No flight instructing

[flyingnome]

I also agree with the CFI thing, I am currently teaching students and am carrying 16 primary students at that. I work 7 days a week just to make ends meet for my girlfriend and I, it is very difficult but I fly around 100 hours a month hoping ot move onto something much better soon. I have about a year and half under my belt of teaching and am sitting at 1200 total time right now.

I honestly believe that I have learned more about flying from the time I started my CFI and got my first few students than I learned from my Private through Commercial certificates. It is good expirience although the pay blows, I am excited to be making around 16,000 this year... ouch

 

[WhiteCloud]

After reading a few posts here I thought about my previous post and want to modify it a little. I suggest you suck it up and get the CFI and plan to teach a couple hundred hours or for only a few months. Anyone can do that. Do the best job you can at it for a short period of time. It'll be good for you and you won't be the guy that irritates all the former CFI's in the crew room by sounding (even if you don't mean it) like you are too good to do it. Hopefully you'll pick up a few students you like, learn something, and do the pipeline/banner thing, move on and everyone will be happy. It'll give you something to talk about down the road with your former CFI copilot on the 777 as you fly across the pond. Cmon....join the club.

 

[AA717driver]

If you don't want to CFI, bust your butt to try to find something else. I never got my CFI--never wanted to do it and didn't want to do a crappy job. I got lucky. (That's what it will take along with hard work. Why do you think 95% of the people around here DID do the CFI thing?)

Being a CFI isn't a required block to check on the way to being a good pilot. You just have to learn from YOUR mistakes rather than someone else's.

You will learn to network (instead of waiting 5 years THEN coming here to ask people how to break into corporate...) and you will become resourceful. You will wear out a couple of printers (printers, not print cartriges!) sending out resumes to jobs you don't have the time to get. But you will keep going for it. You may have to bum rides on charters to get to know people--but that opens doors. (Make sure you don't log the time illegally, lest you anger the FAR/AIM gods of FI. )

You'll have to do some crap job to get exposure at the airport and get in touch with the people who can help you out. You will probably have to work harder and get time slower than if you had your CFI. But it could work out better for you and separate you from the herd.

It is a harder road you are choosing but it can be done safely, legally and legitimately. Good luck.TC

 

[CaptainMark]

quit..get into porn..u can use my porn name HUGH JORGAN

 

[CapnVegetto]

Why are you so dead set against instructing? What's wrong with it? Believe it or not, it does make a difference. Some employers look at not having a CFI as trying to take a shortcut, or avoid paying your dues, even if it is totally not the case.

Instructing will teach you a lot, and it's 1 to 3 more ratings to put on your resume. It's not just the flying, it's the learing to work with people that make you better, along with actually teaching you how to command a cockpit. There are plenty of ways to not instruct and make it, but it will likely cost you more money, time, and seniority.

 

[RichardRambone]

Where do you work? Name and location if you don't mind. How exactly did you stumble upon this job?

SCT, where did you work? Location and luck seem to be a big thing these days.

I work in Kansas City. My dad owned a Piper Lance that he sold through my current company. Basically he called the woman who sold his plane for him and asked if she had anything for me, a recent graduate and current lifeguard if she had anything flying wise to do. The other guy in my position happened to be leaving soon. So I met them at a cars and planes open house, gave her my resume, and called them once a week until they finally gave me an interview. It was a combination of who my dad knew, and right place, right time. I was very lucky.

 

[Skyboy722]

I suggest you head straight to the local FBO and get a job working line service. Be the hardest working, nicest, most personable guy on the field, and opportunities will appear before your very eyes.

 

[Stealthh21]

BTW CFIing will make you a better pilot. You have to pay your dues someplace, no way to avoid it.

Ok, so I never flight instructed. So I guess i am not a better pilot? I have met CFIs that I would never put my family in an airplane with. They had the ticket, and they wern't that good. I am sure that it helps, but I am not less qualified then you just because I don't have the CFIs. I paid my dues doing Aerial Photo. back when i started, I had some really good instructors who had no intrest in going to the airlines, or doing anything else but instructing in their aviation carrers. I didn't have to learn around their PFT gigs, or the right seat flights in King Air 90s. I do hope to get my CFI sometime though. Just to have it. But not having it hasn't made me any less of a pilot.

Thanks for your opinion.

Stealthh21

 

[Hadhafang]

I have not worked in Alaska but have talked with several employers up there. They considered my time in the Pacific NW and BC as valuable for insurance requirements.

Does know of any good sources for finding Alaska operators? My goal is fly the bush there. I know that Alaska time (along with Pacific NW time) is important, so I am looking for some operators or flight schools. I have about 615TT and only 12 multi.

Also, responding to the original post: I don't think that flight instructing is for everyone. I am a CFII and have been instructing for over a year. It is a tremendously rewarding job in so many ways. The coolest thing is sending that student solo for his first time. (Sure, the first person you sign off is a little exciting for the instructor too.) However, CFI-ing requires that you be able to TEACH other people, not just TELL them what to do. This guy is being honest. He says that he doesn't want to instruct, and seriously, if he is not into it what kind of quality instruction would a student be receiving? You can build hours without becoming a CFI, it just might require a little more work and determination. Those aren't necessarily bad things.

 

[pilotyip]

Stealt21, being a little defensive are we? Of course there are many things that will make you a better pilot, CFIing is just one of them. I happen to think that CFIing will develop more skills than banner towing at MYR. I learned a lot at 125 hours TT by landing on an aircraft carrier by myself. I did not start CFIing until I had over 5000 hours; I learned a lot when I started instructing. We all develop skills from different jobs; each one brings a different skill.

 

[LearDriver04]

I just can't see myself being a flight instructor. I may be going on to get a bachelor's degree, I'm not sure yet.

GOOD FOR YOU - if you don't want to instruct, don't! I did it for 2 1/2 years and really enjoyed it...got a lot out of it and hopefully helped some people get their start. BUT, forget the notion that you HAVE to do it or you've not "paid your dues". The reality is...if you wouldn't enjoy it, you probably wouldn't try very hard and therefore not do a very good job. The reality is that you're responsible for something MUCH greater than moving an airplane from point A to point B when you teach - and I applaud your steering clear of that avenue if you don't want to!

Best of luck to you in your endeavors!

 

[Stealthh21]

Stealt21, being a little defensive are we? Of course there are many things that will make you a better pilot, CFIing is just one of them. I happen to think that CFIing will develop more skills than banner towing at MYR. I learned a lot at 125 hours TT by landing on an aircraft carrier by myself. I did not start CFIing until I had over 5000 hours; I learned a lot when I started instructing. We all develop skills from different jobs; each one brings a different skill.

Defensive? Yes I am. You are telling me that I am not a good pilot because I didn't flight instruct. So I guess you wern't a good pilot untill you had over 5000 hours? I doubt it. I am sure that you were a good pilot long before that. I guess you missed my point. For the record I never banner towed. If you want MY opinion, the best expirence you are going to get is in the right seat of a mutli crew aircraft. Thats where you are going to see all the good stuff, and learn the tricks of the trade. Flying everyday through the weather and the rain with people who are counting on you to get them to where they are going. That kind of pressure makes you a better pilot. Not in some little 3500 strip in the middle of Kansas. I believe there to be alot of good CFIs out there. I think some are just time builders just trying to get out as fast as they can. Again, I don't think its a bad ticket to have. Just don't think its a must. There are other ways to "pay your dues."

 

[pilotyip]

stealt21, couild not agree more, you and I are on the same page, there are many ways to pay your dues and increase skill. They all add something different.

 

[Stealthh21]

stealt21, couild not agree more, you and I are on the same page, there are many ways to pay your dues and increase skill. They all add something different.

Yes I am with you here. I do agree that flight instruction will make you a better pilot.

 

[John2375]

Does know of any good sources for finding Alaska operators? My goal is fly the bush there. I know that Alaska time (along with Pacific NW time) is important, so I am looking for some operators or flight schools. I have about 615TT and only 12 multi.

Also, responding to the original post: I don't think that flight instructing is for everyone. I am a CFII and have been instructing for over a year. It is a tremendously rewarding job in so many ways. The coolest thing is sending that student solo for his first time. (Sure, the first person you sign off is a little exciting for the instructor too.) However, CFI-ing requires that you be able to TEACH other people, not just TELL them what to do. This guy is being honest. He says that he doesn't want to instruct, and seriously, if he is not into it what kind of quality instruction would a student be receiving? You can build hours without becoming a CFI, it just might require a little more work and determination. Those aren't necessarily bad things.

http://www.flyalaska.com

 

[AutoBus]

Go to a big airport with long runways, make every landing a full stop taxi back, Hobbs meter is running it is legal time and in your C-150 your will burn about 2-3 gallons an hour. Block time is defined as movement of the airplane with intent of flight.

Now that is a good idea!

 

[Hadhafang]

Thanks.

 

[Buzo]

I went up to Alaska and got a job as an instructor. I was able to build my Alaska time in order to get my job flying 135. You can get a job without the Alaska time, but they are much more apt to return your call if you are in Alaska.

 

[taloft]

If you want MY opinion, the best expirence you are going to get is in the right seat of a mutli crew aircraft. Thats where you are going to see all the good stuff, and learn the tricks of the trade. Flying everyday through the weather and the rain with people who are counting on you to get them to where they are going. That kind of pressure makes you a better pilot. Not in some little 3500 strip in the middle of Kansas.

You are entitled to your opinion. Indeed, there are other ways to pay your dues and there are alternatives to flight instructing. However, since you have never done it, you are NOT qualified to belittle it.

I have done flight instruction (though not in Kansas) and I have done the flying everyday as part of a crew on a jet through the rain and weather with people counting on you thing. You would be surprised how little difference there really is. In my opinion, there is just as much good stuff in flight instruction. It can also involve flying everyday through rain and weather in twins with people counting on you.

In my opinion, I learned at least as much my first year of instructing than I did my first year in the right seat of a RJ. Yes, the crew 121 experience is valuable, however it is not the be-all end-all course to developing piloting skills.

I know that I still have a lot left to learn about flying. If you one day decide to become an instructor, you will see how much you have left to learn.

 

[TinGoose1]

Boris,

The simple fact is that insurance requirements will prevent you from flying jobs that build quality bulk time. You won't build you time fast enough flying jumpers or ferrying aircraft for sales. Besides, most of the jumper planes I've seen have NAPA fuel lines and oil filters. As much as you will dislike instructing, it's really the only way that you can build quality time FAST. This is a race, and every day that you sit on the ground is another day you are behind those you are competing with. Bite the bullet and get your CFI.
On a side note, logging PIC as safety pilot will not fly during an airline interview. Neither will time you logged as PIC that you spent under the hood. If you didn't sign for the aircraft, you were not the PIC. Airlines are looking for solid PIC time. Time in which you were the sole pilot responsible for the aircraft/crew.
Good luck with your career. No matter what you choose, it's going to be a long road.