Multi Time vs. CFI Time

J

jkca22

Well-Known Member
Which would be better for getting a job at a part 121 or 135 operation:

a. Lots of multi engine time (in one model twin piston airplane) but not much time as a CFI, or
b. Having the classic 100 or 200 hours of multi time (or 30, like my instructor had when he got his 121 job!) and then a lot of time instructing in a single engine?

I ask this becuase I am considering buying half of an old Piper Twin Comanche, but if I was to buy it, I'd have to continue working my day job as a mechanical engineer in order to pay for it, and then just fly it on the nights/weekends. But if I didn't buy it, I wouldn't be able to build as much multi time but then I could quit working as an engineer and work full time as an instructor (if I could even find a full time job doing that right now) and hopefully build a lot of hours that way.

Also, anyone other thoughts on buying a multi to build time? It seems like it could be a good way to get a lot of multi time, but at the same time could go badly when maintenance ($$$) issues arise. And I don't know the guy I'm thinking of splitting it with all that well. And this particular airplane has 1500 hours on engines whose recommended time between overhaul is 2000, so I think the guy is asking too much for it.
 
But it seems like there isn't much of a demand for multi instruction, at least around where I live.
 
Unless you work at ATP or a school that trains foreign students, you wont find much of a demand for ME aircraft.
 
If you had to choose for one over the other, I guess CFI time would be looked at as more valuable. Obviously you still need multi time so you could grab some multi while still instructing. The best option as stated above is to get your MEI and try to find a place teaching multi students. The point being anyone can buy x amount of multi-time, but come interview time (especially in this economy) you want to be as competitive as you can. Just my thoughts.
 
It's a new world right now.

I bet airlines will be looking for a couple hundred multi when they hire again.

I have never met anybody that didn't benefit from their instructor certificates beyond that of hour building.
It is well worth the study time.
 
Maurus said:
Unless you work at ATP or a school that trains foreign students, you wont find much of a demand for ME aircraft.
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I've done almost a hundred hours of it in MD. If the school has a multi there is multi time to be had.
 
I'm guessing one can also take advantage of employee discounts on a multi while working at a flight school.
 
Get your MEI and go to a school with a twin. My school doesn't have a twin. 1400 hrs with 6 multi doesn't do much for you. I'm going to glue the 172's together soon and call it a skymaster.

You will learn far more as a CFI than you think you will.
 
For what it's worth, I have never seen cfi time listed as a requisit for a 121 job. Multi time is required everywhere. The problem though, is that you are gonna need 1500+ tt to get any sort of job I think. Scent jobs will be hard to find, quickly filled, and be competetive.
 
Rudabega said:
Get your MEI and go to a school with a twin. My school doesn't have a twin. 1400 hrs with 6 multi doesn't do much for you. I'm going to glue the 172's together soon and call it a skymaster.

You will learn far more as a CFI than you think you will.
Click to expand...

Rather than gluing some 172s, get a powered chute, and wear a leafblower pack. Use engine 2 to steer!
 
jkca22 said:
Which would be better for getting a job at a part 121 or 135 operation:

a. Lots of multi engine time (in one model twin piston airplane) but not much time as a CFI, or
b. Having the classic 100 or 200 hours of multi time (or 30, like my instructor had when he got his 121 job!) and then a lot of time instructing in a single engine?

I ask this becuase I am considering buying half of an old Piper Twin Comanche, but if I was to buy it, I'd have to continue working my day job as a mechanical engineer in order to pay for it, and then just fly it on the nights/weekends. But if I didn't buy it, I wouldn't be able to build as much multi time but then I could quit working as an engineer and work full time as an instructor (if I could even find a full time job doing that right now) and hopefully build a lot of hours that way.

Also, anyone other thoughts on buying a multi to build time? It seems like it could be a good way to get a lot of multi time, but at the same time could go badly when maintenance ($$$) issues arise. And I don't know the guy I'm thinking of splitting it with all that well. And this particular airplane has 1500 hours on engines whose recommended time between overhaul is 2000, so I think the guy is asking too much for it.
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What do you want to do? Do you want to do the CFI thing full time?
If you do not want to, and you have a really good paying job that can afford you the ability to buy a twin, and fly a lot, do it! If you want the cfi just to have it for experience once you have the commercial it will not take much more to pick up the cfi-a. or for that matter do the MEI as an initial. Once you have the cfi you can do a little instructing on the side if you want, but you get to build a lot of actual flying time for yourself flying your own plane!

On the MX side, yes it could be very costly. so can a 172. 1500 is getting a little high, but you can still probably easily get 7-800 hours out of those engines. I know a guy who is 300 over on each of his engines on a 310. compressions are still good and he has a mechanic do very thorough MX on it for him. Figure with run out engines the plane loses 30-40K in value (the cost for two overhauls).
send a pm to patrick (that is his screen name) on here. He owns a twinkie (he also does instruction in it) and could tell you a little about MX issues Im sure.
 
jkca22 said:
I ask this becuase I am considering buying half of an old Piper Twin Comanche, but if I was to buy it, I'd have to continue working my day job as a mechanical engineer in order to pay for it, and then just fly it on the nights/weekends.
Click to expand...

If you have a job as an engineer that would support buying a twin, why on earth would you want to be a full time CFI or need all of that multi time?
 
Get a job as a CFI and get LOTS of CFI time, then get a job flying a multi engine aircraft anf get LOTS of ME time.

Both.
 
Don't teach because you 'have to', teach because you want to. You won't enjoy it one bit if your just sitting there trying to build time. You have to put in a lot of extra effort and time to gain that one hours of flight time with a student. You will learn ALOT teaching and yes you will get some flight time if you're at the right school. That being said, multi time is more valuable IMO. I only have about 300hrs dual given, but i'd rather have 300 multi time than single engine time. Not saying I didn't enjoy teaching, but when it comes down to it, candidate A. with 500hrs dual given and 0 multi, or candidate B. with 250hrs multi time and 0 dual given, B will most likely get the job.

The job I have now is good for timebuilding (60+hrs month) but it's all single engine time. It's about as valuable as teaching IMO.
 
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