Just a question

[Medicryan]

I am a commercial student down in St Pete, FL and I just had a question for you fine folks. I guess my main objective is to eventually go the airlines, so I am trying to plan the easiest way to get there. I really want to find a 135 job when I finish my ratings instead of instructing if I had a choice in the matter, but all the jobs out there require so many hours that it is not within reach. I know the FAR's require PIC to have a certain amount of time, but I have not seen anything on SIC. Is this something where I have to know someone in the company or just have to have a crap load of hours. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

 

[kingaira90]

info/advice

I am a commercial student down in St Pete, FL and I just had a question for you fine folks. I guess my main objective is to eventually go the airlines, so I am trying to plan the easiest way to get there. I really want to find a 135 job when I finish my ratings instead of instructing if I had a choice in the matter, but all the jobs out there require so many hours that it is not within reach. I know the FAR's require PIC to have a certain amount of time, but I have not seen anything on SIC. Is this something where I have to know someone in the company or just have to have a crap load of hours. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.

-no time requirement to fly as an f/o just pass the company checkride.

-some jobs other than instructing you can do. 135 vfr w/500hrs (ie grand canyon tours), banner towing, traffic, fish finding.

-with every job who you know is very important especially when your quals are below their normal hiring requirements.

I didn't get my instructor ratings and at this point with 20/20 hindsight I really wish I had gotten them. I could have saved a ton of money and walked into the all important first job with ease. I am now starting the process of getting my instructor ratings. For personal gratification and as an income suppliment and backup for the worst case senario. I flem traffic in a 172 to get the all important 135 mins then went from there. Buuut the jobs like I got are few and far between and I could have gotten 172 time flying students. If you have any more querstions feel free to pm me.-kingaira90

 

[Shamus]

I got all my ratings, CFI,CFII, CFII and still found it hard to get a job. I found a banner towing job and it was the time of my life. I instructed on the side, and landed a 135 job not too long afterwards.

If I knew I would have gooten the banner towing job with just 300 hout TT, I probably would not have gotten all my Instructor ratings. The cost and extra time was not worth it since a job was so close.
In the real big picture though, being a CFI will allow me to be a check airmen and advance Much more quickly through the majors when I get there, and it is just one more thing I have under my belt God forbid I am with a company that starts furloughing that others may not have.

 

[8AF]

I got CFI but still went to fly 135 VFR. I would say instructing will make you a better pilot and not have to put up with all the sxxt that comes with those low time jobs. Often you will fly VFR in marginal wx and maintenance sucks. Finding a VFR job is a challenge in itself. I found one in PAJN didn't like it, later found another one in PGUM and stayed there for 6 mos. I would not recommend it nless you are desperate. Go instruct.

Good luck!

 

[kingaira90]

In the real big picture though, being a CFI will allow me to be a check airmen and advance Much more quickly through the majors when I get there, and it is just one more thing I have under my belt God forbid I am with a company that starts furloughing that others may not have.

Being a CFI is not a requirement for being a check airman. I have been at 2 companies with check airmen that were not CFI's, possibly a requirement at some companies but not an FAA thing.

I totally agree with the backup if your company folds or furloughs.

-kingaira90

 

[flagshipper]

Yeah banner towing would be my top choice. I got almost 600 hours in one season and made 20 bucks an hour which is what I make at the regionals but don't get me going on that

 

[JJthejetplane]

I'm sure banner towing is easier and at times a lot more fun than instructing, but how much IFR time do you get towing banners? As an instructor, you meet a lot of influential people that can really help you out down the road. You learn a lot about regs and flying in general as an instructor. If I was looking to hire a pilot, which I have been in that position before, I would take an instructor over a VFR 135 pilot, banner tow pilot, pipeline patrol, etc. any day! The reason is simple. They know more about flying and have better flight time. Not the same hour over and over again. They sometimes develop better people skills because of dealing with their students.

 

[Medicryan]

Thanks for all the info everyone. I kinda just figured that the regionals would rather see 100 hrs of actual than teaching 50 somethings how to start at 152 (I know there's more to it than that). Anyway, I appreciate the insight.

Ryan

 

[Shamus]

I'm sure banner towing is easier and at times a lot more fun than instructing, but how much IFR time do you get towing banners? As an instructor, you meet a lot of influential people that can really help you out down the road. You learn a lot about regs and flying in general as an instructor. If I was looking to hire a pilot, which I have been in that position before, I would take an instructor over a VFR 135 pilot, banner tow pilot, pipeline patrol, etc. any day! The reason is simple. They know more about flying and have better flight time. Not the same hour over and over again. They sometimes develop better people skills because of dealing with their students.

No way, how much flying does a CFI do....None. He just sits there and critics. Yes, CFI's are great for knowing the regs, and some people will argue for being in a CRM environment, which I think is BS. The biggest thing with hiring a CFI is breaking the mentality. When I was flying cargo single pilot light twins, I was pretty much the guy who trained everyone. A CFI would take off say: rwy 27, wait till he gets to 1000 feet then make the standard rate turn to 090. On the other end, he is cleared to land 20 miles out, yet he does the Whole entire traffic pattern instead of taking it to the numbers. As the Chief pilot for the banner towing company I worked for I had the same problem of getting pilots to understand the bussiness of aviation in stead of flying solo like they are teaching some one to pass a check ride.
I guess I really realized this when I was training a buddy who had 500 of dual in a twin, and he forgot to and manifold pressure as we were climbing, and had totaly lost his IFR scan because he had just been instructing, not flying.

 

[CUEBOAT]

I guess I really realized this when I was training a buddy who had 500 of dual in a twin, and he forgot to and manifold pressure as we were climbing, and had totaly lost his IFR scan because he had just been instructing, not flying.

ahh Shamus why did you have to tell eveyone? that was embarassing for me.