I instructed for a year and a half and when I was picked up by a regional I had 710TT and 15 Multi. I was pretty lucky for six months til I got furloughed...

 

My hat goes off to the people who love to teach. I honestly admire instructors who make it their careers to do it.

Me? I instructed full time for about a year before going to XJT. I learned an absolute ton instructing, but I just didn't really enjoy it. I like being an average line pilot; give me an airplane, and I'll gladly take it from point A to point B, collect my paycheck, and go home.

XJT was great experience but I got caught up in the furlough. I'm flying C402s now and love every minute of it. Best flying job yet. Go figure.

 

Highly unlikely.

Going on two months of instructing now, and planning on plenty more. I was kind of turned off before I got it because I thought I knew it all. Now I'm realizing how foolish I was. Even if I could get a right seat job I don't know if I would. Getting my CFI was probably one of the best decisions I ever made. Now I'm currently working on my CFII.

 

How many hours did you have then?
Funny thoguh....because that is exactly why I didn't my CFI.
I didn't think I knew enough. I didn't know much about the airline industry back then though.
I do love instructing though so I'm sure I would have enjoyed my time as a CFI/II/MEI if I had taken the extra time in school to get it.
Maybe in the future.
I'm impressed with how many hours someone can accumulate though instructing! For a guy who flies at most approx 350 hrs/yr on a really good year - flying 500-700/yr is amazing!

USMCFLYR

 

I started flying in 1994 and I only had about 350 total at the beginning of this year because I was chained to a desk for so long. I have earned more hours this year alone (over 700 so far) than I had in the past 13 years! If people could actually get career loans, I might get another 350 hours by the end of March to meet ATP mins!

 

I was more referring to flying in general, I was ready to take it all on, but I learned/am learning a lot.

F/A-18's?........I'd take 2 hrs. a year. Not really, but I'll bet it's fun.

 

BrewMaster -

I understood that you were talking about flying in general and that was my point - that you thought you knew it all as a presumingly low time pilot My point about the airline business was that I didn't fully appreciate the *near* requirement to build time and experience via flight instructing. I said it before on the forum here that I didn't get my instructor ratings because I didn't feel that I had enough experience to instruct (and the same holds true for FAIP/SERGRAD in the military too - there are whole threads dedicated to that subject). As for my flying....a WHOLE bunch of fun absolutely - and an amazing amount of work - much which does not involved flying!

Sorry for the thread drift. Now back on track. Btw - if you would like to talk flying hours - I started a thread in Hangar talk about that subject. Check it out. I'd like to hear from the guys on this thread.

USMCFLYR

 

I went to Mesa Pilot Development in Farmington, NM (Mesa Pilot Development Program). I wouldn't recommend going there these days, but I went from no flight experience into the right seat of the CRJ in 14 months. Never instructed. I've heard every angle of the time/no-time debate, but with over 1,500 in the CRJ I haven't killed anyone yet!

I have great respect for those that instruct, and would like to get my CFI ratings someday. To each is own and the way I went certainly worked for me! So far I've been very happy with the experience and although we all know what kind of company Mesa is, MAPD came through on all the promises they made me.

 

Went to ATP with 150 hrs, got out with near 325 hr. Instructed a year got up to 1200 ish....Falcon 20 Freight job....Hired at XJ with 1800 + hours 600 hours turbojet. Guys in my class with 250 hr's in april 08 class, so cross your fingers all you CFI's waiting to get in and hope. Get some Pt.135 time, most fun I've ever had flying.

 

Worked at an FBO instructing and a bunch of other odd flying jobs for 2 1/2 years. Went to cargo with 2,200 hrs and 1,500 dual given and flew cargo for a little under two years. Started 121 flying in Aug 06 with 3,100 hours and around 1,400 hrs multi.

Took the long road, but I am thankful for doing so. Learned a lot in my first two jobs. That and at each job switch, I waited for my first choices to call back rather than going to the first available job.