New Pilot Southern Arizona / Tucson
 

I am a newly minted commercial pilot (ASEL) relocating to Tucson, AZ next week. I am trying to gauge what type of work (if any) is available for low time pilots. I'm up for anything banner towing, survey, photo, jump pilot - you name it. And yes at a detriment to the industry for minimum pay because I need to build hours. I'm also open to relocating, working long hours, whatever it takes!

Flight Experience
TOTAL: 251
XC: 97
COMPLEX: 71
PIC: 164
INST: 59
MEDICAL: 2ND CLASS

medical
 

Get youself a First Class license, you'll need it

Yes agreed. I was warned against going for it just before my c/ride incase anything came up as we didn't want to delay the c/ride. It will be on of the first things I do when I get down there.

Getting your CFI will open a lot of doors for you. You also don't have to work for minimum pay considering the average is around 28k. Otherwise, you could work as a jump pilot. I see a lot of skydiving operations around.

I was initially intending to do my CFII, but the flight school I was at here in WA I was using SallieMae. I only got as far as my commercial and now I'm relocating to AZ. I have looked at every flight school I can find in Tucson and they all seem to be A) very expensive B) have no financing (other than pilot finance which I'd rather use my credit card than pay those absurd interest rates) or C) don't offer CFII/ME training. If anyone can recommend a good flight school / private instructor (with airplane) in Tucson that could be helpful too.

CFI intial should cost no more than 2K(including checkride fee) and take no more than 1-3 weeks. If you have low time their is no excuse to not have it. Tucson is not the best place to be for a 250 TT pilot trying to furthing their career(with no CFI). Transpac in Phoenix would probably hire you, if you had your CFI. I know CFIs that were hired by a flight school with only had 160 hours.

Cost break down of CFI rating:

Download books from FAA.gov for free

Take written tests - $200

Study

10 hours in 172RG - $1000.

X amount hours dual - $500-$800

Free Checkride from FAA

Total price $1700-$2000

10 hours $1000? Are you kidding me. You can't find a regular 172 for 100 an hour. Unless the aircraft is on it's last leg and probably un-airworthy.

It's called networking... how long have you been in the industry?

Even with networking you would be hard pressed to find 172's at 100 an hour..

I know of a flight club that rents a 172RG for $109/wet located at APA. It shouldn't take more than 10 hours for CFI training. 10 hours at $109 works out to be $1090.

FAA books are free.

The FAA provides check-rides for free.

A low-time CFI usually charges/earns around $15-$30 per flight/ground hour.

If one has a friend who is a CFI, one could negotiate a reasonable price for flight instruction.

There are flight schools in AZ that hire CFIs with 250 hours.

Some flight schools provide instructors with free flight hours and free dual instruction towards training for a CFII and/or MEI. My CFII cost me under $1000. I took advantage of free dual instruction and free flight time provided by the flight school I worked at, at the time.

One could easily pay $3000-$3500 for a CFI initial and a CFII.

How much does the club charge for membership? I have never seen a club that didn't require an initial buy in plus a monthly fee on top of the hourly rate.

Not saying your wrong, just saying that reliable aircraft suitable for a check ride are not easy to find at the $100 price point.

I do agree with the general point of your post. With time and some effort you can find affordable ways to add on ratings.

Good Point, the club I'm referring to has low annual fees. I recall they have an annual fee of around $60-$90 and a six month option for around $35-$50. For $109 an hour, you're not getting a pristine looking aircraft, but does the quality of paint really make a difference?


How do you determine what is a reliable and suitable aircraft for a check-ride?

Ask the FAA...

You could I guess..

I have seen things like fixed trim tabs added to Cessna ailerons at some budget rental ops (worked for them too). They get added when the eccentric bolts in the wing will not provide enough adjustment for wings level flying. For DPE rides you probably would not hear a thing. If you took it to an Inspector for a check ride the plane will be red tagged and you don't finish your ride. That is more what I'm talking about in my earlier post. The kind of situation that is not necessarily unsafe but is not legal and will not fly at a FSDO check ride.

All of the hair splitting aside your advice is sound I was just commenting on the chance of success at 100 per hour

Make some more posts so your PM function works.

Try here:
kelly's Aviation Flight Instruction, learn to Fly in Tucson, AZflight instruction and airplane rental at Kelly’s Aviation.
$117 an hour for 172 at Ryan

Aircraft
$95 per hour with $100 monthly fee at TUS

How many posts do I need to make?