At my part time instructing gig, Im building time very slowly. I'm lucky if I get 6 hours a week flying. I'm 250 short of Horizon & Great Lakes mins, which is where I'd like to apply at by summer time. Is there a way that I can build the time a little faster? I was thinking of spending the $400 extra a month that I have by renting a -152. The -152 is $75/hr. Any thoughts or ideas of how I can build time a little faster, since I can't get a full-time instructing job?

Great lakes currently is taking people around 1000/50 for interviews, and I will be blunt do not count on Horizon at all, dont even think it again. Try flying jumpers, or free lance CFIing. where do you live I will try and pool up some ideas.

Looks like Rick beat me to it- I would look into adding another part time gig within driving range like skydivers, banner towing, freelance instruction, news patrol, an safety piloting. I used to listen to the airwaves for drop zones and then go and ask them for a job. Put the usual poster up at all the local FBOs. Maybe even run a small ad in the local a paper. Also, line jobs at FBOs are always a great networking tool. You are reaching the hard part of becoming a pilot, the period after getting all your certs when you have no money but you are hardly worth anything as a commercial pilot. Keep working the grapevine, using your head, and being persistent.

I swapped instruction time for flight time in an owners Cessna 150. After he got his private, he gave me a set of keys and told me to make sure I pay for my own gas. That was 2 years ago, I still fly the 150 for gas, and I still fly with him about twice a year.

I would avoid at all costs using your $400 for flight time. That money could be used for SO many more things other than 5.3 flight hours. Since you are looking into the regional route, there is no such thing as $400 extra dollars, put every penny into the bank now as you will surely need it.

Check out Pilot Share The Ride I used this about 5 or so years ago and it actually led to a bunch of IPCs and BFRs for a group of gentlemen who owned a C340 and a C310 and a BE58. Not only did I get the time, I was also paid for my services.

Advertise BFRs on craigslist...you have nothing to lose.

Thanks for the advice. It just seems like I'm in a rut, especially not quiet being at 500hr TT mark, and there's not a thing I can do other than power through and not give up.

I did get a few phone calls this morning about full time CFI job prospects. I'll continue to also build up my -182 time in order to maybe get a jumper job next year.

What are you going to do when the new law raises the minimums to 1500 hours? Then you're 1000 hours short of getting your first terribly paying regional job. That's a very real possibility. I don't mean to be negative, but you make it sound like you're almost ready when in fact most airline guys look at you like a student pilot. That 5.2 hours you can buy for $400 will not make you more competitive. Save your money. You need so much more flight time that 5 hours won't make a dent. 6 hours flying/week is about 300 hours/year. Maybe you need to just wait about 3 years and keep doing what you're doing. Maybe you'll get on at Great Lakes next year before the minimums are raised. If you are persistent, you'll get there eventually.

I don't understand why people get into flying and then complain that it's taking too long at their FLYING job to gain the hours to move on to the next flying job.

You're flying an airplane and getting paid. Enjoy it and don't worry so much about moving on to the next step!!! You are ahead of a lot of people right now. I don't know what you are doing besides the part time CFI gig, but I'd get another job and save some cash for now or pay off loans if you have any. You'll need the financial freedom when you get tired of eating top ramen at your regional job.

Had I not decided to settle down, I'd probably be holed up at some drop zone, flying different skydive airplanes, meeting interesting characters, and gaining time that way.

^^^ What he said. That's what I did; best two years of my life!

human nature my friend, not just aviation but life in general.

The thread starter will eventually get on with a commuter, then he'll start "painfully" building jet time so he can move on to a legacy airline or maybe a G-V corporate job somewhere.

we've all been there