Building Flight Time

[mudkow60]

What is the quickest way to build flight time? I am not a CFI, so flight instruction is not a possibility. I would like to build my time up in a single, multi engine, or helo. I am in Florida, and was just wondering if anyone had info.

Thanx!

 

[105viking]

you could become a patrol pilot.

when i thought i didn't want to be a cfi, i made a few contacts with some people doing traffic and pipelines and stuff like that. they usually don't care if you are an instructor. one place wanted you to have 1500 hrs tt, but they were paying what i would call above average.

really, you should just bite the bullet and get your cfi. i eventually came to that decision and do not regret it. being a cfi is an awsome learning and networking tool, and the best part is you can usually do it on your schedule. this means you can keep your bread and butter "day" job. also, if you freelance, you can pick and choose who you fly with. being a cfi is much more fun when you choose your students v. having to fly with every warm body that can make it through the door of a flight school.

good freelance cfi's should be able to bill ~$50/hr, and even at that price, have all of the business they want.

as a side note: for any of you sweating getting the cfi, don't. i know that there is some stat that states like 7/10 cfi applicants fail on the first attempt, but i honestly don't see how. aside from covering different aspects (teaching) of things you all already know how to do, the cfi ride is NO harder than any other checkride. i took mine with my local FAA inspector (not a DE), and it was no big deal. the best part was, since he was an FAA employee, the ride was free.

make up your mind to do it.

study like you have a brain.

don't freak out on the checkride.

charge enough for your services.

help people become safe pilots.

be your own boss.

build flight time.

it's easy and fun.
good luck!
-105viking

 

[350DRIVER]

The CFI ticket will however be something that may be worth your while to obtain. Probably the best way to gain valuable "experience" while building flight time. If you don't want to get the CFI then I would suggest pipeline, banner towing, traffic watch, aerial advertising, 91 stuff, etc, etc, etc, .... I would also check into the possibilities of getting a right seat gig at a 135 outfit since this is also great first hand experience.


Good Luck

3 5 0

 

[MarineGrunt]

Banner towing is by far the quickest way to build time. Run a couple of searches on this forum, and you'll probably find a good place. Stay away from those who try to sell you a banner towing "endorsement" or make you pay $2,000 for the job. Being in Florida, there should be a lot of places to go.

Thats what I would do if I wasn't CFI'ing.

 

[Bernoulli]

You might consider either purchasing a cheap single... like an Aeronca Champ, or go into a partnership for a multiengine. When you own you can fly the heck out of the thing... you also don't need 100 hour maintenance... only the annual if you are not using it for business.

 

[bobbysamd]

Instruction

I second the others. Why not become a flight instructor? I would disagree in part that becoming a flight instructor is easy. It requires a fair amount of study and preparation and the FAA practical is stiff. The upside makes it worth it. Your CFI is a tangible credential with which you can get work. Airlines like to see some instructing time because it indicates knowledge and the ability to convey that knowledge to others.

In your situation, your CFI might help you find work at one of the tons of flight schools in Florida. I realize that most of them are not hiring right now. But that's right now. Eventually, they will. The fact that you already have some experience and are a military pilot as opposed to low-timers would give you a plus.

Just another $0.02 opinion. Good luck with whatever works out for you.

 

[105viking]

i didn't mean to belittle the amount of hard work that it takes to become a cfi, or all of the time that we put into becoming one.

i just always hear guys around my airport not wanting to become an instructor, citing various reasons, but most seem like they just don't want to do the work or think it is beyond their ability.

being an instructor can play an important part in your development as a pilot. while i don't want to sugar coat the amount of effort it takes, i'd hate to see anybody who might benefit from instructing not become one due to popular misconceptions.

"It requires a fair amount of study and preparation and the FAA practical is stiff. The upside makes it worth it."

bobby's comments are right on the money, it does take copious amounts of bookwork and practice, and maybe the faa ride is not a cake walk, but the effort is a small price to pay for the benefits.

105v

 

[Riddle momma]

Been there before too. I didn't want to instruct when I was getting out of college, but finding a descent job was so hard that I broke down and got my CFI. It was a very humbling experience, because I learned just how little I knew about flying. Memorizing the answer and blurting it out for a checkride is one thing. Having to explain it is completely different.
This is the hard part about the CFI. Learning things so well that you could explain it five different ways. The flying is easy... once you get over the 12 inch displacement. The ride is not that bad. Try and split it up in two days though. The oral ussually leaves brains fried. I couldn't remember my name after the FAA guy drilled me for 5 hours. The next day the flight was a joke.
The doube-I and MEI are both jokes. Again, the hard part is knowing things well enough to be able to explain them. Instructing itself is fun. Yeah, there are going to be a couple of scary moments, but at the end of the day when you pound a couple of beers, they become great stories! Keep in mind: Students really don't want to die. It may seem like it sometimes, but trust me, that's not in their plans. Just keep your feet near the rudders, and never cross your arms...