Back in November of 07, I obtained my Multi-Commercial add on and I just finished ground school for my CFI 141 training. Only problem is now that I have to come up with close to 12K to obtain my CFI/II certs before I can even get hired at my school that I am doing my training at.

If I hope to get through in any feasible time frame, I will have to pull off a financial miracle, but the problem is that I am already tapped due to my Comm/Multi certifications. I would love to be a CFI, but it seems that I will not be able to financially obtain the training. I'm getting towards the end people, and something needs to happen.

So I was sitting and thinking, why not just send out my resumes to all the regionals now? I understand that the mins are still considerably higher then what I have, but I have the qualifications and I have the training. I'm 25 years old and and Army combat veteran, a clean driving (CDL B Endorsed) and no criminal record. I'm sure that has to count for something, right?

The regionals MUST need pilots, right? Are they going to overlook a potential candidate because he doesn't meet the min's that are already arguably lower then they should?

It's getting tough out there to be a pilot guys. The buy-in is already ludicrously high and unless something drastically changes, I think the student pool is going to dry up real quick. The fuel costs combined with the costs of training are just unrealistically out there for even the most determined student and I wonder if any of the regionals are going to to letting in some of the guys who are in the tail end.

So what do you guys think?

 

Honest advice.

Quit the academy and go to an FBO. It is not necessary to spend 12K on a CFI/II rating. Do you really want to work for an airline that accepts applicants with that amount of time.

 

Holy Cow! $12K for a CFI/II. Where are you training? I can probably take a guess, but I'm not going to there. The only regional that may look at you with those times might be Piedmont. Here is what I would do: Get your CFI and go instruct for a year or more! There are schools out there that will pay you up to three times as much as what you would make at a regional. Some schools will even give you your CFII/MEI for free if you stick around for a year. Get some experience! You wont regret it! You can always go to a regional later on if you want to.

 

I did my CFI and II for about half that. Why on Earth would you pay 12k just to do it at the academy you're at when there are tons of places hurting for CFIs right now. I know of quite a few that will pay for your II and MEI after you are working there.

It's getting tough to be a pilot? Tell that to all the guys that couldn't even get into a jet until they had 2500 hours.

 

hiring should slow down this year...but hey, it doesnt hurt to throw out the line and see what kind of hits you get

guys ahead of me were right...save money and go elsewhere for your training.
take a look at your certificate...doesnt show how much you paid for it or where you got it

 

[quote=MobiusOne;311209]

The regionals MUST need pilots, right? Are they going to overlook a potential candidate because he doesn't meet the min's that are already arguably lower then they should?

quote]
Honnestly you are not a potential candidate with those times. I can tell where you go by the paint job of the Seminole in your avatar. GET OUT! Get your CFI/II prt 61 and instruct to build time. Your school will not want you to go with their bully tactics but get out.

Again I say GET OUT!

 

Nice Point!!

 

I agree, you are paying way too much for your training. I am also 25 and an Air Force Vet and used my GIBILL for training. As long as you are doing it 141 they will pay you back sixty percent of the cost which really helped me out. As for your question, I was hired right after my multi commercial add-on. I only had 285 TT and 90multi, back in Nov. I think having more multi really helps. Also, do you have a degree? I had a bachelors degree and a good start on my masters both in aviation. I was also a F-16 crew chief in the service so I had my A and P as well, though I do not know how much that factored in for an airline job. All of the above worked together for me to help get my job with low time. Write out a really good resume and show it to other pilots to get there point of view. No matter what anyone says, I would send it out to regionals like crazy and continue to update it with them as you work more towards your CFI. I thought I was taking a shot in the dark with my extremely low time and got hired at my very first interview. Hopefully you have the GIBILL and can look into using it if you don't get hired. Go for it and good luck, keep me posted!

 

Based on what I have seen my best bet for getting any type of training done in any type of practical time would be to stick with the school I am currently with right now. Yes it's expensive, but they are training is glass cockpit aircraft and the planes won't kill you.

The local FBO's are hurting right now. The ones that can teach you are shady and have planes that constantly break down and the reputable schools that do have good planes are so busy they can't squeeze people in. Everybody is strapped for CFI's also.

"Get it at your local FBO" sounds good on paper, but like I just said it's just not practical right now.

Plus I'm already enrolled in this course. I never change horses midstream.

 

$12K for CFI/II?!?! I think I spent around $5K for CFI/CFII/MEI.

As mentioned above, there is an airline or two that may interview you with those times. However, if you'd like to gain some flight instructing experience before moving on to a regional, I will endorse the above recommendation of going to an FBO or other school to finish your ratings.

If you are worried about finding a CFI job, don't be. There are plenty of jobs available. If you're willing to move, there are a couple of gigs out there that will pay you very handsomely for your labor. (About twice what you'd make 1st year at a regional.)

Dare I say this..... if Regional A is interviewing candidates with 250 hours and most others are interviewing candidates with significantly higher times, there is probably a reason why Regional A needs such low time to attract candidates. Do your research and make a decision based on what you'd like to get out of this career.