called decision making and experience.... getting your arse out of trouble a few times.

Exactly......

different types of flying, absolutely, but will one help you in doing the other, you bet.

It's also nice to know that the guy who's making the decisions in that big airliner has actually had to make some real world flying deceisions at some point during his career...brings the saying "this ain't my first rodeo" to mind.

I decided to go get my CFI instead of going to the regionals, for financial reasons. Plus I think it will be fun making my own schedule and rewarding to put students through their licenses.

I have limited 'heavy jet sim' time, but I can definitely say that CFIing will not prepare one for the right seat of a jet anymore than the 300hr pilot. I will say this...I think my communication skills, CRM and reaction to emergencies/skills to handle them will improve 10 fold from where I am now. But the actual flying and the 121 environment can't be prepared for as a CFI. The only way to get real world experience in a jet/121 world is to actually work in the jet/121 world. What else is there?

Being a CFI is all about learning, and applying, judgement and decision making skills. It's a seasoning process to instruct a while...a confidence builder. Doing instrument instruction and gaining experience in the IFR system would be a huge benefit, as well.

These things will do very little to help you get through RJ initial but will do a lot to make you a well rounded pilot down the road. What's sad is the quest to be a well rounded, experienced, pilot often falls to the wayside in favor of the quest to get on the list ASAP.

I have to agree with you. However, I wanted nothing more than to get into the seat of an RJ and start building time so I could get to my ultimate goal a little faster; this included skipping the CFI. But as the reality of the contracts and extremely low pay began to sink into my rock hard brain, being a CFI became more attractive. Plus making my own schedule with tax free pay is priceless. On a more fundamental note, the legacy of aviators in my family should be carried on with the intent & passion to be an aviator and not just a pilot wanting to get into a jet ASAP. Plus, I want to share my enthusiasm and passion for aviation with others; and vice versa. I think I will thoroughly enjoy my time as a CFI.

I've realized in the exercise physiology field that you know little about it until you teach the material. This past week has been a wakeup call for me to do the same thing with aviation. I feel very good about doing this too, no regrets.

Now, this is not to say that I am against going to the RJ's with low time because most of those guys get through the training very well. I'm all about going to the RJ's if that's what one would like to do. This was all just my two cents on the current events that have unfolded in my life in the last week.

oh boy...I have 666 posts. I'm doomed! Better post another soon. :D

I honestly don't think being a CFI makes you a better F/O. You can learn how to pass a checkride without instructing. I failed my oral the first time, and I was a CFI. However today was my first sim lesson and it quickly became apparent that my experiences as an instructor were going to help there in a few ways. The first few minutes were ugly today. I did what I'd make a student do and get back to basics. Within 5 minutes of this choice it started coming together.

How many regionals hire F/Os? Most are hiring captains. This is where the CFI becomes big. Ok, so flying around in a 172 around the pattern with a student isn't the same. Neither is flying a 172 around during your training. Why not skip the step all together and go straight to the jet? As a CFI your workload can get very high, especially with new students or when you're doing more advanced training. The task management is just as high, especially in a high-performance aircraft or twin and on final you're not moving that much faster in an RJ (20-30kts).

Blastboy, I really liked instructing. I'd go back to it in a heartbeat if I could make a living doing it. Enjoy it, get as much as you can out of it and in return your students will as well.

I agree, I don't think being a CFI will make you a better F/O. The only thing that can prepare you for a regional jet/121 is to actually do it. I've never flown an RJ nor the RJ sim so I have no idea what flying the RJ is like. CFIing wont give me a better idea of that either. I would love to go straight into a jet now, however, I wont be able to spend nearly as much time at home or making the money I need to make for now; among other reasons too. It's funny to think that I am avoiding the regionals and turning to CFIing for financial reasons. LOL! It should be the other way around.

Ok, I hear what everyone is saying, but I learned task management and decision making while a Lieutenant in the Army. Iapplied it while deployed to Bosnia and more recently Iraq. So I think I have good decisionmaking skills under stressful situations.

Now I agree with everyone. I love to teach and I want to be a good instructor. Not a timebuilding instructor but a teacher of aviation because I do love avaition. I just recently got my CFII initial and am currently working on my CFI-A and I plan to teach even after I become an airline pilot even if its justground school.

But I see your point about having avition work experience. And thas what I dont have and thats another reason I want to instruct before applying to the airlines.

Are you doing your CFI through american flyers?