Personally, My first 100 hours flying single pilot IFR over the Cascade mountains in a 135 cargo outfit taught me MUCH MUCH more than my 900+ hours of dual given ever did. CFIing is an invaluble expirience - I won't discount that, however I think people should be more open to doing other things too, getting some REAL PIC experience in nasty weather will teach you a lot about yourself, and your skills, and ensure that you're ready for the responsibility of 250+kts with 70 people in back. Truth is, when you're CFIing you still choose your days flying, and weather to fly in, which approaches you take, and the tempo of the flight to a much greater degree than when you're flying a scheduled operation especially as PIC. There are many more options out there to build time and expirience. In light of the current economy more people will probably need to take the long road and they should be prepared for that. Unfortunately most of the big schools are still blowing sunshine about how there will be a huge shortage soon, and their students will walk out like a rockstar with regionals competing for their skills they earned in so and so's wonderful 141 program and soon after be flying heavies. Reality is going to hit a few of these guys like a mac truck.

Instructing was not for me I hold the certificate but I'm no teacher. First job was in an Air Tractor 301. Killing Plants for the US Gov't in Columbia.

Agree! Year and a a half here...

So instructing was merely your hobby? Just keedin' ;)

Instructed 4 years. 3 years part time in while in school, 1 year full time after graduating. This was in the late 90's. I actually, for the most part, enjoyed it. The pay sucked, no bennies. But, I made my own schedule, really enjoyed teaching, enjoyed seeing my students succeed. I worked at a local FBO that stayed busy, but wasn't a pilot mill by any means. I certainly learned a ton over those years.

But, what BZNpilot248 said above rings true. I never went through the single pilot, IFR cargo over mountains type stuff. I think that would have been invaluable experience.

I totally agree. I have learned a lot in my 700 dual given, but I want some more REAL experience.

lol, good catch. It sure didn't feel like a job with how unpredictable those paychecks were. :o

Instructing is great. But 135 frieght will make a real pilot of you. I'd stay away from the regional at the moment. It's hard to say how next year will shake out.

Still cranking it out with 1400 dual given over the last 22 months or so. CFI, CFII, tailwheel, aerobatic, but only enough multi to get the rating (16 hours). Approaching the 2000 hour total mark and will probably be approaching the 3000 mark before I will be able to move on. Hoping to get my MEI this coming summer, but we will see.

I do it cause I love it. The good the bad and (as we all know) the ugly. I have learned a ton and will continue to do so at my young age of 37. But I will slug it out for the future.

Acutally I am holding out for that pilot job flying bikini models all over the country....inverted......:-)

When in doubt..... "Left Stick, Right Rudder".......

7 months. 550 total, 28 multi. This was in the summer of 07. Its amazing how much can change in a year.