legendskid_44

any suggestions on how to get too my 230ish fast? 230tt to then start my commerical single training and be at 250 when the check ride comes along. i'm currently at 125tt and don't fly at a 141 or 142 (riddle) school anymore due to costs for less hours. priced it out and i would get hell of a lot more hours if i went to a local FBO and rented then paying the same amount for less hours at the 141 school. (if that makes any sense). only thing is, i'm a college student trying to get to that hour mark so i can start pipeline flying or traffic watch or banner towing. i have little money but willing to open my options to get hours for lower costs. any ideas on how to build hours or just get loans and rent the he11 out of local FBO's a/c?

rickair7777

First, get with your CFI and make sure you understand EXACTLY what all the requirements arre for XC, solo, etc. Otherwise you will end up repeating things because of a technicality in the regs. Cheap flight time ideas:

1) See if the local fbo or clubs need any ramp or desk help. As an employee you might get a discount on rentals, or you might be able to just get paid in rental credit. Note: be careful that you do not end up repositioning airplanes for the club...this is commercial flying even if you are not paid (the flight time is considered compensation).

2) Buy a block of time in a small, cheap airplane. You get a volume discount, and you can probably just take the airplane for three weeks or so (100 hours in three weeks is more than the plane would make doing public rentals). If you can find a 152 with an auto-gas STC, you can save even more money.

3) Talk to you CFI (is he an MEI?)...you might be better off renting a twin and an instructor for some of the time. You can practice for your ME commercial. More expensive in the short run, but you WILL need 50-100 hours twin time eventually, so in the long run it's cheaper. Make sure you understand how much twin time can be applied to the 250 for an ASEL commercial. Take the ASEL commercial, then immediately do the ME add-on.

Note: Plan on getting a CFI (and CFII/MEI). Non-cfi commercial pilots are at a disadvantge at airline interviews because it's easy to get rusty on the book knowledge after yu get your commercial tickets. Also corporate operations will almost always want the CFI, so you can sign off other staff pilots and contract pilots for various things.