Is MEI a must have for Regionals?

[subin30]

Do the regionals want to see MEI on your resume? I'm getting near the 100 hours of multi engine time but I never got my MEI because of financial issues making a living as a CFI. Spending the extra money to get my MEI before applying to the regionals, is it recommended? Or can I do without?

 

[front9]

If you want a 121 job, the short answer is yes.

 

[flyf15]

If you can feasibly get it, then I would recommend it (although, I can't really speak from experience as to how valuable it is). If you're on top of your multi-engine flying and your instructing, it should be pretty quick and easy.

I was up to speed on instructing when I got mine, but hadn't flown a multi in a few months. Took 3.0 hours of training before I got the signoff and took the checkride....

My educated guess it is the multi instruction given more than the MEI certificate that airlines want to see, but like I said, I can't speak from experience.

 

[LearLove]

Do the regionals want to see MEI on your resume? I'm getting near the 100 hours of multi engine time but I never got my MEI because of financial issues making a living as a CFI. Spending the extra money to get my MEI before applying to the regionals, is it recommended? Or can I do without?

Not really, all I have is a CFI. I never really instructed full time (just PT) and was hired in 99 (diff times). But in reality if you have multi time the the MEI isn't an issue. However having the MEI could get you multi time as an instructor which is good enough for the regionals.

Generaly the regional like 135 multi time the best but you can get hired as an MEI and even without. Just depends on the requirements and how bad they need people. Its all a crap shoot anyway.

 

[dojetdriver]

My 2 cents,

The more writing you have on that gray piece of paper in your wallet the better off you are.

 

[doh]

I don't even have a cfi! But I had a ton of multi and they liked the fact that I had multi stick time. There's a joke in there some place.

 

[~~~^~~~]

No, the MEI is not important. The Commercial, Multi, Inst, is a must. To be really competitive you need an ATP and a little 121, or 135, time - however you can find it.

But, the minute you have your Commercial, Multi, Inst, I would start sending out applications and working connections.

 

[Lear70]

If getting your MEI will open the door to multiengine instruction, and thereby increase your multi time, by all means, get it.

If you don't have an opportunity to instruct in a multi-engine aircraft, then I'd say you can safely forego the rating until you have more funds to do so. Most airlines I've interviewed with don't really seem to care, and as ~~^~~ said, getting some 135 time prior to a 121 interview is more of a feather in your cap than an UNUSED MEI rating.

Good luck.

 

[I.P. Freley]

If you want a 121 job, the short answer is yes.

I don't know how you (or anyone) came to this conclusion.

Like another poster said... You don't even have to possess a CFI ticket, much less a multi version of same.

If the question is "will having an MEI make it easier to build time because someone will hire me to teach in it and I'll build multi-time faster?", then the answer is a qualified "probably". If you get a job at a school with twins, you will get that magic 200 sooner than most. But.... I know plenty of people who built their multi time without an MEI, myself included. In fact I'd say MOST regional newhires, as in more than 50%, don't have an MEI.

So.... if the question is "will having an MEI on my ticket a must have for a regional", the answer is "no".

 

[PSL]

This information is 15+ years old ... take it for what it's worth ...

Get the MEI, pick a few multi-engine aircraft that you have experience and skill in and make it known that you would be willing to teach for an appropriate fee.

I did this on my way up the food chain and it helped me quite a bit to pay the 'beer bill' when I was making a $1100.00 per month on a SD3.

I still teach (and give insurance company recurrent checks) a fair bit in CE-310s/340s, BE-58/60s due to the simple reason the insurance companies demand recurrent training for owner/pilots. It's not a bad way to make a few pennies on your day off and my company has a stipulation in our FOM that we can teach without prior approval or fly for a FAR91/135 with written authorization. The interpretation of teaching being seen as a commercial endeavor has changed in recent years.

At the risk of sounding paternal ... please do not let a 'student' get you anywhere near the outer limits of your comfort zone (eg Vmca demos, S/E Approaches and Go-Arounds ... etc). Teaching in multi-engine pistons is high risk ... treat it a such ...

Best of luck ...

 

[DC8 Flyer]

I was hired at a 121 with CFI/CFII/MEI but let mine expire a year later. Since then and applying to different regionals there has been no problem with not having a MEI, BUT 2 years or 121 experience probably negates that.

Being a MEI will make you a better multi pilot as well and makes training a little easier, in my opinion. Thats not to take away fom guys who weren't MEIs and went to training, but constantly doing single engine manuevers with students has its perks.

If you have the time, apply. If you get an interview then your in, just do well in the interview. If you find that you're not getting interviews, then maybe pursue the MEI route and see if that helps. But personnaly I wouldn't spend the money first without being relatively sure it will help you.

Good luck!

 

[Cosmo1999]

I know someone that got hired doing only traffic watch. Never even got his CFI. This was of course during the glory days. Someone else I know that did traffic watch was able to network his way into a citation job. There is no one right way to get your foot in the door so to speak. If you can get someone to walk your stuff in you have a chance no matter what your experience is. If you have the finances the MEI is a really quck rating. You can hammer it out in a couple days/flights if you really focus on it. The MEI gives you the chances to log dual if you have to split time with someone. Dual looks a lot better than safety pilot time. If you can recruit a few multi students even better.

 

[capt. megadeth]

No, the MEI is not important. The Commercial, Multi, Inst, is a must. To be really competitive you need an ATP and a little 121, or 135, time - however you can find it.

But, the minute you have your Commercial, Multi, Inst, I would start sending out applications and working connections.

I agree with this

 

[AutoBus]

Do the regionals want to see MEI on your resume? I'm getting near the 100 hours of multi engine time but I never got my MEI because of financial issues making a living as a CFI. Spending the extra money to get my MEI before applying to the regionals, is it recommended? Or can I do without?

I wouldn't think you need it, it's probably a waste of time and money. Buy youself a suit that fits, a breifcase, a nice pair of shoes and some good resume paper.

Been at 3 airlines in the past 17 years none of them cared if I had an MEI or a CFI for that matter.

I even helped interviewed pilots at one airline, we never cared about the MEI.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

SE + ME = TT

Thats all that matters. (And how much of the last two.) You will also need a CMEL and Instrument ratings.

 

[88_MALIBU]

I was just hired by a regional without a CFII or MEI. My buddy got on with Eagle without even a CFI. I saved a few bucks by not doing it and still found ways to fly a twin, but in the long run I am sure I will want it as an arrow in my quiver.

 

[BigShotXJTdrvr]

I am a captain at ExpressJet. No MEI.

 

[Nalo Boy]

No .

 

[blzr]

If you want a 121 job, the short answer is yes.

If you are going to USE the MEI, like at ATP or some other flight school, then yes. We had a Cennica back in the day, and it was always broke so I decided against getting mine. Still had no problem getting on 121. If you don't get the MEI, try and get some multi 135 time. that looks alot better on a resume in my opinion.

 

[FR8mastr]

Like was posted before, unless you are going to build time by instructing dont bother. Your resume will look much better with a bunch of freight time in a baron or 402. Nothing wrong with the MEI its just that if the goal is not instructing there are better and Faster ways to get the multi-time. The part the bites you in the rear is enough multi time to land the job in the Baron or whatever. We all know that situation