Get the MEI or just build the time?
 

So i have $5,000 allotted for some multi time building/training. I have my ME rating with 10 hours. My ultimate goal is Eagle and trying to make that happen sooner rather than later. I have 750+ TT so I'm basically at the minimums.
The school i work at pretty much has no multi engine instruction opportunity, but eventually that could be an opportunity. 6+ months at best case scenario, then who knows how long it will take to get my 50+ multi after that. In order to instruct at that school you must train in their aircraft (very political) and its 400+ an hour for their 310's.

So recap:
Drop the cash and just build the time and hope multi time requirements come down

or

get the MEI there and wait, and wait, and wait.

Ouch, $400 an hour for a 310 seems very high. Why are you looking at only Eagle?

Once you get your nice new regional job, the MEI doesn't disappear. Instead of building mindless time that will blend in to your 50,000 multi when you retire as an A-380 captain, why not get an additional rating that makes you marketable, different, and has potential to offer job possibilities down the road, say if you should get furloughed. Thankfully since we are in such a good hiring boom, your furlough will probably never happen.

While getting your MEI you are building multi time. Get it at a place where it is cheaper and if you have extra cash laying around go build some more. You need 15 PIC to get the rating (which training can count towards).

Easy choice dude.

am i sensing some harsh sarcasm? ;) Thank you for your input though

Eagle due to a dallas hub. Grew up here with all the family and wifes job... don't want to commute. Only regional with a DFW hub. Among many other reasons

I was stuck in the same predicament and decided to go for my CFII/MEI. I have built up 14 more hours of PIC multi flying to an airport 50 nm away, practicing an approach, and then doing the MEI maneuvers. This way, I log it all as "mindless time" that counts as cross country hours, practicing instrument procedures for my II (which I plan to take in a multi engine airplane as well), and doing MEI preparation all at the same time. Cost effective and builds XC.

The guy i can build some time with is an MEI 2 year instructor so i'm thinking ill just build time with him and he'll sign me off for the MEI eventually, that way i have both. With what money I have ill be able to build about 60 hours. Whats the general vibe about times coming down? I'd love to see them come down to 50 for my sake but i have a feeling 75 is more reasonable.

From everything I've heard, 100 hrs of multi time for most carriers is required by their insurance provider. If that's true, I don't see published mins going below that. Will they interview below that? Definitely. Will they still hire below that? Possibly. Just don't count on it. Keep building that time and being as patient as you can. It'll just make it that much exciting when the call finally comes!

yeah but demand will drive minimums down. Simple supply/demand laws

1.) Find another school. Politics and BS like that shouldn't be tolerated. 400/hour for a 310, you'll never find students at those prices.

2.) Don't just **** money down the drain on hours. If you're going to spend it on time, get something out of it that'll pay you back. i.e. your MEI.

You're hanging your hat on a huge "what if." Insurance companies don't give a rats ass about supply/demand. If AE can't fill right seats with the insurance mandate of 100 hours multi, they'll have to raise pay to attract guys with the time.

I wish... but im not holding my breath.