General Aviation Time advice
 

Hello,

I am being taken out of the cockpit to serve because uncle sam needed a warm body to fill a billet(not by choice).

If my math is right, after this billet and if I get back into the cockpit, at the end of my obligated service I will have roughly 1,000 hours.

Would it be worthwhile to supplement my military time with general aviation? Do the airlines look at this favorably? There maybe a possibly to air commute to the new billet and was thinking about buying an airplane(150/172). The time would be the same from sitting in traffic to air commuting, so that isnt really a factor for a decision. I would be spending more money flying GA then just driving to work, but I am able to afford it. It would only be about the gaining hours while out of the cockpit for the billet and doing it while commuting to work.

Its takes roughly 1 hour round trip. That turns out to 360 "extra" hours after the 1 1/2 year billet.

What are the your thoughts? :confused:

More total time is better than less, up to about 5K.

As to whether it's worth the money, probably depends on what you're flying now...fighters, probably won't matter much. Something else, it might help a bit.

It will show some degree of passion for aviation.

My thoughts are BAD IDEA.

Assuming the hiring climate stays the same - with your hours in the 1000-1360 realm, the only place you will be competitive is with a regional. The difference between the two scenarios is that you will have spent 40-50K minimum to get your 360 GA hours. You will get those hours in the first 6-8 months at your regional job.

So it depends on the money really and how you want to spend your time. If you have money to burn...go for it but go for a more complex aircraft. The only reason to buy an aircraft is if you want to be an aircraft owner...it starts with digging a whole at the airfield in which you will throw money in. Airplanes always cost more than you think.

Not wanting to be hypocritical - I am maintaining currency in my own aircraft and other than not currently flying professionally, I am otherwise competitive for a major with hours, quals etc. I am not counting my GA flying to weigh much on an app so I am planning on a regional carrier as well.

Things could be different next year - 5 years from now or next week. Your mileage may vary.

What region of the nation are you looking to commute by aircraft? Most places won't have weather to do it every day...maybe 2/3rds?

Southern California. The only thing I am worried about is Marine layers that roll in during the evening through early mornings.

Miramar VMFA guy going to a FAC tour in Pendleton? Just going out on a limb since you capitalized "marine layer"...

Man, you are good! Lol

If you are set on commuting by air, try and find a partner or two that only looking to fly on the weekend. Canvas some of the helo bubbas or V22 types that may be looking to build some fixed wing time. Also recommend getting something more complex than a 172.

Why?

It will be more expensive to acquire and maintain. I don't think the airlines will care about 172 vs Mooney vs Bonanza time, when you have 1000 hour of military time.

Fly because you want to fly for fun, not because you think flying GA will be a resume enhancer.

At 750hrs any of the regionals will take you with RATP mins. If you don't have those, you can piggy back on their rotary transition program to get what you need before you start class (I've got a Hornet buddy doing this now).

1000hrs will get you on an SIC gig flying King airs at an ISR contractor as well.

If you can get off active duty flying great, if not get out ASAP and start flying anywhere. Your grey jet time will be your greatest selling point on your resume. I have a buddy hired by DAL with 400 grey jet hours and the rest VT IP time, so don't worry if you're not fat on hours when you get out.

Fly GA for fun, it won't help enhance your resume all that much compared to what's on it already.