Hours vs Quality Hours?
10-17-2015, 10:06 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Posts: 184
I started flying 7-8 years ago paying for part of my flight training out of pocket. After my commercial I did some aerial photo experience with a local guy in a 172. I was almost finished with my CFI cert. when I got a call to go do aerial surveying. I packed up my stuff and went away for 7-8 months with a 172 going around the country. Now, right seat in a Lear 35 doing on-demand freight.
My point is, try to get a variety. I still want to finish my CFI down the road when I'm not working for only 6 days off per month. I want to instruct for the experience and not to build hours. I'm still not sure whether I should go to a regional and take a huge pay cut or what. I'm not sure what I want to end up doing long term yet. But, just go for whatever job will get you experience. A variety of experience goes far more than just instructing and going to a regional (which still isn't a bad route). I just think when someone has a variety of experience in a resume then it really helps.
If you instruct though, I would do that on the off-season of banner towing instead of being a part time instructor.
My point is, try to get a variety. I still want to finish my CFI down the road when I'm not working for only 6 days off per month. I want to instruct for the experience and not to build hours. I'm still not sure whether I should go to a regional and take a huge pay cut or what. I'm not sure what I want to end up doing long term yet. But, just go for whatever job will get you experience. A variety of experience goes far more than just instructing and going to a regional (which still isn't a bad route). I just think when someone has a variety of experience in a resume then it really helps.
If you instruct though, I would do that on the off-season of banner towing instead of being a part time instructor.
10-17-2015, 12:05 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2012
Position: ERJ
Posts: 383
I concur: do both. Each will teach you something that the other could not, but when both are done together, they will offer you a fresh perspective on something that you could not have learned at the other.
10-21-2015, 07:10 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2015
Posts: 707
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
No.
You've got no time or experience presently. You'll have multiple job. If you go corporate, you'll wind up out of work at some point, and looking for other work. If you go airlines, you'll switch or get furloughed at some point. Between mergers, bankruptcies, furloughs, etc, you'll experience change whether you choose to or not.
Don't get caught up in the idea that flight instructing will get you to the airlines, where some other kind of flying will send you somewhere else. Right now you're at the bottom of the experience rung. You need to get experience; get a much as you can.
Banner flying tends to be fairly seasonal. Get it done while you can, do other kinds of flying when you can. Do several if you can. Get paid. Do again.
If you're looking at a regional, remember that it's an entry level job, too; it's entry pay, takes minimal experience to get in, and will be a stopping point as you gain experience and go somewhere else (in most cases). Don't get too wrapped up in trying to decide which job, at this stage in your career, is the perfect fit for getting you down the line. Any job will be a good start; do both, if you like.
You've got no time or experience presently. You'll have multiple job. If you go corporate, you'll wind up out of work at some point, and looking for other work. If you go airlines, you'll switch or get furloughed at some point. Between mergers, bankruptcies, furloughs, etc, you'll experience change whether you choose to or not.
Don't get caught up in the idea that flight instructing will get you to the airlines, where some other kind of flying will send you somewhere else. Right now you're at the bottom of the experience rung. You need to get experience; get a much as you can.
Banner flying tends to be fairly seasonal. Get it done while you can, do other kinds of flying when you can. Do several if you can. Get paid. Do again.
If you're looking at a regional, remember that it's an entry level job, too; it's entry pay, takes minimal experience to get in, and will be a stopping point as you gain experience and go somewhere else (in most cases). Don't get too wrapped up in trying to decide which job, at this stage in your career, is the perfect fit for getting you down the line. Any job will be a good start; do both, if you like.
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