should I buy multi

[pipejockey]

Pay your dues.

Mark

The problem that many of you fail to understand is that "paying your dues" can come in a variety of ways. Too many of you have the attitude that "paying your dues" equals flight instructing!! It amazes me the number of people who feel the ONLY way to a part 121 airline job and the ONLY people who are worthy of landing a part 121 airline job are those who have flight instructed. It is so close minded. I know what you're thinking...And NO!! I am against PFT. I don't agree with Gulfstream's program or the Colgan PFT.

But renting a twin and building time is no more or less valuable than sitting in the right seat while keeping a student from screwing up. I was recently hired by one of the better Regionals in the industry, and I did not instruct 1 hour, nor did I even get flight instructor ratings. I know this infuriates some of you...too bad! The experience I gained before getting this job was better than any flight instructing experience I would have received as a CFI. And if I did choose the CFI path to an airline job, I don't feel I would have been as prepared to operate in the airline environment as I am now.

I have sacrificed a great deal to get to where I am now. I may not have flight instructed but I worked my a s s off to save for flight school and still have gone into considerable debt to make this career a reality for me. A part 121 airline career has been my goal since childhood, and I have always known I would not be going the CFI route since then as well. Teaching just doesn't suit me. And because of that fact, there are those of you who feel I have no business as a part 121 jet airline pilot...thats a shame.

Now I have no problem with flight instructors and the path they chose towards an airline career, quite the contrary! All I ask is that they have the same respect for me and the path I have chosen towards an airline career as I have for them and their chosen path. It's not like I PFT'd!! Although some of you have a pretty broad definition of PFT.

To me PFT=handing $18000(or whatever ridiculous amount) over to an airline before they hire you. I would rather first spend that money to build flight time before I would give it to an airline just so they will hire me. I know people who are PFTing at this moment or hope to soon. I dont hide my feelings about it. I provide my opinion and ultimately tell them to do what allows them to look themselves in the mirror afterwards. But I don't badmouth them like some of the people who become irate if they have learned about someone getting hired at the airlines who hasn't flight instructed. Oh, and by the way, most of the PFTers I know are also flight instructors...go figure!

We need to address our hatred towards the real enemy of the pilot profession and the airline industry. And that enemy is the Anti-Christ in our midst.......who goes by the name of Jonathan Ornstein

 

[L.A.pilot]

"The company is in southern texas and flies along the coast looking for oil wells leaks etc. Many will scream pft but this company is used by a few I work with and they seem to get good experience from it. Pretty cheap multi-time to build experience to use for mei. "

So, is the oil company also paying for this flight time? Is it not an operation that requires a commercial pilot? Are you paying to work a commercial flight as PIC? Or as SIC in a light twin?? Some 135 ops charge "SIC" time in light twins and promote logging the time as a "required crewmember" (a different issue altogether...), but this is not even a 135 operation from the sound of it.

When you're talking Gulfstream or others that charge you for flight time during commercial operations... let's call it what it is: PTW -- Pay to Work. Not PFT.

 

[rumorhasit]

And those would be the guys with... (gasp)... EXPERIENCE?????

Reality Check??

No just the "bitter I'm stuck doing a job I don't like so I'm going to be an a$$hole guys"!!! I could take this discussion back to the elementary school playground but why waste time and energy. what the hey do you mean reality check? I was just asking a legit question of the "experience" of this forum...I am sorry life was not as you hoped it would be in this industry...but get over it and get over yourself!!!!!

 

[rumorhasit]

And those would be the guys with... (gasp)... EXPERIENCE?????

Reality Check??

No just the "bitter I'm stuck doing a job I don't like so I'm going to be an a$$hole guys"!!! I could take this discussion back to the elementary school playground but why waste time and energy. what the hey do you mean reality check? I was just asking a legit question of the "experience" of this forum...I am sorry life was not as you hoped it would be in this industry...but get over it and get over yourself!!!!!

 

[Smacktard]

The experience I gained before getting this job was better than any flight instructing experience I would have received as a CFI.

Isn't that just as close minded as what you accuse others of? How do you know it was better unless you walk a mile in another man's...woman's shoes...you wear women's shoes?

 

[Britpilot]

At $40 per hour I would buy that time. The airlines don't really care how you arrived at multi engine total. The MEI does help with experiance but generally builds time at a slower pace.
This is about getting hired, not "paying your dues" My advice is to fly that cheap multi.

 

[cathal]

I agree with Britpilot 100%, except that I would have said "experience." Sorry- couldn't resist.

Get your MEI to take advantage of the free hours that come along and to allow you to log 100% of the time you're in the cockpit. I bought about 50 hrs of what I needed to get a regional, and the interviewer didn't care in the least.
It's not pay for training, it's not buying a job, it's getting the experience you need to get an interview. If you can't fly, the airline will know.

 

[Britpilot]

I agree with Britpilot 100%, except that I would have said "experience." Sorry- couldn't resist.

Darn, spelt it wrong again, nice catch.