Question on Building Flight Time

<hr style="color: rgb(209, 209, 225); background-color: rgb(209, 209, 225);" size="1"> Not too long. I begged, borrowed and pleaded my way into airplanes and picked up quite a few (paid) trips when I was still a wet ticket CFI. That and flight instruction, flying part 91 trips in king airs, 421s, 310s and anything I could get into and it added up pretty quick. Before I got my commercial and CFI, my friends at the flight school would safety pilot for each other all the time. That helped a ton.

I was quite a zombie for a while working 7 days a week in some cases. I've since learned that I enjoy my home life a little too much to do that ever again. :laff:

Just do what you can and make sure if you're a commercial pilot, you're being paid.

-mini
 
futurepilot1 said:
Really? I was under the impression you didn't get that much actual flight time since you were in the right seat most of the time...were you pretty much instructing full time?
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Being a CFI has certain privileges, such as logging the flight time while your student is actually handling the controls. So, if I am flying with a student pilot for 2.0 hours, the student logs 2.0 dual received and I log 2.0 pilot in command. There are other things that might be logged by one or both of the pilots, depending on the circumstances.

Yes, this was full time instructing at an FBO.
 
moxiepilot said:
Being a CFI has certain privileges, such as logging the flight time while your student is actually handling the controls. So, if I am flying with a student pilot for 2.0 hours, the student logs 2.0 dual received and I log 2.0 pilot in command. There are other things that might be logged by one or both of the pilots, depending on the circumstances.

Yes, this was full time instructing at an FBO.
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Cool...thanks for the knowledge:D
 
Networking is your friend, aside from instructing.

Just trying to go up with other guys whenever you get the chance is a great way to build time.
 
well, in one season of aerial survey (7 months) on average you get 6-700 hours. I had 102.5 hours last month and I am already at 52 hours for this month.
 
futurepilot1 said:
For those of you that have...

How long did it take you to get to 1200 hours...and what routes did you take?
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I went from zero hours to 1,200 in 26 months. Along the way I received instruction and safety piloted with people in 310's and 421's... later, after I got my commercial and CFI I taught a bunch; I also safety piloted and received instruction in a 208. Once I made the Caravan insurance mins and was qualed, the sky was the limit for an airplane that flies everyday 7+ hours a night....
 
I got a job as a part 91 company parts pilot for the company I was working as a line boy for after I got my commercial. At 500TT, I bought my multi from ATPs and went to work in the right seat of a beech 1900 at ACE. 6 months later I had over 1000TT, and the sky was the limit so to speak.
 
1000+ dual given! flight instructing, i hit 1200 about a year after starting. had to do it a little while longer to find a new job.
 
I am flight instructing and going to school full time too, last semester thankfully. With the economy the way it is I have been flight instructing for about a year and a half and logged right at 1000 hours total time, about 700 of that is from instructing.
 
upup89 said:
What kind of Part 135 flying are you hoping to do?
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Not really sure...my career is literaly in it's infancy. I am already 34, and, without sacrificing quality training, would like to do this thing quickly and cheaply (oxy-moron). I am, however, intrigued by Flight Express. It combines two things that are important to me. First, it's flying for a living, and second, they have a domicile in my home town...KC. Don't get me wrong...I'll take what I can get...my hope is, that in a couple of years when I am ready, the economy and the pilot job market will be in better shape. I'm just trying to get a handle on a realistic time frame to go from zero to proffesional pilot. I am married, and have a mortgage and two car payments, so going to one of these "Quick Start" schools full time isn't really an option.
 
I ran out of money at the end of school and didn't get my CFI. Luckily I have about 250TT and got a job flying Pipeline patrol in West Texas. I got paid $19/hr, and flew 5-8 hours a day 6-7 days a week. It didn't take long. I went from 250 to 1200 in about 6 months.
 
1.5 years after CFI check ride to get 1200.
It would have been only a little over a year to get 1200 but I moved and changed jobs at the year point.

When you only have 250 hours, time on a sheet looks to build rapidly.
 
I agree flight instruction is the way. Find a school with a twin or two to build multi time instructing as well. I know a few guys with 1500 or more hours after flight instructing, but little to no multi. I average about 70 hours a month flight instructing

The other benifit of instructing is being around the airport all day and being able to scrounge around for interesting flights. I have hopped into a citation twice, a king air, and some other interesting aircraft. it keeps it entertaining on you never ending quest to chase the next flying fix
 
dcramer16 said:
I ran out of money at the end of school and didn't get my CFI. Luckily I have about 250TT and got a job flying Pipeline patrol in West Texas. I got paid $19/hr, and flew 5-8 hours a day 6-7 days a week. It didn't take long. I went from 250 to 1200 in about 6 months.
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That sounds like a pretty good gig you had. Must have been a ton of flying!
 
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