jamin35008

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here so plz be easy on me. I have been working with Eagle since March 2001 as a station agent in different places while slowly working on my certificates and ratings. I have been in NY TX FL and UT flying and going to school and have a 4yr degree. I currently have my single comm. with inst. rating and working on my CFI (very slowly due to WX and MECH problems) in western NY right now. I have about 3hrs flight and 5hrs ground done toward my CFI but they have been over 2 months again b/c of the WX and mechanical problems and make it hard to retain the info. After talking with many regional pilots who commute and a few who I have flown with over the years, most are telling me to forget about the CFI and get the multi and the multi time and start applying. Now I only have about 300hrs right now and the multi building time and the raing would put me around 350-60 total time with 50-60 being multi so 350/50ish...is that enough? I see some are hiring with just comm/multi, but how would I fair in the ground school and sim with no CFI experience? Does the CFI help during the ground school and in the application process? Do they want to see you have a CFI or just that you have met the mins.? I know that Eagle ,for example, is looking for 400/50 so what if I went and got my multi and had 350/50 and split time with someone for the rest of the 50hrs to get 400/50. If that does not work and the mins are out of reach to me then I could go back and finish the CFI to teach around here until getting more hours....right? Im sorry this is like a book, but I have so much on my mind right now and just would like some advise from everyone who may know the right path. Do I get my multi and build time to 50-60 multi hours for a total of 350/50 or continue with my CFI and teach for awhile and then get my multi and build up more hours.....Thanks so much in advance!

PS. It would be hard for me to leave home for extended periods of time (more than 2-3weeks at a time) so going anywhere to instruct is not an option at this time....newborn due in 2 weeks and I have a steady income job I can lose until something firm is ready or I might lose my house.

PSS. If I decide to continue with my CFI might it be a good idea to say forget upstate NY and go to an 2-3 class in FL and then try to get a job around here...would that be cheeper?

ExperimentalAB

Get your CFI...it is an incredible tool for learning and experience. In addition, hiring has slowed sufficiently that you will have a difficult time finding a job with such low time. From my experience, what looks like the easy road is the one that will come back and bite you. Anything worth doing should be done slowly (but efficiently), and right.

Get the CFI.

SaltyDog

Welcome aboard.
You will no doubt get a dizzying array of opinions so will start. Most would agree the CFI is invaluable for so many reasons.
A few: 1. Learn how to fly <g>
2. Can get experience and make money on someone elses dime.
3. I would try to get to the MEI so you could build your ME time that way at one of the ATP schools. (if going to spend the money in a shared ME build hour time anyway, this gets you closer to something that generates money while gaining ME flight time)

Even with 65, I think you will still find a job at the regionals soon enough.
The best of luck! See you on the line.

ACEAV8R

Welcome man. I am pretty much in the same shoes as you are(just joined the site, working on ratings, work with an airline, etc). I on the other hand am second guessing myself on CFI and i just cannot afford it financially(esp. if I am not 100% sure on it). Anyway, my advise is don't stop whatever you do. If I didn't I probably would be a lot further than I am now(started in 2000).

ImperialxRat

I would get your multi/comm first. Well, it depends on your financial situation, but here's my reasoning.

Hiring *usually* picks up during summer, and we just happen to be about 4 months away from summer. If you can finish your comm multi by that time, then at least you can have your resume out there at various companies.

Once you finish the comm multi, I agree that getting your CFI is a great move, and you can instruct to build time while waiting for a call back on your resumes.

-Imp

Blueskies21

I think the answer depends on how much money you have and are willing to spend. If you have the money to do the multi and build the time probably talking at least 5 grand assuming you could split most of that time... then do that and skip the CFI. If you don't have the money, then either keep going after the CFI the slow way or go find a accelerated program. The CFI is good b/c you'd probably be able to keep you gate agent job while making enough money on the side to buy the multi time. And as a bonus you really learn a LOT about flying from flight instructing...you'll be shocked. Either way I think with those times you can probably get hired somewhere but it won't be Republic, Skywest etc. Best of Luck.

DANCRJ

Try to get 1000 hrs. and then go to a decent regional. The ones hiring low timers are not good at all. Don't get fooled by the quick upgrade time. Things are going to slow down and you're going to get stuck in the right seat. If you're going to be stuck in the right seat, at least do it in a decent company like Skywest, Republic, Horizon....... don't get fooled by the "we're going to pay you 21$/HR but heyyy........ you're going to upgrade quick" (read pinnacle) .....I bought that speach. Be prepared to be in the right seat for at least 4-5 years anywhere you go. I'm not saying that's whats going to happen, but if you prepare for the worst, you're going to get a better ride. Hopefully things are not going to be that bad but remember in this undustry, always prepare for the worst, hope for the not-than-bad..........jajaj
Also get your CFII. Don't get comfortable flying 1000hrs around a traffic pattern. Expose yourself to as much IFR as possiblel. That's really going to payoff.

Anyways.....GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!!!

Rascal

Save yourself the trouble and get a job that will let you have a nice house and let you see your kid everyday. why would you want to go to the airlines...

papacharlie

hey you have a point there but i think this is what we love to do...I don't see myself doing another job for the rest of my life if is not flying...im 38 and i wont give up my dream of working as an airline pilot....

jamin35008

I know this is what I want to do. I love this industy even though it sucks. I love to fly and just smell the jet fumes, hell I have put up with passenger bs for almost 7 years while flying on the side. Now I want to make it flying and puting up with passengers b/s on the side. I have learned how to make it work with low pay and crappy hours. One way you can tell if you love this industy is that everytime you hear a plane in the sky you still look up to watch and I do.

Thanks so much everyone for your input! Its great to see the different points of view and I will consider all of them. Please keep em coming!