CFI or Build ME?

[Vik]

Due to the preset situation, I am not sure what to do with my money/income.

Option 1: Finish my CFI rating which is half over, might take another $4k and 2-3 months to complete.

Option 2: Get my ME rating and build 12-15hours/month of experience until the market improves so that I won't be a CFI just warming the couch 75% of the time.


I own my own company and so I have already have an income source. I just don't work 40hours/week, so I could do either of those two options.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

Here is how I went about it

almost did the CFI but looked at other options. I had my commercial multi so I figured id buy a block in a twin and get up to 100 which in most cases was the magic number for most companies when it came to multi time.

I finished my CMEL in 20 hours. Required by ERAU.
bought a block of time switching between a Seneca II TC and a C310. Got my 100 hours and it was over.

My tt didn't climb very quickly as at the time i didn't have a flying job so i wished I had my CFI at the time. 100000 CFI jobs in Daytona at the time.

Anyways, did some charter work down there, got some more multi. Moved to Omaha, got a job flying a Baron and thats where my TT and ME time are sky rocketing.

Im glad thats how i did it but its risky. The CFI is good cause your TT will climb so fast.

 

[350DRIVER]

I would (if I were you) "finish what you have aleady started"- I highly doubt that you can go wrong with the CFI ticket. You already have money and time invested in your training so how could you go wrong.? Alot also depends on what your career aspirations and desires are.??

Get my ME rating and build 12-15hours/month of experience until the market improves so that I won't be a CFI just warming the couch 75% of the time.

I personally would get the CFI first, there is still movement and hiring going on present day in the instructing world. Atleast this way you will be making money (little but some) and could possibly put some towards the ME rating so it is not completely coming out of your pocket. If you intend to bypass option #1 and get the ME rating then you are going to be spending quite abit of money to fly those 12-15 hours a month just to "build" me time. If money is not option then the previous statement is not applicable. I don't think too many would be willing to skip obtaining a CFI ticket and instead spending 12-15 hours of me time out of there own pocket every month just to "build" time, however if money is not at issue then who cares.

Career in aviation= you need both so take your pick... I got my ME rating first and very soon afterwards I got the CFI/CFII, just due to the way the flight program was set up.

good luck

3 5 0

 

[RFtech]

I would finish the CFI first.

Then work as a CFI if/when you can.

Then continue with the ME and timebuilding as you have time.

Good luck!

 

[Toy Soldier]

CFI AND multi!

Do both... Get the CFI ticket, MEI and then do both. Remember, the CFI is a lifelong investment. You will ALWAYS be able to fly - even after you lose your medical. Can't go wrong....

 

[bobbysamd]

CFI

I go along with the majority thus far. Finish your CFI. A CFI is a tangible credential that enables you to provide tangible services. Moreover, as others observed, you're already working on it; why not finish what you've started? Finishing your CFI sooner rather than later enable you to sell your services sooner rather than later.

Then, as long as you have a source of income, try to hustle up some CFI work and use income from that to pay for your CFI-I, your multi, and your MEI.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your plans.

 

[Vik]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to finish up the CFI and then deal with the ME rating(s).

 

[list2002]

Yup, get your CFI, finish your CMEL and then get your CFII MEI. Once you have a few students there may be quite a few that want to keep you as an instructor through their other ratings. This way, by the time your TT is built up, you may have ben able to get some MT too, and have been paid for it. Then you could just fly the rest of MT how you were goign to originally.

 

[Timebuilder]

Me, too.

CFI, II, MEI.

With this market you have TIME. Plenty of time.

 

[Captain X]

Due to the preset situation, I am not sure what to do with my money/income.

I own my own company and so I have already have an income source. I just don't work 40hours/week, so I could do either of those two options.

If I was in this situation, and having been on both sides of the fence.......I'd stay as far away from this pitiful industry as possible.