PLantation the odds if you can hold out of the II and MEI working towards your favor are high. The best instructor I had was 30 when he was instructing me, he had no leads on any jobs and was thinking about going to the regionals although none were hiring at the time. He networked at our flight school and was introduced to some one who got him a job at flight safety. Started off as a CO-pilot sim support in the GV making not much more an hour than when he flight instructed. He eventually moved to an instructor position which landed him a GV job on the field. This all happened over a two year period. My point is he is 35/36 now and has 3 type ratings and flying a G200 for an investment banker with the possibility of getting typed in the Global. Timing and who you know are the key things! He never bought time in an aircraft besides the times required to get his ratings, give it time and you'll be in the same place!

 

There are actually tons of shortcuts that pilots take. Ask the pilot who got onto a regional two years ago at 300 hours. His life will be incredibly easier than a struggling CFI right now. There are no pilots given or glory gained in aviation by intentionally taking the hard road. Find your shortest route to your goal and go for it.

In times like these it might mean buying a job.

Skyhigh

 

You sound like a guy who is stuck as a CFI. I have noticed that instructors are the ones who seem to be the most alarmed by others buying a job to get ahead. So, Are you?

Another thing, Your instructor might have had a fast transition a few years ago but pilots now will have to struggle for a long time to get anyplace. In hard times often pilots have to make their own luck. $$$


Skyhigh

 

Sky,

You're spot on man. I'd like to inquire as to the number of folks out there right now that are instructing and what their prospects are? As far as I can tell, no one is hiring pilots without 3k plus hours (and a motherload of that needs to be twin time). I could certainly be wrong, but with 1200 tt and 150 me, I have submitted over 300 resumes and recieved *******all.

 

Nice... they refer to it as "employment"...

Liked this question on the "application" too:

Pathetic...

 

I'm going to have to jump on the don't do it bandwagon. Pilots who go this route are labeled as PFT's and it will be become apparent in future interviews with regionals/majors. I'd highly recommend taking the money, buying your II/MEI ratings and applying to 135 operators for PIC positions when you meet their minimums. Also, airnet has a paid SIC program where you get a salary to sit right seat until meeting minimums.

 

What happened on the 301st?

 

After reading this post, it's become quite clear to me why you're having a hard time finding another flying job. You have 500 hrs of "JET" time, and are now above flight instructing? You are clearly out of touch with reality. There's nothing magic about turbojet time. In fact, I've found that flying a jet is pretty darn easy. Flying a piston twin around single pilot IFR for a 135 operator is much more challenging.

Nobody is above teaching when times are tough and they need to put food on the table and/or stay current. I'd go back to teaching tomorrow if I lost my job, no question about it. So would most pilots.

Your post marks you as a very young and immature person, and would be a HUGE red flag if I was making hiring decisions. Think about what you post online, there are a lot of potential employers here that read these threads.

 

Pretty soon, you may get the opportunity to cross a picket line if you really want to take a short cut to the top. I'm sure management will be looking for qualified individuals.

-mini

 

So just out of curiosity. How exactly can someone figure out who is posting on an anonymous message board?