Is MEI a must have for Regionals?

[XSWANN@240]

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?

It doesn't hurt to have a MEI.

But, I think its better if you can find a job flying freight in the NorthEast such as an Airnet type of operator. I would think this type of experience is worth a lot more than any MEI job. That's what I did.

good luck...

 

[328dude]

I don't even have a CFI, so I wouldn't think so.

 

[Thurman Merman]

All I had was a commercial multi inst ratings but I did have a job flying BE200 so I guess that counts for a lot. And no I wasn't a radio jockey I was flying left seat. It boils down to quality of ME time

 

[dueguard1]

Wow all U guys with previous 135 jobs with just a Comm Multi-Instrument, and No CFII/MEI................Hmmmmmmm, sounds like some log Book Padding Going on to Me!!!.........How in the hell did You get enough time to even qualify for a 135 Job???

 

[Rottweiller]

Save your money and put it to better use. Never held an instructor rating and never had any problems when it came to getting a job. Comm+ME+Inst will be just fine. You may have to do some thankless flying (glider towing, para dropping, etc) which will give you far better experience than 1 hour round the pattern 1000 times.

And as dueguard1 suggested you don't have to pad your logbook to get 135 minimums - CFI etc isn't a basic requirement - hours are.

 

[dueguard1]

HEY Rottweiler......................I wasn't suggesteing it, I was just questioning where these folks were getting their hours.................C'mon be for real, a 22 year old kid walks into HR with 1200/200, with no CFI, No prior military, and just a Commercial Multi-, U page through his logbook to find out his first initial Solo was just 12-15 months ago......................Just a Scenario But these situations happen all the time, and regional HR's can smell that something phony is going on.......................Just a word of Advice

 

[Rottweiller]

HEY Rottweiler......................I wasn't suggesteing it, I was just questioning where these folks were getting their hours.................C'mon be for real, a 22 year old kid walks into HR with 1200/200, with no CFI, No prior military, and just a Commercial Multi-, U page through his logbook to find out his first initial Solo was just 12-15 months ago......................Just a Scenario But these situations happen all the time, and regional HR's can smell that something phony is going on.......................Just a word of Advice

Granted a early 20 something with acceptable time and real means of getting it should raise flags to say the least. Just reading your original post seemed to suggest that without a CFI etc you couldn't qualify for 135. No harm no foul right?

I have run across a couple of folks who have padded their logs and they will get caught out at some stage. As I said I have never needed a CFI rating and know of many people in the same boat it's all down to which avenue you choose to go, opportunities along the way etc.

BTW nice avitar my friend.

 

[328dude]

I was working Line Service while attending school and got to meet most of the tenent's on the field. One company in particular flew 30 MU-2's for the FRB, US Mail, ambulance service, ad hoc cargo as well as AOG parts for American, Delta, and Southwest. The airline contracts required 2 crew members when carrying their mechanics. Was offered a slot the day I finished my multi and sent to Reese Howell for ground school. However, could only log the 91 legs untill I recieved my 135 SIC checkout from the FAA in OKC. After the checkout flew the FRB runs which ran week long and the hours racked up quickly. Was hired with 600 hours and had 1200 after 1.5 years. Paid 40 bucks a trip, so I starved most of the time.

The owner preferred lower time guys, so that by the time they had the 135 mins, they would have about 600-700 hours in the MU-2 already and meet the strict insurance requirment's.

It was a unique experince and one I'm grateful for and lucky to find, but sadly the company dissolved after the owner passed away.

BTW Rott, good looking dog....

 

[I Hate Freight]

Now with almost 3000TT, 1200ME ,770Turbine, 590 night, 402IF I have applied at a LOT of regionals, but no luck. The reasoning behind doing the MEII (since I have ATP AMEL), is that having hte rating and experience of having done it, would make you more attractive to employers, be they airline or not.

Skaz, I have to completely disagree. The CFI ratings may help those with low time and no real time flying experience, but your flying time is far above what the average regional applicant brings to the table. Why do you think that most such low minumums, usually 1000tt and 100 multi.

I have no instructor ratings at all but my time was very similar to yours when I applied to five regionals in Jan-Feb of last year, 2004. 2800 of my 4000 hours was hard part 135 single-pilot flying in lousey airlanes (210'a, Barons's and Caravans) hauling checks and medical stuff but no intructing. I got calls from four, interviewed with two and was hired by Eagle last a year ago this month.

Are you applying and not getting interviews or interviewing and not getting hired? It could be a lot of factors but I totally agree that with your time and experience an MEI will be an absolute waste of time and money. They airlines just don't care.

IHF

 

[Thurman Merman]

Its possible to get multi time without padding, I have never padded a logbook. I was one of those right place/right time guys, they needed a right seater on a King Air due to insurance requirements. They liked me and started using me as there sole contract pilot. After awhile I was going to flight safety and they were moving me to the left seat. The thing with the corporate world is its very close knit. When I made a good impression with one of the operators he passed me along to his friends and thus came all the Turbine and eventually PIC turbine time. Moral of the story be an airport whore. Obviously this is a best case scenario because it familiarized me in a crew enviroment and gave me command experience in the left seat in a passenger operation flying turbine aircraft. But anyway you can get payed to fly a twin jump on it.

 

[Skaz]

I Hate Freight thanks for the advice, I am applying but not getting interviews. One of two companies that told me 'No' was American Eagle, probably since I'm not a citizen. Another job I missed out on required a US passport.

Both these were this week.

 

[svcta]

I can settle this once and for all.......no, you do not need an MEI to get hired with an airline. I ain't got one, or even a CFII, I just speak english real good so they hired me.

Seriously, I interviewed with eagle last year without it, also, so maybe take a closer look at why you're not getting interviews(that's not meant to sound mean, I just mean that it's probably something else, maybe something that you can easliy fix).

For the new topic.....I got a 135 freight job flying twin cessnas with 100 hours of multi. It can happen...and these jobs are available with suprising frequency for guys in that position if you go where the jobs are. There are a thousand operators in the Tx, NM, AZ part of the country. I got international single-pilot 135 experience with a quality operator......that's what looks the best in my opinion, and most of the people I have met agree. Even here at the airlines.

I do enjoy reading the post way up there somewhere that said that "good personal, flying and instrument skills", I believe it was, are the things that will get you a job at the airlines.......unfortunately that aren't true. If you've got the time(or close to it) and you can fool the HR people at the interview you'll get the job......those pesky other things may help you keep it, but a lot of people slide by with only 1. Take your pick....I'm going to start putting that on my resume:

Good personal, flying, and instrument skills. (pick two)

 

[Skaz]

well now, miracles do happen....just got phoned by pinnacle/nwairlink and got interview for april....blast, now i gotta go study or sumtin'

 

[I Hate Freight]

well now, miracles do happen....just got phoned by pinnacle/nwairlink and got interview for april....blast, now i gotta go study or sumtin'

Excellent. Now for the obvious. Study, read all the gouges and be prepared! Wear your best suit, clean shoes and have a fresh, neat haircut. You would not believe how far just things will take you. Good luck!

 

[RichardRambone]

I have my CFI and am interested in getting CFII just to be doing something. However it may make me a better pilot but Im not an instructor primarily. I am a ferry pilot for an aircraft sales place and the only dual given is on demo flights or a student pilot just buying an aircraft and needs a CFI (like me) to fly with him X-C back home. So I guess from this thread it seems like not having my CFII wouldnt affect my career if im not going to instruct. I am interested in Ramair when I get my 135 mins and I know on there website they recommend you have your CFII and MEI. So is this just ink on the paper or do they live by these requirements?

 

[labbats]

Their mins are 1000/100. Not 1000/100 and an MEI.