Minimum Hours?

[NDPILOT]

what's a "tread"?

 

[weekendwarrior]

Thanks for all the replies. Where I live, even a CFI job is hard to come by. The schools only hire who they train within, but the school I did my Commercial training with isn't hiring. They have former students who are in line waiting for that job. Hence, the reason I don't want to pay for the CFI training. They wouldn't have a job for me even if I did my CFI training with them. None of the other flight schools in my area hire from other schools. Kind of a catch 22 I guess.

I will get my CFI if that's what it takes to build time. I just wanted to be sure that was my last resort, in the event there was any hope at a time building job elsewhere.

 

[Riddlebratt]

NDPilot.....oooops me mis steak....me weel try to do beater nest time....

 

[PumpkinPony]

Banner Towing

You mentioned banner towing as an option for building flight time. I did that for two summers and really enjoyed it, just be careful who you work for! There are some schemers in Florida that are just after your money. And also realize that any time you get towing banners will not enhance anything other that total time and tailwheel time. I flew 600 hrs towing banners, then flight instructed until I had the night, instrument, and cross-country time up to mins and am now flying freight. yeehaw! I think the banner towing paid better than the freight flights do...

 

[FlyForFood_NOT]

hey weekend

I'd say CFI is your best shot now, unless you can find a banner towing job (you seem to have what they're looking for, tailwheel time + endorsment). Many will charge you for their training though, and it's only a summer job (unless you're in FL), but you can get maybe 400 in one summer season.

I'm now working as a 135 pilot, and got my min. hours by teaching first (yes, it's a pain in the butt, but very rewarding at the end and gets you lots of hours, quick). Most companies now require 1500TT and 200ME for 135 (I know, 1200 are min, but that's the FAR mins, not the insurance who are really the ones that set the minimums at any job). Most companies WILL NOT take any VFR pilots anymore (unless they're students from inside or buddies with the management). Not even AirNet does it anymore - and that was one of the main ways they got their pilots before 9/11. Think about it, a VFR 135 pilot is not really dependable for a company (schedule wise). Checks can't just fly on VFR days ... and if it's IFR out, they still gotta call the other guy to fill in, so why bother with two pilots if you can have one.

anyways, good luck with your job search