So how did you get there?
03-04-2007 | 01:39 PM
#12
Swearing at the FMA
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
From: MD-88 FO
I wanted to start flying at about age 9. Mom and Dad said to save my money, so I did. Started flying cold turkey at a smaller 141 program, and got all my ratings at a pretty good price, in my opinion. I spent some time instructing at that school, which was great. I also spent a summer doing weather modification in a Baron, followed by finishing up college/instructing another semester. Next I got an internship working for an aircraft manufacturer. This opportunity allowed me to build a substantial amount of turbine multi, which made me competitive for the regionals...and here I am today!
03-04-2007 | 01:45 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 0
I started flying in highschool and really flew on and off for many years without getting my license. i graduated the university of louisville and entered the air force. after several years of doing missiles and space jobs, i got picked up to go fly for the air force. i went to pensacola to do my flight training with the navy and then back to the air force as an F-15E WSO (back seater).
once i got to NC, i finished up my private using a lot of the time i spent at pensacola (the FSDO counted my gradebook hours towards my private license). the day after my private checkride, i hoped a plane to TN to get a Long-ez checkout and two days after that, i went to Oklahoma city to pick up my first airplane (Rutan Varieze) and then flew it back to NC (after getting stuck in Tulsa during an ice storm...that is a whole other story). i logged about 500+ hours in it and sold it and bought a Velocity. i finished up my Instrument and commercial and took both checkrides that same day then ended up loging about 600-700 hours in the Velocity and sold it.
After my second deployment to the desert, i finished up my multi and ATP at AllATPS with a great instructor (scott) in Raleigh.
inter-mixed with all of that, i fly low-level surveys for the airforce. we basically take an arrow or twin out to survey the low levels we fly. we have to do that on a yearly basis and normally log about 8-10 hours each flight so the hours add up fast (it takes a lot longer to fly it at 120Kts vice 500Kts) while the airforce pays for the time.....gotta love that!!!
right now, i have about 2900ish hours TT, with about 1800ish PIC and 1900 multi.......
i have about 5 years to go before retirement...then off to the airlines......
if anyone has questions about military flying or anything.....feel free to PM...
see ya!
once i got to NC, i finished up my private using a lot of the time i spent at pensacola (the FSDO counted my gradebook hours towards my private license). the day after my private checkride, i hoped a plane to TN to get a Long-ez checkout and two days after that, i went to Oklahoma city to pick up my first airplane (Rutan Varieze) and then flew it back to NC (after getting stuck in Tulsa during an ice storm...that is a whole other story). i logged about 500+ hours in it and sold it and bought a Velocity. i finished up my Instrument and commercial and took both checkrides that same day then ended up loging about 600-700 hours in the Velocity and sold it.
After my second deployment to the desert, i finished up my multi and ATP at AllATPS with a great instructor (scott) in Raleigh.
inter-mixed with all of that, i fly low-level surveys for the airforce. we basically take an arrow or twin out to survey the low levels we fly. we have to do that on a yearly basis and normally log about 8-10 hours each flight so the hours add up fast (it takes a lot longer to fly it at 120Kts vice 500Kts) while the airforce pays for the time.....gotta love that!!!
right now, i have about 2900ish hours TT, with about 1800ish PIC and 1900 multi.......
i have about 5 years to go before retirement...then off to the airlines......
if anyone has questions about military flying or anything.....feel free to PM...
see ya!
Awesome!
Good luck...
-LAFF
03-04-2007 | 02:48 PM
#14
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: PA31T2
I am a Firefighter / Paramedic and will be retiring in about a year. I got most of my ratings at the local FBO, except my initial ME, I went to a ME specific company for that.
I plugged along as a free-lance instructor for the local FBO, began to teach ground school at the local JuCo. And basicly made it well known that I was an aviation slut, would work cheap, or maybe free. This lead to me flying 135 ops for the FBO, and for an air ambulance for a spell.
I am trying to decide which route to take after retirement. You are correct when stating that the amount of info is priceless and amazing.
Good luck
I plugged along as a free-lance instructor for the local FBO, began to teach ground school at the local JuCo. And basicly made it well known that I was an aviation slut, would work cheap, or maybe free. This lead to me flying 135 ops for the FBO, and for an air ambulance for a spell.
I am trying to decide which route to take after retirement. You are correct when stating that the amount of info is priceless and amazing.
Good luck
03-04-2007 | 02:59 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,276
Likes: 0
From: ERJ FO
Out of all the instructors I've evaluated...the worst were from ATP.
03-04-2007 | 03:24 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: CRJ left
ATP = All Trainees Pass (aka Certificate Mill)
PS. But I'm sure LAFF still worships ATP's every graduate and recites their company mission statement before going to sleep every night.
03-04-2007 | 03:37 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Gucci Jet Left
I am not there yet either, about the same hours as you. I went the small accelerated school route. I instruct now and have been getting a decent amount of flying in. I'd say just keep plugging along and do some instructing when the weather permits. Get the word out that you are instructing, call it job security or whatever. You gotta make the students come to you.
03-04-2007 | 03:51 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: 737 FO
I started flying when I was still in High School at a small part 61 school. I then went out to UND, 9/11 happened so I changed my major to Psychology and kept the Aviation Minor. I left UND in 2003 with my Comm/Multi/Instrument.
I then went to American Flyers in MMU for their CFI acadamy, finished that and I was hired on as an instructor. I worked there for about 6 months and got a job flying a Jetstream in Las Vegas. From there I was hired on at ExpressJet about 6 months after I moved out to Vegas.
I have some friends in "managing" places at CAL and I was hired last April as a 737 FO. So yes I am one of those 25 year old SOBs that got hired at CAL and "didn't deserve it" (flame away), but I do feel that through hard work and a positive attitude I have earned the respect of the folks I fly with. It is always a bit humbling when a Captain asks how old you are and comments how he's been flying this airplane as long as I have been walking upright.
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.
I then went to American Flyers in MMU for their CFI acadamy, finished that and I was hired on as an instructor. I worked there for about 6 months and got a job flying a Jetstream in Las Vegas. From there I was hired on at ExpressJet about 6 months after I moved out to Vegas.
I have some friends in "managing" places at CAL and I was hired last April as a 737 FO. So yes I am one of those 25 year old SOBs that got hired at CAL and "didn't deserve it" (flame away), but I do feel that through hard work and a positive attitude I have earned the respect of the folks I fly with. It is always a bit humbling when a Captain asks how old you are and comments how he's been flying this airplane as long as I have been walking upright.
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it.
03-04-2007 | 04:05 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: C172, PA28, PA44...Right
I wanted to start flying at about age 9. Mom and Dad said to save my money, so I did. Started flying cold turkey at a smaller 141 program, and got all my ratings at a pretty good price, in my opinion. I spent some time instructing at that school, which was great. I also spent a summer doing weather modification in a Baron, followed by finishing up college/instructing another semester. Next I got an internship working for an aircraft manufacturer. This opportunity allowed me to build a substantial amount of turbine multi, which made me competitive for the regionals...and here I am today!
03-04-2007 | 04:10 PM
#20
CA
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 0
From: I am the Captain now...
Started flying when I was 16. Went to UC Bezerkley and got an engineering degree.... kept flying and instructing while going to school. Finally made it to the Regionals. Now hopefully I'll never have to use my degree- but it's there as a safety net. 
