It’s not completely insane. He has 400 right now. Time build to whatever is necessary 400-600hrs is not out of question. He has an asset to sell worth some money. Buying or renting an airplane and splitting the time with a partner is very doable. For someone starting out at 20yrs old w no money I’d be suggesting something else.

BTW
Tropic Ocean Airways is the seaplane operator in sheltair at FLL. They have a legit SIC program in their op spec. They hire SICs with 250hrs and a commercial sea plane rating. I have flown with a couple guys at spirit that did this and it’s a quick track.

Get the commercial single land
go to Jack Brown and get the sea rating in a weekend.
Go to Tripic Ocean Air as an SIC and get your multi land added at some point in your free time if you don’t already have it.
At 1200hrs become a PIC at Tropic for 300hrs
Get ATP CTP completed
Go to spirit and immediately apply at AA

Actually worked at a banner towing company back in 07. I was a rigger. The owner used to let us take his trainer 172 for free as long as we filled it up with gas. was a good gig. That company is now owned by someone else I think. My buddy and I logged good hours on that junk. lol

You've been a goldmine of help. Thank you for that.

I don't know what their salary is, so I don't know if I could quit my job for it, but I'll have to see how to do it.

I wish there was a page for that airline here so I could ask a few questions. I will def look into that.

I also really wish they would accept part time positions and I could fly on my days off.

This is the way. Especially that last paragraph.

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/part-135/107840-tropic-ocean-airways.html

This probably very outdated as the pilot hiring environment is a complete 180 from where it was when this thread started. My guess is things are much different on topics such as compensation and culture than they were then. I’d say give them a call and ask them what the pay and schedule is like. I’m sure they are losing pilots and would be happy to give you their rosy version.

According to their thread the owner is ex mil so that could be a bonus for you.

webisite is www.flytropic.com

There are more ways to get where you want to go but given your age/experience/location I’d give them strong consideration. Single engine floats would usually mean nothing for airline flying Boeings and airbuses but not these days. I know for sure we’ve hired more than a couple guys straight from their flying caravans. I have no personal experience with the company

Sadly you are battle competing interests. In one hand you can’t afford to quit your current job (totally understandable) but on the other hand you are fighting time/seniority/black swan event, all of which can be minimized by getting in sooner rather than later.

At some point you need to decide if this is what you really want and go full speed as every month you are not on a seniority list is that many more people above you.

If I were you I would go the seaplane SIC route, sell the things you mentioned earlier and instead of buying flight time with that, supplement your income and get it done. This is only true however if you are positive this career is actually what you want. It would suck to leave a good paying police job only to realize you hate flying for the airlines.

Best of luck.

Yep, this might be it. I am curious how fast I would be able to build with hours with them.

I could take what I get from corvette's left over towards assistance with bills, and I could probably teach at the police academy as well part time on days off. My dept just filled a part time position, so I won't be able to work part time here. they hold grudges so I don't think they'll ever offer me a volunteer position to keep my cert to stay active.

it's a viable apporoach compared to planesense. Planesense does have a "home base" out of PBI which is 10 minutes from my house. but I will need 750 for them. tropic ocean is about an hour away and I can get to work at 250.

Will look into getting hired at the police academy part time as well.

What he said can’t be emphasized enough. You’re already behind the main wave of hiring. Delaying longer than you need to in order to maintain same style of living, money accustomed to, etc; it could literally be a few million dollars difference in your career earnings.

Remember every day there are legacy pilot slots being filled that won’t be open again for another 20-30-40 years. Every day you wait is another day you lose seniority, lose the window, 1 day closer to furlough, etc.

Everything happens for a reason. I will get to it asap and do my best to jump start it.

They were very fast with emailing back. I will have a phone call conversation with them on Tuesday at 11 so they can answer my questions.

I look forward to it. This might be it. That post you had linked is old, but there were some guys saying there is a contract obligation which would really slow me down I guess. one mentioned airliners will see you as high risk and won't wanna hire you as well. Don't know the truth to that.

Hey, it's turbine time though :)