Post-flight school time building
SammyG said:
Besides being an instructor at a flight school, I'm trying to think of other ways to proceed, but I'm not sure exactly what there is available for a guy with the little time built that I will have when I finish all those ratings.
Every new pilots faces the same problem. To get the job you need the experience; to get the experience you need the hours. Unfortunately, there are few entry-level jobs available for new pilots besides flight instructing.
So what else is out there besides instructing?
Not many for 250-hour pilots, which is what you will be when you finish training. Some people try get hired by banner-tow operations, but many of these operations are sleazy and take advantage of low-time pilots desparate to work. Many of these "operations" charge trainees for their training and never deliver on jobs. While it's not impossible to find a non-instructing job at 250 hours fresh out of training, as a practical matter, it is impossible.
Flight instructing still is the easiest entry-level job to obtain. There are any number of schools, big and small, which hire their own graduates. Not to mention the experience and learning you will obtain, what can be a better deal than to get a job at a place with which you are familiar?
I can never understand why so many new pilots work so desparately to avoid flight instructing. Could it be that for a time they won't get to fly the airplane, which is fun, and to sit with students and actually work? Contrary to popular belief, flight instructors who do their jobs properly still get stick time, takeoffs and landings, night currency and instrument time.
I've heard flying night freight is a good way to go, but what are the time minmums to qualify for that?
You probably need at least 500 hours and perhaps more. Insurance drives those minimums. Freight is generally the next step after flight instructing for those who choose it. There is also corporate, for those who choose it.
Are there any options where I could start building up those precious 1000 PIC turbine hours?
First things first. Finish college, get trained, and build enough hours to interest someone who flies turbine equipment. Whatever you do, don't succumb to the pitches from outfits from which you can purchase turbine time or those outfits which will sell you right-seat time flying night freight. Don't look for the "easy" way. There is no so-called "easy" way to build experience. There are smart and practical ways.
Finally, check further into military flight training. After you finish your ratings, you might be able to get into a Guard unit. Or, out of college, you might qualify for OCS and UPT.
Good luck with your plans.
