Urge to buy multi time is taking me over!

[mcjohn]

Hi Folks. This is my second attemp posting here. My computer locked up on the 1st try and I lost a well thought out large post.

Anyway, here I go again:

I wanted my new flight instruction job at a local 141 school b/c they have a Seminole. New boss told me he'd gladly help out with CFII and MEI if I do a good job.
Well, I just found out the Seminole is a lemon and it goes down for Mx about every 3-4 hours it flys. Turns out a couple instructors before me had to head down to Ari-Ben to buy thier multi-time for a jobby job.

Now all I can think about is doing the same 'cause I'm sick of begging for multi opportunity and waiting around so much. IMO Ari-Ben is too expensive and I'd like to go for 50 hrs somewhere more affordable and then try to get on with a low end cargo op that would allow me to fly often.

I'm posting here because I have a huge drive to go balls to the wall with cargo. I see this route as a good way of building multi PIC and tons of IMC experience quickly as opposed to the nightmarish Reg. Airlines.

I have 7.4 hrs multi PIC and need to find an opportunity to build multi time cheap or find a cargo op that could use me or somehow hire me to help on the ground or something just so I could get a foot in the door. My wife's newly pregnant so I'd be willing to work 60 hrs a week to make things work out for us.

Please help out here with some tips and keep in mind I may buy 50 hrs of multi but I will not PFT and get kicked to the street.
I live in Western N.C. and a car commute to Charlotte would be about 2 hrs and 3-4 for Atlanta.
I'd relocate for a solid opportunity with bennies.
PLEASE HELP! (and oh yeah, go easy on the pregnant wife situation, we're quite excited and please don't try to steer me away from aviation.)

 

[Movin' on up!]

I bought 100 hrs of ME and that helped me get a job. However, it cost me a pretty penny back in 1999, and that was splitting it with another pilot. It kinda put us in a tight spot financially but we recovered eventually. I don't recommend going into debt to do it...finances can put a real strain in your relationship so think it over carefully if you have to barrow the money to do it. I had a friend who went to fly tours in the Grand Canyon and started out ina C206. He eventually made it to the 402s with minimal ME. Keep flying the Seminole if you can...at this point, .2 ME at a time is worth a lot. Good luck.

 

[Propnose]

As long as you meet 135 mins, go get a frieght job in the Charlotte area, and after a short time there you can move up to a twin run and you won't have to buy any of your time. I flew freight for about 5 months before getting a C-402 run, and then I was flying on average 100hrs a month. Just a thought...

 

[drinkduff77]

I posted on your other thread but I'll add more here. My advice would be to stick with instructing at your 141 school until you get around 1000tt and work on getting the MEI and CFII. Then apply to one of the cargo places (one of the respectable ones that you hear good things about on this board).

I know airnet reviews apps based on a point scale and the instructor ratings are worth a lot. Other places are probably similar. Don't be affraid to apply with not much multi-time...maybe 15 hours. If you don't get an invite to interview right away, just keep updating your times every month.

-'duff

 

[gringo]

7.4 multi isn't a lot of time, even if it IS PIC. at your level, almost ALL multi is PIC- I can't imagine anyone saying "Wow, this guy's got a bazillion hours right seat in a Seminole/Seneca/310/whatever. You need more time. If I was in your place, I'd either a)find someone to split a LOT of multi time with (which I did) or b) buy the time outright. Either way, just try to get around 100 hours multi total. Then go apply at Mountain Air Cargo- they're out of Denver, NC, about 45 minutes N of Charlotte. Decent company- not great, not sucky, good oportunities and they never bounced a check. I got started there in '03 with 1000tt and 161 multi, when everyone else was looking for twice that much. Of course, I pestered the chief pilot almost every week for 6 months, but it was worth it- they landed me in Brazil (where I found my goregeous fiancee) and that also got me in contact with some DC-10 operators, where I am now. So who knows- you might luck out.

Either way- GET THAT MULTI TIME!

Best of luck, and cheers!

 

[mcjohn]

My first instructor got a job at MAC and started class about a week ago. He also quit Air Wisconsin shortly after starting to get that job at MAC. Yes, Denver N.C. Very close to home. I have my eye set on that. My wife's been talking about how much she wants to move to Charlotte anyway.

Brasil!? MAC flys to Brasil? Yeah, I'd buy some time but not at Ari-Ben's prices. Like some folks have said, I may not need to buy so much as 50 or 100 you know. Maybe 25-30 and bug Ram Air or similar.

 

[gringo]

Yeah, you read that right. MAC has a run from Buenos Aires to Campinas, Brazil (just outside of Sao Paulo)- quite possibly the sweetest gig at the regional level ever. I thank god every day for the bozo who's spot I took (he missed his momma too much back in Kentucky.... but I digress). The run's not what it used to be, though- things have changed- but, if you love your wife, you wouldn't want to go there, anyway! Surrounded by hot women in an atmosphere where it's 10:1 in your favor... who wants that? Hah!

Yeah, MAC has it's problems, but overall, I gotta say that it's a fairly decent company. Do 1 year, maybe 2. But be forewarned- just because they're based in NC dosen't mean YOU'LL be! I was hired on as a floater (go from station to station every week), but ended up spending my first 8 months in Columbus, Ohio (not the @$$hole of the world, but very close to it!) I was about to quit when the afore-mentioned bozo called it quits in South America and ran back home to momma... but again, I digress. My point is, even if you get the job there, you'll probably have to either live outside the NC area or be prepared to be gone for a week at a time.

But, all said and done, I had a fun time there, got to see some great things, landed my current job in a DC-10 and met my gorgeous fiancee because of MAC- overall I can't complain!

 

[cargopod]

I think buying Multi time is a GREAT IDEA and should be the path more people take..
I have a wonderfull PA23-150 ready for you to buy block time in.100 hour blocks 130.00$ HR dry.

 

[Boris Badenov]

Flight Express will hire you at 135 minimums without a multi engine rating, pay you a decent wage, and in 6-8 months upgrade you to a baron.

 

[$$$4nothin]

Flight express, RAM AIR, AIRNET. Get a clue and you will get a job. All of those places will hire you and get you a lot of multi time. Get 135 mins and go fly cargo.

 

[mcjohn]

Get a clue and you will get a job.

Umm..ehh.....ahh...let's see here...get a clue who those companies are?

By the way, the instructor I used to have who works for MAC supposedly has weekends off and plans on staying right here in Asheville/Hendersonville area in the home he owns. I think he stays away for the weekdays however. Does that sound about right or is he just hooked up?

 

[iflyabeech]

Well, I just found out the Seminole is a lemon and it goes down for Mx about every 3-4 hours it flys. Turns out a couple instructors before me had to head down to Ari-Ben to buy thier multi-time for a jobby job.

Did you really say "jobby job?" Its a good thing you are married 'cuz you would never get any saying stuff like that!

 

[iflyabeech]

at this point, .2 ME at a time is worth a lot. Good luck.

Dude, you know its bad when you see comments like this!

 

[mcjohn]

Did you really say "jobby job?" Its a good thing you are married 'cuz you would never get any saying stuff like that!

Sorry, wish it was as easy as sayin "iflyabeech" to get laid.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

at this point, .2 ME at a time is worth a lot.

Most of the advice here is pretty good.
Just try to keep one thing in mind, aviation is not about getting multi-time,
total time, jet time, PIC time or what ever. Don't chase the mirage.
Get a good job and stick with it. The time will build and opportunities
will present themselves.

As for getting laid, I just go to the mall in my uniform and let nature
take its course.

CE

 

[idoitupsidedown]

i know a guy who flies here at airnet who started with less total multi time than u have pic multi time. a good run will get u 100+ a month... an average run will get u 70+...look into it

 

[iflyabeech]

Sorry, wish it was as easy as sayin "iflyabeech" to get laid.

Don't really know what this means, but please never say "jobby job" again.

 

[Cokie907]

Why bother? to get a job at a regional (commuter) and sit 17 to 20 days a month in a cockpit/hotel room, doing Jepp changes. Oh and for recreation you get to walk around town in civvies with an overcoat on. All this for 18 to 21 grand per year with no hope of upgrading for a lonnnnnnng time since the seniority lists are extremely stagnant.

Its not what it used to be cracked up to be.....ha ha.

 

[Reebo]

Oh and for recreation you get to walk around town in civvies with an overcoat on.

Not if you get hired at one of those places with the "cool" leather jackets

 

[cargopod]

or just rent my twin..