Hiring Mins?
06-10-2021, 06:28 AM
#12
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2018
Posts: 70
I wound up going the CFI route in 2019 and logged as much as I could from it. When Covid hit, I was short of ATP mins by about 250 hours. The hours were hard to come by, but even then, I continued to fly them—albeit with less demand. Eventually, when I got them and we turned the calendar to 2021, the Regionals started calling.
I know a few guys who left instruction (temporarily, during Covid) to pickup work outside of the industry. It gave them a paycheck, but their flight time took a hit and, as a result, couldn't grow as much. Some of those guys are still chipping away at their ATP mins now and have yet to get calls from the Regionals to the best of my knowledge. (Although the calls will certainly come soon enough.)
My point: do whatever you can to consistently chip away at your hours. Instruction worked for me and I built the time fast.
I know a few guys who left instruction (temporarily, during Covid) to pickup work outside of the industry. It gave them a paycheck, but their flight time took a hit and, as a result, couldn't grow as much. Some of those guys are still chipping away at their ATP mins now and have yet to get calls from the Regionals to the best of my knowledge. (Although the calls will certainly come soon enough.)
My point: do whatever you can to consistently chip away at your hours. Instruction worked for me and I built the time fast.
06-10-2021, 06:53 AM
#13
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,271
Originally Posted by coodrough568
i wouldn’t even consider a seaplane rating unless you have some money you need to waste. Flight instruct and find a skydiving gig this summer (may be too late for that though)
06-10-2021, 06:56 AM
#14
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,271
Originally Posted by JayMahon
I've got a wet Commercial Single and I'm a week away from the CFI checkride. (Already have a CFI job locked in.) I'm looking to plot out my steps for the next 1200 hours of flight time. How would you prioritize the following items in importance to Regionals hiring me once I get to 1500 hours:
-Commercial Multi/MEI to build ME time
-CFII to build more XC time than basic CFI instruction
-Additional ratings like Seaplane
-Tailwheel Endorsement
-Turbine time
-Time working for a 135 or 91 operation
-Honestly, open to suggestions here. What else can I do?
Obviously I need to get to 1500 hours to be viable. I'd like to get a handle on how I can best direct my time to give me the best shot at landing a Regional FO job once I hit the minimums.
-Commercial Multi/MEI to build ME time
-CFII to build more XC time than basic CFI instruction
-Additional ratings like Seaplane
-Tailwheel Endorsement
-Turbine time
-Time working for a 135 or 91 operation
-Honestly, open to suggestions here. What else can I do?
Obviously I need to get to 1500 hours to be viable. I'd like to get a handle on how I can best direct my time to give me the best shot at landing a Regional FO job once I hit the minimums.
Turbine
ME/MEI
135
CFI
In the distant past I'd have said ME first but the current philosophy seems to be show up with 25 hours, and get the other 25 in the sim.
06-10-2021, 08:20 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2020
Posts: 342
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Fastest path to 1500 first. Then, all else being equal...
Turbine
ME/MEI
135
CFI
In the distant past I'd have said ME first but the current philosophy seems to be show up with 25 hours, and get the other 25 in the sim.
Turbine
ME/MEI
135
CFI
In the distant past I'd have said ME first but the current philosophy seems to be show up with 25 hours, and get the other 25 in the sim.
06-10-2021, 08:40 AM
#16
Banned
Joined APC: May 2017
Posts: 2,012
Originally Posted by IamEssential
disagree with 135 over CFI. Almost every Regional hiring department prefers hiring hiring CFIs as the payoff comes when they move to the left seat.
06-10-2021, 08:49 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2021
Posts: 248
So where in the pecking order does that leave someone that has 1600 TT, ATP in hand, and 700+ ME (BS, MS, and MBA degrees too)? Never been an instructor as I've been on active duty as a Logistics Officer for 27+ years. All my time is part 91, single pilot IFR with over 1,300 hours cross-country - most being 200+ NM trips all over the US. Would I be better off going corporate? The silence from the regionals I've applied to so far is slowly killing me...
06-10-2021, 09:16 AM
#18
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 88
Originally Posted by MtnFlying
So where in the pecking order does that leave someone that has 1600 TT, ATP in hand, and 700+ ME (BS, MS, and MBA degrees too)? Never been an instructor as I've been on active duty as a Logistics Officer for 27+ years. All my time is part 91, single pilot IFR with over 1,300 hours cross-country - most being 200+ NM trips all over the US. Would I be better off going corporate? The silence from the regionals I've applied to so far is slowly killing me...
things are slowly opening up, just give it a few weeks and depending how many places you sent your app almost all of them will be buzzing your phone soon giving you offers
06-10-2021, 09:31 AM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2020
Posts: 342
Originally Posted by MtnFlying
So where in the pecking order does that leave someone that has 1600 TT, ATP in hand, and 700+ ME (BS, MS, and MBA degrees too)? Never been an instructor as I've been on active duty as a Logistics Officer for 27+ years. All my time is part 91, single pilot IFR with over 1,300 hours cross-country - most being 200+ NM trips all over the US. Would I be better off going corporate? The silence from the regionals I've applied to so far is slowly killing me...
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