(Re)Building a Career

[Boris Badenov]

Hey fellas,

I'm a (non-current) commercial pilot and former CFI-A. I've about 1100-1200 hours (I don't even have my log book with me), about 700 of which is dual given. I stopped instructing in April of 2002, and my certificate lapsed in December of that year. The reasons for the lapse and lack of flying are many, but the main reason has been that I've been attending a four year, rather intensive, liberal arts school, and as the course of study got harder, I simply didn't have the time.

Well, as with all good things, the college career is about to come to an end (in April). I've given thought to other career fields (most notably grad school, why work when you can play?), but I still feel like flying is in the blood. Of course everything looks better in hindsight.

At any rate, I'm looking for advice on the most cost effective way back in to the game. Naturally, school wasn't cheap, so I'm already carrying around a small mountain of debt (in the $30k range). I never got my multi, CFII, or MEI, so I know that those are probably the place to start, along with reclaiming my CFI-A. I guess the first question would be, then, what's the best (read: cheapest) way to do that?

Second, what's the outlook on building multi time without paying through the nose? Again, I don't have my log with me, but I've something in the vicinity of 50 actual instrument. However, I don't think my cross country is anywhere near 135 mins. One thing I can offer is extreme flexibility in moving. No wife, no kids, no girlfriend, no dog, and not very much stuff, either.

To further complicate matters, and make me sound even sketchier, I have a pretty severe log problem. In late 2001 the FBO I was working for shut down over night, literally. I kept my logbook there. When I finally got the airport manager to let me in, it was gone, along with every other shred of documentation. I tried to contact the owner, but he had disappeared. (This guy was a real gem, he claimed to have 18,000 hours that he'd "never logged" flying DC-3s in China, but had fewer logged hours than I did, and a wet commercial license. Probably blew up the Death Star too.) I know it sounds unlikely, but it's the truth, and if necessary, I can track down the chief instructor who will back me up.

Anyway, I called the FSDO and they told me not to worry too much about it, but to try to find whatever documentation I could if I wanted to use the missing time between that on my application for my CFI-A and the loss of the logbooks (which worked out to about 300-400 hours). Anyway, according to them, I'm fine on the time up to the CFI-A rating, since not just a DE but an actual FAA man reviewed my logbook at that time. So my first 450-500 hours are safe, and about 300 that I logged later after getting another job are in my current logbook. Will I get shifty looks from a company if I just explain the story? There really seems to be no way to verify the time, but I'm open to ideas. Naturally I've started using both electronic and manual logbooks since.

Sorry, I do go on. Thanks if you read it all and thanks for any responses. Incidently, I apologize if this is the incorrect forum, but this didn't seem like a "training" question, exactly, I didn't see a "wannabes" forum, and the regionals are where I'd like to wind up...

Regards,
Boris

 

[John_W_Thompson]

Get some sort of statement signed by the FAA stating the lost hrs are good. Call airline HR departments now and see if it will suffice.

 

[bandit110]

Start calling your ex students, they probably still have their log books with your sign off's.

 

[Propsync]

Yikes!

Wow, what a story, what a mess. Here's a few choices, at least from what I can see.

1. Use your B.A. degree to do a career outside of flying. Get current and rent an airplane every once in a while. Instruct and make a little extra on the side.

2. Go to grad school. May your mountain of debt grow larger. Get a better career outside of flying. Buy an airplane for yourself.

3. Get back in the game. First, get the CFI back. Start instructing. I bet it would cost a grand to get refreshed and take the full checkride again. Then you will need your multi. That will be around 2-3 grand. After that, what you choose to do is grey. Get the II and MEI, buy multi time (which I don't endose, just an option), maybe fly cargo to get the recent flight time up. I would imagine all of this will take about a year. Being single helps a great deal. Total cost for all of this, look at options 1 and 2 carefully. I'm really trying not to be negative, but you have enough debt already. If you just get the ratings, you'll be looking roughly at seven grand. Much more if you buy multi time.

The logbook thing. That's 300-400 hours missing and a lot of places will see your problem as 'sketchy' to say the least. Don't get me wrong, I believe what happened. Really, since you don't have much recent flight experiance, it's not going to kill you, as you're going to need some to be airline interviewable. I'd say play like you have 800 hours and if you can fix the logbook problem great, if not, keep flying your arse off, around 500 hours worth, at least. I guess my point is, just clearing up your logbook problem won't get all airlines knocking on your door for an interview. Read some of these posts around here. As a whole, things aren't a bed of roses at many places. Good luck, hope I didn't scare you too bad.

Hey, if all else fails, tell everyone you have 18,000 hours unlogged flying in China. Now that's a tall tale!