250 hours how to get there
 

I hope all of you are doing well. I am half way through my IR rating and closing in on 150 hours. Let's assume that I will have 180 by the time I get the rating. What are some ways to build time? Seaplane? Multi-engine rating? How many hours does it take to typically train for the single engine commercial pilot license? I thought of taking an accelerated program after getting my IR, but now I am having second thoughts about it. Especially considering the new legislation, and being in debt, it doesn't seem like a wise thing to do. While I have a full-time job, my plan is to pay as much as I can.
Thanks,
-Pearl

Accelerated programs are only justified during firm hiring markets and there is a good argument they are unjustified even then. They dwell on dreams and give rise to crushing debt for a beginner. I would strongly advise that you avoid them. Keep working other jobs and spend what you can renting a C152. Don't buy cars and don't date very much for a while. Take some long cross countries in a 152 and network for pals who are getting their IR and need a safety pilot. This is how I did it, and you can do it too. 250 hours is not a lot of time but it all comes out of your pocket so it's rather hard time to log. It gets even harder for a short while after that as you work toward your CFI, so take note of what it is like to be frugal and determined.

Thanks Cub, as always your help is always appreciated. I will be looking around for those who need a safety pilot. Also I am planning on getting my multi-engine rating and maybe even a complex endorsement...

Since you have to fly anyway here are a few quick ideas.

Rent the cheapest plane you can and fly all over the country, possibly even coast to coast and everywhere in between.

Get a tailwheel endorsement and enough hours to solo it and fly that for 50 hours.

Get a seaplane rating

Get a glider rating

The training itself to get to 250 will take you 15 hours so you are likely looking at 55 hours or so. Dont "burn" them, make them a worthwhile aviation experience. Some of my best hours were the time it took getting to 250. It will be one of the few times in aviation where you HAVE to fly to reach a goal, dont do it in the pattern.

When I was trying to build time I joined a flying club. We had 24 hour access to the airplanes and I told everyone I knew to call me if they ever wanted to go for a ride. All they had to do was pay for gas.

Like Sarge said, go somewhere. We once flew from the east coast to Oshkosh in a Warrior. Split the cost three ways and logged a lot of XC time.

PearlPilot- Thanks for asking the question, lots of great ideas here that i would have even considered as i make my way up the hours chart. I def like Sarge's suggestions about chasing "the other" ratings as a way to build the TT.

Be VERY careful how you phrase that. If they're setting the schedule, you're moving into commercial ops. And the regs say you have to pay your share of the costs. So if it's 50 an hour dry and 25 for fuel, you'd each have to pay 37.50.

§ 61.113 Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command.

(c) A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or rental fees.

Don't just get a glider rating - fly them! All the time counts toward total time....If you buy your own or are in a club(e.g.: not renting by the hour), the longer you stay up, the cheaper your hourly rate comes out to be.

$60 tow - 1 hour =>>>>>>>>>>> $60 per hour

$60 tow - 2 hours =>>>>>>>>>> $30 per hour

$60 tow - 4 hours =>>>>>>>>>> $15 per hour

Now you're saving money!

of my 1507 hours at ATP, ~150 were in gliders.

Thank you very much for the responses. I have to admit, coming from the powered world, I have always been kind of "nervous" about flying a glider. This is definitely due to my ignorance. However, I am seriously considering looking into it as has some great benefits.

That reg seems to be a bit more definitive than it was 30 years ago. Still seems like you could get a four seater, that rents for $100 an hour, for $25 if you got three friends to go with.

Also, cash is king ;)