Pilot career without instructing?
#22
At the time, I was a newly minted Commercial SEL working an internship at a cargo carrier in the training department when an opportunity was handed to me from an instructor there to fly skydivers for a drop zone. I did that for two years and went to the airlines.
In retrospect, I wish I had gotten my CFI. It certainly would have helped during my two furloughs. Also would have helped my transition to the left seat. If you have the opportunity to get your CFI, my advice is to do it.
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Posts: 112
I have not "Made it" it but am starting to work my way to it I guess. I dropped sky divers, (Unpaid) until I got to 500 hrs. Then I was hired by an aerial survey company, which barely paid and you were on the road for 8 months. After I finished that I was picked up by another aerial survey company. I job hunted for about 4 months before I got hired by anyone. If you are willing to move it is very possible, but if you are someone who doesn't want to leave where you are your options might be pretty limited.
#24
If I can do this (be a CFI) I think just about anyone can! I too have an irrational fear of public speaking but have found if you are prepared and more importantly passionate about what you are speaking about all the anxiety melts away after the first few words. I can remember my knees shaking when I stood before the white board to teach my first "practice lesson" to the CFI who was training me but the more you teach the more you know the material and after awhile you don't even think about it. After 4 years and nearly 1400 hrs of dual given its old hat. You CAN do it! Good luck to you!!!
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Posts: 271
If I can do this (be a CFI) I think just about anyone can! I too have an irrational fear of public speaking but have found if you are prepared and more importantly passionate about what you are speaking about all the anxiety melts away after the first few words. I can remember my knees shaking when I stood before the white board to teach my first "practice lesson" to the CFI who was training me but the more you teach the more you know the material and after awhile you don't even think about it. After 4 years and nearly 1400 hrs of dual given its old hat. You CAN do it! Good luck to you!!!
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2011
Posts: 271
I don't know if you would consider me having "made it", but I am a regional captain who never got my CFI.
At the time, I was a newly minted Commercial SEL working an internship at a cargo carrier in the training department when an opportunity was handed to me from an instructor there to fly skydivers for a drop zone. I did that for two years and went to the airlines.
In retrospect, I wish I had gotten my CFI. It certainly would have helped during my two furloughs. Also would have helped my transition to the left seat. If you have the opportunity to get your CFI, my advice is to do it.
At the time, I was a newly minted Commercial SEL working an internship at a cargo carrier in the training department when an opportunity was handed to me from an instructor there to fly skydivers for a drop zone. I did that for two years and went to the airlines.
In retrospect, I wish I had gotten my CFI. It certainly would have helped during my two furloughs. Also would have helped my transition to the left seat. If you have the opportunity to get your CFI, my advice is to do it.
Interesting. Most single engine jobs I see want 500tt or a little more then 250. Do you think future employers would look down on a guy who payed for their flight time to get to 500tt for example?
#28
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 5,926
Do you think future employers would look down on a guy who payed for their flight time to get to 500tt for example?
On the other hand, the experience one has is tempered by the nature of the experience. It's one thing to go buy flight time, but it's entirely a different thing to compete for a job, be chosen for that job, vetted, tested, trained, and to be proven in that job.
You may or may not find work at the 250 hour mark, and you may or may not continue flying while you're looking for work. I've known various individuals who bought a small experimental and flew the wings off it to gain some experience, while looking for work. I hired a guy once who dropped in flying his own Maule. It said a lot; he came to shake hands personally, and he was flying something that took a little bit of stick and rudder skill. I saw him fly. He did quite well, and went on to be the chief pilot at a regional before I lost contact with him.
Getting your CFI is not a necessity, but you'll find that most professional aviators, save those who came out of the military, have or had their CFI. I've let mine lapse twice, and regretted it. I had to go back get reinstatements, because later jobs wanted it. It's not wasted certification, and it's kept me flying at times when flying work was thin.
I had a furlough once in which I couldn't find flying work right away, but did find aircraft maintenance work. The same facility had some training to do, so I did that, then began doing some cargo work for them, and in short order I was staying flight current. It's easier to find flying work when you're flying, and that work lead to a good job flying, from which I was later recalled off my furlough. You never know.
You may not fancy yourself a stellar instructor, but then you may find you like it quite a bit. I did. Even if you don't actually go to work instructing, it does add to your perspective as a pilot, and it does enhance your resume. It's not wasted effort, time, or money.
I went to work as an ag pilot before I had an instrument rating, and I didn't start instructing until after I'd been flying commercially for some time. I know a number of pilots who didn't instruct, and many of them have gone back years later to get instructor certification for one reason or another. I know others who had it but let it lapse, and who regret having done so. For my two cents, get it and keep it maintained, even if just through refresher courses.
#29
Did that person only fly in the fairest of weather with winds always below 10 kts and down the runway? Quality of time is a very important in building those early skills (both stick and rudder and decision making).
Getting your CFI is not a necessity, but you'll find that most professional aviators, save those who came out of the military, have or had their CFI. I've let mine lapse twice, and regretted it. I had to go back get reinstatements, because later jobs wanted it. It's not wasted certification, and it's kept me flying at times when flying work was thin.
You may not fancy yourself a stellar instructor, but then you may find you like it quite a bit. I did. Even if you don't actually go to work instructing, it does add to your perspective as a pilot, and it does enhance your resume. It's not wasted effort, time, or money.
#30
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: CJ 3 left
Posts: 50
I never got my CFI as I never needed to. I had no trouble finding work as an A and P mechanic, ATP Pilot and flight engineer. Started out towing gliders and flying cargo. Never was without work in 40 years of aviation.
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