No I am currently not instructing at UND and have the general studies degree w/ a minor in professional flight. I don't have my CFI yet, and in light of the mins going up am planning to go get it part 61. Had a falling out w/ the FBO here so they are not an option for either getting my CFI or potential 135. I'm willing to move, but I need to take my wife's career into consideration as well.

"To all of you who have flamed me..."

If you ever feel someone flames you at APC unfairly, feel free to report the post. I've kept an eye on this and haven't seen anything worthy of moderation.

Between your screen name, mention of the guard, and mention of "life experience", I assume you've been to Iraq. Should we cut Iraq vets some slack with getting hired at low time? Maybe. I think the "life experience" argument is a good one and someone who's been to Iraq has paid his dues and developed a certain about of maturity that would pay dividends in the cockpit. I'm always against low time jet F/O's but my stereotype worst case scenario is the 18 year old with no life experience.

Many folks here are giving you what I think is good advice. You are right about seeing low timers/warm bodies hired in the past. Your assumption that that will continue could be off. If you missed the boat, then you missed the boat. Where will you go from here?

There is a lot of good info at APC. You have to have thick skin sometimes to absorb it all.

Well, AMsoldier, as you've noticed the hiring has slowed across the board, companies that were once "desperate" for pilots have at minimum slowed their hiring, and at worst ceased it all together. Now the vacuum created last year at the regionals has been felt just about everywhere, pilots who were once running to 135 operations took job offers for regional jets, pilots who were qualified for flight instructors vacated the premises as quickly as possible. The regional hiring slow-down has probably not been felt yet in those other markets and it might be the time to get in there before hiring becomes more competitive in those areas as well.

I think most of these posts were very informative to you. If you simply wanted a "apply here" type response, many individuals might find it difficult to give, as the places that are still wanting pilots with lower flight time, would be Gojet (and no-one will recommend them) or Mesa. Eagle just lowered minimums, and with the slow down there are probably people who will run over there, but given how strict they were on hiring minimums in the past, and considering that you currently don't meet their posted mins, it'd be difficult for you to get on there.

Might want to try some of the Tprop operators, great lakes or colgan, no promises, but you never know. Best of luck to you, and make a good decision, honestly, the best decision might be to avoid 121 till things calm down a bit and start being on the upside, you wouldn't want to be hired and furloughed back to back, and have to compete with the other furloughees out there with more flight time than you.

ASA didn't ask me to distinguish the two (maybe I slipped through the cracks). Double chocolate chip please.

Well where ever you go after ASA be prepared to take it out of there....... bc no one recognizes it..... (except the FAA)

not very smart......... I have the normal about of dual recieved and hte rest is SIC!!!!!!!!

So I have visited with my wife and am giving thought to the instruction option. I was wondering if any of you have any ideas on accelerated places to get my CFI/CFII/MEI where I would stand a good chance of getting a job afterwards. We could stay here in Grand Forks (UND), but any of you who have lived here know why we would rather not. Also, we need to get somewhere where my wife can exercise her career options. GF not even an option for that.

Fly pipeline. There are several positions available and they can easily log a 100hrs a month. Look at fish spotting out of LA. They fly from the crack of dawn till the sun goes down. Not uncommon to get 10+hrs a day. There's also banner towing, high line flying, radio relay, traffic flying, photo missions, and more. Look on www.climbto350.com for job positions.

With your current amount of time all you need to do is become proficient at the maneuvers and get ready for the oral exam to be a CFI. There's no reason you couldn't do it quickly. Schools are STARVING for them. You'll have your pick. QOL and pay is increasing across the board for CFI's currently. Take a look at the Delta academy or American Fliers. There are also places that are 80% covered (I think) by your military benefits. There is also customs and border patrol. They require 1500hrs but you start at $72k and get an additional 20% bonus for working an extra two hours a day plus their benefits are great.

AmSoldier-What does your wife do? Maybe you could just make a short move to the cities. I seem to remember a good amount of small airports in a small area where you could find a good instructing job.

Also, I just looked on UND's employment website and there's all kinds of instructing jobs posted. Get the placement office there to help you out.