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Gee, I was gonna say.....too old???
I am 60 years old, finished my commercial in November and starting my CFI now....I'm not too old to teach...maybe too late to consider the majors....but at least i'll be flying and making a little "walking around" money to keep me from bagging groceries until social security kicks in...lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by kodiakallstar (Post 561046)

agreed. I wouldn't waste my time there. Just keep applying and find a job flying doing something. It sucks but we all had to do it. A cfi job is a good start. but banners, skydivers, aerial survey, ferrying, etc are all avenues as well. 400 tt might be a bit low for a regional right now (crazier things have happened) but you can get up to 800-1200 in a hurry at the jobs listed above. good luck.

Have you and suggestion on where i can find such opening in the PHX area or surroundings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley 2 (Post 561176)

First congrats and all the best.However, I'm looking for a career in the industry and while CFI is great my age and family commitment prevent me from doing it. Have an 8mth old daughter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot674 (Post 561170)

That was misstated.I can get my CFI,however, at 34 it would take at lease 3 years to build the time. Then another 5 years at a regional;by the time i apply for a major i'll be 42. At this age the prospect of being hired by a big airline drops.

42 means you'd have 23 years to fly for a "major", I'm still not seeing the issue. If you don't want to instruct then don't, but you're only fooling yourself to suggest that instructing is a detriment to the progression of an aviation career. I admit that instructing is not for everyone, but if you rule it out in this economy you'll severely limit your options.

Also, consider quality of hours while you're building time. Who do think would be more proficient when it comes time for an interview - A CFII or a guy pulling banners or dropping skydivers in day VFR?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot674 (Post 561170)

[/quote]

Whatever job you get, it will take time to build the hours necessary for a major. That is especially true now that most of the majors (if any) have stopped hiring, the regionals have been furloughing and with the entire economy in a slump, corporate has become an even tougher job to find.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilot674 (Post 561183)

First congrats and all the best.However, I'm looking for a career in the industry and while CFI is great my age and family commitment prevent me from doing it. Have an 8mth old daughter.

First off, you are not too old but I hope your wife has a good job (you obviously did not collect a navy retirement).

The reality is that it is hard to get your flight experience without working as an instructor. You are not the only one who would just as soon skip that step, and you will be competing with all the other low timers for the few non-CFI entry-level jobs.

The odds of even finding such a job are low, but it can be done. Networking, persistence, and a willingness to relocate anywhere will be key. Keep in mind that you will eventually need multi-engine time and IFR time to move up into turbine flying.

More food for thought...regional interviews are geared for CFI's. That means that you will have to study even harder to get your commercial knowledge up to par when the time comes. Knowledge that is used daily by a CFI is usually long-forgotten by a COMM ASEL.

But again, CFI is probably the quickest route, which is why so many folks do it.

Please tell me what airlines are hiring right now that would be worth going to?

Since you're not going anywhere anyway why not get the CFI and go to a better airline when they begin hiring?