To be Honest non of my previous instructors gave me much ground. It was all just self study and flying. The thing with the AF course is, I don't want to put myself out there from the get go. I want to build my confidence very slowy one on one. I don't plan to be a ground instructor why do you need to teach in front of a class?

 

Teaching outside the cockpit is just as important as inside. By the way, All ATPs has a good CFI program too. And if you get hired there, most of your time will be flying Multi.

 

It's not about being a ground instructor, it's having the confidence to do so. Yes, a line pilot may not need to be one, BUT, neither you, nor I, know where a career will take you. I intended to be a line airline pilot, I wound up being an instructor, an examiner, a commander during wars and now present my company's products in front of buyers. Not one of those outcomes was planned when i was your age. The more tools you have, the greater your opportunities. Luck is about preparation.

GF

 

It makes sense. But not everybody likes being on the spotlight. Aviation has many avenues, not just airline.

 

It would be a la cheap for me to go FBO route. But ATP is good, as you mentioned. They hire their graduates I think.

 

I think ATPs would be a good route for you! Do well and be a team player and I bet they will hire you.....you will have to do the work to prove yourself tho! and you CAN do that!
Go to your local field and ask the owner or someone well respected(may or may not be one and the same! lol) to help you with mentoring or finding a mentor. Usually a couple of old willing pilots around for that.
It is and will continue to be an awesome career with many different avenues.....
You can do it, just don't expect it overnight.
Good Luck

 

That's not what I said. See heavydriver's post. The point was the reason of "don't want to instruct" simply isn't valid for a career that essentially requires you to instruct. I didn't say whether or not it would make you a good airline pilot. If one chooses to be an FO their entire career they could be a fine pilot, but that's generally not the way it usually works and people usually have aspirations of eventually getting to the right seat. Whether or not they start instructing sooner or later may be a little more debatable or arguable, I'm not saying someone needs to have an CFI to become an ATP at all, but if one thinks they are not going to have to teach as an airline pilot, they need to sit down and research more about their chosen career path.

 

I did my CFII/MEI add on last Jan. they said they are only hiring out of the 150/90 day fast tracks. So if he already has is licenses it may not end up with a job at ATP. Unless he had 100 or so hours in a seminole prior to ATP.

 

El Pilot,

You may not realize this now, but single pilot flying in small airplanes in threatening environments (ice, night, high winds, battling fatigue) is MUCH more difficult than multi pilot 121 or 135 ops. When I was a 200 hour commercial pilot I knew nothing. Sure, I could fly an airplane safely, but all I knew was the training environment. You absolutely do not have to CFI as others have said. BUT, you need to somehow fine tune your limited flying skills and gain experience in more controlled environments before you can safely fly freight in small airplanes. As a former CFI I can tell you that no one cares if you are goofy or a little shy, they just want to understand what you are talking about and feel like they are learning something useful. My advice? Man up and get your CFI then teach primary students for a while. Then, once comfortable, get your CFII and get comfortable with other people trying to stall your airplane in the clouds. Then, once comfortable with that, get your MEI and watch people try to hit the wrong rudder near VMC. You'll soon realize how little you actually knew before you started teaching. Chances are you'll get over your shyness along the way pretty quickly. Probably about the time your first student pukes or when you cut the back of your first solo's T-shirt after he or she solos. Good luck

 

El,

135 freight isn't entry level as a job goes, but would be great exposure for some to experience from the right seat. When I was in it, I took many folks for "rides" on my freight runs, both for the experience, and usually they bought me dinner too!! I know a few that have since gotten airline and other 135 jobs.

With any career, you need to earn your experience. Electricians and other skilled trades do apprenticeships. I really wish aviation had this, because honestly a 4yr degree doesn't cut it IMO. You have to have that real world experience to offer, and know where you are lacking. Until you fly to earn a paycheck, you're just ignorant of what it takes(and its not to flame you, it's just the way it is for everyone).

So if you can, take on the CFI the best you can, teach the best YOU can. Honestly, time to separate from mom if she can only tell you what you are doing wrong, and not helping you. I don't know if its been said here, but you will learn just as much or more as a CFI than you did up until the point you started teaching in the real world!

I could go on and on, but my last piece of advice is this.....

Whatever you do, whatever your job or skill level, always challenge yourself to perform better. No one is perfect, but we can all strive for that goal, and let it drive you.

Best of luck.