i've had about 15 instructors since starting my private to completing my commercial...all due to them either leaving for something better (the only ones that didn't leave were 50+ yearsold and just enjoyed instructing) When I started my training the minimums were around 1500TT/500ME and now being as low as they are i get the feeling that some pilots that had to actually get these hours are kind of bitter/angry at the situation of how easy or less stringent on getting hours.

It's pretty much summed up on APC that we ALL AGREE TO DISAGREE...some say instruct and really learn what it means to be a pilot others say get in as fast as you can with the way things are going right now.

With the 15 instructors that i had 14 of them were there to just get hours (all age 23 -28)...as a private student at that time, i thought thats how it just goes, meaning i'm not sure if anyone deliberatly gets a CFI because they really want to instruct...they do it so they can build the hours. (or at least based on my experience)

At the airport I work at and from family friends and family equating to : 3
captains (AA,CAL), 4 major FO's (AA, UAL, CAL), 1 Reg. Cap (Xjet), 5 Reg. FO's (AE, Xjet, Republic), and an HR guy at AA....they all say get in as fast as you can...and the only ones that aren't saying that are pilots that had to/or chose to get the hours...

and to agree with skyhigh they all say that flying cessnas didn't have a lot of translation into a RJ...saying that the training will get that all done

Exactly my point! Everyone these days is plagued by the "forget the stupid Cessnas, aerobatics, float flying, bush flying, no autopilot/GPS flying, because it doesn't translate into RJ flying, and only God knows I need to get into that RJ cockpit before my 22nd birthday, and accept that conditional offer from Delta before I'm 26 so I can have almost 40 years them and completely lose sight of why I ever wanted to get into this profession because I'm so busy worrying about contracts, furloughs, upgrades, ALPA"

You can choose to be an airline pilot and all that it entails, and in which case "get in" as quick as possible.

Or... you can choose to be an aviator. You can actually learn how to fly an aircraft, experience aviation and the science behind this art, and not get "there" as soon as possible.

Folks are so focused on just "getting there" they lose sight of what they're even doing to get there. In the end, it just becomes a job, enjoy it while it's still not.

I agree wholeheartedly! This is a very unique time in aviation and yes to an extent jumping in at the first opportunity that comes your way can be a good thing. However, don't forget to enjoy the scenery along the way. This industry can chew you up and spit you out a bitter person in no time. Make your decisions wisely and think long and hard about what you want out of life.

Is it a good QOL or a quick upgrade? Are you confident that 1000 TPIC will get you into the airline of your dreams or are you being delusional? Are you willing to commute or do you want to live in your home town? Would you be willing to stay at regional A if your ideal regional stops hiring or the economy takes a crap? Just a few thoughts.

Personally, I'm trying to enjoy the ride. I've got a long career ahead of me but I can confidently say I've had a blast up to this point and the risks I've taken have paid off well. Who knows what will come next, but I'm a positive person, so it hopefully won't be that bad.

Also, if you want to have some fun and gain some great experience before hoping down to a "better" regional, head up to Alaska. Spend a few bucks and walk into every regional operator in Anchorage and Fairbanks that hires FO's (Penair, Frontier Flying, Era, Alaska Cargo Express come to mind) and ask to speak to the Chief Pilot (in a suit with resume if you are really serious).

You'll have a blast and within a year will be highly competitive for a good job or you might find you like the bush flying so much, you never leave.:)

Just my $.02, your mileage may very, results not typical, satisfaction not guaranteed.

Checko

"they all say that flying cessnas didn't have a lot of translation into a RJ"

It's not so much about a 172 flying like an RJ, but about the experience of teaching and things you learn about the system working as a CFII. Instructing is hardly a waste if you look at if from the standpoint of it making you a better pilot, overall.

The experience of being a CFI will pay off two years down the road when one upgrades and is forced to fly with the next 300 hour newb who just got off IOE.

I'd love for your to ask your CFI's, once they are new RJ Capts, if their time gaining experience as a CFI was a "waste of time". Or if they still feel like the "get there as fast as you can at any cost" guy is the guy they want to sit next to.

What cracks me up about this age old argument is, that in general, the pro-low time guys are the ones just starting out and the anti-low time guys are the Capts who have been in the biz for a while....

If I had gotten into the Industry five years ago, as opposed to last year, you would have found me flying the Bush in Alaska, absolutely no doubt about it...

Flying for the Airlines then, for me at least, is bitter-sweet. While I'm following one dream of flying the Jets, I've lost another - one that I am thinking more and more that I was born for. Just prior to getting my CFI's last year, and subsequently an immediate job in the right seat of an RJ, I had made a trip up to Alaska to scope out the country that was calling to me. Almost didn't come back.

But I did...and so I guess I have to wait until I can get myself aboard one of the several carriers that fly out of ANC...

To all those who are on the fence about chasing this side or that of Flying, give it a second thought. Though I wouldn't trade where I am now for anything, I would have said the same thing being a Bush Pilot LoL...just a matter of circumstance I suppose.

Yes, seniority may be everything, but like a few posters earlier on this thread stated, it's not everything.

Best of luck and fly safe!

Long Road
 

I was a full time CFI for several years followed by 6 more years as a part 135 Alaskan Bush pilot and contract forest service pilot. Then went on to corporate jet, medevac and the regionals.

I didn't want to do all that, I had to. The market was different back then. On one of my earliest trips in the 757 a check airman asked me about my background. After telling my story he was impressed and exclaimed that I had a "good background". Good for what? was my response.

What good is all that stuff? It didn't help me make my dreams come true so really it all it was a waste of time and obstacle to my dreams. HR departments don't care if you can land a Cessna 185 on an 800 foot gravel bar. The sim can't tell that you had thousands of hours in a Cessna or 300 hours total time. You don't gain a single thing to have flown a more than thousand hours as a single IFR pilot multi-engine piston over the cascades.

15 years ago my peers and I would have sawed off a finger if we thought it would have done any good. Anything to escape the 5 to life sentence we were serving towards an uncertain future.

In the end the only thing that matters is part 121 PIC time as fast as you can get there. The sooner the better. Anything less is to handicap yourself.

SkyHigh

Isnt that to be expected though?

Well apparently the ultimate goal wasn't worth getting there as soon as possible right. Maybe you'd still be there.

I don't understand?
 

I was laid off from my LCC 757 job. It was to be my last rung on my way to my goal. I ended up falling a bit short and I didn't make it to my ultimate goal. All my experiences added up to zero in the end.

The bottom line is to get there as fast as you can. The industry is handing out CRJ jobs to almost anyone now. Anything less than taking the first possible opportunity in a jet is doing yourself a huge disservice.

The current hiring trend will not last much longer. It would be terrible to be stuck on the out side lamenting how just a short time prior you could of had an RJ job but decided to become a CFI instead.

SkyHigh

I was just wondering what you older guys think about my situation. I am at UND (I do not need comments on that part) I have instructed for over a year and have had my MEI since May. I was hired by Mesaba in May also but had to finish school which will be this Dec. I took the Job and have a Dec 31 class date. I have 450 total and130 Multi and will probably get another 70 multi by Dec and I am 21. I am wondering what you guys think of my situation because I am one of those 20 something year olds with under 500 hours.

Next comment is about becoming an instructor. If you have to ask the question should I go to the airlines or build time being a CFI to go to a “better” airline then you should go to the Airline or something else because your possible students deserve better. I have seen too many instructors here not care about their students because they were going to a big bad regional. I personally am glad I have my MEI because you do learn a lot teaching multi students. This does not mean you have to do it to become a good pilot because it depends and you and you alone. You can instruct for 1000 hrs and you sucked at the beginning you might still suck at the end. Same with lower timers you might be a good pilot after you get your commercial. A lot depends on your training and what has happened to you in the time you have. This is my two cents. Take it for what it is worth because I am not in the industry yet.