Training dilemma, which way to go?

[WestHouston]

I've got a dilemma ahead of me and I was wondering if I could get some advice.

I'm currently finishing up my commercial ticket at DCA in Houston. I am a veteran so I am currently using the Hazelwood act, which pays for 100% of my flight training. After June 1st, the coverage changes, with me paying 40% of the training costs. I figure I have two options:

1. Continue into multi training, and get all or most of that finished up by the cutoff time, and then pay the 40% for CFI, CFII, etc. (I am an aviation major and the multi is NOT required for my degree.)

2. Skip multi for now and go right in to CFI, use the rest of the "free time" to finish that, then just pay the 40% for CFII. Then, after I'm done and get a job as an instructor and just get the MEL on the side or on a weekend in at Redbird for $1300.

Influencing factors:

*DCA multi course is 15 lessons at like $250 an hour for the Seminole.
* I am not planning on instructing at DCA when I am finished.

I guess it's just a matter of what training I want paid for. Whats more valuable MEL or CFI?

Any insight or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Wiggums]

I would try to do both the intial CFI and your multi-engine by June 1st.

If you cannot do that then get the multi engine. Soon as you get that you can start sending out resumes to the regionals.

 

[pilotyip]

There is places out there that will let you apply without the ratings if you will have the ratings by the time you either interview or start class. Kinda like SWA and the type rating.

 

[QuasarZ]

I would do the multiengine if you could only do one by then. Multi is required by pretty much most jobs (not sure your intentions) wheras a cfi is not required to get hired, it is usually just used to build time and experience

 

[fxbat]

A few regionals want 500/100 as a minimum. So I would do the CFI and multi ASAP. (Put the CFI as a priority) Also look for a school that will hire you after you do your CFI training with them.
The worst thing would be having 250/15, no money and no way to get to the min’s.

 

[pilotyip]

Many regionals do not have minimums anymore, Comm/MEL/Inst is all you need to get an interview. You not get hired, but they are wide open for interviews. Cape Air dropped thier mins to 25 MEL.

 

[WestHouston]

A few regionals want 500/100 as a minimum. So I would do the CFI and multi ASAP. (Put the CFI as a priority) Also look for a school that will hire you after you do your CFI training with them.
The worst thing would be having 250/15, no money and no way to get to the min’s.

Thats the thing. I am doing my training at DCA which I do not plan on instructing at for several different reasons.

 

[WestHouston]

I would try to do both the intial CFI and your multi-engine by June 1st.

If you cannot do that then get the multi engine. Soon as you get that you can start sending out resumes to the regionals.

Obviously that would be the way to go, but I'm not sure it would be a possibility while going to college full time as well. I'm thinking I'm only going to have time for one...

 

[AC560]

Do the multi and get as many hours at 100% paid for as you can.

 

[Junkflyer]

Get your multi. That's the most expensive. If the feds are paying use the money. Start your cfi after and get as much done as possible before June.

 

[AerroMatt]

Get your multi. That's the most expensive. If the feds are paying use the money. Start your cfi after and get as much done as possible before June.

Ditto...

 

[stingray]

I used the GI bill myself to help pay for flight training, at the time I did it was limited to a certain amount. They paid 60% or so up to a certain amount, somewhere around 11,000 plus or minus, I can't remember. This was about 17yrs ago. I'm assuming its changed a little since then. What is the total $ limit that the Hazelwood act will pay for if there is one? or are they willing to pay for your complete training?
Depending on how much time you have to dedicate towards training.
knock out your multi, especially if they whant you to do 15 lessons, Is that 15 flights,or flights & ground lessons togther? about How much Multi time will you have if you follow their planned course?
A point Im sure everyone here will agree with, multi time is so very hard to come by and very expensive. if you got the gov.. willing to pay for your first 10 to 20 hrs or what ever it happens to be when you get done with multi training course "jump on it".
I believe then you will have plenty of time to get your CFI. There is a lot of self-study at least there use to be for the CFI. so The harder and sooner you start to study. the easier and quicker you will be able to do it. You should have no problem getting the multi and CFI by june 1st
Then pay the 40% for the CFII and maybe think about you MEI, its better to have someone else pay for multi time(all flight time).

 

[WestHouston]

I used the GI bill myself to help pay for flight training, at the time I did it was limited to a certain amount. They paid 60% or so up to a certain amount, somewhere around 11,000 plus or minus, I can't remember. This was about 17yrs ago. I'm assuming its changed a little since then. What is the total $ limit that the Hazelwood act will pay for if there is one? or are they willing to pay for your complete training?
Depending on how much time you have to dedicate towards training.
knock out your multi, especially if they whant you to do 15 lessons, Is that 15 flights,or flights & ground lessons togther? about How much Multi time will you have if you follow their planned course?
A point Im sure everyone here will agree with, multi time is so very hard to come by and very expensive. if you got the gov.. willing to pay for your first 10 to 20 hrs or what ever it happens to be when you get done with multi training course "jump on it".
I believe then you will have plenty of time to get your CFI. There is a lot of self-study at least there use to be for the CFI. so The harder and sooner you start to study. the easier and quicker you will be able to do it. You should have no problem getting the multi and CFI by june 1st
Then pay the 40% for the CFII and maybe think about you MEI, its better to have someone else pay for multi time(all flight time).

Wow, thanks for that insight. It makes alot of sense. Here is the skinny on Hazelwood: It was originally designed to help veterans that ran of GI Bill money finish their degree. It simply waives 120 credit-hours, which is generally a bachelor's degree. However, the contractor (Delta Connection Academy) still needs to be paid so as of now, the college (San Jacinto) is shelling out the dough. This is obviously a loophole and as of June 1st, Hazelwood will only pay 60% of training costs like the GI Bill. Technically, you can't use Hazelwood until you've exhausted your GI Bill money (about $32,000), but since DCA was still within two years of the contract with the school, it was not eligible to qualify for VA requirements. So... Hazelwood is paying for 100% of my flight training.

As you can see it's a pretty unique and lucky scenario I found myself in. Now, if I can just figure out how to wrap it up...

Btw, I know multi is expensive and hard to come by, but DCA charges like $255 an hour for their seminole so I was more thinking along the lines of going to Dallas and knocking it out in a weekend for $1500 or so.... if thats still available.