Looking to spilt 500+ hrs time building in SF
 

This will be a 500+ hrs project, with a hard deadline July 2016. It can be straightforward single time split by two (hood + safety pilot). Considering all options, from renting say a 152 (with the basic IFR instrumentation, of course), to buying something (or a share etc.), incl. some of the LSAs that fit the purpose. Budget would be <$100/hr before the split.

Suggestions of any other creative alternatives are welcome. My constraints are 1) time – e.g. can’t take an SIC job with 10 hrs downtime between 2 x 2hrs legs during a 14hrs duty day; 2) clear expectation that the project can be completed on time; and 3) defined budget: may go a little higher than $50/hr for compelling reasons.

Have commercial/multi/instrument, 100+ multi PIC, 500+ PIC, lots of high performance/complex etc.

.......Huh?

There are plenty of jobs out there that would hire you with that kind of time. You would be doing a disservice to yourself and even others if you're buying your time to meet airline/corporate mins. The reason for that is because...

1.) You're showing employers that pilots are willing to do anything (including paying their way to the airlines) as opposed to working for it and standing up for increased wages.

2.) You literally could be MAKING money to build those hours as opposed to spending a bunch and throwing it away on a rental.

--Honestly, there are jobs out there that could help you a lot with getting those req. hours.

Appreciate the feedback. Obviously I'm not keen on spending money (and even less so of sitting for 500 hrs in an 152 and flying all approaches in a 100nm radius another 10 times EACH). But paying-the-bills and family constraints prevent me from "buying" 3 hrs of flying with 12+hrs duty day. Basically I come ahead if I spend 3h x $50 but still have the rest of 9h to make a living.

Can you suggest some of these jobs? Obviously the undercurrent here is that I'm below 135 (IFR) mins. I do have a lot of quality time (at least in the piston universe - 50+ of each in Bonanzas, Corvalis, M20TN, Baron, DA42, 182s etc.), all in all 100+ IFR, 20+ IMC, 25+ night PIC, 250+ XC (500+ 135 XC), 100+ tailwheel etc. And I think I mentioned 100+ multi PIC and 500+ PIC etc.

I also got a little multi turbine bootleg time (couldn't log it being in BE20). I'm getting a King Air 200 Initial next month and of course I got all the paperwork (First Class Med, FCC RR etc.)

Thanks.

I guess you didn't get CFI. There are 135 VFR op other than cargo that I would try and look at. If you are getting a BE20 initial next month it sounds like you have everything all figured out.

Why couldn't you log the time you flew the King Air 200? You're multi engine airplane land rated, correct? The BE-20 doesn't require a type.

Your initial post spoke of a "project." Did you mean you want to "build time?" Not a research project? You're still not very clear, but it sounds like your post, once boiled down, is that you're asking about cheap flight time.

Find a job towing banners, flying skydivers, doing pipeline patrol or some other low paying work and use the $25k to pay for rent and food. Or spend a few thousand getting a cfi and find a school that will work the crap out of you.

Stop avoiding the instructor route and plunge in. You propose spending $50x500=$25,000 on what amounts to avoidance of being an instructor. You can get your CFI for one tenth of that, or half if you get all 3 instructor certs. I can see someone logging 75-100 hours of cheap flight time to make a logging goal like meeting Part 135 mins, but anything over that is really just dodging the real problem which in your case it looks like lack of teaching certs.

CFI:

• looks good on your airline resume
• gives you as many hours as you need for logging purposes
• provides valuable lessons in how pilots learn and think
• keeps you involved with GA if you keep them over time (most do)
• finds weaknesses in your skills and knowledge

One more thing- if you think just getting your foot in the door at some job flying RJs is the be-all of aviation life, think again. You need to have your head into flying for the sake of flying as well as for job and career. CFI means taking the profession on a deeper level than just climbing up to the flight levels.

What part of the country are you in?
If you're really looking to pay to build that many flight hours, I can help you out with a good airplane rental.

That said, I think it's foolish to spend that much money to build time for all the above mentioned reasons. Take it for what it's worth from someone who's in the business of renting airplanes...

Just saw that you were in SF. I'm in FL, disregard.