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What to do after getting CPL?

Old 12-20-2012, 11:40 PM
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Default What to do after getting CPL?

Hi everyone, new to the forum here. I've read a few of the threads but I'd still like a bit of advice / answers.

First off, I'm currently a freshman at a little community college with a flight program, haven't gotten my Private yet but pretty close, and after reading and hearing all about the good and bad of the aviation industry I'm still fairly certain it's where I want to go in life. The issue I'm having is deciding exactly how to get there. My end goal is to fly commercially in Asia, probably airlines. I understand that a four-year degree is a great help, but after my two years here (after which I should have my CPL) I'm unsure about what I ought to do. The most common route appears to be building hours as a flight instructor but I'd really like to avoid instructing if at all possible. What then, are there any viable alternatives on which to scrape by? I figure I'd work whilst finishing a four-year degree, but is that degree really necessary? I'm eager to move out of the US and start working in the Philippines but of course I don't want to screw myself over in the long run.
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Old 12-21-2012, 01:16 AM
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There are not really viable alternatives for most, none of us want to flight instruct, suck it up and do it. Yes, there are a scant few jobs flying jumpers, traffic watch, etc. Those of us instructing tried to get those jobs and found out that hey, nobody else wants to instruct either. Plan on instructing but start making connections now if you can and hopefully you can find something else, but worst case scenario be prepared you might have to instruct.
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Old 12-21-2012, 05:24 AM
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Plan on instructing. It's the best way to both get your time up and learn a great deal about flying. You might surprise yourself and actually like it like I did.

For now focus on getting through commercial. What you learn now is your foundational knowledge to study as hard as you can. When you get to CFI you'll have to take what you've learned and apply it to teaching someone else. Teaching will help you to really reinforce what you've learned over time and make you a much better pilot. I think no matter what CFI you talk to, whether they liked it or not, will tell you that it made them a way better pilot and helped them in the long run. That's just how it works.

Think of CFI as a required step in your career progression. Some people avoid it and make it through just fine but from what I've seen that isn't very common. I will always recommend the CFI route. Best of luck with your training!
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Old 12-21-2012, 05:30 AM
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Yeah, instructing is definitely not for everyone. Hopefully you never end up with an instructor that got "stuck" instructing, because about 50% of the time, the instruction that comes with them isn't very good.

But, I will say this, instructing isn't all bad, and it's not something to dread doing (at least for a little while). You do learn some things as an instructor. Just sitting there and watching landing after landing, or maneuver after maneuver, you can pick up on the tiniest of flaws that you never really paid attention to. You can see your student getting below glide slope almost before it happens; it's weird - but it kind of makes you a better pilot yourself, even though you're not touching the controls. You have to explain the same thing 8 different ways. Is it boring? Damn right it can be boring. But you'll certainly know your stuff, and I think some companies (post-instructing) like to see at least a little of that experience.

I think people get "stuck" instructing because it's typically the first easy way to build hours. This you probably already know, but a lot of people are not willing to go where the jobs are. I had a buddy move down the Myrtle Beach just to tow banners 8 hours a day in a piper cub for an entire summer. "Myrtle sounds great though!". Well he lived in a dump apartment and actually, even working all week and being single, he had to pick up a job at Abercrombie just so he could eat cheap. All day just "buuuuuzzzzzzz"ing up and down the beach at 40 or 50 kts by yourself. Those jobs don't pay well, but he logged somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 hours that summer (it was something pretty outrageous in a short amount of time whatever it was). The time was all local, day time, VFR, single engine, but he was then able to pick up a job with ameriflight flying night cargo in salt lake city - logging night time IFR XC. Now he's in the big king air (same company) flying day flights and living very reasonably. But you have to be able to have that flexibility (for a few years at least), and a lot of people don't so they instruct. I'll had that this friend of mine did instruct for a very short amount of time at his college airport after graduating before he decided he hated it...but he gave it a shot.

So there are other options out there (jump pilot, surveying for companies, night cargo, etc..) but I hear they can be pretty rough. I just encourage you to try to no get too frustrated and stay very flexible early in your career. It's not like all those airline captains out there were flight instructors...
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Old 12-21-2012, 05:31 AM
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Hey skyking466 and I are on the same page!
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Old 12-21-2012, 07:58 AM
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Originally Posted by eishinsnsayshin View Post
Yeah, instructing is definitely not for everyone. Hopefully you never end up with an instructor that got "stuck" instructing, because about 50% of the time, the instruction that comes with them isn't very good.
It may not be "for everyone" but anybody starting out in this career should plan on doing it.

1) It's usually the most readily available time-building job.
2) CFI time is slightly preferred by regionals compared to non-IFR operations like banner tow, skydive, etc.
3) It helps to really solidify your aviation knowledge. Regional interviews are geared towards current CFI's, if you're just burning holes in the sky you'll need to dust off all that knowledge (especially instrument ops).


Originally Posted by eishinsnsayshin View Post
But, I will say this, instructing isn't all bad, and it's not something to dread doing (at least for a little while). You do learn some things as an instructor. Just sitting there and watching landing after landing, or maneuver after maneuver, you can pick up on the tiniest of flaws that you never really paid attention to.
It can definitely be fun for a while.


Originally Posted by eishinsnsayshin View Post
So there are other options out there (jump pilot, surveying for companies, night cargo, etc..) but I hear they can be pretty rough. I just encourage you to try to no get too frustrated and stay very flexible early in your career. It's not like all those airline captains out there were flight instructors...
The two folks I know who were adamantly opposed to flight instruction both dropped out of avaition after they couldn't get work or enough work they liked with a wet commercial. There are other options, but they are usually harder to come by than CFI jobs.

Most airline captains were CFIs or military pilots.
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Old 12-21-2012, 11:59 AM
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Thanks everyone, I knew I probably was going to have to instruct anyway but I wanted to be sure.

Also, if I didn't ever plan to fly airlines, regional or otherwise, would I still need to get a four-year degree? Is there really a greater pilot demand in Asia right now, and is that only in certain areas or all through the industry?
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Old 12-21-2012, 01:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Nezaros View Post
Thanks everyone, I knew I probably was going to have to instruct anyway but I wanted to be sure.

Also, if I didn't ever plan to fly airlines, regional or otherwise, would I still need to get a four-year degree?
No, but lack of a degree would make it tough to get into the best corporate flying jobs (the ones with stability and benefits).

Originally Posted by Nezaros View Post
Is there really a greater pilot demand in Asia right now, and is that only in certain areas or all through the industry?
Yes, very high demand but that's airlines only because most other countries don't even HAVE an aviation industry other than airlines. All that corporate, 135, 91 stuff is pretty much US only. You will need previous airline experience to qualify for Asian jobs (usually captain, but sometimes FO). Possible rare exception for Cathay Pacific...they hire a few low-time pilots off the streets.
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Old 01-13-2013, 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Nezaros View Post
Hi everyone, new to the forum here. I've read a few of the threads but I'd still like a bit of advice / answers.

First off, I'm currently a freshman at a little community college with a flight program, haven't gotten my Private yet but pretty close, and after reading and hearing all about the good and bad of the aviation industry I'm still fairly certain it's where I want to go in life. The issue I'm having is deciding exactly how to get there. My end goal is to fly commercially in Asia, probably airlines. I understand that a four-year degree is a great help, but after my two years here (after which I should have my CPL) I'm unsure about what I ought to do. The most common route appears to be building hours as a flight instructor but I'd really like to avoid instructing if at all possible. What then, are there any viable alternatives on which to scrape by? I figure I'd work whilst finishing a four-year degree, but is that degree really necessary? I'm eager to move out of the US and start working in the Philippines but of course I don't want to screw myself over in the long run.

You are not alone in wanting to avoid instructing, but I think it is a great opportunity to learn a TON. After going through flight training at a reasonable sized 141 school, many of my peers are trying to avoid it. I, however, took a job at our flight school, got all my ratings (CFI/CFII/MEI) and kept pressing on. I've learned more than I thought I would and relearned many things I thought I already knew and had a handle on, but really did not. I'm at about 800TT and still learning, still striving, and still loving flying. It has its bad days, mostly depending on the student, that you won't enjoy it as much as others, but what job doesn't? There are VERY few jobs that are out there that you can get low time. All of the pilots that decided to avoid instructing and try to find those low time jobs are still looking, not flying, and getting rusty very quickly.

My advice, instruct. Learn as much as you can, build your time and enjoy it for what it is. You will be a better pilot for it and the amount you learn is invaluable to your future flying career. And you can continue looking for other flying jobs while your instructing and at least getting paid to fly.

Character building.
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