 50 hours at Ari Ben. It was a great experience. Flew all the time at night and got it finished in a little more than a week.

Did you get to go anywhere or did the plane have to be back by morning? Any destination restrictions?

No restrictions, although they only reimburse you for fuel at like half price or something like that. So we just staged our trips as out and backs where we wouldnt need any fuel. Out and backs to the Keys, Bahamas, South Georgia and all over Florida are attainable on one tank.

EDIT: They will allow you to take the plane for extended trips as long as the schedule for it is clear. They fly a lot for training during the day and usually give them to time builders at night (from 6pm-6am).