How to get to the regionals with no CFI
 

I know this thread is going to spark some steam, but I'm looking for advice on how to get to the regionals without instructing. I'm 32 have all my ratings and about 300 hours. I also have a B.S. in Aerospace Eng from Embry-Riddle and a MBA.

Times look really good to get into the airlines, I have looked at Jet University's F/O program with Pinnacle. I would like to hear any thoughts from people who have gone through similar programs.

My short time goal is to get into the regionals build the time and long term goal is to get into one major and stay there until retirement and I believe this is the right time.

I have heard of many low time pilots getting hired by regionals. I do not want this thread to become a debate of why low timers don't belong in the cockpit or that CFI is the only and better way to go, so please save your energy for someone else as I have already read all those other posts.

Please I would like advice from people that are at the regionals or have experience and would appreciate your suggestions on schools and paths to get there.

Thanks

Simple--all you have to do is apply to the regional of your choice, and tell them you went to ERAU.

“When the interviewer asks where you did your flight training and you say Embry-Riddle, it’s done. Embry-Riddle is the standard in the industry. People still call it the Harvard of the Sky.”

--ERAU alum Rod Eichelbaum, NetJets

What's their latin motto again? A fool and his money are easily parted - is that right?



-LAFF

Ohhh Boy!!!!! here we go again:eek:

How To Get To The Regionals Without a CFI in Three Easy Steps
1) Spend a lot of money buying time with any one of the PFT outfits that exist.
2) Apply to the first lousy regional that offers you a job.
3) Grow tired of everybody giving you crap for being a PFT *****, quit, and get a CFI.

I'll just say get your CFI, if you can't put the effort towards it, then what says you aren't going to put effort towards a new job?

Like everyone else has implied, you are much better served in the long run by getting the CFI.

However, the current hiring climate is such that airline mins are at an all-time low at the regional level, so it is feasible to get enough hours to get a crappy regional job without instructing (note: you will most likely hate the crappy regional, and quit after a year or two to go to a better one). Here are some ideas as to time building. The current demand for pilots is emptying the CFI ranks, opening up more GA jobs that are usually harder to get. You will need to network bigtime in your local GA community...

- Personal pilot for some rich guy with a high-end recip. This might be a twin or a single, but could pay $30-50K/year with the right guy.
- Banner Tow
- Skydiver Driver
- Right Seat in private jet...insurance usually rules out low-timers, but if the owner is willing to pay a premium, it could happen.
- Pipeline Patrol
- Animal spotting/radio tracking
- Traffic watch
- Repositioning airplanes for a dealer/broker.

Remember, you still need to get the twin time...that will be MUCH harder without an MEI. You could always take out a loan and buy a block, but if you do that keep MASSIVE records of the time, the trips, receipts, everything. It's too easy to fake that kind of time, so employers will be suspicious.

Those types of programs require you to pay upfront a large amount of money. I just don't trust any program out there to pay that much upfront. Anyone who says a job is "gauranteed'', i'm suspicious of. I really never believe the ''gaurantee'' word. That's a very scary word, especially in aviation.

"I do not want this thread to become a debate of why low timers don't belong in the cockpit or that CFI is the only and better way to go, so please save your energy"

Oh...okay....

Guess I have nothing to say, then.

ASA has lowered their minimums to 500/50, Comair is currently the same. Comair is hiring 400+ this year, American Eagle is looking for 400/100. All of these numbers were provided to me by a American Eagle FO. Get your multi-time and apply.